- Radioactive Man (The Simpsons character)
Superherobox|
caption=Cover of Radioactive Man issue #1.
comic_color=#c0c0c0
character_name=Radioactive Man
real_name=Claude Kane III
publisher=Bongo Comics
debut=On Simpsons TV show: "Bart the Genius " (first mention), "The Telltale Head " (first appearance of comic book)
In Bongo Comics: "Radioactive Man" #1, 1994
creators=Morty Mann (fictional creator),Matt Groening (real creator)
alliance_color=#ffc0c0
status=Active
alliances=Superior Squad
knockoffs=Radiation Dude
aliases=Radio Man, Radiation Man
relatives=Camellia Kane/Pneumatica (mother), Claude Kane II (father), Rod Runtledge (ward)|powers=Strength, speed, flight, invulnerability, power to fire beams of "clean, nuclear heat" from eyes |Radioactive Man, within the world of the
animated series "The Simpsons ", is acomic book superhero who acquired his powers after surviving anatomic bomb explosion. His sidekick is Fallout Boy, and hiscatchphrase is "Up andatom !", a reference to Up An' Atom, the name of a B-29 carrier used during World War II to carry an atomic bomb.Fictional Publication History
Within the Simpsons universe, Radioactive Man has been portrayed in many media since his debut in "Radioactive Man" #1 in 1952. In addition to comic books, he was featured in at least one 1940s or 1950s era black-and-white serial, sponsored by
Laramie Cigarettes . The serials featured fictional actor Dirk Richter -- a parody ofAdam West andGeorge Reeves -- as Radioactive Man, and Buddy Hodges played Fallout Boy. Richter, reportedly born in 1922 (he was said to be 72 years old (and dead) in 1995), was apparently shot to death in abordello sometime in the 1960s [Mentioned in "The Simpsons" episode "Three Men and a Comic Book ".] (a reference to the mysterious death ofGeorge Reeves , the first actor to portraySuperman on television). Sometime in the 80sTroy McClure portrayed Radioactive Man in a "Radioactive Man" movie trilogy. "Radioactive Man III" featuredKrusty the Clown as the presumably main villain Krusto the Evil Clown (a parody of the Joker) and featured Buddy Hodges as Fallout Boy's great grandfather. [Advertised on the back cover of "Radioactive Man" #412.] The trilogy consisted of:* "Radioactive Man"
* "Radioactive Man II: Bring On The Sequel"
* "Radioactive Man III: Oh God, Not Again"In 1995, a Hollywood studio attempted to film a Radioactive Man movie in Springfield. The movie starred
Rainier Wolfcastle (Springfield's answer toArnold Schwarzenegger ), as Radioactive Man. The role of Fallout Boy was cast from local children.Bart Simpson , a huge Radioactive Man fan, tried out for the part, but it went to his pal,Milhouse Van Houten , due to Bart being an inch too short. The origin of Fallout Boy was changed for the movie: Rod Runtledge acquires superpowers after getting run over by an x-ray truck and blasted in the face by the x-ray machine it was transporting. Still trapped under the truck, he meets Radioactive Man when the superhero arrives on the scene to lift it off him.Krusty the Clown was cast as villains Dr. Clownius and Silly Sailor. Wolfcastle is incapable of saying the "Up and Atom!" catchphrase correctly; it always comes out as "Up and at them," rendered as "Up and at zem," on account of Wolfcastle's German accent. The movie was never completed due to budget overruns caused by constant price-gouging by Springfield vendors, and Milhouse snapping from the pressure of the role, and refusing to continue to portray Fallout Boy - former child actorMickey Rooney attempted to take over the role, with predictably miserable results. The unfinished project was presumably shelved. There was also a campy early 1970s TV series suspiciously resembling the "Batman" TV series, and boasted the appearance of an extremely flamboyantsupervillain called "The Scoutmaster", who resembledPaul Lynde .A knock-off of Radioactive Man exists. This comic book character is known as "Radiation Dude". Instead of using Radioactive Man's clever
catchphrase "up and atom!" he just says "up and let's go."In the episode "
Husbands and Knives ", it was revealed that comic writerAlan Moore had written several issues of Radioactive Man. He made Radioactive Man a heroin addicted Jazz Critic that was not radioactive.The Bongo Comic
Radioactive Man has escaped from the fictional world of Bart Simpson to appear in a real comic book intermittently published by
Bongo Comics , which has also published, since 1994, a number of comics featuringBart Simpson , the Simpson family, and other characters from the television show.Issue #1 of the Bongo comic differs from "RM" #1 as seen in "Simpsons" episode "
Three Men and a Comic Book ". While featuring a similar scenario and accident (Claude getting his trousers caught on barbed wire just before a mega-bomb explodes. This is a parody of Bruce Banner getting caught by the Gamma Bomb in Incredible Hulk #1), the Bongo series' Claude was not wearing tattered clothes. In the books, Claude's survival is due in part to a large thunderbolt-shaped shard of metal embedded in his head by the explosion. Claude would attempt to remove the bolt throughout the book series, but each attempt has nasty consequences which results in it being put back in his scalp again. Additionally, the bolt's presence would save his life numerous times in increasingly bizarre ways.Maintaining the satirical standards of the television show, these comics often parody genre comic books, and the reader can follow the evolution of Radioactive Man from a 1950s irradiated hero through the politically reactionary or radical years of the 1960s and 1970s, and the dark, troubled years of the 1980s and 1990s comic book hero. Indeed, one comic displays a startling similarity to Alan Moore's
Watchmen , with Radioactive Man taking the part of state-supported hero Doctor Manhattan. The comics are published as if they were the actual "Simpsons" universe's Radioactive Man comics; a "1970s"-published comic features a letter written by a ten-year-old Marge Bouvier, for instance.Within the Bongo Comics, Radioactive Man is secretly Claude Kane III, a millionaire playboy whose personality was well-intentioned, but bumbling and not overly bright. In addition (which became a recurring storyline element), Claude's personality was permanently stuck in a conservative 1950s outlook on everything, no matter what the time era in question was. A running gag is that in order to preserve his secret identity, Claude is constantly wearing various types of hats, in order to conceal the lightning bolt-shaped shrapnel sticking out of his head.
