Ryan Choi/The Atom

Subject Facts

Full Name: Ryan Choi
Codename: The Atom
Age: Early-Mid 20's
Gender: Male
Archetype: Meta-Hero
Aliases:
Marital Status: Single
Affiliation: JLA

Subject Attributes

Meta-Human Abilities: Size alteration: Ryan is able, with the help of the BioBelt, to adjust his size at will. Over time, and thanks to the organisms in the belt he had used, Ryan has had the powers transfered to himself and does not require the belt. Ryan is able to control his height, density and mass, allowing himself to shrink to any size smaller than his own regular height. This extends to even subatomic levels such as being small enough to enter a persons blood stream. At any height, Ryan is able to adjust his mass distribution to wherever he wishes, allowing him to perform surprising feets of strength.

Standard Abilities: PhD in Nuclear Physics. Minor hand-to-hand combat training.

Paraphernalia: As mentioned above, tying in with his powers, is the Bio-Belt. The Bio-Belt is used to shrink the user and their mass down to any height desired. While Ryan does not require the belt, he is yet to be made aware of this fact.

Along with the Bio-Belt is a Singularity Field Generator allowing him to breathe and not explode at the subatomic level, as well as preventing him from exploding at the smaller size.

Ryan is also in possession of a Bangstick. This device is a particle drive, allowing the Atom to propel himself at great speeds at the subatomic. The Bangstick is also usable as a Concussive device.

Subject Weaknesses: Ryan is 100% human. Disease, the flue, gun shots to the skull....these all can harm or kill him. Outside of having no extraordinary ability to heal himself or withstand a hard beating, Ryan also has self-confidence issues. While he knows he's smart and one of the brightest in his field, he is always scared of being eclipsed. This also extends not just to his work, but to his heroics as well. While he knows he isn't Ray, he constantly compares himself to the other Atom, doubting he'll ever truly be good enough to fill the costume.

Subject History

(Taken in part from Comicvine)

Young Ryan Choi was a prodigy of his nation of Hong Kong. Choi was always advanced for his age, and while still relatively young, Choi received his doctorate. An expert in physics, Choi became a colleague of Dr. Ray Palmer, and the two frequently communicated their newest theories, with Palmer become somewhat of a mentor for Choi. After the death of his mother, Choi traveled from his homeland to the United States when he was accepted into the prestigious Ivy University for his post-Doc work. A longtime devotee of the sciences, Choi had always looked forward to working with Palmer.

However, Dr. Palmer, also known as the shrinking superhero called the Atom, had disappeared. His identity revealed to the world, Choi’s respect for his mentor increased. Still, even with Palmer gone, Ivy University boasted great physicists Dr. “Panda” Potter and Dr. Helmond Kettering, who welcomed Choi with open arms. Choi insisted that he be housed in Palmer’s old house. While living there, Choi made the discovery of a lifetime: Palmer had hid a duplicate of his belt that allowed him to change size. Choi deduced how to use the belt, which he called a “Bio-Belt,” and decided to follow in Palmer’s footsteps as the Atom.

During his first outing as the Atom, Choi discovered a secret microscopic alien society living underneath Ivy Town. Called the Waiting, this alien race immediately set itself after Choi. While fleeing from the Waiting, Choi encountered the amorphous M’Nagalah, the self-styled “Cancer God.” M’Nagalah told Atom that a war was coming, one between Order and Chaos and between Faith and Reason, and that the Atom should side with M’Nagalah. Choi refused, which set M’Nagalah after him.

The Cancer God infected the villainess/professor Giganta, who captured Choi. However, Dean Mayland helped Choi escape. Dean Mayland invited Choi’s father from Hong Kong to retrieve him, in order for Choi to remain safe. Unbeknownst to Choi, though, Mayland had also given one of Palmer’s “Bio-Belts” to a serial killer called Dwarfstar, who hunted Choi and Choi’s friends. Choi convinced his father of the importance of remaining in America, just as the war that M’Nagalah had predicted had begun.

M’Nagalah’s emissaries and the legions of the Waiting began their war on the streets of Ivy Town. Choi, learning from the Waiting’s Praetor that the White House was under threat, thwarted the Waiting’s plan to take control of the president. Atom returned to an open war on the streets of Ivy Town. While outmaneuvering the serial killer Dwarfstar, Choi negotiated a truce between both sides, sparing Ivy Town’s destruction.

Back in Ivy Town, Giganta continued to make advances on Choi in her identity of Ivy University professor Doris Zuel.

