Doctor Megala
| Heinrich Megala | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Captain Atom Vol.1 #1 (March, 1987) |
| Created by |
Cary Bates Pat Broderick |
| In-story information | |
| Supporting character of | Captain Atom |
Doctor Heinrich Megala is a scientist who is responsible for the creation of one of the universe's most powerful forces, Captain Atom, as well as his close confidante and ally. Possessing a genius level intellect, he has a deeper understanding of the Quantum Field than anyone else and the understanding of many other highly advanced forms of science that he's managed to turn to practical application. He is also responsible for creating the X-Ionizer technology capable of cutting Captain Atom's skin and the skin of most invulnerable metahumans.
Doctor Megala was part of Project Atom, a secret government funded group that used new experimental machines to harness powerful energies, which is led by General Wade Eiling. Megala was employed by the United States Air Force as part on an expedition seeking to take samples from an alien known as the Silver Shield. In the process of getting a sample with a X-Ionizer knife that Megala created himself, one of his colleagues was killed by the Silver Shield. Megala was behind him so he did not get much damage although the radiation gave Megala a permanent disease, and his health continued to deteriorate throughout his life. He eventually lost any sight in his right eye and could no longer walk. Megala raised Robert Long, the bereaved son of his late colleague following the events of the Silver Shield, who would eventually become his bodyguard/servant and go by Babylon as an alias.
He used his samples to work on a super-soldier program, along with General Wade Eiling. Their project led to the creation of Captain Atom and Major Force. He helped to create an elaborate cover story for Atom. When Captain Atom resurfaced from the Quantum Field, Megala was in a customized wheelchair that he created. He no longer could use his arms and need robotic arms attached to the wheelchair. Despite his condition, he helped Captain Atom learn about the Quantum Field as well as about his powers.
The disease would bad enough that he asked Captain Atom for help (Captain Atom #39). He attempted to use Captain Atom's atomic energy to stop the disease which worked successfully but at a price: Megala became blind. Fearing that Eiling would eventually turn on him, Megala set up a contingency plan which would make public all secrets of the project once his heart ceased functioning. His heart did stop when Megala was killed while fighting Ghost/Alec Rois. His plan proved to be a mere bluff but Captain Atom decided to become the actual whistleblower of the product and confessed the truth on national television.
Despite Megala's fear of Eiling betraying him, Eiling had a great amount of respect of Megala as he was the first one to kneel down next to Megala when he died.
...
Wikipedia