Nuke (Squadron Supreme)
Encyclopedia
Nuke is a superhero
from Earth-712 in the fictional Marvel Universe
, a member of the Squadron Supreme
and later its rebooted equivalent, Supreme Power
.
), where his father and mother lived. Albert was a nuclear plant worker when he accidentally gained his superhuman powers. He became Nuke, an adventurer and member of the Squadron Supreme
, and a super-powered hero who kept his identity a secret from even his own family.
Alongside the other Squadron members, he became mind-controlled by the Over-Mind
. He was used along with the other members as pawns in the Over-Mind's conquest of "Other-Earth," until he was freed by the Defenders
. He battled and defeated the Over-Mind and Null the Living Darkness
alongside the Squadron and the Defenders.
Alongside the Squadron Supreme, Nuke assumed control of the government of the United States of "Other-Earth," and publicly revealed his true identity. Nuke then found out that his parents were dying from radiation poisoning, brought on by exposure to his own powers. Nuke turned to Tom Thumb to help find a cure for them; however, when Tom could not find a cure for cancer, Nuke vowed revenge on Tom. Nuke went insane with grief over his parents' death, and went on a rampage. Doctor Spectrum, however, tried to hold Nuke back and prevent him from murdering Tom Thumb, by encasing him in one of his energy bubble constructs, accidentally killing him when Nuke's use of his own powers burned up the oxygen supply inside the bubble and he suffocated.
Nuke was a fair hand-to-hand combatant, and received coaching from Nighthawk.
Nuke suffered from emotional and psychological instability that finally led to insanity.
In a fight with Hyperion the combination of Hyperion's eye-beams, Nuke's radiation blast, and Arcanna's quantum alterations creates a brief and unexplainable skip in reality that sends Gaines, Arcanna
Jones, Dr. Emil Burbank and Raleigh Lund
two years into the future. An off-hand remark noted that Doctor Spectrum
will kill Nuke at some point.
Nuke has joined the government's Squadron Supreme. During a session in which all the Squadron members were asked to fill out information about themselves, Nuke's parents were revealed deceased. In the first mission he is high up in the sky to be used as a tactical nuke, the person of last resort.
Series Heroes
, Ted Sprague's powers and story line are similar to that of Nuke. Both have radiation based powers and both are accidentally and unwittingly responsible for the death of loved ones.
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
from Earth-712 in the fictional Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
, a member of the Squadron Supreme
Squadron Supreme
The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Supreme first appeared in Avengers #85 - 86 The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Supreme first...
and later its rebooted equivalent, Supreme Power
Supreme Power
The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in publications under the mature-audience MAX imprint by Marvel Comics. The team first appears in Supreme Power #1 and was created by writer J...
.
Fictional character biography
Albert Gaines was born in a suburb of Motor City, Wyandota (the Earth-712 equivalent of Detroit, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
), where his father and mother lived. Albert was a nuclear plant worker when he accidentally gained his superhuman powers. He became Nuke, an adventurer and member of the Squadron Supreme
Squadron Supreme
The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Supreme first appeared in Avengers #85 - 86 The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Supreme first...
, and a super-powered hero who kept his identity a secret from even his own family.
Alongside the other Squadron members, he became mind-controlled by the Over-Mind
Overmind (comics)
-Fictional character biography:The Overmind is an alien belonging to the Eternals of Eyung, and was born uncounted millennia ago on the planet Eyung . Grom acted as one of their warlords, leading massacres of entire species. He was also the reigning champion in their gladiatorial arenas...
. He was used along with the other members as pawns in the Over-Mind's conquest of "Other-Earth," until he was freed by the Defenders
Defenders (comics)
The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
. He battled and defeated the Over-Mind and Null the Living Darkness
Null, the Living Darkness
Null, called also Null the Living Darkness, is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.Null is a demon and enemy of the Defenders and Squadron Supreme.-Fictional character biography:...
alongside the Squadron and the Defenders.
Alongside the Squadron Supreme, Nuke assumed control of the government of the United States of "Other-Earth," and publicly revealed his true identity. Nuke then found out that his parents were dying from radiation poisoning, brought on by exposure to his own powers. Nuke turned to Tom Thumb to help find a cure for them; however, when Tom could not find a cure for cancer, Nuke vowed revenge on Tom. Nuke went insane with grief over his parents' death, and went on a rampage. Doctor Spectrum, however, tried to hold Nuke back and prevent him from murdering Tom Thumb, by encasing him in one of his energy bubble constructs, accidentally killing him when Nuke's use of his own powers burned up the oxygen supply inside the bubble and he suffocated.
Powers and abilities
Albert Gaines was imbued with superhuman powers as a result of mutation through exposure to radioactive waste products. He thus had the ability to generate nuclear energy within his body through nuclear decay. Hence, his body continually gave off low-level radiation, although this level became much higher over the last year of his life. Nuke himself was immune to adverse effects of radiation. He could mentally manipulate the nuclear energy generated and stored within his body. He could project destructive bursts of radiation from his body. He could fly by propelling himself with nuclear energy. Towards the end of his life, Nuke also wore an air-conditioned radiation containment suit equipped with a radiometer to measure his radiation output, designed by Tom Thumb.Nuke was a fair hand-to-hand combatant, and received coaching from Nighthawk.
Nuke suffered from emotional and psychological instability that finally led to insanity.
Supreme Power
Nuke is introduced as Mr. Al Gaines, a young, severely depressed man living underground in a fallout shelter alone because his body emits high levels of radiation he cannot control. He is near invulnerable, can fly, and apparently superhumanly strong. General Alexander offers him a suit that will control his radiation output in return for fighting Hyperion, whom General Alexander directs the blame for his condition.In a fight with Hyperion the combination of Hyperion's eye-beams, Nuke's radiation blast, and Arcanna's quantum alterations creates a brief and unexplainable skip in reality that sends Gaines, Arcanna
Arcanna
Arcanna is the name of two different fictional comic book characters in the Marvel Comics multiverse.The first debuted as a member of the team of superheroes called the Squadron Supreme in The Defenders #112 . The other first appeared in Supreme Power #18 , later joining a team of super heroes also...
Jones, Dr. Emil Burbank and Raleigh Lund
Shape (comics)
-Squadron Supreme:-Fictional character biography:The Shape was born in Simak, Lowengard, in the U.S.A. of the alternate Earth of the Squadron Supreme, Earth-712...
two years into the future. An off-hand remark noted that Doctor Spectrum
Doctor Spectrum
Doctor Spectrum is the name of several fictional characters that appear in publications published by Marvel Comics. There have been five versions of the character to date - three supervillains from the mainstream Marvel Universe belonging to the team Squadron Sinister and two heroes from different...
will kill Nuke at some point.
Nuke has joined the government's Squadron Supreme. During a session in which all the Squadron members were asked to fill out information about themselves, Nuke's parents were revealed deceased. In the first mission he is high up in the sky to be used as a tactical nuke, the person of last resort.
Similarities to Heroes
In the NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
Series Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
, Ted Sprague's powers and story line are similar to that of Nuke. Both have radiation based powers and both are accidentally and unwittingly responsible for the death of loved ones.