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Professor Hamilton
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<h2 id="publication-history">Publication history</h2> <p>Created by writer <a href="/facts/Marv_Wolfman/kyDcBDoV">Marv Wolfman</a> and artist <a href="/facts/Jerry_Ordway/CB52dPAm">Jerry Ordway</a>, Professor Emil Hamilton first appeared in <i><a href="/facts/Adventures_of_Superman_(comic_book)/t3Ckxavv">The Adventures of Superman</a></i> #424 (January 1987). His depictions in various incarnations range from that of a trusted ally to Superman and his colleagues to one who is cautious and mistrustful of Superman and his power, to an unambiguous villain. The character was named after <a href="/facts/Edmond_Hamilton/EAfykLxK">Edmond Hamilton</a>, who wrote stories about Superman and other characters from the 1940s to the 1960s. </p> <h2 id="fictional-character-biography">Fictional character biography</h2> <p>Emil Hamilton is a former employee of <a href="/facts/S.T.A.R._Labs/0CoU2Ql5">S.T.A.R. Labs</a> who is driven insane after <a href="/facts/Lex_Luthor/BFWq1WLU">Lex Luthor</a> steals credit for the inventions. After being treated, Hamilton establishes a laboratory in <a href="/facts/Suicide_Slum/qYRUmL5u">Suicide Slum</a> and becomes an ally of Superman, creating various devices for him.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>After <a href="/facts/Doomsday_(DC_Comics)/vAzDerMH">Doomsday</a> kills Superman, Hamilton is overcome with guilt.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> He loses an arm in <i>Fall of Metropolis</i>, but replaces it with a self-designed prosthesis. </p><p>Hamilton also gives <a href="/facts/Superboy_(Kon-El)/Yjttokdu">Superboy</a> a visor that gives him the <a href="/facts/Kryptonian/a609fHkD">Kryptonian</a> powers he lacks.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> He spends time with Superman, assisting him in restoring the <a href="/facts/Fortress_of_Solitude/3htJrgyk">Fortress of Solitude</a> and saving the citizens of <a href="/facts/Kandor_(comics)/g80KgyA2">Kandor</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <h3>Villainy</h3> <p>Hamilton later becomes jealous of Superman and becomes Overmind, the leader of a gang plotting <a href="/facts/Brainiac_13/yC8QeWGI">Brainiac 13</a>'s return. He is partially controlled by Brainiac's technology infecting his arm.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p><p>In a 2005 storyline, Hamilton becomes the villain Ruin, seeking to prevent Superman from destroying Earth's sun. He later joins <a href="/facts/Alexander_Luthor_Jr./hv8MLgaT">Alexander Luthor Jr.</a>'s <a href="/facts/Secret_Society_of_Super_Villains/tThJm3Lu">Society</a> in <i><a href="/facts/Infinite_Crisis/vGwRvXzy">Infinite Crisis</a></i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="powers-and-abilities">Powers and abilities</h2> <p>Emil Hamilton is a normal human being and thus, has no inherent powers, though he is a brilliant scientist and inventor, having designed and built devices such as a force-field generator. As Ruin, he wields a powered suit that enables him to teleport and generate red sunlight. </p><p>Hamilton has designed various prosthetic arms with unusual abilities, including one that acted as a sunscreen dispenser. </p> <h2 id="other-versions">Other versions</h2> <ul><li>An alternate universe variant of Professor Hamilton appears in <i><a href="/facts/JLA%3a_The_Nail/CsHMchL0">JLA: The Nail</a></i> #2.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></li> <li>An alternate universe variant of Professor Hamilton appears in <i><a href="/facts/Elseworld%2527s_Finest%3a_Supergirl_%2526_Batgirl/xofUUMg2">Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl</a></i> #1. This version previously worked with Lex Luthor to create a new solar battery, only to have his reputation ruined when Hamilton attempted to reveal the battery uses the corpse of an infant Kal-El as its power source.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a></li> <li>The pre-<i><a href="/facts/Flashpoint_(comics)/K8VtYeNF">Flashpoint</a></i> version of Hamilton appears in <i><a href="/facts/Convergence_(comics)/PRhR4upg">Convergence</a></i>, where he reforms, moves to <a href="/facts/Gotham_City/4dQTALc2">Gotham City</a>, and repairs his friendship with <a href="/facts/Jimmy_Olsen/gkae1RLm">Jimmy Olsen</a>. Furthermore, he builds the Whiz Wagon, a flying, multi-purpose vehicle, as self-imposed reformation therapy.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="in-other-media">In other media</h2> <h3>Television</h3> <ul><li>Emil Hamilton appears in <i><a href="/facts/Lois_%2526_Clark%3a_The_New_Adventures_of_Superman/QXDKDSCB">Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman</a></i>, portrayed by <a href="/facts/John_Pleshette/YDl7tPxe">John Pleshette</a>.