Neutron (DC Comics)

Neutron
The cover of Action Comics #525 (November 1981), Neutron's first appearance. Art by Ross Andru.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Action Comics #525 (November 1981)
Created by	Marv Wolfman (writer) Joe Staton (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Nathaniel Tryon
Team affiliations	TNT Trio Fearsome Five Intergang Secret Society of Super Villains Nuclear Legion
Abilities	- super strength - durability - nuclear blasts - flight - radiation absorption

Neutron is a fictional comic book supervillain in the DC Universe, appearing usually as an adversary of Superman.

Neutron first appeared in Action Comics #525 (November 1981) and was created by Marv Wolfman and Joe Staton.

Nathaniel Tryon was a petty thug who teamed up with two others as the TNT Trio. While on a caper at a nuclear power plant at which he worked as a security guard, Tryon was caught in the meltdown of a nuclear reactor, turning his body into sentient nuclear energy that could only be contained in a special containment suit. After learning how to control his energy, and learning that the accident was allegedly caused and covered up by the U.S. Government, Tryon killed those responsible for the accident and took up a criminal career as Neutron.

Eventually, he battled Superman, and was defeated and imprisoned. He was later released by the manipulations of Abraxas Industries as part of an apparent work release program, when actually it was part of a propaganda campaign against Superman spearheaded by Vandal Savage. Neutron's part was to engage in seemingly random acts of destruction, when actually he had hired himself out as a deconstruction engineer, a fact which of course did not come out until after Superman had fought and arrested him. Vandal's schemes would later be revealed to the public, and Neutron was apparently arrested and re-imprisoned for his part in them.

He is next seen held at the research facility, S.T.A.R. Labs. He and another criminal imprisoned there, Jinx, were eventually freed when S.T.A.R. Labs was attacked by the Fearsome Five, who took the two criminals into their ranks, but Neutron subsequently left the group.