Jason Rusch

{{Infobox comics character

| image =Firestorm (Jason Rusch).png

| caption =Jason Rusch as Firestorm. Art by Jamal Igle

| character_name = Firestorm

| publisher = DC Comics

| debut = Firestorm (vol. 3) #1 (July 2004)

| creators = Dan Jolley
ChrisCross
(based on the Firestorm character created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom)

| real_name = Jason Thomas Rusch

| species =

| homeworld =

| alliances = LexCorp
Justice League
S.T.A.R. Labs

| aliases =

| supports =

| powers =

Energy projection and manipulation
Intangibility
High-speed flight
Energy absorption
Superhuman strength
Superhuman durability
Matter transmutation
Density control
Eidetic memory
Enhanced vision
X-ray vision
Microscopic vision
Thermal vision
Regeneration
Self-sustenance

}}

Jason Thomas Rusch is a superhero in the DC Comics Universe, and the second character known as Firestorm. He first appeared in Firestorm (vol. 3) #1 (July 2004), and was created by Dan Jolley and ChrisCross.{{Citation|last = Wallace|first = Dan|contribution = Firestorm|editor-last = Dougall|editor-first = Alastair|title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia|page = 123|publisher = Dorling Kindersley|place = New York|year = 2008|isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1|oclc = 213309017}}

Publication history

The Jason Rusch incarnation of Firestorm was introduced in 2004 following the death of the original Firestorm, Ronnie Raymond, in Identity Crisis.

Ronnie and Jason star in The New 52 title The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men, initially written by Gail Simone and Ethan Van Sciver and drawn by Yıldıray Çınar.{{cite web |author=Hyde |first=David |date=June 2, 2011 |title=The New Justice |url=http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/06/02/the-new-justice/ |access-date=November 25, 2013 |website=DC.com}} Joe Harris replaced Simone starting in issue #7, while Van Sciver provided art for issues #7 and 8.{{cite news|title=Joe Harris Replaces Gail Simone as "Firestorm" Co-Writer| url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=35773|access-date=19 January 2012|website=CBR.com|date=6 December 2011}} Dan Jurgens took over the series as both writer and artist from issue #13 in 2012 until the final issue, #20, in 2013.

Fictional character biography

Jason Rusch is a 17-year-old living in Detroit who lives with his abusive father Alvin Rusch after his mother leaves the family. He becomes a courier to gain money and bonds with the Firestorm matrix, which seeks a new host following Ronnie Raymond's death. Unlike Ronnie, Jason initially does not have a set matrix partner, instead bonding with various civilians.Johns, Geoff. Infinite Crisis #5 (April 2006)

In 52, Firestorm is fused with Cyborg due to malfunctioning Zeta Beam technology. After being freed, he forms a new Justice League with Firehawk, Ambush Bug, Super-Chief, and Bulleteer. After failing to handle a crisis staged by Booster Gold's robot Skeets, the new League disbands.

In One Year Later, Jason and Gehenna search for Martin Stein after his former pupil Adrian Burroughs kidnaps him. Later, Jason and Stein meet Shilo Norman, who informs them that the Firestorm matrix contains part of the Life Equation.As seen in Firestorm the Nuclear Man #33 After Darkseid kidnaps Stein, Jason and Gehenna work to find him.

In Infinite Crisis, Jason's friend Mick Wong is killed. Following this, he meets with Stein in space and agrees to have him be the Firestorm matrix's permanent secondary host.{{multiref2|Infinite Crisis #4 (March 2006)|Justice League of America Wedding Special one-shot (November 2007)|Justice League of America (vol. 2) #15 (January 2008)|Justice League of America (vol. 2) #32 - #34 (April - June 2009)|Justice League: Cry for Justice #7 (March 2010)

}}

=''Blackest Night''=

In Blackest Night, Ronnie attacks Jason after being resurrected as a Black Lantern.Blackest Night #2 - 4 (August - October 2009) In the final battle against Nekron, Ronnie is fully resurrected with no memory of his time as a Lantern.Blackest Night #8 (March 2010)

