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Firestorm (character)

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Firestorm
Firestorm
Art by Yidiray Cinar
Group publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearance(March 1978)
Created byGerry Conway, Al Milgrom
Firestorm
Series publication information
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing series
Genre
Publication date(Firestorm, The Nuclear Man)
March – November 1978
(The Fury of Firestorm / Firestorm, the Nuclear Man)
June 1982 – August 1990
(Firestorm)
July 2004 – June 2007
(The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men)
September 2011 – May 2013
Number of issues(Firestorm, The Nuclear Man) 5
(The Fury of Firestorm) 100
(Firestorm) 35
The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men 21
Main character(s)Ronald "Ronnie" Raymond, Martin Stein, Jason Rusch
Creator(s)Gerry Conway, Al Milgrom

Firestorm is the name of several fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein debuted as the first incarnation in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man No. 1 (March 1978) and was created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom.[1][2] Ronnie Raymond (by himself as the second incarnation) debuted in Firestorm the Nuclear Man vol. 2 No. 100 (August 1990), and was created by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake. Jason Rusch (as the third incarnation) debuted in Firestorm vol. 3 No. 1, (July 2004), and was created by Dan Jolley and Chris Cross.

Publication history

Cover of the first volume of Firestorm, The Nuclear Man (March 1978). Art by Al Milgrom.

The first Firestorm series was short-lived, canceled abruptly in a company-wide cutback (the "DC Implosion")[3] with #5 (the first part of a multiple-issue story) the last to be distributed, and #6 included in Cancelled Comic Cavalcade. Writer Conway added Firestorm to the roster of Justice League of America. This led to a series of 8-page stories in the back of The Flash (with art by George Pérez), and a revival of a monthly Firestorm comic in 1982. The Fury of Firestorm (later called Firestorm: the Nuclear Man) lasted from 1982 until 1990.

Another Firestorm series began in 2004 with a new character, Jason Rusch, in the role. Like his predecessors, Jason had a sense of humor which he often used to hide his insecurities.

Yet another Firestorm title was launched in 2011. Starring both Ronnie and his successor, Jason Rusch, it was one of the new titles launched in the wake of DC's Flashpoint crossover event. The series, The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men, was initially written by Gail Simone and Ethan Van Sciver and drawn by Yildiray Cinar.[4] Joe Harris replaced Simone starting in Issue 7, while co-writer Van Sciver also provided the art for Issues 7 and 8 before Yildiray returned.[5] Veteran writer/artist Dan Jurgens took over the series with issue #13 in 2012, until the series' end with issue #20 in 2013.

Fictional character biography

Ronnie Raymond / Martin Stein

The original Firestorm was distinguished by his integrated dual identity. High school student Ronnie Raymond and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Martin Stein were caught in a nuclear accident that allowed them to fuse into the "nuclear man" Firestorm. Due to Stein's being unconscious during the accident, Raymond was prominently in command of the Firestorm form with Stein a voice of reason inside his mind, able to offer Raymond advice on how to use their powers without actually having any control over their dual form. Banter between the two was a hallmark of their adventures.[1] Stein was initially completely unaware of their dual identity, leaving him concerned about his unusual disappearances and blackouts, but Ronnie was eventually able to convince him of the truth, allowing them to bond as separate individuals rather than as parts of a whole.

After the accident, Firestorm took to defending New York from such threats as Multiplex and Killer Frost. The 1982 series began with the teenaged Raymond adjusting to his newfound role and later delved into the issue of the nuclear arms race and Firestorm’s role as an "elemental". The Fury of Firestorm slowly developed the lives of Raymond and Stein, as the teenager struggled with high school and moved towards graduation and the scientist found a life outside the lab after learning about his bond with Raymond. A second nuclear hero, Firehawk, was added as a love interest for Firestorm in 1984. The series also tried to create a sense of fun, something that Gerry Conway felt was missing during his years writing Spider-Man;[3] the banter between Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein contributed to this. Upon graduation from high school, Raymond entered college in Pittsburgh, where Stein had been hired as a professor. Afterward, together they searched for a cure for their bond.

Ronnie Raymond / Martin Stein / Mikhail Arkadin

When Conway left the series in 1986, John Ostrander (with artist Joe Brozowski) began writing the Firestorm stories. Ostrander sought to make Firestorm more relevant to the world and a good deal grittier[citation needed]. His first major story arc pitted Firestorm against the world, as the hero, acting on a suggestion from a terminally-ill Professor Stein, demanded that the United States and the Soviet Union destroy all of their nuclear weapons. After tussles with the Justice League and most of his enemies, Firestorm faced off against the Russian nuclear superhero Pozhar in the Nevada desert, where they had an atomic bomb dropped on them. A new Firestorm resulted, a fusion of the two heroes: this new Firestorm was composed of Ronnie Raymond and the Russian Mikhail Arkadin but controlled by the disembodied amnesiac mind of Martin Stein.

