Damage (comics)

Damage was a comic book series from DC Comics.

First Appearance

In Damage #1–2 (1994): High school student Grant Emerson suddenly discovers he is a superhuman with incredible explosive powers. First appearance of Damage.

Origin

In the comic series Damage, Young Grant Emerson, at the age of 16, had been shuttled around from school to school during his childhood. His "parents" (the couple Grant believed were his parents at the time) worked for a biochemical company called Symbolix, which had them traveling and moving quite often. Upon relocating to Marietta, Georgia, Grant's meta-human powers began to kick in. He experienced increased speed and endurance and trashed a car with his bare hands. Soon after, Grant became embroiled in a battle with the supervillian, Metallo. He was able to fend of Metallo, but blew up his high school in the process.

Meanwhile, John and Kate Emerson alerted Symbolix that Grant's powers were activated. Symbolix sent various meta-humans to track and capture Grant, so they could study him. Grant was shocked to learn that his parents weren't his parents at all – merely stooges for Symbolix that didn't bat an eyelash at betraying him. No longer being of any use, Grant's adoptive parents were killed by the head of Symbolix, Dathan Wahrman.

Grant was now searching for answers to questions about his past and his true parentage, while Symbolix continued to hunt him and Georgia authorities became increasingly alarmed by his destructive presence. At this time, Damage met Iron Monroe, a former member of the Golden Age team, The Young All-Stars. Monroe became a valuable ally and Damage suspected the man might be his biological father. This later proved to not be the case. He also received emotional support through Mandra Darrow, a fellow student who reached out to Grant. Grant was eventually revealed to be the son of the Atom.