Nitro (June 18, 1974) This Day In Comics
Robert Hunter was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was an electrical engineer. Due to genetic alteration carried out on him by the Kree Lunatic Legion, Robert gained the ability to explode and reform himself at will and became a professional criminal. Some time later, he exposed Captain Marvel to a carcinogenic nerve gas; this encounter ultimately caused Captain Marvel’s fatal cancer. Since then he has clashed with Earth’s superhumans, who have found creative ways to defeat him, including using the “fractioning (separation) of his exploded mass” against him (essentially, if he can’t reform himself after an explosion, he can’t explode again). As a result of genetic re-engineering by the Kree, Nitro can transform his body into a gaseous state and explode with a maximum force equivalent to 350 lb (160 kg) of TNT – which can however be multiplied under influence of MGH – and reconstitute himself. He can also explode discrete portions of his body; for instance, he can channel his explosive power to his hands in the act of punching, thereby delivering a great impact force equal to 10 lb (4.5 kg) of TNT.
He first appeared in Captain Marvel #34 (June 18, 1974).