Fire Elemental

The Firestorm with Arkadin proved to be a transitional phase, as in 1989, Ostrander fundamentally changed the character of Firestorm by revealing that Firestorm was a "Fire Elemental". Firestorm now became something of an environmental crusader, formed from Ronnie Raymond, Mikhail Arkadin, and a Soviet clone of the previous Firestorm, but with a new mind. Professor Stein, no longer part of the composite at all, continued to play a role, but the focus was on this radically-different character.[1] New artist Tom Mandrake would create a new look to match. It was during this phase that Firestorm met and befriended Shango and the Orishas, the elemental gods of Africa. He also met their chief deity and Shango's older brother Obatala, Lord of the White Cloth.

By the series' 100th issue, Stein learned that he was destined to be the true Fire Elemental and would have been were it not for Ron Raymond also being there by circumstance. Raymond and Arkadin were returned to their old lives, and Stein as Firestorm was accidentally exiled to deep space in the process of saving the Earth. He thereafter spent many years traveling through space as a wanderer, returning to Earth on only two occasions: the War of the Gods crossover event, and again in the JLA spin-off Extreme Justice #5, where Stein cured Raymond of his leukemia and allowed Raymond to retain the original Firestorm persona on his own.

After the transition to the elemental Firestorm, all of the main characters from the series vanished from the comics for some time after the cancellation of the Firestorm comic in 1990. Raymond eventually returned in the pages of Extreme Justice.[6] Raymond, at the time was undergoing treatment for leukemia, regained his original powers after a chemotherapy session. It took the combined might of the Justice League led by Captain Atom, and the returned elemental Firestorm to restore Ronnie's health. Firestorm began to appear regularly in a number of DC titles, though lacking the guidance and knowledge necessary to use his skills wisely. Firestorm was drafted by Batman into a "replacement" Justice League that was commissioned in case something befell the original team (in this case, being stranded in the distant past in "The Obsidian Age" storyline). After the original team returned, Firestorm stayed on as a reserve member and participated in events such as a team-up with the Justice Society of America (in JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice) and the intercompany crossover JLA/Avengers. He was also briefly a member of the Power Company.

Death

Ronnie Raymond was killed during the Identity Crisis mini-series. During a battle with the villain Shadow Thief, Raymond was impaled by the Shining Knight's sword, which the Shadow Thief had stolen. The magical sword ruptured the nuclear man's containment field, resulting in Firestorm's body exploding and his residual essence funneling into the body of Jason Rusch, the new host of the Firestorm Matrix.[1] His name was featured posthumously on Rip Hunter's chalkboard in Booster Gold (vol. 2) #1 in the statement "Ronnie Raymond + X = Firestorm".

Jason Rusch

In 2004, DC revived the Firestorm comic for the second time, with writer Dan Jolley and artist Chris Cross, but instead of the original Firestorm, Ronnie Raymond, there was a new protagonist; the teenager Jason Rusch.

Jason was a seventeen-year-old living in Detroit, who wanted nothing more than to escape his home city. He lived with his father who had turned abusive after he lost his hand in an industrial accident. His mother left his father sometime after the accident, leaving the young Jason with his father. With the loss of a job he needed to fund college, Jason turned to a local thug for money, accepting a job as a courier. It was on that job that he encountered the Firestorm matrix, searching for a new host after Ronnie Raymond's death. In the aftermath, Jason struggled to cope with his new identity and powers - a struggle that led to the death of the man who'd hired him.

Eventually, Jason managed to develop a degree of control over his powers. Ronnie eventually returned within the Firestorm matrix in Firestorm #9, remaining with Jason as part of Firestorm until he appeared to dissipate in Firestorm #13.

Shortly after Jason's eighteenth birthday, a few weeks after Raymond's dissipation, Jason was kidnapped by the new Secret Society of Super Villains for use as a power source in a hidden complex. Freed when the new Secret Six launched a raid on the complex, Jason discovered two important things: he had a fellow prisoner, a mysterious girl named Gehenna, and his imprisonment by the Society had significantly depowered him (Firestorm #17).

Together, Jason and Gehenna escaped the complex. Gehenna disappeared in the aftermath, but telepathically promised Firestorm that she'd see him again. In Firestorm #19, Donna Troy recruited Firestorm - this time comprising Jason and his best friend Mick Wong - for her outer space team to fight the oncoming instability from Infinite Crisis.

