posted
WHO COUNTS IN COUNTDOWN? – Episode #40 by Bruce MacIntosh
One of the key elements in DC’s pre-Countdown ad campaign was headlined, “The Search for Ray Palmer”, and depicted a magnifying glass focused on the minute Atom – who is apparently very unhappy that he has been found. Nevertheless, as we have seen in recent issues of both Countdown and The All-New Atom, the search is on and the fate of the Universe hangs in the balance. How did Ray Palmer get in such a tight spot? Because he can shrink to microscopic size, silly!
THE ATOM – Ray Palmer In the 1950s, superhero comics were nearly dead. If it weren’t for the bright ideas of DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz we may never have seen the rebirth of the superhero and the birth of the Silver Age of Comics.
But there it was, the mid-1950s. From an estimated readership of 60 million in 1943, comics had sunk to new lows. The pantheon of superheroes had been reduced to only three by 1955: Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. (Those of dubious super-powers, Green Arrow and Aquaman were backups in anthology titles.) Where once sales of individual titles numbered in the millions, even the Big Three were on life-support. Things looked bleak.
Until 1956, that is. DC Comics had a series called Showcase, where editors planned on, well, showcasing potential titles and characters. If sales eventually proved positive, they might consider giving the character a regular series. Stories of firemen, adventuring animals and frogmen, failed to capture the public’s imagination. But Issue #4 introduced comics readers to a new version of an “old” character, The Flash. That started a whirlwind that has yet to abate – and led directly to the re-imagining of another Golden Age hero a few years later: The Atom. DC tested the Mighty Mite in Showcase #34 through #36 (Sep/Oct 1961 through Jan/Feb 1962). Sales on his three-issue tryout were strong enough to merit his own title, The Atom (Issue #1, Jun-July 1962).
The Atom has gotten a bad rap over the years, with critics bemoaning the fact that his “only” super power was the ability to “get small”. I believe the only limitation was in the writers of the JLA to properly utilize the Mighty Mite’s abilities in the team’s adventures. Another possible reason for criticism was that his abilities were not neither naturally acquired (à la Superman or the Flash) nor physically perfected (like Batman or Green Arrow). Scientist Ray Palmer merely found a chunk of white dwarf matter and fashioned it into a lens (later incorporated into a belt) that would allow him to change his size and mass… It could have happened to anybody
On the other hand, this white dwarf matter gave the Atom abilities that were so cool: He could shrink to microscopic proportions and visit subatomic worlds! He did so in Justice League of America #18 (Mar. ‘63) and saved the League from tiny androids in the story aptly named, “Journey into the Micro-World!” With the controls on his belt, the Atom could also instantly change his mass, catapulting his normal 180-pound weight on his reduced six-inch body to sock some bad guy in the jaw. (I don’t know if anyone has ever explained how his action-figure-sized frame wasn’t instantly crushed to a pulp by instantly applying the force of 180 pounds. But, hey… It’s white dwarf matter!)
The Atom also traveled through the phone lines, riding the electric charges from his phone to the other person’s receiver when they answered. This instantaneous transmission allowed him to travel even faster than the Flash, but it is not certain how this would work in the modern age of digital communications.
One of the key plot points in the early Atom tales was his relationship with Jean Loring. It was also one of the most pathetic, and probably contributed to a bit of an inferiority complex for Ray Palmer. Loring refused to marry Palmer until she had made a name for herself as an attorney and Palmer himself accomplished something of significance in his own scientific career. (This was similar to Barry Allen’s – The Flash – early relationship with his main squeeze, Iris Allen. This is not surprising, as the adventures of both the Atom and the Flash were written by the same person, Gardner Fox. However, Iris’ chiding Barry about his constant tardiness was merely annoying, whereas Jean comes off as a real shrew when she is constantly attacking Ray’s self-worth. What must new readers of these Silver Age DC adventures think of American culture in the early Sixties?)
Justice League Despite his diminutive size, the Atom was one of the first recruits to DC’s flagship team book in Justice League of America #14 (Sep. ‘62). In that issue, the Atom was inducted as the newest member. However, Amos Fortune (posing as “Mister Memory”) causes the JLA members to forget who the Atom is within moments of voting him in. Only the Atom remembers, and he must find a way to restore the JLA’s memories and defeat Fortune. The story is reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Justice League of America, Vol. 1, so I won’t spoil the surprise ending. However, I will mention that the story utilized a memorable gimmick that took advantage of the hero’s diminutive stature: He is placed in a bowling ball filled with an explosive gas and hurled toward the JLA standing like pins at the end of an alley.
After he helped close the case, he is finally able to attend his first JLA meeting. The other teammates present him with a special gift, which was probably well-intentioned but nevertheless a fairly demeaning gift: His own special high chair.
Villains Honestly the Silver Age Atom’s foes were really a pathetic lot. I’ve always wondered if this was because the writers thought he was an underpowered hero, and would be too easily overwhelmed by any super-powered villain. Although they probably didn’t look at it like this, I figure the Atom as one of the most powerful (or at least, capable) heroes in the DC stable: If he wanted, all he’d have to do to avoid a punch or blast (or a bee, or a rat, etc.) is shrink to microscopic size, wait for the crisis to pass, instantly grow to six inches and use his full 180-pound force to deck his attacker. Crisis averted: every time.
