Atom Smasher

The Godson of the original Atom, all Al ever wanted was to be a super-hero. Achieving this, he's found himself on both sides of the fence, a hero of the JSA and an enemy of them, with Black Adam.

Albert Rothstein is a superhero, having used the names Nuklon and Atom-Smasher. He has been a member of Infinity, Inc, the Justice League International and the Justice Society of America.

Albert Rothstein was the grandson of the reluctant super-villain known as Cyclotron, from whom Albert inherited his metahuman powers by which he can control his molecular structure (allowing him to alter the size and density of his body). He was the godson of Al Pratt, the Golden Age Atom, and raised to becoming a hero known as Nuklon and becoming a charter member of Infinity, Inc. and subsequently served in the Justice League. He took the Atom Smasher identity shortly before the founding of the current Justice Society of America, of which he was a charter member. He viewed Pratt's son, Damage, as a brother, and acted as an older brother figure to Stargirl. While Stargirl has (or at least had) some romantic feelings for Atom Smasher, he has not yet openly reciprocated.

When Captain Marvel's longtime adversary Black Adam reformed and joined the JSA, he and Rothstein developed a kinship; indeed, Black Adam once commented that he thought of Atom Smasher as the brother he never had. Encouraged by Adam, Atom Smasher grew frustrated with the JSA's moral boundaries, especially when Kobra blackmailed authorities into granting his release. Albert and Adam promptly quit the JSA after Kobra's escape.

Albert formally returned to the JSA, asking the team for a second chance at honoring the memory of Al Pratt despite some of their skeptical members.[8] Regardless, Albert joined the JSA in tracking the recently repowered Black Adam, who and along with a resurrected Isis stole Captain Marvel's powers and and his throne at the Rock of Eternity, and eventually encountering him in a diner. The two notably did not fight, showing that their relationship is a bit more amicable. Ultimately, Albert proved his valor as a worthy member of the JSA in which he convinced Black Adam to giving up his powers to reviving the wizard Shazam and ending the threat of the Black Marvel Family.

Appearance: Atom Smasher has fair skin on his exposed arms. A tight blue mask completely covers his head and face. His eyes are solid white ovals. A thick silver metallic collar tightly encircles his neck. He wears a sleeveless bodysuit with a red panel covering the upper chest. A black atomic symbol consisting of intersecting ellipses is centered on the red area. The midsection of the suit is blue, while red panels extend down the sides of his torso. His large, muscular arms are bare from the shoulders down to the forearms. Black bands wrap around his wrists. A wide, solid gold belt sits at his waist. His tight trousers feature red sections on the outer thighs and a black panel running down the center of the legs.

Personality: Albert is defined by a deep-seated insecurity and a driving need to honor the legacy of his godfather, Al Pratt, the original Atom. This desire to live up to the high standards of the Justice Society of America often makes him appear humble and prone to self-doubt, despite his massive physical presence. He is a fiercely loyal friend and teammate, particularly to figures like Stargirl, though his intense moral convictions have occasionally led him down controversial paths. He famously struggled with his own sense of justice, at one point siding with Black Adam to take more permanent, lethal measures against criminals, a move fueled by his grief and a desperate wish to make a tangible difference in the world.

Albert Rothstein's primary ability is his power of molecular mass-shifting, which allows him to alter his density and grow to enormous heights, often reaching over sixty feet. As he increases in size, his strength and durability grow proportionally, enabling him to lift massive structures and withstand heavy artillery or superhuman blows that would be fatal to others. This process is a result of atomic dispersal, where he increases the distance between his atoms while simultaneously increasing his mass, making his body incredibly dense and difficult to move. Unlike many size-shifters, his power is not just about height; his base strength at normal size is already superhuman, but at his peak, he can rival the physical power of heavyweights like Black Adam or Shazam.

Atom Smasher’s equipment is largely limited to his specialized costume, which is constructed from unstable molecules or highly elastic fabrics designed to expand and contract alongside his body without tearing. Beyond his physical gear, he relies on his tactical training as a seasoned member of the JSA, utilizing his massive size not just for brute force but for battlefield control. He often acts as the team's "heavy," positioning himself as a living shield to protect his smaller teammates from incoming fire. His combat style is a mix of traditional wrestling and high-impact brawling, refined over years of fighting alongside the world's first generation of superheroes.