Infinite Crisis

In the 2006 miniseries Infinite Crisis it was revealed that Martin Stein, alive in space as the "Elemental Firestorm", had sensed the presence of Jason Rusch within the Firestorm Matrix, but was unaware of Ronnie Raymond's final demise. When Jason, as Firestorm, was gravely wounded in the line of duty, Stein linked with him in a variation of the merge, promising Jason a new Firestorm body to let him return into battle (although Martin had been unable to save Mick) and asking him about Ronnie's fate.

Accepting Martin's proposal, Jason asked Stein to become the permanent second member of the Firestorm matrix. Sensing his "errors" (including Mick's death) were the result of his youth and lack of experience, he sought the experience and maturity of Stein. Stein refused at first, but finally accepted Jason's request, thus ensuring both a new Firestorm body and the reconstruction of human bodies for both Rusch and Stein.[1]

It was revealed in Infinite Crisis that if the Multiverse had survived up to the present, Jason would have been a native of Earth-Eight.[7]

52

In the 2006-2007 weekly series 52, it is revealed that Firestorm was fused with Cyborg due to malfunctioning Zeta Beam technology. Unmerged after several weeks, Jason Rusch, as Firestorm, tried to reform and lead a new Justice League, along with Firehawk, Ambush Bug, Super-Chief, and the Bulleteer. After a failure in handling a time-displacement crisis staged by Skeets, the new League was disbanded in disgrace, adding strain to the already shaky friendship with Lorraine, as Jason still holds her and the rest of Donna Tory's Space Team as responsible for Mick's demise. Finally, during the World War III event versus Black Adam, Jason settled all differences with Lorraine, rekindling their friendship and asking for her powers, necessary to activate Firestorm after the mysterious disappearance of Martin Stein.[volume & issue needed]

"One Year Later"

As the storyline jumped ahead a year (and the series itself was now retitled as Firestorm: The Nuclear Man issue #23 on), Professor Stein has mysteriously vanished, and Jason Rusch has been merging with Firehawk to become Firestorm, allowing him to use her powers as well. The two decided to look for Stein together. Stein had been kidnapped and tortured by the Pupil, a former teaching assistant of Martin's. Flanked by the D.O.L.L.I.'s, a group of cyborg soldiers of limited cognitive ability, the Pupil (formerly known as Adrian Burroughs) questioned the nearly dead Stein about the secrets of the universe. Jason and Lorraine, along with the mysterious teleporter Gehenna, freed the captured Stein and restored him to full health. Jason is a college freshman at New York City's Columbus University and seems to have ties with Dani Sharpe, a member of the senior staff at LexCorp.

The Firestorm team of Jason and Firehawk made several appearances across the DCU before the search for Martin Stein ended. This included dealing with the latest OMAC and teaming up with Superman in the "Back in Action" arc in Action Comics. Firehawk later introduced Jason to Pozhar, a Russian superhero who was once a part of the Firestorm matrix; together, the trio take on a newly reborn Tokamak. This series ended with Firestorm: The Nuclear Man issue #35 in April 2007.

Anti-Life Equation

Main article: Anti-Life Equation

Jason Rusch and Martin Stein meet Shilo Norman, and are attacked in succession by Orion of the New Gods and the Female Furies of Apokolips. Shilo informs Stein and Rusch that one quarter of the Life Equation is hidden within the Firestorm Matrix. The others are held by Earth's other three Elementals, (possibly the Red Tornado, Naiad, and Swamp Thing). Darkseid fears that the Life Equation might challenge him and his Anti-Life Equation. Orion wished to keep Professor Stein safe, and the Furies wished to secure the Matrix for Darkseid.[8] With Gehenna as a "hidden partner" in the Matrix, Jason began his search for Stein.

Justice League

While apprehending Killer Frost in the commission of a heist, Jason Rusch is severely wounded by Lex Luthor, the Joker, and Cheetah. While still recovering, he goes to aid the captive members of the Justice League. Upon freeing the members of the League, he joins the battle against the Injustice League. After this victory, Firestorm is drafted into the League by Batman.

