Real Name:
Matthew Gibbs
Nukla
Real Name:
Matthew Gibbs
Identity/Class: Human mutate
Occupation: (former) U.S. Airforce pilot; (current) C.I.A. operative
Affiliations: Jim Clarke (his C.I.A. superior)
Enemies: General Mu; Luis de Mal
Known Relatives: None known
Aliases: Laszlo Von Haarte
Base of Operations: Active worldwide
First Appearance: Nukla #1 (Dell Comics, October/December 1965)
Powers/Abilities: Nukla can fire energy beams which create nuclear explosions when they hit their targets, but he is only able to do this in a dematerialised state. Both he and his plane can be rendered immaterial in this manner, making them virtually impossible to harm. Nukla can also use his powers to swiftly heal from injuries. His powers have limits however, and he can temporarily use up his supply of nuclear energy, leaving himself a normal human again until he has time to recover.
History: While flying a U-2 spy plane over Communist China, America's top pilot Matthew Gibbs is fired on by the Chinese army. Unable to evade the missiles, Matthew and his plane are vaporised in the resulting explosion. Somehow Matthew's intense will to live and desire to see a world free of the oppression he has witnessed while on his missions cause his disembodied mind to survive, and with the powers of thought alone he reforms both himself and his plane. Sensing that the General who ordered the missile strike is now planning to execute the workers who installed the weaponry, Matthew wishes he could wipe out "all of those who have murder in their hearts", only to have a bolt of energy fire from his pointing finger at the offending soldier. And when the bolt strikes home, it triggers a nuclear explosion, obliterating its target. Testing his new found power, he quickly destroys the rest of the Communist force's weapons.
Matthew goes to work for the C.I.A., gaining the codename Nukla
Comments: Nukla isn't far from the only person to gain superpowers from being caught in atomic explosions - Charlton's Captain Atom, the Hulk, and (in a laboratory version) Dr.Manhattan have all suffered similar fates.
CLARIFICATIONS: Not to be confused with
Nuklo, the mutant son of Marvel's Golden Age heroes the Whizzer and Miss America
Nuke, a Marvel comics super soldier who fought Daredevil
Captain Atom, blown apart in a nuclear explosion and later reformed by the power of his mind
Dr.Manhattan, blown apart in a nuclear explosion and later reformed...oh, you get the idea!
Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.
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