Nathaniel Tryon is a petty thug who teams up with two others as the TNT Trio. While on a caper at a nuclear power plant at which he works as a security guard, Tryon is caught in the meltdown of a nuclear reactor, turning his body into sentient nuclear energy that can only be contained with a special containment suit. After learning how to control his energy, and learning that the accident was allegedly caused and covered up by the U.S. government, Tryon kills those responsible for the accident and takes up a criminal career as Neutron. Eventually, he battles
Superman, and is defeated and imprisoned. He is later released by the manipulations of Abraxas Industries as part of an apparent work release program, which was part of a propaganda campaign against Superman led by
Vandal Savage. Neutron is told to engage in seemingly random acts of destruction. Savage's schemes are later revealed to the public, and Neutron is imprisoned. Neutron is held at
S.T.A.R. Labs, but is freed when the facility is attacked by mercenaries hired by the
Fearsome Five. Neutron and
Jinx temporarily join the Fearsome Five, but later leave. Neutron joins
Warp and
Plasmus on a mission from
Conduit to assassinate
Jonathan and Martha Kent, the adoptive parents of Superman. Superman intervenes and the clash ends with Plasmus and Neutron colliding in a blast that apparently kills them both. Both later appear alive, with Neutron being imprisoned in the Slabside Island prison. Neutron and several other villains are manipulated by
Manchester Black into threatening Clark Kent's loved ones. The ensuing confrontation with Superman ends with Neutron disappearing in an atomic blast..
"One Year Later" After the 2006
crossover miniseries Infinite Crisis, Neutron is working as a villain for hire. He and another radiation-powered villain, Radion, are hired by
Intergang to kill Clark Kent. After Kent is hit by a commuter train, Neutron and Radion leave, believing him to be to him dead. However, the accident actually caused Kent to regain his powers. Neutron is also a member of the
Nuclear Legion alongside Professor Radium, Geiger, Nuclear, Mister Nitro and
Reactron. The Nuclear Legion is hired by the
Secret Society of Super Villains to invade
Blüdhaven and assist the
Nuclear Family in recovering the source of a radiation leak. While there, the group battles the new
Atomic Knights. In
The New 52 reboot, Neutron is a mercenary sent to kill
Lex Luthor. However, he accidentally releases Luthor's
Amazo virus on
Metropolis and is infected, disabling his abilities and afflicting him with cancer. ==Powers and abilities==