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).
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.[1]
Fictional character biography
Pre-Crisis
Reactron as depicted in his early appearances.
Ben 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.[2] 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,[3] then later fights Supergirl.[4]
Post-Crisis
Reactron's origin and background are altered following the 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity reboot. Now named Benjamin Krull, he faces the Doom Patrol and Power Girl in his first appearance.[5] Most of his pre-Crisis continuity seems intact, but it is now said that his previous battles involved Power Girl instead of Supergirl.[6] Seemingly destroyed after overloading on Negative Woman's energy,[7] Reactron resurfaces unharmed as a member of the Suicide Squad.[8]
Reactron, redesigned with a Gold Kryptonite heart, wreaks havoc alongside Metallo during the "New Krypton" storyline.
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.[9] Shortly afterward, Reactron kills himself, causing a chain reaction that destroys New Krypton and kills all but a handful of its inhabitants.[10]
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.[11]
In other media
Reactron appears in the Supergirl episode "Fight or Flight",[12] portrayed by Chris Browning.[13] This version is 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.[14]
^Gates, Sterling (w), Rodriguez, Ivan (p), Rodriguez, Ivan (i), Ruffino, Nei; Zaratus (col). "Last Stand of New Krypton, Part Seven: Distractions" Supergirl, vol. 5, no. 52 (June 2010). DC Comics.
^Johns, Geoff (w), Woods, Pete (p), Woods, Pete (i), Anderson, Brad (col). "New Krypton (Part VII of X) - Brainiac Lives" Action Comics, vol. 1, no. 872 (February 2009). DC Comics.
