Powers
- Body Resistance: Amazing protection vs physical and energy attacks at larger than normal size.
- Size Manipulation-Growth (Atomic Dispersal): Al can grow with Good ability, allowing him to grow up to 28 feet tall. At this height, Al is +2CS to be hit by all attacks from normal sized characters. With Atomic Dispersal, Al increases the distance between his own atoms, thus increasing his overall size. Under normal circumstances his mass would remain the same no matter how large he becomes. However, his mass increase power counteracts these effects, to a point (see below).
- Mass Increase: Al can increase his body's mass with Amazing ability. His weight is multiplied by the power rank number. Of course, as he weighs more, he has a greater effect on the environment. Physical force has a decreased effect on Atlas because of his greater mass. In game terms, the power gives Al up to Amazing rank resistance to physical attacks. He can also use the power rank instead of his strength to inflict charging damage. This power is tied to his growth power (see table, below).
- Hyper-Strength: As Atom Smasher grows this Amazing rank power increases his strength, both compensating for his increased mass and allowing him to grow to greater and greater heights. See the table, below.
| Rank |
Height |
Bonus to be hit |
Mass Increase |
Strength |
Lifting Weight |
| Shift-0 |
6 feet |
+0 Column Shifts |
nil |
Remarkable |
800 pounds |
| Feeble |
9 feet |
+1 Column Shift |
Good |
Remarkable |
1 Tons |
| Poor |
12 feet |
+1 Column Shift |
Excellent |
Incredible |
10 Tons |
| Typical |
18 feet |
+1 Column Shift |
Remarkable |
Incredible |
30 Tons |
| Good |
28 feet |
+1 Column Shift |
Remarkable |
Amazing |
50 Tons |
Talents
Repair/Tinkering, Pilot
Contacts
Justice League, Justice Society
History
Albert Rothstein is the grandson of scientist Terry Curtis, who became a reluctant villain in the wartime 1940s. Curtis and his daughter, Terri, were kidnapped by the Ultra-Humanite and he was forced to build an "atomic disintegrator" for the villain. His inventions also imbued Curtis with superhuman powers and he took the name Cyclotron. As the Humanite's minion, he helped acquire several powerful artifacts which were to have helped Ultra conquer the world.
These activities brought Cyclotron into conflict with a former lover - Danette Reilly, also known as Firebrand II, a member of the All-Star Squadron. During the struggle, Terry revealed to Danette that he had a daughter, and that Ultra was using the girl as blackmail for Curtis' assistance. Firebrand was able to appeal to Terry's inherent goodness and he ultimately betrayed the Ultra-Humanite.
But before the battle was over, the Atom had been irradiated by Cyclotron's atomic powers. This radiation later manifests as super-strength for the Atom. Cyclotron turned on Ultra and apparently destroyed them both. Unbeknownst to others, Cyclotron actually did not die immediately; he was thrust forward in time amid the chaos of the Crisis and returned to the instant he left. Danette then took custody of the infant girl, who was also often cared for by the Atom.
Terri grew up to be a prominent scientiest herself and eventually married Phil Rothstein. The two had a son, Albert and the Atom became his godfather. Al was raised among other JSA progeny including Hank Hall, Lyta Trevor and Rick Tyler. Eventually, they formed a fraternity and set their sights on membership in the JSA. Al took the name Nuklon. But the young heroes were rejected by their elders and instead formed their own group, Infinity, Inc. Ironically, during Infinity's first case, they traveled back to 1942 and helped the All-Star Squadron win the battle against the Ultra-Humanite!
Al was a steadfast member of Infinity, and he revealed his identity publicly alongise his fellow Infinitors. After his friend Hank died, he became protective of Hank's fiance, Lyta and her unborn child. Al even offered to marry Lyta to act as a father for her child, a proposal she declined.
After Infinity's demise, he joined Wonder Woman's Justice League International with another Infinitor friend, Obsidian. Nuklon was an optimistic foil to Obsidian's overwhelming pessimism, and the pair stayed with the League until it was disbanded by the UN after a controversial Extreme Justice mission. He also flirted with Icemaiden. After this, he changed his codename to Atom-Smasher and joined the new Justice Society.
Al's mother, who went on to work for NASA, fell victim to a terrorist bombing masterminded by Kobra. Al was enraged, and during a subsequent battle with the time-traveling villain Extant, Atom-Smasher altered history so that Extant would die in Terri's place - restoring his mother to life.
In the new JSA, Al met the young Courtney Whitmore, Star-Spangled Kid II. The two became quite close, but Albert quit the JSA when they refused to take decisive action against the terrorist known as Kobra. Following this, he joined with Black Adam, Northwind and Brainwave to form a group to rival the JSA. This group executed Kobra after his escape from authorities.
In the war to free Adam's homeland, Kahndaq, Atom-Smasher executed numerous enemies but chose to also help his former JSA comrades in the end. When Adam agreed to remain within Kahndaq's boundaries, Al chose to honor his loyalty to Adam and remained as well.
Al returned to JSA service when Per Degaton eliminated parts of the team from the timestream. Rip Hunter recruited him to travel back to 1951 and re-inspire the original JSA. After his return from this mission, he asked the JSA to readmit him, but some members were still hostile towards Al. They held a vote but before the result could be revealed, Al was taken back to Kahndaq by Black Adam to help fight off the Spectre and Eclipso.
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