Simpsons Super Spectacular is a series published by
Bongo Comics . It was first released in June 2006, containing 5 stories. The series acts as a continuation of Radioactive Man comics with the inclusion of the Springfield-universe superheros including Homer as Pieman, Bart as Bartman as well as Stretch Dude and Clobber Girl from Treehouse of Horror X. One of the stories has Bartman and his sidekick Milhouse meet their almost exact equals in Shelbyville. [cite web|url=http://www.supersimpsons.com/ |title=SUPERSIMPSONS.COM: Bartman, Radioactive Man, & More! |publisher=Supersimpsons.com |date= |accessdate=2008-10-06]Powers and abilities
Throughout most of the Simpsons TV series, very few references to Radioactive Man's actual super powers have been made. As a result, the extent of his powers are not known. It can be inferred that Radioactive Man has some level of
superhuman strength and invulnerability. In one Simpson episode, Bart shows Lisa a comic where Radioactive Man is seen throwing a villain into the sun and quipping, 'Hot enough for you?'. In the planned Radioactive Man movie, a stunt was filmed in which he easily lifts a car off Fallout Boy. The Bongo comics expanded on his powers, giving him several which parodied those ofSuperman including super speed,flight , and the power to fire beams of "clean, nuclear heat" from his eyes. He is also bulletproof.Fallout Boy
In the series, Fallout Boy first appeared in a 1950s "Radioactive Man" film serial shown at a comic book convention in the episode "
Three Men and a Comic Book ", and it was implied that the actor who played Fallout Boy might have been gay. However, unlike many "Simpsons" characters, he has only made a handful of appearances since. While Radioactive Man is a broad parody of many superheroes, most obviously containing elements ofBatman andSuperman (and the comic incorporates an origin story similar to Marvel'sThe Hulk ), among others, Fallout Boy is mainly a parody of Robin (with his costume, references as being the 'young ward' of Radioactive Man, and his younger age and sidekick status) with elements of Spider-Man (his fictional comic book origin, for example). His catchphrase: "Jiminy jillickers!"Additionally, Fallout Boy also appears in a real-life comic book titled "Radioactive Man", published by
Bongo Comics (a comic created in part byMatt Groening , the creator of "The Simpsons"). In these comic books, Fallout Boy's real name is Rod Runtledge, he has a brother named Dodd Runtledge, and they live in Zenith City. Rod is ahigh school nerd living with his aunt, Aunt June, an obvious reference toSpider-Man 's alter ego, Peter Parker, who lives with his Aunt May.Fallout Boy was an average book worm, until one day, he was at a Radioactive demonstration, where he met up with Claude Kane (Radioactive Man). A tall piece of machinery fell towards them. Claude grabbed Rod and jumped over the rail, Claude holding onto the machine. The machine came to life, and as the ray passed through Claude, it hit Rod. Rod then got a pint sized version of RM's powers, and became Fallout Boy.
Milhouse was chosen to play Fallout Boy in the Radioactive Man movie.
He is also the origin of the band
Fall Out Boy 's name.Comic bibliography
A list of the issues published so far, plus all other known appearances of Radioactive Man (organized by order released):
Pre-Bongo
* "Simpsons Comics & Stories" #1: Features a page from "Radioactive Man" #418.
* "Bartman and Radioactive Man" #1:This comic book was anashcan comic included in an issue of "Hero Illustrated", in 1994. It contains a mini poster of Bartman and Radioactive Man.Volume 1
Written by
Steve Vance ; publishing started 1994.* "Radioactive Man" #1 ("1952"): The first appearance and origin of Radioactive Man; a parody of Golden Age comics. Specifically parodying early issues of the Incredible Hulk.
