DAMAGE (Grant Emerson)	BIOGRAPHY
Created by Tom Joyner and Bill Marimon

Damage (Grant Emerson)

PERSONAL DATA

Real Name: Grant Emerson
Occupation: Adventurer
Status: Deceased
Citizenship: American
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Al Pratt (father; deceased); Mary Pratt (mother; deceased); Henry Emerson (foster father, deceased), Katherine Emerson (foster mother, deceased); Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, Ted Grant, Carter Hall, Shiera Hall, Rex Tyler, Dinah Lance, Charles McNider (deceased), Ted Knight (deceased), Joan Dale-Trevor, Johnny Chambers (deceased), Libby Lawrence, Barry Allen, Orin, Dinah Laurel Lance, Hal Jordan, Ray Palmer, J'onn J'onzz (DNA doners)
Base of Operation: New York City, NY; formerly Atlanta, Georgia
Group Affiliation(s): Justice Society of America; New Titans and the Titans; JSA All-Stars
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 145 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Distinguishing Features: His face is very scarred after damage by Professor Zoom
First Appearance: Damage #1 (April 1994): "Damage"
Creators: Tom Joyner and Bill Marimon

What I do is who I am... so call me Damage! - Grant Emerson Quote taken from Damage #3 (June 1994)

OVERVIEW

Damage was created using the DNA of numerous members of both the Justice Society and Justice League, although his actual biological father was Al Pratt, the first Atom. His powers first manifested themselves in a gradual buildup of strength, speed and invulnerability which would finally culminate in a huge, uncontrollable explosion. He has since learned how to control these powers, largely due to the influence of the Titans.

HISTORY

Shortly before the end of World War II biogenetist Klaus Schimmel, the creator of Baron Blitzkrieg, was brought out of Germany by Phantom Lady I, acting as an agent of the O.S.S. (Office of Strategic Services), and brought to America where he was given the new identity of Egrin Wahrman and continued his studies in metagenetics under government funding.

As his research met with no results after his relocation the government eventually cut off his funding. Shortly afterwards it was replaced by Vandal Savage acting as a mysterious benefactor and Egrin founded the company known as Symbolix. In order to set Wahrman's research in motion Savage supplied Wahrman with the cellsamples of Justice Society of America members Flash I, Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Wildcat II, Hawkman I, Hawkgirl, Hourman I, Black Canary I, Dr. Mid-Nite, Starman, Atom I, and All-Star Squadron members Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle, and Miss America. Several years later Wahrman finally created a self-replicating strand of DNA containing the meta-human potential of these Golden Age heroes.

Some years later Wahrman found three ways of transmitting the hybrid meta-gene into another living body, each of which were then developed in special Symbolix projects. One of these was Project Telemachus, in which the DNA was to be infused into a naturally born child with pre-existing superhuman potential. The wife of the Golden Age Atom, Mary Pratt who was pregnant at the time was then abducted by Savage and the DNA was infused into her unborn child. After Mary had given birth she was killed by Savage's assistants. The Atom, who was away at the time, was told that she and the child had died as a result of complications during the birth.

The child was then placed in the custody of Symbolix employee John Henry Emerson and his wife Katherine who named their son Grant. Growing up Grant was never told that the Emersons were not his natural parents.

A few months after the formation of the Justice League of America, Vandal Savage obtained the cell samples of JLA members Flash II, Aquaman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Black Canary II, Atom II, and the Martian Manhunter. Wahrman then devised a meta-DNA infusion that was then super-imposed onto the genetic structure of the then 7 years old Grant.

At age 16 Grant moved with his foster parents to Marietta, Georgia. While trying out for the athletics team on his first day of school at the Nathan B. Forrest High School, Grant's meta-human abilities suddenly set in and he outran Brad Fetter the school jock. Feeling his position of power threatened by the skinny Grant, Brad sought him out after school intending to teach him a lesson, but Grant was saved by the timely appearance of Coach Beacham. The girl that Grant had his eyes on had seen the entire incident before driving off. Believing that this might lessen his chances of scoring her left Grant enraged. As everybody had left and Grant was alone he smashed his hands onto the hood of a nearby car, but instead of just making a small dent he totalled the car as his powers suddenly kicked into overdrive.

