Nuclear Man

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The powerful Nuclear Man.

Nuclear Man (portrayed by Mark Pillow) is the supervillain from the film Superman IV: The Quest For Peace. He was created by Lex Luthor with the DNA of Superman. Despite his name, he is actually solar powered. He succeeded Evil Superman as the evil movie clone of Superman.

Not to be confused with Firestorm whose nickname was "The Nuclear Man" prior to the release of Superman IV.

[edit] History

The Nuclear Man pictured is actually the second Nuclear Man. Deleted scenes from the film show a prototype Nuclear Man (played by British actor Clive Mantle), who was quickly defeated. The second, improved Nuclear Man appears to be slightly more powerful than Superman, judging by how Nuclear Man defeats him in both their encounters. His powers are similar to Superman's although they also include the ability to fire pyrotechnic energy from his hands and eyes, levitate people and objects (an ability that the film also grants to Superman himself) and extend his nails, which are capable of penetraing Superman's skin. His weakness is that without sunlight (or a sufficiently bright indoor light), he becomes completely inert. He initally succeeds in seriously wounding Superman, but is ultimately defeated after Superman causes a solar eclipse that disables Nuclear Man and he is subsequently dropped into a nuclear reactor, sending Metropolis' power output off the charts.

Severely angered by Superman.

[edit] Trivia

Nuclear Man is listed as #1 in Wizard Magazine's "10 Villains We'd Like to Forget." The text reads: "Ya know what? Clones may just be worse than robots. Especially when they've got lame electric powers, 'evil nails' and only have their powers while exposed to sunlight."