Reactron
DC Comics supervillain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Reactron is a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, usually as an adversary of Supergirl.
Carmine Infantino (artist)
| Reactron | |
|---|---|
Reactron as depicted in Supergirl vol. 5 #26 (April 2008). Art by Drew Johnson and Lee Ferguson (pencillers), Ray Snyder and Marc Deering (inkers), and Brad Anderson (colorist). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #8 (June 1983) |
| Created by | Paul Kupperberg (writer) Carmine Infantino (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Benjamin K. Krullen |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Place of origin | Earth |
| Team affiliations | Suicide Squad Nuclear Legion |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength, stamina and durability Flight Nuclear blasts Body generates lethal radiation |
Publication history
Reactron first appears in The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #8 (June 1983), in a story written by Paul Kupperberg and drawn by Carmine Infantino.[1]
Fictional character biography
Pre-Crisis
Benjamin Krullen is a sergeant serving in the US Army during the Vietnam War, alongside Joshua Clay. When Krullen massacres the inhabitants of a Vietnamese village, the shock triggers the activation of Clay's metahuman powers.[2] Clay seemingly destroys Krullen with his energy blasts, then goes AWOL.
Krullen, instead of being killed, is transformed into a being capable of generating radioactive energy and concussive blasts. Calling himself Reactron, the Living Reactor, he surfaces years later and attacks the Doom Patrol,[3] then later fights Supergirl.[4]
Post-Crisis
Reactron's origin and background are altered following the 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity reboot. he faces the Doom Patrol and Power Girl in his first appearance.[5] Most of his pre-Crisis continuity seems intact, but it is now said that his previous battles involved Power Girl instead of Supergirl.[6] Seemingly destroyed after overloading on Negative Woman's energy,[7] Reactron resurfaces unharmed as a member of the Suicide Squad.[8]
Reactron reappears in the Superman: New Krypton storyline with a new costume and abilities. Recruited by Sam Lane as part of Project 7734, Reactron is equipped with a heart made of gold kryptonite and partnered with Metallo. Reactron and Metallo attack the city of New Krypton, where Reactron kills Zor-El, the father of Supergirl. As part of his participation in Project 7734, Lex Luthor sends a robot double of himself with Brainiac on a mission to attack New Krypton, a new planet in Earth's solar system populated by the survivors of the Kryptonian city of Kandor. While there, the Luthor robot tampers with Reactron's body chemistry.[9] Shortly afterward, Reactron kills himself, causing a chain reaction that destroys New Krypton and kills all but a handful of its inhabitants.[10]
Powers and abilities
Reactron is a metahuman with the ability to generate nuclear radiation and concussive blasts. Reactron is also equipped with a gold Kryptonite heart, which allows him to briefly depower Kryptonians.[11]
In other media
Reactron appears in the Supergirl episode "Fight or Flight",[12] portrayed by Chris Browning.[13] This versions name was shortened to Ben Krull and was a former nuclear engineer who was exposed to radiation amidst a terrorist attack that Superman thwarted, during which Ben's wife Alyssa died. Blaming Superman for her death, Ben built an advanced biomedical exo-suit that grants super-strength, the ability to fly, and fire energy blasts. In pursuit of his revenge, he attacks Supergirl, only to be defeated by her and arrested.[14]