#atomics

US Air Force General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper on the ramp of TJBQ in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

An interesting idea I have been pondering about the power fantasy is the contrast between Magnus and the rest of the superpowers we have seen so far is that we know where the source of their powers are.

With the atomics we know it is probably caused by the atomic bomb and the splitting of the atom hence their name and the fact that they are presumably human or at least post-human in some manner. There is of course the possible theory that their powers are gained from the divine due to Valentina's arrival happening at the same time.

'Valentina arriving punched a pinhole between her gaff and ours, and heaven is leaking all over the shop'. - Jacky Magnus, 1978

With the Extranormal enities we know that their powers come from both heaven and hell respectively, with Valentina (presumably) being sent down from heaven to be reborn as a human child (does this mean she technicaly killed a child?) and Eliza made a deal with Hell to be their representative on earth through magic taught by another member of the pyrimid.

'I have all the powers of hell at my fingertips.' - Eliza Hellbound, 1989

But with Magnus we have no idea where his powers come from and how he gained the knowledge he has to such a level that he can become a superpower in his own right. He's not an extradimentional entity, he's not an atomic, so what is he? And how did he gain the knowledge he has?

'But I knew folks would keep on trying...' - Jacky Magnus, 1978