=''Brightest Day''=

In Brightest Day, Deathstorm attempts to manipulate Ronnie and Jason into fighting, destabilizing the Firestorm matrix, and destroying the universe. He seemingly succeeds, but instead transports Firestorm to the antimatter universe. After Deathstorm kills Martin Stein, Jason and Ronnie work together to avenge him.{{multiref2|Brightest Day #0 - #4 (April - June 2010)|Brightest Day #6 - #7 (July - August 2010)|Brightest Day #10 - #12 (September - October 2010)|Brightest Day #15 - #18 (December 2010 - January 2011)|Brightest Day #22 - #24 (March - April 2011)

}}

=''The New 52''=

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Jason and Ronnie are classmates who obtain Martin Stein's "God Particle", giving them both the ability to transform into Firestorm.{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=109}}The Fury of Firestorm the Nuclear Men #1 (September 2011)

In the 2016 miniseries Legends of Tomorrow, Jason is separated from the Firestorm matrix after Stein mistakenly believes that it is harming him. Despite this, he continues to appear in association with Firestorm and eventually rejoins the matrix.{{Cite web |last=Shea |first=Eric |date=April 20, 2016 |title=Legends of Tomorrow #2 Review and *SPOILERS* |url=https://www.weirdsciencedccomics.com/2016/04/legends-of-tomorrow-2-review-and.html |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=Weird Science DC Comics |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Goldfield |first=Ray |date=December 14, 2021 |title=Review – Tis the Season to Be Freezin #1: Holiday Madness |url=https://geekdad.com/2021/12/review-tis-the-season-to-be-freezin-1-holiday-madness/ |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=GeekDad |language=en-US}}

Powers and abilities

Other versions

An alternate timeline variant of Jason Rusch appears in Flashpoint.Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #1 (June 2011)

In other media

=Television=

Jason Rusch / Firestorm appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Tyler James Williams.{{cite web |title=Firestorm / Jason Rusch Voices (DC Universe) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/DC-Universe/Firestorm-Jason-Rusch/ |access-date=July 15, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} 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. This version is a high school student who became Firestorm alongside his teacher Ronnie Raymond after they are exposed to supercharged nuclear energy during an explosion created by Doctor Double X. Additionally, his suit is a containment suit that limits his energy and prevents it from harming others.Sands, Rich. "Winter Sci-fi Preview" TV Guide; November 23, 2009; Page 31
Jason Rusch appears in The Flash episode "Revenge of the Rogues", portrayed by Luc Roderique.{{Cite web |last=Byrne |first=Craig |date=November 11, 2014 |title=Firestorm Warning: DC Comics Character Jason Rusch To Appear On The Flash (Exclusive) |url=https://www.ksitetv.com/flash/firestorm-warning-dc-comics-character-jason-rusch-to-appear-on-the-flash-exclusive/46524/ |access-date=July 15, 2024 |website=ksitetv.com}}{{cite news |last=Sunu |first=Steve |date=November 11, 2014 |title=Roderique Cast As 'The Flash's' Jason Rusch |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=57012 |access-date=8 January 2015 |website=Comic Book Resources |archive-date=12 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112011226/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=57012 |url-status=bot: unknown }} This version is one of several scientists who worked on Martin Stein's F.I.R.E.S.T.O.R.M. matrix. After the U.S. army takes over the project following Stein's disappearance and S.T.A.R. Labs' particle accelerator explosion, Rusch begins working at Mercury Labs.

=Film=

Jason Rusch / Firestorm appears in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, voiced by Cedric Yarbrough.
Jason Rusch / Firestorm appears in Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash, voiced by Phil LaMarr.

=Video games=

Jason Rusch / Firestorm appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=July 15, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}
Jason Rusch / Firestorm appears in Injustice 2, voiced by Ogie Banks.{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=March 13, 2017 |title=Injustice 2 adds Firestorm |url=https://gematsu.com/2017/03/injustice-2-adds-firestorm |access-date=March 13, 2017 |website=Gematsu}} This version is an ally of Batman who works to restore order to Earth after the fall of Superman's Regime.
Jason Rusch / Firestorm appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains.{{Cite web |date=November 2, 2018 |title=Characters - LEGO DC Super-Villains Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/lego-dc-super-villains/Characters |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}