During the team's encounter with the planet destroying villain Starbreaker and the black-ops team the Shadow Cabinet, Jason eventually faces Carl Sands (AKA Shadow Thief), the villain who killed Ronnie Raymond and inadvertently caused Jason's transformation into Firestorm. Sands mocks Jason for being an unworthy successor and nearly kills him like he did his predecessor, but Jason rejects the villain's insinuation that he is inferior, and emerges victorious.[9][10] Jason instead uses his abilities to seal Sands' mouth shut with duct tape, preventing the utilization the shadows within his body, thus rendering the villain powerless. He later assists Icon and the rest of the Justice League in the final battle with Starbreaker.[11]

After this, Jason plays a minor role in the mini-series Justice League: Cry for Justice. A short time later, Firestorm is seen helping search for survivors alongside Animal Man and Starfire after Star City is destroyed by Prometheus.[12]

Blackest Night

In the 2009 - 2010 Blackest Night miniseries, Ronnie Raymond is called by a black power ring to join the Black Lantern Corps. In the following issue, his reanimated corpse is shown confronting Barry Allen and Hal Jordan alongside Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Elongated Man, Sue Dibny, and J'onn J'onzz.[13] He then attacks Jason Rusch (the current Firestorm), and absorbs him into his own version of the Firestorm matrix. Then, using Jason's unique abilities, turns Gehenna into table salt, simultaneously ripping her heart out with a smile. He uses the Firestorm Matrix to absorb Jason's anger over Gehenna's death, providing the Black Lanterns with even more emotional energies.[14] He goes on to attack Barry and co. at the Justice League satellite. Jason then briefly asserts himself, allowing the heroes to escape. Regaining control, Ronnie proceeds to absorb Jason's willpower. Like other Black Lanterns, the undead Firestorm mimics the personality of Ronnie Raymond, often wisecracking and exhibiting other stereotypical teenage behavior.[15] In the final battle against Nekron, Ronnie is restored to life alongside Jason, the two separating from Firestorm. Ronnie is confused, asking Atom where Professor Stein is while Jason is upset with Ronnie killing Gehenna. Ronnie, however, apparently has no memory of doing so.[16]

Brightest Day

Main article: Brightest Day

In the 2010 - 2011 Brightest Day miniseries, Ronnie Raymond, still clad in casual clothing from a wild party the night before, arrives at Jason Rusch's apartment with Professor Stein and Ray Palmer to attend Gehenna's funeral. Stein and Palmer discuss Ron's return and how he no longer remembers anything since his death at the hands of Shadow Thief. While the two talk about the paperwork needed to have Ronnie's legal status as "dead" reversed, Ron approaches Jason and offers an apology about Gehenna's murder. Jason refuses to accept it, telling Ronnie that he forced him into being an accomplice to his own girlfriend's death, and that he probably doesn't even remember her name. When Ronnie is actually unable to remember Gehenna's name, Jason angrily lashes out and punches him in the face. This causes the two young men to merge into Firestorm, and they begin arguing inside the Matrix while Palmer transforms into the Atom in order to help them separate.[17][18]

Palmer manages to separate Jason and Ronnie, but not before the Firestorm matrix causes a huge explosion, transmutating everything in the Professor's laboratory into table salt.[19] While recovering in the hospital, Stein explains to Ronnie that it seems to be very dangerous to fuse into Firestorm again. Also, it is revealed that Ronnie, after quickly leaving the hospital and being threatened by Jason's father to stay away from Jason, lied to everyone, as he seems to perfectly remember murdering Gehenna as a Black Lantern.[20]

Some time after the forceful separation, he lies sleeping in preparation of a party, when a previously heard voice prods him awake - a monstrous construct of Gehenna, made totally of salt, which proceeds to throttle and choke him, taunting him to remember her name; while she is interrupted before killing him, Ronnie is left covered in salt.[21] Not too long after, he is lying, recovering from a massive binge, when Jason again forces the merge to help several construction workers endangered when the girders at the site are transmuted without warning to bubble gum. This time, they again hear the mysterious voice taunting them, and Ronnie accepts he remembers killing Gehenna, and they realize something else is lurking from within the Firestorm Matrix.[22]

As Firestorm, Ronnie and Jason visit Stein in an attempt to find out what is happening to them. Stein reveals to them that the Black Lantern Firestorm still exists in the Firestorm Matrix. Firestorm is then told by the Entity that they must learn from each other and defeat the Black Lantern Firestorm, before he destroys the Entity. Somehow, Jason and Ronnie trade places.[23]

After running a test, Professor Stein reveals the origin of the Firestorm Matrix. Stein believes that during the initial experiment he was able to capture the spark that preceded the Big Bang that created our universe. Thereby making the matrix a trigger for a new big bang, if the boys continue to experience emotional imbalance, they increase the likelihood of triggering a new big bang. After explaining this to the boys, the voice inside them speaks again. Declaring that it is not the matrix, a pair of black hands reaches out from inside Firestorm. Forcibly separating Jason and Ronnie, Black Lantern Firestorm stands between them, separate from both Ronnie and Jason and apparently calling itself "Deathstorm".[24]

