Nuclear Family (comics)

The Nuclear Family is the name of a group of supervillains in DC Comics. Created by Jim Aparo and Mike W. Barr for the first issue of Outsiders, they are androids designed by a dying nuclear scientist to resemble himself and his deceased family.

The Nuclear Family made their first live adaptation in the DC Universe series' first season of Titans, portrayed by Jeff Clarke, Melody Johnson, Jeni Ross, Logan Thompson, and Zach Smadu.

Publication history
The Nuclear Family first appeared in Outsiders #1, and were created by Jim Aparo and Mike W. Barr.

Fictional team history
An early nuclear science researcher named Dr. Eric Shanner made careless mistakes during his research, exposing him and his family to dangerous radiation levels. His family died and he was rendered ill with radiation poisoning. Afterward, Shanner vowed to teach the world about the dangers of radiation by building six androids resembling a younger version of his family, each possessing powers matching the various effects of nuclear weapons. Shanner then sent them to destroy the city of Los Angeles where they managed to damage the Esperanza Canyon Nuclear Power Plant during its opening day. When the Nuclear Family returned the next day to destroy the plant, they encounter and defeat the Outsiders. After briefly holding Looker captive and sedated, they are ultimately defeated while Shanner dies from radiation poisoning.

During the Infinite Crisis storyline, the Nuclear Family are rebuilt and appear as members of Alexander Luthor Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains.

Members
The Nuclear Family have different powers and all have an immunity to radiation. The Nuclear Family consists of:


 * Dad - The patriarch of the Nuclear Family. He can fly and emit immense amounts of radiation from his body.
 * Mom - The matriarch of the Nuclear Family. She can fly and project electromagnetic pulses.
 * Biff - The older son of the Nuclear Family. He can fly and emit nuclear thermal pulses.
 * Sis - The only daughter of the Nuclear Family. She can fly and create a blast wave that can take down entire buildings.
 * Brat - The younger son of the Nuclear Family. He can fly and transform into radioactive fallout.
 * Dog - The pet of the Nuclear Family. It can fly and transform into radioactive fallout.

Other versions
A group dubbed the Nuclear Family Program appear in the WildStorm imprint Wildcats Version 3.0. They are cybernetically enhanced government-sponsored operatives and sleeper agents disguised as a modern middle-class family.

In other media

 * The Nuclear Family appears in the Justice League Action episode "Nuclear Family Values", with Dad voiced by Kevin Shinick, Mom and Brat by Melissa Disney, Biff by Jason J. Lewis, and Sis by Rachel Kimsey.    This version of the group was originally built during the Cold War to demonstrate the side effects of using nuclear weapons. While the Nuclear Family were programmed to behave like a real family, they were unaware that they were androids. Upon gaining sentience and powers, they escape and intend to destroy a nuclear power plant to live in the fallout. However, this attracts the attention of Firestorm, who eventually places them in a small replica of a family house to stop them from causing more trouble.
 * The Nuclear Family, also referred to simply as the "Family", appears in Titans, with Dad portrayed by Jeff Clarke, Mom by Melody Johnson, Sis by Jeni Ross, Biff by Logan Thompson, and series original character Stepdad portrayed by Zach Smadu. This version of the group were humans brainwashed by Dr. Adamson to become assassins under Trigon and use a serum to enhance their abilities. In the present, Adamson tasks the Family with locating and capturing Rachel Roth, only to be foiled by Kory Anders, who kills Dad. After being joined by Stepdad, the Family find Roth once more, only to be defeated and captured by her, Anders, Dick Grayson, and Garfield Logan. Upon learning of this, Adamson detonates planted explosives in the Family's heads.