One was a prominent scientist, promoted to the chief administrator for S.T.A.R. Labs while secretly recruited into the criminal organization known as S.K.U.L.L. The other was a master strategist of a criminal team of mutants known as Helix, and later took a legal job over meta human affairs.
Albert Michaels had a tremendous brain, which blessed him with great intellect yet cursed him with painful seizures. S.K.U.L.L. agents recruited him into their organization promising him a radium-powered device that would regulate his brainwaves to manage the seizures, if he secured a Kryptonite Pipeline project to defeat Earth-One's Superman. Instead, the device caused Michaels' to emit powerfully potent destructive energy from his cranium at unpredictable occasions. As the Atomic Skull, he took over the S.K.U.L.L. organization and sought revenge against the Man of Steel who always interfered with his plans while seeking a cure for himself. Neither goal was obtained despite his attacks versus Superman, then Flash and Firestorm, followed by another encounter with Superman alongside Man-Bat, then a battle with Superman with alter ego Clark Kent on a quirky case.
Lawrence Dennis and had great charisma which inspired his fellow mutants into forming a formidable syndicate of costumed criminals. Genetically altered to have see-through skin, a cyanide touch that was fatal to those exposed to it, and superhuman strength along with durability. Initially hatching a plan to kidnap the daughter of Wonder Woman and her husband Steve Trevor, Mister Bones and his crime cronies faced the wrath of that girl Fury's teammates in Infinity, Inc. This would lead to several clashes between Infinity and Helix, including one occasion when the former team's founding Kryptonian member Power Girl along with her cousin Superman helped the Inc. kids bring Helix to justice. A battle ensured between Bones and Superman, with the teen thief seemingly outmatched by the Man of Steel. However, there is the potential that Bones’ cyanide touch could have adversely effected Superman, who had a weaker constitution than his Earth-One counterpart given the source of his power and his advanced age at that point in time.
While Michaels left his former antagonistic associates behind shortly after criminal career, S.K.U.L.L. continued to operated both off the coast of Florida with their shipping enterprises as well as in Texas where they focused on nuclear and space research. However, their members continued to operate as uniform troops rather than distinct individuals of their skull-faced founder.
As for
Helix, its membership remained tight nit, consisting only of Bones' fellow childhood friends Penny Dreadful, Arak the Wind Walker, Tao Jones, Baby Boom and Kritter. Their leader would himself be captured and placed under the supervision of Infinity, Inc., which helped to rehabilitate Mister Bones over time. Sadly, his former friends remained on the opposite side of the law.
While not a genius like Michaels, Dennis had am equally calculating cranium like his doppelgänger. Both men exuded equal parts awareness and arrogance, confidence and cockiness, equal parts terror and tragedy. Atomic Skull’s bio-electric discharges were matched in intensity bio the electricity protected by Mister Bones’ girlfriend Penny Dreadful. And Mister Bones’ deadly cyanide touch was matched by the life-draining touch of Atomic Skull’s cellmate the Parasite. And the driven nature of these two men motivated them to exert their influence on others, even after abandoning the groups they founded in S.K.U.L.L. and Helix.