Deathstorm reveals its plan to Stein, stating that it intends to create enough emotional instability between Ronnie and Jason that the Matrix will trigger another Big Bang thereby destroying of all life in the universe. In order to help accomplish this goal, Deathstorm absorbs Stein's mind in order to use his knowledge of Ronnie against him; then, to torture Jason, Deathstorm brings his father Alvin Rusch to the lab and absorbs him as well. Taking flight Deathstorm beckons Ronnie and Jason (now merged into Firestorm) to follow it. Deathstorm leads them to Silver City, New Mexico and the resting place of the Central Power White Lantern Battery. Deathstorm tries to lift the battery but is unable to until he infects it with black energy, after which he is able to lift it with ease. After he threatens to destroy the White Lantern Battery and therefore prevent Ronnie and Jason to truly live, a voice beckons him not to. The voice, commands him to bring the Central Power White Lantern Battery to the voice as well as an army, at which point Deathstorm brings back the Black Lantern versions of Professor Zoom, Maxwell Lord, Hawk, Jade, Captain Boomerang, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Deadman and Osiris.[25]

Deathstorm and the Black Lanterns teleport to an unknown location, Firestorm (Jason and Ronnie) ultimately seek the help from the Justice League.[26] Firestorm arrive at the Hall of Justice asking for help.[27] Firestorm is placed in a containment chamber while the League search for a way to stabilize the energy. However, an internal argument between Ronnie and Jason ignites the spark, apparently resulting in the destruction of the universe.[28] Ronnie and Jason quickly notice, after defeating an hive of Shadow Demons, that the universe was not destroyed as they thought but they were actually transported to the Anti-Matter Universe. There they are contacted by the Entity who reveals to them that since Boston Brand has not yet found the one who will take the Entity's place, it is Firestorm mission to protect the Entity.[29] Meanwhile, Deathstorm and the Black Lanterns are shown on Qward delivering the White Battery to someone.[30] That someone is revealed to be the Anti-Monitor seeking to harvest the life energy within the Lantern to grow stronger. Firestorm takes the White Lantern and attempts to fight the Anti-Monitor, but is defeated. Deathstorm then brings Professor Stein out of his Matrix to taunt the two with. Deathstorm then attempts to turn Ronnie to salt, but the Professor takes the brunt of the attack. Angered, Ronnie decides to truly work together with Jason to avenge the Professor. The Entity then declares that Ronnie has accomplished his mission, returning life to him in a burst of white energy that obliterates the Black Lanterns, returns Jason's father to his home, and deposits Firestorm in the Star City forest. Ronnie angrily attempts to make the Entity resurrect the Professor, but is refused. Deadman then arrives, demanding that he be given the White Lantern.[31]

When the "Dark Avatar", made his presence known, Firestorm is part of the Elementals. Ronnie was then transformed by the Entity to become the element of fire and protect the Star City Forest from the "Dark Avatar" which appears to be the Black Lantern version of the Swamp Thing.[32] The Elementals are then fused with the body of Alec Holland in order for him to be transformed by the Entity into the new Swamp Thing and battle against the Dark Avatar. After the Dark Avatar is defeated, Swamp Thing brought back Firestorm to normal. Afterward, Ronnie and Jason must find a way to contain their Firestorm matrix from the explosion less than ninety days.[33]

The New 52

After the events of the 2011 "Flashpoint" storyline, The New 52 reality altered Firestorm's personal history to be completely restarted. Ronnie Raymond is now introduced as a high school senior and the captain of the football team. During a terrorist attack on their school, classmate Jason Rusch produces a vial given to him by Professor Stein, which contains the "God Particle", one of Stein's creations. The God Particle transform both Jason and Ronnie into Firestorm, and the two teens briefly battle each other before accidentally merging into a hulking creature known as the Fury.[34]

Sharing the identity of Firestorm with Ronnie being the brawn and Jason being the brains, Firestorm is considered for recruitment into the Justice League along with several other heroes. They play a large part in the events leading up to the Trinity War, the three-way battle between the Justice League (the original headed by Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman), the Justice League of America (the A.R.G.U.S. sponsored team led by Steve Trevor, Green Arrow and Amanda Waller), and Justice League Dark (the paranormal team consisting of John Constantine, Zatana and the Phantom Stranger). When Superman is framed for the death of Dr. Light and the League is taken into custody, Amanda Waller has Firestorm experiment on their ability to create certain elements: specifically, the mass production of kryptonite. It turns out that the two are indeed capable of using their powers to create it, but with some difficulty. However, this ultimately becomes moot once the Trinity War leads to the invasion of the Crime Syndicate, who supposedly kill off the Justice League. In fact, the League is trapped inside Firestorm by his Earth-3 counterpart Deathstorm (a combination of Martin Stein and a corpse he experimented on), with only Batman and Catwoman escaping the initial fracas. The Leagues are presumed dead for a time, but are eventually freed from captivity after the Syndicate is defeated by Batman and Lex Luthor's Injustice League, Batman using Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth to draw her and the others out of Firestorm.