</li> <li>Emil Hamilton appears in series set in the <a href="/facts/DC_Animated_Universe/uU1kIC7W">DC Animated Universe</a> (DCAU): <ul><li>Hamilton is introduced in <i><a href="/facts/Superman%3a_The_Animated_Series/aksUTzQV">Superman: The Animated Series</a></i>, voiced by <a href="/facts/Victor_Brandt/4eLuA7FC">Victor Brandt</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> Throughout the series, he assists <a href="/facts/Superman/1mQylpL6">Superman</a> by creating numerous inventions, such as <a href="/facts/Kryptonite/cCb97wow">Kryptonite</a>-resistant suits and a <a href="/facts/Phantom_Zone/9T2YoH0G">Phantom Zone</a> projector, until Superman is brainwashed by <a href="/facts/Darkseid/8KLoK0aT">Darkseid</a> in the series finale, causing Hamilton to distrust him and other <a href="/facts/Metahuman/gNjTwe3j">metahumans</a>.</li> <li>Hamilton appears in <i><a href="/facts/Justice_League_Unlimited/4R2kAqFo">Justice League Unlimited</a></i>, voiced by <a href="/facts/Robert_Foxworth/AT51Ftpj">Robert Foxworth</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> By this time, he has secretly joined <a href="/facts/Project_Cadmus/q62TlgQ5">Project Cadmus</a>, using his expertise in genetics to create the <a href="/facts/Ultimen/vMfEBnG5">Ultimen</a> and <a href="/facts/Power_Girl/LNdkkKRH">Galatea</a>.</li></ul></li> <li>Two characters named Hamilton appear in <i><a href="/facts/Smallville/rwAKbpM4">Smallville</a></i>: <ul><li>Steven Hamilton appears in the <a href="/facts/Smallville_season_1/reeBSGM7">first</a> and <a href="/facts/Smallville_season_2/pFShvto7">second</a> seasons, portrayed by <a href="/facts/Joe_Morton/nEC87QFr">Joe Morton</a>. An expert in <a href="/facts/Mineralogy/MeIK9lx9">mineralogy</a> and meteors, he is hired by <a href="/facts/Lex_Luthor_(Smallville)/C1UYWz5f">Lex Luthor</a> to study the effects of kryptonite, only to later die from overexposure to it.</li> <li>Emil Hamilton appears in the <a href="/facts/Smallville_season_8/HF7PPbH6">eighth season</a> onward, portrayed by <a href="/facts/Alessandro_Juliani/zDS5W9QS">Alessandro Juliani</a>. This version is a private doctor, leader of <a href="/facts/S.T.A.R._Labs/0CoU2Ql5">S.T.A.R. Labs</a>, and ally of the <a href="/facts/Justice_League_(Smallville)/jz7Ko2fa">Justice League</a>, having been hired by <a href="/facts/Green_Arrow/kmHdMlwY">Oliver Queen</a>.</li></ul></li> <li>A genderbent incarnation of Emil Hamilton named Amelia Hamilton appears in <i><a href="/facts/Supergirl_(TV_series)/hbWt9tEl">Supergirl</a></i>, portrayed by Sarah Robson. She is a member of the <a href="/facts/Department_of_Extranormal_Operations/7LR0NrjR">Department of Extranormal Operations</a> (DEO).</li></ul> <h3>Film</h3> <ul><li>Emil Hamilton appears in <i><a href="/facts/Man_of_Steel_(film)/Ec70jE9g">Man of Steel</a></i>, portrayed by <a href="/facts/Richard_Schiff/Db8Qzz4a">Richard Schiff</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> This version is a <a href="/facts/DARPA/Uf9sarhT">DARPA</a> scientific adviser for the <a href="/facts/United_States_Armed_Forces/NHVsU9Id">U.S. military</a> under <a href="/facts/Calvin_Swanwick/WWfynLRd">General Swanwick</a>. He later sacrifices himself to help destroy <a href="/facts/Zod_(DC_Extended_Universe)/l4wBUFdE">General Zod</a>'s World Engine before it destroys humanity.</li> <li>An alternate universe variant of Emil Hamilton appears in <i><a href="/facts/Justice_League%3a_Gods_and_Monsters/A9S92lY0">Justice League: Gods and Monsters</a></i>, voiced by <a href="/facts/Trevor_Devall/e9EweKx8">Trevor Devall</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> This version is a member of LexCorp's "Project Fair Play", a weapons contingency program meant to destroy the Justice League if necessary, who is later killed by the <a href="/facts/Metal_Men/bBShe25G">Metal Men</a>.</li></ul> <h3>Video games</h3> <ul><li>Professor Hamilton appears in <i><a href="/facts/Superman_64/DjJL1anC">Superman 64</a></i>, voiced again by Victor Brandt.</li> <li>Professor Hamilton appears in <i><a href="/facts/Superman%3a_Shadow_of_Apokolips/sHpQFK5h">Superman: Shadow of Apokolips</a></i>, voiced again by Victor Brandt.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a></li> <li>Professor Hamilton appears in <i><a href="/facts/Superman_Returns_(video_game)/FwytgeSP">Superman Returns</a></i>.</li> <li>Professor Hamilton appears as a character summon in <i><a href="/facts/Scribblenauts_Unmasked%3a_A_DC_Comics_Adventure/asYWa2RG">Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure</a></i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a></li></ul> <h3>Miscellaneous</h3> <p>The <i>Smallville</i> incarnation of Emil Hamilton appears in <i><a href="/facts/Smallville_Season_11/rwAKbpM4">Smallville Season 11</a></i>. He helps the Watchtower Network construct an outpost on the moon, assists in transferring <a href="/facts/Tess_Mercer/qRn4gDbn">Tess Mercer</a>'s consciousness from her half-brother <a href="/facts/Lex_Luthor_(Smallville)/C1UYWz5f">Lex Luthor</a>'s body to the <a href="/facts/Justice_League_Watchtower/f5dpS11n">Watchtower</a>'s computer system, and acts as her psychiatrist.