Choi’s continued interest in Giganga brought him to the attention of Wonder Woman. Choi tried to defend Giganta against Wonder Woman, until the entire town was mentally controlled to kill the Atom. The Lighter Than Air Society almost killed Choi, until Wonder Woman saved him. Wonder Woman offered Choi membership in the Justice League.

Subject Interview

"-and the molecular structure of the separated isotopes start t-...what? Why are you giving me that face?" a young voice question. While the voice contained confidence and an air of professionalism, it also tapered off and wavered with self-doubt at the end when it began to question the other person beside him.

"It's nothing Professor Choi, it's nothing. Really, it is how passionate you can get when caught up in thought. That's a nice quality to see out of someone so young with such a bright future ahead of themselves. I, and others here at the University, have seen so many people crash and burn when in a situation like yours. But, with that said, it is getting late and this is my car. Have a good weekend Ryan. Oh, and remember, the rest of the staff and I are having that barbecue at the cottages just north of Ivy Town and you're invited. It should be a good time" the other voice stated simply.

Ryan had listened carefully and rubbing the back of his neck at the compliment. He didn't doubt his own abilities, be it teaching or heroics, but he still wasn't sure how to take praise from others. It always a slightly foreign feeling to constantly be told he was doing good.

He gave the other a nod a few times and assured him he would think about their offer, but that he may already have plans and that he was waiting to hear back about them. In truth, while he might not have had any immediate plans, Ryan wanted and felt the need to work on being the Atom. He had been doing it for a short while now and figured constantly working on it was the best way to honour the Atom name. Luckily, the other professor understood, restated that the offer was open, then departed. Ryan, now alone in the Parking Lot, took time to think about the offer. Maybe a break from both work and being the Atom was in order?

A small scream however, would answer his question. Rushing to the sound, Ryan's body began to shrink, The Atom costume now taking over his body and replacing his regular cloths. Halting after turning a corner, the now inch-tall professor sneakily spied on two would-be muggers harassing one of the University's janitorial staff who was just getting done work.

"Hey!" his voice echoed despite his diminutive size. He was able to grab the confused attention of both muggers before he leaped from the ground. His body grew back larger, this time taking him to his full height and having a fist connect square on one of the mens jaw. The mugger staggered back and Ryan shoved his foot down, stomping the mans foot, then shoving him back. The mugger fell back and landed hard on the ground while his partner swung out at Ryan. The Atom-clad young man shrunk again, jumping onto the guys hand. Running up the length of the mans arm, Ryan jumped upwards, raising a knee before regrowing back to his full height. The man, having no time to react, was hit with a knee to the side of the head, falling and landing right beside his mugger buddy. Ryan was also not-so-graceful in landing. His knee hitting the mans face knocked him slightly off his projected trajectory and made the young hero stumble as he landed before bumping into a wall.

"Stick the landing next time Ryan, you got this" he cursed under his breath to himself. Ryan whipped himself around and leaned against the wall as nonchalantly as he possibly could. "Heh, yes. All planned, the wall was here as I predicted..." he stated, half confidently, half clearly trying to make himself believe his own story. "Uh...um, you're okay right? Need me to make sure you get to your car or home safely?" he asked the older gentleman. The man, in response, shook his head.

"I think those two will be down for awhile...and so long as they think I have the Atom in my corner, they wont bother me" the older man said. Ryan, a little surprised at the mans confidence in him despite the rough landing, looked down to the side, then out to the city. "Even if the Atom doesn't think it himself, he does good here for this city. He's the hero we need and he doesn't disappoint. You have a good night now Mister The Atom" he added, causing Ryan to perk up. His eyes followed the man to his car, then to the two men on the ground.

"Okay, two take aways from this...One, I'm not going to the barbecue and working on being the Atom and two....how do I get these guys to jail? I don't have a Batmobile....Do I just call the cops? I think I'll do that..." the hero commented to himself, ducking behind the building and letting his costume fade back to his regular cloths.

"Uh, hello, Ivy Town Police? This is Professor Choi from the University. The Atom just caught two muggers, knocked them out and just kinda...left them out cold at the main steps. - Yes, Yes, I'll stick around until someone shows up. - 3 minutes? I think they'll be out for at least 10, the Atom seemed to crack them pretty hard. He's pretty damn strong y'know"

Author's Notes

Player Alias: Michael Jon Carter

Other Characters: Booster, Firefly

How did you find ARFD?: Been here for awhile