Powers and abilities

Firestorm has the ability to rearrange the atomic and subatomic structure of inorganic matter, rearranging subatomic particles to create objects of different atomic characteristics of equal mass. He can not only change and transmute the atomic composition of an object (e.g., transmuting lead into gold of equal mass) but he can also change its shape. He initially could not, however, affect organic matter without painful, even lethal, feedback. As Jason Rusch became Firestorm however, that weakness had all but dissipated. With old and new variations the organic limitation does not extend to his person as he can change himself at will, allowing him to regenerate lost and damaged tissue, boost his immune system, shapeshift, and survive indefinitely without food, water and air. Much like a Green Lantern's limitations, Firestorm can only create items whose workings are understood by the "driver" of the Firestorm matrix. Unlike a Green Lantern's creations, Firestorm's alterations are permanent unless he reverses them.[1] Following Raymond's resurrection during Brightest Day, Firestorm gained the ability to switch "drivers" between Ronnie and Jason at will; before that only the active driver was in control, with the dormant consciousness only able to advise the other on what action to take rather than do anything themselves.

Firestorm has also demonstrated the ability to fly at fantastic (but unmeasured) speeds, to render himself intangible and thereby pass through solid objects harmlessly, to generate destructive and concussive blasts of fusion energy from his hands, to absorb radiation harmlessly, and superhuman levels of strength and resistance to injury.

Other versions

Firestorm has appeared in various alternate realities within the DC Multiverse: a gender-reversed version appears in Countdown: The Search for Ray Palmer as an inhabitant of Earth-11;[35] a version of the Ronnie Raymond Firestorm appeared in JLA: The Nail, as a captive of Cadmus Labs;[36] a Firestork in Just'a Lotta Animals;[37] a Firestorm of a Justice League 100 years in the future, where Maxwell Lord has plunged humanity into a massive Metahuman war appeared in Justice League: Generation Lost,[38] and a merger of Ronnie Raymond and Nathaniel Adam of Earth-37 called Quantum-Storm was summoned by Monarch in the mini-series Countdown: Arena.[39]

Earth-3

During the "Trinity War" event, Firestorm's Crime Syndicate counterpart is introduced as Deathstorm from Earth-3.[40] It is revealed that, on Earth-3, Professor Martin Stein would experiment on humans to unlock the secret of life through death. He was recruited by one of the Crime Syndicate's enemies to determine what the Syndicate's individual weaknesses were. However, he used the new lab he was in to continue his human experimentation, eventually experimenting on himself, fusing with a corpse, becoming Deathstorm.[41] He is killed by Mazahs, who then steals his powers.[42]

Flashpoint

In the alternative timeline of Flashpoint, Jason Rusch is killed by Heat Wave in an attempt to take his place in the Firestorm Matrix, alongside Ronnie Raymond, but is defeated by Cyborg.[volume & issue needed]

In other media

Television

Animation

  • Firestorm was among the myriad planned guest stars in Cartoon Network's Justice League Unlimited animated series. JLU writer/producer Dwayne McDuffie said the producers had permission from DC Comics to use Firestorm, but the show's creators could not come up with a story that they liked.[citation needed] In Wizard magazine #197, McDuffie revealed that the producers intended to use the Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein version of Firestorm. Firestorm has appeared in issues +#3 and 16 of the JLU tie-in comic. He was to have been the focus character for the episode "The Greatest Story Never Told" but was replaced by Booster Gold.[43]
  • The Jason Rusch and Ronnie Raymond incarnation of Firestorm appeared on the animated TV series Batman: The Brave and the Bold. This version consisted of the body and mind of intelligent youngster Jason Rusch (voiced by Tyler James Williams) and the muscle of ex-jock and science teacher Ronnie Raymond (voiced by Bill Fagerbakke). Producer James Tucker said this, "the smart kid has the body and he's got this dumb guy in his head telling him stuff... it's kind of a total flip of the original Firestorm".[44] In "A Bat Divided!", the youth Jason and his coach Ronnie attend a class trip at a nuclear plant. The two are caught in the middle of Doctor Double X's supercharged nuclear energy and are fused together by accident. After being given a containment suit by Batman, Jason and Ronnie use their abilities to stop Doctor Double X. Jason decides on the name 'Firestorm' in the episode's final scene despite Ronnie liking the name 'Flame Dude'. In "The Siege of Starro! (Part One)", Firestorm, Booster Gold, Captain Marvel and B'wana Beast help Batman fight Starro. Firestorm realizes that a host can be freed by overloading the Starro clone with energy. When Billy Batson yells 'Shazam!' and the lightning hits Starro, Firestorm hits upon the idea to use the lightning to defeat Starro. In "The Siege of Starro (Part Two)", Firestorm has a non-voiced appearance, fighting alongside many other superheroes to defeat Starro's titan form. Firestorm returns in the teaser for "Darkseid Descending!", assisting Batman in stopping Killer Frost.