When he got home he told his parents all about the incident they seemed to disbelieve Grant's claim and when Grant complained about their constant relocations to where the Symbolix Corp. sends his father, a heated argument followed and eventually Grant was grounded by his father. As soon as Grant's parents had left his room they called Symbolix to let them know that Project Telemachus had gone active.

The next day the supervillain known as Metallo suddenly showed up at Nathan B. Forrest High School looking for Grant. When he located Grant he began pounding away on the kid, not noticing that with each blow Grant grew bigger and stronger. Eventually Grant focused all his strength into a single blow that not only blew up Metallo but half a city block as well.

Frightened by his own abilities Grant hurries home only to be met by Megafire and Flak, two armored Symbolix enforcers. Totally depowered after his battle with Metallo the two enforcers could easily restraint him. Then the head of Symbolix, Dathan Wahrman, showed up and injected Grant with an unknown substance. Although the substance left dizzy he managed to break free and the battle was brought out into the streets. Realizing that they were drawing too much attention to themselves Wahrman broke off the attack.

Later that day Grant sneaked into the Symbolix Biotek Factory in Atlanta in order to find his parents. Grant quickly located his parents and set them free. However his father responded by placing a restraining device on Grant's back. When Dathan showed up he thanked the Emersons for raising Grant after which he pulled a gun and killed them.

Upon seeing this Grant's powers somehow burned out the restraining device and he was free. In the ensuing battle with Megafire and Flak Grant was thrown into a power grid that set off an explosion that blew up the entire plant. Grant survived the blast and made himself scarce.

Troll, a Project Avatar subject, also survived the explosion and before long began a rampage in downtown Atlanta. When Grant learned of this he went to stop him, hoping that Troll might have some answers for him. Sometime during the battle a young girl named Wyldheart showed up intend on bringing Troll down. Troll however seemed to be to much for them as he in a single punch threw Wyldheart across town and Grant, now calling himself Damage, only managed to stall him for a couple of minutes at a time. Wanting to bring Wyldheart to safety Damage helped her on her feet and entered a warehouse. Suddenly they found themselves in the midst of a battle between Iron Munro and his arch-enemy the Baron. A few moments later Troll showed up but was eventually bested by Damage using a bagfull of the Baron's Stardust drug.

Following Troll's defeat the three heroes still had to deal with the menace of the Baron, but in trying to stop him Munro accidentally caused the Baron to turn his heat beams towards some gaslines thereby blowing up the entire warehouse. Wyldheart managed to get herself and Damage out of the building in time and they flew to a nearby rooftop. Iron Munroe who along with the Baron also had survived the explosion soon joined the two kids as he was thrown to the rooftop by Steelhawk, an employee of the Baron's.

Before Steelhawk had the time to finish off Munroe and Damage, the New Titans suddenly showed up, having been called in by the Governor of Georgia to find and stop Damage.

Munro and Damage eventually convinced the Titans that Damage was not a threat and they all teamed up against Steelhawk. Suddenly Munroe, Damage, and Steelhawk were caught in a mysterious bubble, caused by a distortion in the timestream. Inside the bubble the three witnessed various images of the past before everything suddenly went blank.

POWERS AND WEAPONS

Although he is still a long way from fully controlling the blasts, he is getting better. He is now able to push his own power curve and recharge at a much faster speed. Furthermore he is learning how to focus the blast and release the blast in a more concentrated blast. By funneling the energies through the ground he can create an earthquake-like blast of immense power. He can also create a bolt of energy that if directed towards the ground can lift him into the air as if he was flying. However, he is not yet able to slow down the power build up and as a result accidents still happen frequently.

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Damage in chronological order click here