Reactron
| Character Name | Reactron |
| Image |  |
| Caption | 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). |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Debut | The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #8 (June 1983) |
| Creators | Paul Kupperberg (writer) Carmine Infantino (artist) |
| Real Name | Benjamin K. Krullen |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Homeworld | Earth |
| Alliances | Suicide Squad Nuclear Legion |
| Powers | Superhuman strength, stamina and durability Flight Nuclear blasts Body generates lethal radiation |
| Cat | super |
| Subcat | DC Comics |
| Hero | n |
Reactron is a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, usually as an adversary of Supergirl.
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.
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. 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, then later fights Supergirl.
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. Most of his pre-Crisis continuity seems intact, but it is now said that his previous battles involved Power Girl instead of Supergirl. Seemingly destroyed after overloading on Negative Woman's energy, Reactron resurfaces unharmed as a member of the Suicide Squad.
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. Shortly afterward, Reactron kills himself, causing a chain reaction that destroys New Krypton and kills all but a handful of its inhabitants.
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.
In other media
Reactron appears in the Supergirl episode "Fight or Flight", portrayed by Chris Browning. 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.
References
- Rovin, Jeff, Jeff Rovin, The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains, 1987, Facts on File, New York
- Greenberger, Robert, Robert Greenberger, The Essential Superman Encyclopedia, Pasko, Martin, Martin Pasko, 2010, Del Rey
- June 1983, Supergirl, Stand-ins for Supergirl, 8, 2, DC Comics, Kupperberg, Paul, Infantino, Carmine, Oksner, Bob, Ziuko, Tom
- July 1983, Supergirl, Re-Enter: Reactron, 9, 2, DC Comics, Kupperberg, Paul, Infantino, Carmine, Oksner, Bob, Ziuko, Tom
- July 1988, Doom Patrol, The Soul of the Machine, 10, 2, DC Comics, Kupperberg, Paul, Larsen, Erik, Martin, Gary; Livingston, Monika, Ziuko, Tom
- August 1987, Secret Origins, Annual, The Secret Origin of the Doom Patrol!, 1, 2, DC Comics, Kupperberg, Paul, Byrne, John, Byrne, John, Gafford, Carl
- August 1988, Doom Patrol, Betrayed -- by Larry Trainor!, 11, 2, DC Comics, Kupperberg, Paul, Larsen, Erik, Martin, Gary; Livingston, Monika, Gafford, Carl
- April 2002, Suicide Squad, Thou Shalt Not..., 6, 2, DC Comics, Giffen, Keith, Medina, Paco, Sanchez, Joe, Kalisz, John
- June 2010, Supergirl, Last Stand of New Krypton, Part Seven: Distractions, 52, 5, DC Comics, Gates, Sterling, Rodriguez, Ivan, Rodriguez, Ivan, Ruffino, Nei; Zaratus
- July 2010, Superman: War of the Supermen, The Battle for New Krypton, 1, 1, DC Comics, Robinson, James, ; , Gates, Sterling, Igle, Jamal, Sibal, Jon, Blond
- February 2009, Action Comics, New Krypton (Part VII of X) - Brainiac Lives, 872, 1, DC Comics, Johns, Geoff, Woods, Pete, Woods, Pete, Anderson, Brad
- Cureton, Sean, July 22, 2015, New 'Supergirl' Preview; Reactron Will Be A Season 1 Villain, Screen Rant
- Fight or Flight, Supergirl, 1, 3, CBS, November 9, 2015
External links
- "Pre-Crisis Reactron" DC Comics Database
- "Post-Crisis Reactron" DC Comics Database
Category:Characters created by Carmine Infantino
Category:Comics characters introduced in 1983
Category:Characters created by Paul Kupperberg
Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability
Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman strength
Category:DC Comics metahumans
Category:DC Comics supervillains
Category:Fictional characters with nuclear or radiation abilities
Category:Fictional mass murderers
Category:Fictional military sergeants
Category:Fictional United States Army personnel
Category:Fictional Vietnam War veterans