Live-action

Robbie Amell as Ronnie Raymond with Victor Garber as Martin Stein in the background.
  • Firestorm appears on the CW series The Flash, primarily portrayed by Robbie Amell as Ronnie Raymond,[45] who can merge with Professor Martin Stein (Victor Garber) to become Firestorm,[46] following a freak particle accelerator accident at STAR Labs. Jason Rusch also appears, portrayed by Luc Roderique.[47] Amell said that a scene introducing Firestorm's ability to manipulate matter was filmed for the finale, but was ultimately cut due to time constraints.[48] In the first episode of the second season, Ronnie sacrifices himself to close a singularity threatening Central City. Barry is able to save only Professor Stein. When the team reunites six months later, Stein exhibits symptoms that the Firestorm matrix has become unstable without a partner, endangering Stein's life. The team searches for a likely candidate among people who have been affected by the dark matter explosion in a similar manner who also possess the same blood type. A new character, Jefferson "Jax" Jackson (Franz Drameh) is selected as Stein's new partner. Jax is a former high school football star (as was Ronnie in the comics) who was injured by the particle accelerator explosion, ending his collegiate career before it started. He is hesitant at first to become Stein's new partner, but agrees when the only other candidate, Henry Hewitt, uses his powers for revenge. Jax later leaves Central City with Stein to train in the use of his powers.
  • Ronnie Raymond returns in season 2, but as the Earth-2 version, his villainous persona known as Deathstorm. He is partnered with his Earth's Caitlin Snow, the supervillain known as Killer Frost. When Cisco asks if Professor Stein is in there, Ronnie says he hasn't let him out in years and can no longer hear his voice. When Deathstorm and his boss, Reverb (who is Earth-2 Cisco), nearly kill Barry, Zoom kills them both, leaving Caitlin to mourn for his death.[49]
  • Stein and Jackson appear in the spin-off Legends of Tomorrow, with Garber and Drameh reprising their roles.[50] Ronnie Raymond does not appear, leaving Stein and Jax as Firestorm.

Film

The Jason Rusch version of Firestorm appears in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, voiced by Cedric Yarbrough. He has a brief appearance, but it is not clear if he is merged with Martin Stein, Ronnie Raymond or operating on his own. Batman, realizing that he is outnumbered by several super-villains from a parallel earth, teleports Firestorm along with several other super-heroes to defend the base. Firestorm engages in battle with one of the "Made Men" from the alternate Earth, and is seen to use molecular manipulation powers to imprison his foe in the floor plating of the Justice League's incomplete space station. When the supervillain easily shatters the plating, Firestorm realizes that he is outmatched, and switches tactics, trying to overwhelm his opponent with energy blasts. Although he is knocked down and nearly finished by the enemy, Black Canary uses a well-timed scream to save him. Aside from briefly appearing in the dust of a demolished command center, he is not seen again until the end of the movie, when it is implied that Batman has invited him and the rest of the emergency help to join the Justice League. Additionally, an alternate version of Firestorm, from a parallel universe, appears briefly onscreen among the Made Men.

Video games

The Ronnie Raymond version of Firestorm appears as a playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, voiced by Nolan North.

Parodies

The Ronnie Raymond version of Firestorm appeared in the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special, voiced by Alfred Molina. He was featured in the second part of the segment "Real Characters From the DC Universe" where the narrator (voiced by Kevin Shinick) of that segment doesn't take him seriously. In the third part of "Real Characters From the DC Universe", Firestorm enters where he is not happy about being lumped in with Mister Banjo (who Firestorm refers to as Fatty Arbuckle) and states that he can fly, shoot nuclear blasts and can literally turn lead into gold. Mister Banjo replies to Firestorm that his banjo cost him almost $60.00 so they both "bring a lot to the table". Firestorm ends up transmuting Mister Banjo's banjo into steel to knock out Mister Banjo with. Firestorm then demands from the narrator where B'Dg, who was featured in the first part of the segment as another ridiculous DC character, is and the narrator tells Firestorm that B'Dg is "down the hall, first dressing room on the right." Firestorm then heads there and hits B'Dg with the banjo.

