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Appearing in "Power Struggle"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Other Characters:

  • U.S. Army
    • Dennis Loman (First appearance)
  • unnamed U.S. President

Locations:

Items:


Vehicles:




Synopsis for "Power Struggle"

At the moment of Captain Atom's arrival at the White House, the U.S. President receives a phone call from the Joint Chiefs that they have launched a tactical nuclear missile. They believe it is the "only chance to save America" despite Atom's proximity to the President. Once the missile hits Captain Atom, he absorbs the explosion, leaving everyone and everything nearby alive and intact. Atom then teleports himself inside the Oval Office and tells the President that they "need to talk". A Secret Service agent shoots Atom, but the bullet ricochets back and knocks him out. Atom formally introduces himself and his situation to the President and request the government's help. The President, rather amused by this, replies that he doesn't have the power to help Atom return to his world. He explains that, in this world, normal humans have no power; superpowered beings are the ones with the real "authority" to "decide who lives and who dies."

In New York City, Nikola Hanssen suspects that Grifter is lying to her about being from "meta-human compensation affairs". Cole tries to explain that she is becoming a superhero. Suddenly, she levitates for a moment. Cole then takes Nikola to an alley and reveals that she possesses a fragment of the Void entity.

Captain Atom leaves the White House disturbed by the knowledge that this Earth's people are absolutely afraid of their "heroes". He is then met again by Majestic. Upon seeing him, Atom angrily attacks Majestic and blames him and others like him for causing people to fear their own heroes. Majestic grabs Atom by the throat and tells him that he and others have done the "best thing" for humanity. Atom rebukes Majestic by spitting in his face. Angered, Majestic then throws Atom into the Washington Monument, causing its pinnacle to collapse. After Atom recovers and is shocked by what Majestic did to the monument, Majestic assures Atom that his nanobots will repair the Monument and calmly explains the threat Atom poses to the universe.

Meanwhile, Cole has taken Nikola to a diner and checks in with the other Wildcats. Maul inform him that they have tracked down Captain Atom and have witnessed his brief fight with Majestic from afar.

At dawn, Majestic has fully explained to Atom his grave discovery. Furthermore, according to Majestic's Kheran difference engine, the only way to save the universe is for Captain Atom to take his own life. Overwhelmed, Atom is unsure of Majestic's machine accuracy and decides to utilize the Pentagon's supercomputers. After arriving at the Pentagon, Atom uses his powers to access the Pentagon's computers and discovers that Majestic was right. Indeed, the situation is far worse: even if Atom dies, the universe will still be destroyed.

Atom returns to the Washington Monument where he sees Majestic's nanobots repairing the monument. He tries to think of a way to preventing his destruction, but he is interrupted by the Wildcats who arrive to battle him.

Notes

  • The President's implications on the Wildstorm heroes with higher authorities is a reference to The Authority's brief reign over the United States as depicted in "Coup d'État" and The Authority: Revolution.
  • The cover art for this issue is erroneously credited to Dale Keown.
  • This issue is reprinted in the Captain Atom: Armageddon trade paperback published in 2007.

Trivia

  • The diner that Cole and Hanssen are in resembles to the Edward Hopper's Nighthawks painting.

See Also

Links and References

Footnotes


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