- For other uses of "Fallout", see Fallout (disambiguation).
Neil Borman (February 23, 1973[1]- May 15, 2018) nicknamed Fallout by Cisco Ramon and designated as Subject Seven by Clifford DeVoe,[2] was a meta-human with the power to emit dangerous levels of radiation.
Quick Answers
What event caused Neil Borman to become Fallout?
Who gave Neil Borman the nickname 'Fallout'?
What abilities does Neil Borman possess as Fallout?
How did Neil Borman's transformation into Fallout affect those around him?
Who is Subject Seven in the Flash series?
Biography
In October 2017 when Neil Borman rode Central City Bus 405, a portal into the Speed Force opened to release Barry Allen from it. This caused a dark matter wave to spill out from the event horizon, affecting the 12 people on the bus, including Neil.[3]
At a later date, Neil had gone to the bank. He completed his business while remaining completely unaware that the radiation he was emitting had given everyone radiation sickness. He had later encountered Cisco Ramon and Harrison Wells when they were searching for him. Trying to stop him when they found him again on the streets, they brought in Caitlin Snow and the Flash. Neil nearly released the radiation inside of him. However, Cisco Ramon sent it all to Earth-15.
Neil was placed with Tracy Brand at her laboratory in Keystone City so she could keep his radiation powers under control.[1]
However, after Clifford DeVoe caught most of the other bus meta-humans, Neil was picked up by Team Flash to transfer him to an A.R.G.U.S. facility. Barry revealed him his identity to win his trust. DeVoe assaulted the truck with Null's powers until Laurel Lance of Earth-X immobilized him, Barry and Leo Snart. Laurel kidnapped Neil alongside Joe and Caitlin and sent them to the CCPD Headquarters. Laurel forced Neil to take off his nullifying armor to launch a radiation poisoning attack against the police.
After Barry neutralized Laurel-X, Leo and Caitlin used Cold Guns to cool Borman down and reduce the amount of radiation he emitted. When it was low enough, Caitlin put his HAZMAT suit's helmet back on him, fully containing his radiation emissions. Finally, Neil was sent to a secret A.R.G.U.S. facility where he was put in a virtual reality that made him think he was on a calm beach.[4]
Clifford DeVoe later broke into the A.R.G.U.S. facility where Neil was. With Kilg%re's powers, DeVoe took control of the machines connected to Borman and forced him to begin overloading himself with radiation until he generated nuclear fusion turning into pure energy. He then used Dwarfstar's powers to shrink down the chamber that contained Borman and the radiation he emitted. DeVoe then broke into S.T.A.R. Labs and used what remained of Neil, still inside the miniature containment chamber, to power Gideon, and DeVoe's "Enlightenment" device.[2]
Legacy
Neil's death was avenged when Ralph Dibny regained complete control of his body; forcing Clifford DeVoe's consciousness out of the latter's body and prompting DeVoe to transfer his consciousness into his hoverchair. However, the latter perished once-and-for all when his wife, Marlize Malan removed the chair's power source; putting an end to DeVoe's madness.
Personality
Neil doesn't seem to want to use his powers to hurt anyone. He called Vibe and Harry idiots for stopping his truck; however, given the circumstances, his anger was justified, given that they'd been standing in the middle of the road. However, he was horrified to learn that he was inadvertently harming the people around with his newfound power, begging to be cured when found by Team Flash.[1]
Powers and abilities
Powers
- Meta-human physiology: After Neil was struck by the dark matter energy after the Flash was released from the Speed Force, this altered his DNA and cells, enabling him to access his newfound powers.
- Radiokinesis: Neil can generate radiation from his body, as seen he was unknowingly giving individuals radiation poisoning, which caused those who were close to him to pass out. As time passed, Neil's radiation grew increasingly unstable. This makes Neil one of the most dangerous and unstable Meta-humans alive alongside Chester P. Runk whose powers were equally unstable and lethal. Neil’s radiation made him into a walking talking time bomb waiting to go off, to the point that he generated an explosion that was only stopped by the combined efforts of Vibe and the Flash. It can be assumed that the explosions Neil generated were powerful enough to destroy all of Central City. His powers also make him one of the few Metas capable of overpowering Killer Frost as his radiation is too hot for Frost to freeze, as shown in their brief fight. Neil is also capable of generating nuclear fusion at the cost of his own life as he becomes pure energy at this point.[1]
- Radiation blast: Neil can channel blasts of radiation from his hands, which he can use against his opponents as shown when he fought the Flash and sent him flying by blasting him.[1]
- Superhuman durability: Neil was able to withstand being hit point-blank by Siren-X's sonic scream for some time before she was stopped by Barry. Although it did make him even more unstable and generate even more radiation.[4]
- Radiokinesis: Neil can generate radiation from his body, as seen he was unknowingly giving individuals radiation poisoning, which caused those who were close to him to pass out. As time passed, Neil's radiation grew increasingly unstable. This makes Neil one of the most dangerous and unstable Meta-humans alive alongside Chester P. Runk whose powers were equally unstable and lethal. Neil’s radiation made him into a walking talking time bomb waiting to go off, to the point that he generated an explosion that was only stopped by the combined efforts of Vibe and the Flash. It can be assumed that the explosions Neil generated were powerful enough to destroy all of Central City. His powers also make him one of the few Metas capable of overpowering Killer Frost as his radiation is too hot for Frost to freeze, as shown in their brief fight. Neil is also capable of generating nuclear fusion at the cost of his own life as he becomes pure energy at this point.[1]
Weaknesses
- Lack of control: Unlike most meta-humans, Neil cannot control his powers.[1]
- Low temperature: Low temperatures are able to slow the level of nuclear activity inside Neil and by extension, lessen his radiation emissions.
Equipment
- Containment suit: During his transport to A.R.G.U.S. containment, Borman wore a modified HAZMAT-like suit to contain his radiation, which was said to be similar to the nuclear contamination at Hiroshima, after the nuclear bombings on Japan.
- Truck: A.R.G.U.S. used a truck to transport Borman, which was chased down by the Flash and the Thinker, stopped by Vibe, and attacked by Siren-X, causing the former to escape the vehicle.
Appearances
The Flash
Season 4
Season 5
Season 8
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Trivia
- Borman's address was 23-3808 Highbury Street, 51348.[1]
- His phone number was 555-0197.[1]
- Unlike the other bus meta-humans, excluding "The Weeper", DeVoe had no intention of absorbing Borman's powers to enact the Enlightenment, but instead used the nuclear energy he produced to power the Enlightenment satellites.[2]
Behind the scenes
- In the DC comics, Neil Borman is a meta-human known as Fallout and is a radioactive "enemy" of the Flash. He is not a deliberate villain, but a victim of circumstances due to his powers. Like on The Flash, Borman's radioactive abilities were used by another villain as a power source.
- His name may be a reference to the physicist Niels Bohr, who theorized that electrons were sorted in energy levels and contributed greatly to the current model of the atom.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "The Trial of The Flash"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Think Fast"
- ↑ "Luck Be a Lady"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Fury Rogue"