* "Radioactive Man" #88 ("1962"): features a "retelling" of the origin of Fallout Boy; a parody of Silver Age Marvel comics.
* "Radioactive Man" #216 ("1972"): a parody of the "relevant" age of 1970s comics, Radioactive Man discovered that Fallout Boy was ahippie spoofing issue #85 of "Green Lantern /Green Arrow " in which Green Arrow discovered his sidekick Speedy was aheroin addict
* "Radioactive Man" #412 ("1980"): a parody of the "Dark Phoenix " storyline in the "X-Men " comics.
* "Radioactive Man" #679 ("1986"): a parody of several 1980s comic storylines, particularly "Crisis on Infinite Earths ", "Watchmen " and "".
* "Radioactive Man" #1000 ("1995"): a parody of 1990s comics, including Image Comics' "Spawn".
* "Radioactive Man" 80-Page Colossal: a "reprint" of various "previous" Radioactive Man stories; a parody of various Silver AgeDC Comics stories, as well as DC's80 Page Giant s, a series of 80-page-long reprints of previous material that DC published in the 1960s.Between Volumes
* "Simpsons Comics" #36-39 / "Radioactive Man" #160 ("1968"): the flip-sides from all four issues form a parody of
Jim Steranko 'sNick Fury : Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. comics. Features Purple Haze, a character who parodiesLuke Cage 's affinity for Ebonics.
* "Simpsons Comics" #50 / "Radioactive Man" #99 ("1963"): features a one-page ad parodying the old comic advertisements for Hostess confections; also a backup story, "Planet of the Strange-O's," spoofingBizarro from Superman's comics.Volume 2
Written by
Batton Lash ; publishing started 2001.* "Radioactive Man" #100 ("1963")
* "Radioactive Man" #222 ("1973"): a parody of the early 1970s Marvel Comics.
* "Radioactive Man" #136 ("1966"): a parody ofArchie Comics 'sMighty Comics line.
* "Radioactive Man" #4 ("1953"): a parody of Marvel Comics science-fiction comics.
* "Radioactive Man" #575 ("1984"): a parody of various independent 1980s comics, particularlyHoward Chaykin 's "American Flagg " (Chaykin drew the cover for this issue).
* "Radioactive Man" #106 ("1963"): a parody ofGold Key Comics
* "Bongo Super-Heroes" #7
* "Radioactive Man Movie Special": the "official" comic book adaptation of the "Radioactive Man" movie (as seen in the "Simpsons" episode "Radioactive Man")
* "Radioactive Man" #197 ("1971"): a parody of the "New Gods " comics created byJack Kirby .Despite winning an Eisner, volume 2 was cancelled, and
Batton Lash and Radioactive Man were moved into writing smaller stories alongsideBartman stories and other miscellaneous Simpsons vignettes as part of "Simpsons Super Spectacular". [http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=004181 Accessed: 17 Mar 2007]Post-Volume 2
* "Simpsons Super Spectacular" #1: Flip side of comic has Radioactive Man in a parody of
Charlton Comics 'sCaptain Atom . Three stories are all based on early 1960s Captain Atom stories, as is the cover.
* "Simpsons Super Spectacular" #2: "Bongos" a parody ofKurt Busiek /Alex Ross 'sMarvels .
* "Simpsons Super Spectacular" #3: Lure Lass and Weasel Woman team-up adventure, battling the Crazy Cat Lady. Radioactive Man makes a short appearance at the end. Also Features "The Coming of Gastritus", a parody ofMarvel Comics 'sGalactus .
* "Simpsons Super Spectacular" #4: Radioactive Man battles the Cane Gang. After a run-in with them, he becomes deathly afraid of radioactivity, an obstacle he overcomes by the end of the issue.
* "Simpsons Super Spectacular" #5: Radioactive Man battles Mufelatto, the Aliment Man in an homage toMetamorpho the Element Man drawn byRamona Fradon .
* "Simpsons Super Spectacular" #6: "Interminable Crises: The Extreme Alternate Edition" A parody of DC "Crisis" events
* "Simpsons Super Spectacular" #7: "The House of Westinger" A parody of Mort Weisinger era DC Superman comics.
* "Radioactive Man" #711: Produced exclusively for sale at7-Eleven stores in concert with the release of "The Simpsons Movie ". [http://www.7-eleven.com/sip_rmcb.asp] The issue itself gives a brief (8 page)retcon of Radioactive Man's origin, followed by reprints of #4 and Simpsons Comics #50.References
External links
* [http://www.snpp.com/guides/comics_rm.html Radioactive Man Comics Guide]
* [http://www.krustofski.com/bongo When Bongos Collide] - A website that includes guides to comic book appearances of Radioactive Man.
* [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/r/radioman.htm Radioactive Man at International Catalogue of Superheroes]
* [http://www.supersimpsons.com/ Radioactive Man Database]
* [http://www.7-eleven.com/sip_rmcb.asp Radioactive Man #711]
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