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> After Mercer downloads herself into the "<a href="/facts/Red_Tornado/n7GS0thU">Red Tornado</a>" android and joins the Justice League, she and Hamilton begin dating.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://dcau.fandom.com/wiki/Emil_Hamilton">Emil Hamilton at the DC Animated Universe wiki</a></li> <li><a href="https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Emil_Hamilton">Emil Hamilton at the DC Database</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 116–117. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0. <a href="978-0-345-50108-0" target="_blank">978-0-345-50108-0</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>The Adventures of Superman #442 (July 1988). DC Comics. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>The Adventures of Superman #484 (November 1991). DC Comics <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Superman: The Man of Steel #19 (January 1993). DC Comics <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>The Adventures of Superman #498 (January 1993). DC Comics <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Superman: The Man of Steel #20 (February 1993). DC Comics <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Superman (vol. 2) #95 (December 1994). DC Comics <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Superboy (vol. 4) #1-3 (February–April 1994). DC Comics <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Superman (vol. 2) #117 (November 1996). DC Comics <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Enginehead #1-6 (June–November 2004). DC Comics. <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>The Adventures of Superman #636 (March 2005), DC Comics. <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>The Adventures of Superman #640 (July 2005), DC Comics. <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>The Adventures of Superman #646 (January 2006), DC Comics. <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>The Adventures of Superman #647 (February 2006), DC Comics. <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>JLA: The Nail #2 (September 1998), DC Comics. <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl and Batgirl #1 (September 1998), DC Comics. <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Convergence: Superman #1 (April 2015), DC Comics. <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>"Professor Emil Hamilton Voices (Superman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 20, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. <a href="https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Professor-Emil-Hamilton/" target="_blank">https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Professor-Emil-Hamilton/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>"Professor Emil Hamilton Voices (Superman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 20, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. <a href="https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Professor-Emil-Hamilton/" target="_blank">https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Professor-Emil-Hamilton/</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Bettinger, Brendan (January 9, 2012). "Richard Schiff to Play Dr. Hamilton in MAN OF STEEL". Collider. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2024. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120113011354/http://collider.com/richard-schiff-man-of-steel/136628" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120113011354/http://collider.com/richard-schiff-man-of-steel/136628</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>"Professor Emil Hamilton Voices (Superman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 20, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. <a href="https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Professor-Emil-Hamilton/" target="_blank">https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Professor-Emil-Hamilton/</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>"Professor Emil Hamilton Voices (Superman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 20, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. <a href="https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Professor-Emil-Hamilton/" target="_blank">https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Professor-Emil-Hamilton/</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 20, 2024. <a href="https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects" target="_blank">https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>Smallville Season 11 #6 <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>Smallville Season 11: Continuity #4 <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>