Fictional character biography
Nobel Prize-winning physicist Martin Stein was caught in an accident that allowed him to fuse into Firestorm the "Nuclear Man" with student Ronnie Raymond. Due to Stein 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 City from such threats as Multiplex and Killer Frost. The 1982 series began with the teenaged Raymond adjusting to this role and later delved into the issue of the nuclear arms race. The Fury of Firestorm slowly developed the lives of Raymond and Stein, as Raymond struggled with high school and moved towards graduation, and Stein found a life outside the lab after learning about his bond with Raymond. [3] The series also tried to create a sense of fun, something that Gerry Conway felt was missing during his years writing Spider-Man; [4] the banter between Raymond and 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.
When Conway left the series in 1986, John Ostrander (with artist Joe Brozowski) began writing the Firestorm stories. His first major story arc pitted Firestorm against the world as the hero, acting on a suggestion from a terminally ill Martin Stein, demanded that the United States and the Soviet Union destroy all of their nuclear weapons. [5] After confrontations with the Justice League and most of his enemies, Firestorm faces the Russian nuclear superhero Pozhar in the Nevada desert, where an atomic bomb was dropped on them. A new Firestorm is created, composed of Raymond and Pozhar and controlled by the disembodied amnesiac mind of Stein. [6] [7] [8]
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". [1] 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 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, rarely returning to Earth.
The 2006 miniseries Infinite Crisis revealed that Stein was alive in space as the "Elemental Firestorm", had sensed the presence of Jason Rusch within the Firestorm matrix, but was unaware of Raymond's death during Identity Crisis . When Jason, as Firestorm, is gravely wounded in the line of duty, Stein links with Jason in a variation of the merge, promising Jason a new Firestorm form to return into battle. Accepting Martin's proposal, Jason asks Stein to become the permanent second member of the Firestorm matrix. Sensing that his "errors" were the result of his youth and lack of experience, Jason sought the experience and maturity of Stein. Stein refused at first, but later accepted Jason's request, thus ensuring both a new Firestorm form and the reconstruction of human bodies for both Jason and Stein. [1]
Rusch and Stein meet Shilo Norman, and are attacked in succession by the New Gods Orion, the Female Furies, and Kalibak. Shilo informs Stein and Rusch that the Firestorm matrix contains one-quarter of the Life Equation. Darkseid fears that the Life Equation might challenge him and the Anti-Life Equation. Stein is separated from the matrix, then vanishes without a trace. Jason, with Gehenna as a "hidden partner" in their fusion, begins searching for the missing Stein.
As the storyline jumps ahead one year (and the series was retitled as Firestorm the Nuclear Man from issue #23 on), it is revealed that Stein had been kidnapped and tortured by the Pupil (Adrian Burroughs), his former teaching assistant. [9] Flanked by the D.O.L.L.I.s, a group of cyborg soldiers of limited cognitive ability, the Pupil questions the nearly dead Stein about the secrets of the universe. Jason and Firehawk, along with Gehenna, free the captured Stein and restore him to full health.
Brightest Day
Stein returns in the 2010 series Brightest Day , where he reunites with Raymond resurrected. [10] While recovering in the hospital, Stein explains to Ronnie that it seems to be dangerous to fuse into Firestorm again. [11] As Firestorm, both Ronnie and Jason visit Stein in an attempt to find out what is happening to the two. Stein reveals to them that Deathstorm exists in the Firestorm matrix. Firestorm is then told by the Life Entity that they must learn from each other and defeat Deathstorm before the Black Lantern variation destroys the Life Entity. [12]
After running a test, 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, thereby making the Firestorm matrix a trigger for a similiar one. If the boys continue to experience emotional imbalance, they increase the likelihood of triggering a new Big Bang. Deathstorm emerges from the Firestorm matrix and 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, destroying all life in the universe. To help accomplish this goal, Deathstorm absorbs Stein's mind to use his knowledge of Ronnie against him. [13] [14] While confronting Firestorm, Deathstorm brings Stein out of the matrix to taunt him. Deathstorm attempts to turn Ronnie into salt, but Stein takes the brunt of the attack and dies. [15]
The New 52
After the events of the 2011 Flashpoint storyline, The New 52 relaunch rebooted the continuity of the DC universe; Martin Stein is depicted as a scientist who created the "God Particle" and is uninvolved with Ronnie Raymond and Jason Rusch who obtain the Particle and become Firestorm together. [16] [17]
