Nuclear Family (comics)

Nuclear Family
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceOutsiders #1 (November 1985)
Created byJim Aparo
Mike W. Barr
In-story information
Member(s)Dad
Mom
Biff
Sis
Brat
Dog

The Nuclear Family is the name of a group of supervillains in DC Comics. Created by Jim Aparo and Mike W. Barr for the first issue of Outsiders, they are androids designed by a dying nuclear scientist to resemble himself and his deceased family.

The Nuclear Family appear in Titans, portrayed by Jeff Clarke, Melody Johnson, Jeni Ross, Logan Thompson, and Zach Smadu.

Publication history

The Nuclear Family first appeared in Outsiders #1, and were created by Jim Aparo and Mike W. Barr.

Fictional team history

The Nuclear Family are created by Eric Shanner, a nuclear scientist who unintentionally exposes himself and his family to lethal amounts of radiation and intends to demonstrate its effects. He sends the Family to destroy Los Angeles, but the Outsiders defeat them while Shanner dies from radiation poisoning.[1][2]

In Infinite Crisis, the Nuclear Family are rebuilt and join Alexander Luthor Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains.[3]

Members

  • Dad - The patriarch of the Nuclear Family. He can fly and emit immense amounts of radiation from his body.
  • Mom - The matriarch of the Nuclear Family. She can fly and project electromagnetic pulses.
  • Biff - The older son of the Nuclear Family. He can fly and emit nuclear thermal pulses.
  • Sis - The only daughter of the Nuclear Family. She can fly and create powerful concussive blasts.
  • Brat - The younger son of the Nuclear Family. He can fly and transform into radioactive fallout.
  • Dog - The pet of the Nuclear Family. It can fly and transform into radioactive fallout.

Other versions

  • A group dubbed the Nuclear Family Program appear in the WildStorm imprint Wildcats Version 3.0. They are cybernetically enhanced government-sponsored operatives and sleeper agents disguised as a modern middle-class family.[4]
  • An alternate universe variant of the Nuclear Family appear in the one-shot Last Christmas.[5] In a post-apocalyptic future decimated by nuclear warfare, they are running out of power and capture Firestorm in an attempt to kill him. However, he escapes and agrees to spend Christmas with the Family before they die.

In other media

  • The Nuclear Family appears in the Justice League Action episode "Nuclear Family Values", with Dad voiced by Kevin Shinick, Mom and Brat by Melissa Disney, Biff by Jason J. Lewis, and Sis by Rachel Kimsey.[6] This version of the group was originally built during the Cold War to demonstrate the side effects of using nuclear weapons and are initially unaware of their android nature. After gaining sentience and powers, they escape and intend to destroy a nuclear power plant to live in the fallout. However, Firestorm defeats the Family and places them in a replica of a family house to facilitate their desire for a normal life.
  • The Nuclear Family, also referred to simply as the "Family", appears in Titans,[7] with Dad portrayed by Jeff Clarke, Mom by Melody Johnson, Sis by Jeni Ross, Biff by Logan Thompson, and series original character Stepdad portrayed by Zach Smadu. This version of the group are humans brainwashed by Dr. Adamson to serve Trigon and enhanced with a special serum. Adamson tasks the Family with capturing Rachel Roth before they are defeated by the Titans, after which Adamson kills them with explosive implants.

References

  1. ^ Barr, Mike W., Aparo, Jim (w), Barr, Mike W., Aparo, Jim (a). "Nuclear Fear, Part II: Family Ties!" The Outsiders, no. 2 (December 1985). New York, NY: DC Comics.
  2. ^ Barr, Mike W., Aparo, Jim (w), Barr, Mike W., Aparo, Jim (a). "Nuclear Fear, Part 1: Beginning with a Bang!" The Outsiders, vol. 1, no. 1 (November 1985). New York, NY: DC Comics.
  3. ^ Gray, Justin, Palmiotti, Jimmy (w), Jurgens, Dan, Palmiotti, Jimmy (a). "The Battle for Blüdhaven, Part 4" Battle for Blüdhaven, no. 4 (July 2006). DC Comics.
  4. ^ Wildcats Ver. 3.0 #3 - 5
  5. ^
    • Goldfield, Ray (November 28, 2018). "Review – DC's Nuclear Winter Special: Merry Apocalypse!". GeekDad. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
    • Hemingway, Reggie (November 28, 2018). "DC's Nuclear Winter Special #1 Review and **SPOILERS**". Weird Science DC Comics. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  6. ^
    • "Dad Voice - Justice League Action (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 8, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
    • "Mom Voice - Justice League Action (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 8, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
    • "Biff Voice - Justice League Action (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 8, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
    • "Sis Voice - Justice League Action (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 8, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
    • "Brat Voice - Justice League Action (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 8, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  7. ^ Ridgely, Charlie (September 12, 2018). "Titans: Hawk & Dove Join the Team in First Episode 2 Photos". Comic Book. Retrieved September 17, 2018.