Neutron (DC Comics)

Neutron (Nathaniel Tryon) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of Superman.^[1]

Neutron
Neutron's first appearance in Action Comics #525 (November 1981); art by Ross Andru.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Action Comics #525 (November 1981)
Created by	Marv Wolfman (writer) Joe Staton (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Nathaniel Tryon
Species	Metahuman
Team affiliations	TNT Trio Fearsome Five Intergang Secret Society of Super Villains Nuclear Legion
Abilities	Super strength Durability Nuclear blasts Flight Radiation absorption

Publication history

Neutron first appeared in Action Comics #525 (November 1981), and was created by Marv Wolfman and Joe Staton.^[2] Wolfman commented about the character's creation, stating: "...With Neutron it was a matter of coming up with someone potentially more powerful and deadly than Superman had ever faced."^[3]

Fictional character biography

Nathaniel Tryon is a petty thug who gains nuclear powers during a meltdown at a nuclear plant he is attacking. He battles Superman before being presumed dead in an attempt to kill his adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.^[4] However, Neutron later appears alive and joins the Secret Society of Super Villains in Infinite Crisis.

Neutron, from Superman #654 (September 2006). Art by Carlos Pacheco.

"One Year Later"

Main article: One Year Later

Following the Infinite Crisis event, Neutron becomes a villain for hire and a member of the Nuclear Legion.

In The New 52 reboot, Neutron is a mercenary sent to kill Lex Luthor. However, he accidentally releases Luthor's Amazo virus on Metropolis and is infected, disabling his abilities and afflicting him with cancer.^[5]

Powers and abilities

Neutron's body is composed of nuclear energy that grants him superhuman physical abilities and the ability to manipulate nuclear energy. However, he is forced to wear a special suit to maintain a physical form and prevent his radiation from harming others.

In other media

Television

• Neutron makes non-speaking appearances in Justice League Unlimited as a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society before being killed by Darkseid.
• Neutron appears in the Smallville episode "Injustice", portrayed by Jae Lee. He joins Parasite, Livewire, and Plastique in forming a group to search for Davis Bloome before being killed by him.^[6]
• Neutron appears in Young Justice, voiced by James Arnold Taylor.^[7] This version gained his abilities through experimentation from the Reach, who activated his latent metahuman gene. By 2056, he becomes an acquaintance of Bart Allen and helps him travel back in time to save the Flash, de-power the present-day Neutron, and change the timeline. While Bart succeeds in doing so, the future Neutron is horrified to discover that this did not change the future. In the third season, the present-day Neutron becomes a counselor at the Metahuman Youth Center after receiving therapy from Black Canary.

Video games

Neutron appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[8]

Miscellaneous

Neutron appears in the audio drama Superman & The Neutron Nightmare.