Nathaniel Heywood (Earth-Prime)

"I spent my whole life studying history and making sure it's preserved and passed on."

- Dr. Nate Heywood

Dr. Nathaniel "Nate" Heywood is a historian specialist in deductive historical reconstruction and a former member of the Legends of Tomorrow. Nate is also the grandson of Henry Heywood, Commander Steel, and son of Henry "Hank" Heywood.

During a mission with the Legends, Heywood was given the Biomolecular Enhancer and gained the ability to turn into organic steel. He later chose the alter ego Steel, to honor his deceased grandfather.

Early Life
Nathaniel "Nate" Heywood was born to Hank Heywood, the son of World War II hero Henry Heywood, better known as Commander Steel.

Heywood eventually grew up to study in history at Brixton University, where he once attempted to steal the Chalice of Dionysus from Hudson University. During his time at Brixton, Heywood wrote a doctoral thesis on John F. Kennedy, which was proven a useful tool to gain Kennedy's trust years later when he traveled to the past.

Joining the Legends
In 2016, Heywood discovered that history was altered with insignificant changes. He eventually discovered that the Legends of Tomorrow were responsible and joined the team as a historian expert. However, he was severely injured during one of his first missions, though was saved by Ray Palmer's Biomolecular Enhancer.

While his wounds healed, Heywood soon manifested a steel coating covering his skin, becoming a field member of the team as Steel.

Death and Resurrection
In 2019, the Legends faced a demon named Neron, who manipulated fear to open a portal to Hell. To force Neron out of the body of Ray Palmer, Heywood and John Constantine created a glamour such that Heywood would be killed. The plan was effective as Neron was exorcised and destroyed, leaving Heywood dead. Thankfully, the Legends and the audience at Heyworld channeled love into Heywood, resurrecting him with the help of Constantine's magic. The incident at Heyworld soon made the Legends a worldwide mania, dubbed the "Legends mania". Heyworld, owned by Heywood, also became a popular theme park for individuals interested in magical creatures. Unbeknownst to the Legends, Zari Tomaz's timeline was also altered, making her never a member of the team in the current timeline and his brother taking her place instead. Heywood remained suspicious that something wrong, still having subconscious romantic feelings towards his girlfriend.

Crisis on Infinite Earths
When a giant Beebo rampaged in Star City, Heywood and Ava Sharpe received Sara Lance's message about the presence of Behrad Tarazi's totem. Both claimed that Tarazi was on board the Waverider and offered to assist Lance and the other heroes in battle. Lance ordered the two to stay in Washington, D.C. as she did not intend any more of the Legends from being tangled in the mess. Heywood asked if Lance was "Shanghai'd" in a crossover, with the latter vaguely confirming.

Hours after the Anti-Monitor was shrunk to the Microverse, Heywood and Sharpe attended a moment of silence for the sacrifice of Oliver Queen.

Bachelor Party
"It's a weird thing with friendship. Starts because you need each other, and then if you do it right and help each other grow, you need each other less. I guess change is the whole point."

- Nate Heywood on friendship

Fist City, Oklahoma Territory
"I've been having a lot of big feelings too, lately. Now's the exact right time to share them. When Mick left the ship, it wasn't easy being the O-est G. But did any of you check in on my existential crisis? No. Because Nate's so chill, isn't he? ...I used to have Zari to talk to, right? And while all of you are hooking up, getting engaged, I guess she's just stuck in a totem forever... And don't get me started about life on the ship. Six roommates and I'm the only one that replaces the cartridges in the fabricators... And I know one of you changes the thermostat every night, so don't blame it on Gideon... And another thing, I asked for a chair in the Hall of Justice, big surprise, no response."

- Nate Heywood's repressed emotions

Hero Moments
"I have been paying very close attention to your journey, and you've certainly come a long way. Yeah, it's been an extraordinary ride to say the least. [...] Yes, tell us, what does it feel like when you go through time? I mean, it's a 500-page book. There was a lot. There was a lot."

- Television host and Dr. Nathaniel Heywood

Former Powers

 * Organic Steel Transformation: Injected with the Biomolecular Enhancer, Heywood acquired the ability to transform his body in steel, protecting him from bullets with a durable coating. However, when Heywood was exposed to mustard gas on the battlefield of the Capture of Mametz, his steel coating corroded, and he used the remaining coating to block bullets from Alun Thomas. In the end, Heywood was no longer able to transform into steel.
 * Superhuman Durability: With his body in steel form, Heywood is bulletproof and immune to regular attacks. However, the steel form often disables when he is overwhelmed by the number of enemies, as seen when he was unable to stay in steel form during the zombie attack.
 * Superhuman Strength: Heywood is shown to be able to have tremendous strength, capable of punching an adult male across the room.
 * Stomp-Induced Shockwaves: By stomping on the ground, Heywood was able to send multiple Encores flying and knocking them unconscious.
 * Immortality: After drinking from the Chalice of Dionysus, Heywood was given a 24-hour limited immortality.

Abilities

 * History: Majoring in history, Heywood has deep understanding with the history of Earth, and often uses his knowledge to assist the Legends on missions taking place in the past. Heywood is also a specialist in deductive historical reconstruction and familiar with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen,
 * Guitarist: Heywood is able to play a guitar on Meet the Legends.
 * Hand-to-Hand Combat: Heywood was trained with martial arts abilities, making him a skilled fighter in battles.
 * Marksmanship: Heywood was shown to be proficient with firearms, as shown when he briefly used Spooner's blaster.

Former Weaknesses

 * Mustard Gas: Also known as sulfur mustard, the gas most commonly used during World War I is capable of corroding steel. This resulted in the corrosion of Heywood's steel exterior, causing him to lose his durable abilities and eventually lose his abilities.

Former Equipment

 * Guns: On multiple occasions, Heywood wielded a variety of firearms.
 * Smith & Wesson Schofield: In Fist City, Heywood possessed a Smith & Wesson Schofield to defend himself.
 * Stoeger Coach Gun: During the Zaguron Invasion, Heywood briefly utilized the Stoeger Coach Gun.
 * Colt Model 1903: Heywood disarmed the weapon from a fake FBI agent.
 * Smith & Wesson Model 10 Revolver Heywood defended himself with the revolver against FBI agents.
 * Steel Suit: Heywood wears a red, white and blue protective suit as Steel. The suit is sleeveless, allowing to have more flexibility while fighting. As shown in a photo in 2016, the suit originally included a helmet but was discarded in 2017.
 * Beebo: In Heywood's quarters on the Waverider, he places a Beebo on the coffee table.
 * Scoots McGoots: On a mission to 1997 Hong Kong, Heywood utilized a scooter in order to adapt to the busy traffic. However, it was damaged when he attacked Genghis Khan.

Filmography

 * Meet the Legends
 * Ultimate Buds
 * Highcastle Abbey
 * Star Trip
 * Mister Parker's Cul De Sac
 * Bud Stuy

Possible Future

 * Hero Moments: History From a Man Who Was There