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A chronological listing of
the life of Grant Emmerson/Damage
and the events that led to his creation
1945: Scientist Klaus Schimmel was brought out of Germany by the
O.S.S. and given the new identity of Egrin Wahrman and continues his
research in America.
Late 1940's: Egrin Wahrman marries Nadjia Wahrman. His government
funding is cut off, and is replaced by Vandal Savage and Egrin founds
Symbolix.
Vandal Savage gathers cell samples of a number of Justice Society of
America members as well as a number of other Golden Age heroes.
Using the cell samples Savage had provided him with Wahrman's experiments
once again begin to progress and eventually he creates a self-replicating
strand of DNA containing the superhuman potential of the Golden Age heroes.
17 years ago: After a number of years Wahrman finally devices a
means of transmitting the hybrid meta-gene into another human being and the
DNA is infused in the newly born child of Al Pratt and Mary Pratt. Following
the birth Mary was killed by one of Savage's employees.
The child was placed in the care of Symbolix employee Henry Emmerson and
his wife, Katherine and was named Grant.
10 years ago: Vandal Savage gathers cell samples of the newly
formed Justice League of America and Wahrman creates a meta-DNA infusion
that is super-imposed onto Grant Emmerson's genetic structure.
Shortly afterwards a lab accident kills Wahrman and all records of his
experiments are destroyed.
1 year ago: On his first day of school in Marietta, Georgia, after
having just relocated from Dayton, Grant's powers suddenly manifests
themselves and he totals a car with his bare hands. [Damage
#1]
The following day he is attacked by Metallo, who has been send by the
Symbolix Corp. after Grant's parents have informed them that Grant's powers
have gone active. [Damage
#1]
Believing his parents to be captured by Symbolix Grant sneaks into their
labs where he learns that they are not really his parents just before they
are killed. [Damage
#2]
As a result of his battle with Megafire and Flak, two Symbolix
mercenaries, the labs are destroyed in a huge explosion, that sets free
Troll, another Symbolix project. Grant then engages Troll in battle, an
event that brings him into conflict with Wyldheart, Iron Munro, the Baron,
and the New Titans. [Damage
#3-#6]
Before the Titans can apprehend him Damage is caught in a mysterious
bubble caused by a distortion in the timestream. Suddenly Damage is brought
to the Vanishing Point by Waverider and plays an important part in the event
known as Zero Hour. [Damage
#6- [#0]
Following Zero Hour Damage sets out to learn the identity of his true
parents.
History:
Shortly before the end of World War II
biogeneticist 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 cell samples of Justice Society of
America members Flash I, Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Wildcat I, 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 Emmerson and his wife Katherine who named their
son Grant. Growing up Grant was never told that the Emmerson's 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 the 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 totaled 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 Biotech 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 Emmerson's 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
bagful 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
gas lines 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 of
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. |