Collected editions

  • Firestorm: The Nuclear Man (Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #1–5)
  • Firestorm: The Nuclear Man – Reborn (Firestorm: The Nuclear Man Vol. 3 #23–27)
  • The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men Vol. 1: God Particle (The Fury of Firestorm #1–6)
  • The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men Vol. 2: The Firestorm Protocols (The Fury of Firestorm #7–12, 0)
  • The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men Vol. 3: Takeover (The Fury of Firestorm #13–20)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wallace, Dan (2008), "Firestorm", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 123, ISBN 0-7566-4119-5, OCLC 213309017
  2. ^ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1970s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. If inventiveness is the fusion of ideas, then Firestorm was one of the most original characters to emerge from a comic book in years. Penned by Gerry Conway and drawn by Al Milgrom, the Nuclear Man was a genuine sign of the times – the explosive embodiment of a nuclear world. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b Conway, Gerry. "Nuclear Reactions: Just Your Average Hot-Headed Hero," The Fury of Firestorm #1 #1 (June 1982).
  4. ^ Thu, 06/02/2011 - 10:00am (2011-05-31). "The New Justice | DC Comics". Dcu.blog.dccomics.com. Retrieved 2013-11-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Joe Harris Replaces Gail Simone as "Firestorm" Co-Writer". CBR.com. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  6. ^ Beatty, Scott (2008), "Extreme Justice", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 117, ISBN 0-7566-4119-5, OCLC 213309017
  7. ^ Johns, Geoff. Infinite Crisis #5 (April 2006)
  8. ^ As seen in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #33
  9. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #32 (April 2009)
  10. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #33 (May 2009)
  11. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #34 (June 2009)
  12. ^ Justice League: Cry for Justice #7 (March 2010)
  13. ^ Blackest Night #2 (August 2009)
  14. ^ Blackest Night #3 (September 2009)
  15. ^ Blackest Night #4 (October 2009)
  16. ^ Blackest Night #8 (March 2010)
  17. ^ Brightest Day #0 (April 2010)
  18. ^ Brightest Day #1 (May 2010)
  19. ^ Brightest Day #2 (May 2010)
  20. ^ Brightest Day #3 (June 2010)
  21. ^ Brightest Day #4 (June 2010)
  22. ^ Brightest Day #6 (July 2010)
  23. ^ Brightest Day #7 (August 2010)
  24. ^ Brightest Day #10 (September 2010)
  25. ^ Brightest Day #11 (October 2010)
  26. ^ Brightest Day #12 (October 2010)
  27. ^ Brightest Day #15 (December 2010)
  28. ^ Brightest Day #16 (December 2010)
  29. ^ Brightest Day #17 (January 2011)
  30. ^ Brightest Day #18 (January 2011)
  31. ^ Brightest Day #22 (March 2011)
  32. ^ Brightest Day #23 (April 2011)
  33. ^ Brightest Day #24 (April 2011)
  34. ^ The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #1 (September 2011)
  35. ^ Countdown: The Search for Ray Palmer #1
  36. ^ JLA: The Nail #2-3
  37. ^ Captain Carrot and his Amazing Crew #1
  38. ^ Justice League: Generation Lost #14
  39. ^ Countdown: Arena #1-4
  40. ^ Justice League Vol. 2 #23
  41. ^ Johns, Geoff (w), Reis, Ivan (p), Prado, Joe, Eber Ferreira, Rob Hunter, Andy Lanning (i), Reis, Rod, Tomeu Morey, Tony Avina (col), Napolitano, Nick J. (let). "Forever Numb" Justice League, vol. 2, no. 26 (February 2013). DC Comics.
  42. ^ Forever Evil #7
  43. ^ "The Justice League Watchtower: The Greatest Story Never Told". Jl.toonzone.net. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
  44. ^ Sands, Rich. "Winter Sci-fi Preview" TV Guide; November 23, 2009; Page 31
  45. ^ "'The Flash': Robbie Amell Cast as Firestorm". Variety. 9 July 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  46. ^ "'The Flash' Casting: Victor Garber To Recur As Dr. Martin Stein". Deadline.com. October 9, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  47. ^ Sunu, Steve (11 November 2014). "Roderique Cast As 'The Flash's' Jason Rusch". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  48. ^ Cairns, Bryan (May 19, 2015). "Amell Teases Wedding Bells, Tragedy & Matter Manipulation in "Flash's" Season Finale". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  49. ^ [1]
  50. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 26, 2015). "Arrow/Flash Superhero Team-Up Spinoff In Works At CW; Brandon Routh, Victor Garber, Wentworth Miller, Caity Lotz Star". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
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