| Character Name: | Emil Hamilton |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Debut: | As Professor Hamilton: The Adventures of Superman #424 (January 1987) As Ruin: Adventures of Superman #630 (September 2004) |
| Creators: | Marv Wolfman (writer) Jerry Ordway (artist) |
| Alter Ego: | Emil Hamilton |
| Species: | Human |
| Alliances: | S.T.A.R. Labs Enginehead Society |
| Aliases: | Ruin |
| Powers: | Genius-level intelligence Expert scientist |
Professor Emil Hamilton is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually as a supporting character in stories featuring Superman.[1]
The character was portrayed by Richard Schiff in Man of Steel.
Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Jerry Ordway, Professor Emil Hamilton first appeared in The Adventures of Superman #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 Edmond Hamilton, who wrote stories about Superman and other characters from the 1940s to the 1960s.
Emil Hamilton first appeared in The Adventures of Superman #424 (January 1987), as an apparent villain, using his gadgets to attack Superman in an attempt to gain funding by proving that they worked. A former employee of S.T.A.R. Labs and the US Government, it transpired he had been driven insane when all his research was bought up by Lex Luthor, who took credit for the inventions. He was placed in a mental health facility and responded well to treatment. On his release, he set up a laboratory in Suicide Slum and quickly became Superman's "scientific advisor", eking out a general living as a technical consultant. He was responsible for creating many devices that aided Superman, including the Phantom Zone Projector and early Superman Robots, as well as helping Superman during such problems as the 'Krisis of the Krimson Kryptonite', when red kryptonite created by Mister Mxyzptlk shut down Superman's powers; until Superman's powers were restored, Hamilton provided him with various machinery such as a force field belt and an armored suit to allow him to continue as a hero. Later, another force field belt Hamilton provides allows Superman to get around the power-blocking talents of the artificial life forms 'Psi-Phon' and 'Dreadnaught'.[2]
At one point, Hamilton was brainwashed by the villain Mister Z and forced to attack Superman.[3]
After Doomsday kills Superman, Hamilton is overcome with intense guilt that not even Hamilton's long-term female friend Mildred Krantz can help him overcome.[4] [5] [6] [7] He lost an arm during the "Fall of Metropolis" storyline, but replaced it with a self-designed cybernetic prosthesis.
He also provided Superboy with a visor that provided him with the Kryptonian powers he lacked.[8] He spends time with Superman, assisting him in restoring in Fortress of Solitude and saving the citizens of Kandor.[9]
Many years later, when John Henry Irons returned to Metropolis, just prior to the B13 Event, Hamilton felt he was being sidelined, as Superman now had access to a scientific genius who was also a fellow superhero. He disappeared during the B13 Event when Metropolis was transformed into a future version of itself.
He eventually resurfaced as the Overmind, the leader of a cyberpunk gang plotting the return of Brainiac 13. He claimed, however, that the B13-technology in his prosthetic arm was controlling his actions. Presumably this claim held some truth, as he later returned to his role as Superman's advisor using his innate understanding of the futuristic technology now available to him.
Hamilton, together with several other scientific geniuses and robotic beings (Automan, Brainstorm, Doctor Cyber, Ford, and Rosie the Riveter), was for a brief period part of the composite cybernetic being called Enginehead. However (if this story is still canon), the being seems to have been divided into the individual personalities again shortly after the events of the series.[10]
In a 2005 storyline it was revealed that Hamilton was the villain Ruin, who had been targeting Superman's loved ones.[11] Ruin claimed to have discovered that Superman was sucking the sun of solar energy, and that, in 4.5 billion years, it would mean the end of life on Earth. The identity of Ruin had been kept a mystery, until it seemed that Clark's friend, and former President of the United States, Pete Ross was Ruin.[12] Ross claimed innocence, but he became even more suspect when he escaped from custody. It turned out that it had been Hamilton who had framed Ross and kidnapped him again from prison. Hamilton then confronted and revealed himself to Superman, seemingly killing Mister Mxyzptlk in the process when he tried to save Superman.[13] Superman defeated Hamilton and saved Pete, Lana Lang, and their child. Superman later cleared Ross' name and reputation, and Hamilton was apparently imprisoned.[14]
During "Infinite Crisis", Ruin was one of many superhuman criminals who joined the villainous Society organized by Alexander Luthor Jr.
The pre-"Flashpoint" version of Hamilton appears during the 2015 "Convergence" storyline. He has seemingly reformed, having made a home in the pre-"Flashpoint" Gotham City on the planet Telos, and repaired his friendship with Jimmy Olsen. Hamilton spent time rebuilding the Whiz Wagon, a flying, multi-purpose vehicle, as self-imposed reformation therapy.[15]
Emil Hamilton is a normal human being and thus, has no inherent super powers, though he is a brilliant scientist and inventor, having designed and built devices such as a force-field generator. However, as Ruin he dons a "power suit." The suit allows Ruin to take advantage of his knowledge of Superman's weaknesses. Powerful blasts of Kryptonian red sunlight can be fired from the suit, which essentially sap Superman of all his powers. Also, Ruin is able to transport himself to the Phantom Zone (though at a detriment to his health), and reemerge anywhere, effectively allowing him to teleport. If the suit is forcibly removed from Hamilton's body, it self-destructs with a massive force, apparently enough to destroy a small city, although enough time elapsed between the removal and the explosion for Superman to get it to a safe distance using his superspeed.
Hamilton has designed various prosthetic arms with unusual abilities, including one that acted as a sunscreen dispenser.
The Smallville incarnation of Emil Hamilton appears in Smallville Season 11. By this time, he became involved with helping the Watchtower Network construct an outpost on the moon.[21] Months later, he assists in gradually transferring Tess Mercer's consciousness from her half-brother Lex Luthor's body to the Watchtower's computer system and serving as her psychiatrist all throughout. After she downloads herself into the "Red Tornado" android and joins the Justice League, she and Hamilton begin dating.[22]