But that would make for boring comics. Instead, writer Gardner Fox usually pitted the Atom against non-powered foes like kidnappers or bank robbers, with the hook of the story typically being that the Atom was trapped in some confined space because of his diminutive size. One exception to the weak caliber of the Atom’s opponents was Chronos.
The Atom first met with the Temporal Antagonist in The Atom #3 (Oct/Nov 1962), following a crime spree involving the use of several time- and clock-based gadgets. Of course, the Atom eventually foiled Chronos’ plans, and the criminal was finally jailed. What he should have been prosecuted for was his awful costume, especially the black-and-white vertically-striped tights, which, while slimming were not very stylish.
At this early stage in his career, Chronos didn’t manipulate or travel through time. (That came later.) Instead, his gadgets all took the form of timepieces, like an hourglass that when smashed unleashed a miniature sandstorm or his infamous wristwatch that showered his opponent with deadly flying gears and hands. By far, Chronos’ coolest gimmick was the “Flying Sundial”, which he uses to this very day.
Hawkman One unique aspect of the Atom’s Silver Age book was his endearing (and enduring) friendship with fellow Justice Leaguer, Hawkman. The two were teamed together (and the Atom’s comic was re-titled) in Atom and Hawkman with Issue #39 (Oct/Nov 1968). This was perhaps because the Winged Wonder was similarly un-powered, and certainly because sales were flagging on both heroes titles in the late 60s. Although Fox continued to script most of the issues, he was spelled by the venerable Bob Kanigher and Young Turk Denny O’Neil for a couple of issues each – and the team-up breathed new life into the comic. But it was not to last, and the title was canceled after a mere seven team-up issues and one year (with Issue #45 Oct/Nov 1969).
The Tiny Titan continued to be a member of the Justice League of America throughout the 70s, and writers desperately tried to craft stories that would highlight his powers. It wasn’t until 1983, that DC felt the time was right for a new Atom series.
Sword and Power of the Atom Sword of the Atom was a 4-issue miniseries written by Jan Strnad and brilliantly illustrated by the original Atom artist Gil Kane. This series took the pocket-sized protagonist in a completely different direction than those 1960s stories (usually against non-powered thugs).
Ray Palmer had previously convinced social climber Jean Loring to walk down the aisle – but due to Jean’s infidelity their marriage lasted about as long as all the Atom’s comic titles. Literally “getting away from it all”, Ray took a trip to the jungles of South America. There he discovered a miniature society of yellow-skinned aliens and fell in love with the tribe’s princess. He permanently shrank to the height of six inches and tossed his size-changing belt to live with the tribe.
Most likely because of the “Sword and Sorcery” theme of this title, these adventures of the Atom hold up a lot better than the prosaic stories from the 60s. Although it did not immediately result in an ongoing series, DC put out three Sword of the Atom one-shot specials in the four years following the miniseries. These stories continued the to follow the Atom’s adventures in his jungle Lilliput.
Like so many comic protagonists, Ray Palmer’s happiness was short-lived. In the Power of the Atom series (1988), writers Roger Stern and Tom Peyer recount how a rainforest clearing operation destroyed his Amazon paradise and killed his true love. The demoralized Palmer returned to Ivy Town and resumed more traditional “Atom” adventures, “80s”-style.
Despite guest appearances by other DC heroes like the Elongated Man and erstwhile friend Hawkman, and a cross-over with the mediocre Invasion event (seeWho Counts in Countdown? #45), this series flamed out after only 18 issues. Following that, Palmer faked his own death and briefly worked for the government as part of the new anti-team, the Suicide Squad. (This was also at a time where a man named Adam Cray briefly operated under the name of The Atom.)
Zero Hour With the events of Zero Hour (1994) DC attempted to rectify some of the chronological loose ends that had been left over from (or created by) Crisis on Infinite Earths, nine years earlier. The strangest decision made by DC Editorial was to have Zero Hour’s villain, Extant, “de-age” Ray Palmer to 17-years old. Despite his constant whining that he was “Justice League material”, he was “reduced” to starting a new Teen Titans team with some other previously-unknown characters. This team lasted exactly two years, and thankfully Palmer was returned to his normal thirty-something age. (We must all agree to never speak of this period in his life again. The whole idea sucked.)
Now the Atom was getting the respect he craved from the Justice League, who tried to recruit him back into the team during the early years of Grant Morrison’s run on JLA. However, Palmer refused, preferring to continue to fly solo.
He did come to the team’s aid when asked, or when they needed his scientific expertise. During the “Obsidian Age” storyline (JLA #66 through #72, Jul 2002 through Jan 2003), when the team went missing, the Atom was one of the heroes who came together under Nightwing’s leadership of a substitute League. He then remained on the team when they returned.
Identity Crisis The Atom’s coolest gimmick – the ability to travel along phone lines – led to lethal consequences in 2004’s seminal JLA series, Identity Crisis. In that series, Palmer was forced to hunt down and capture his own ex-wife, Jean Loring, who did some really bad things. (Which we won’t go into here, but see Who Counts in Countdown?, Episode #44 – Eclipso, for more information about Loring.) She was adjudged criminally insane and socked away in Arkham Asylum.
Feeling responsible for Loring’s actions and disgusted by the events of Identity Crisis, Palmer decided he needed a little “alone time”. He discarded his Justice League communicator and shrank himself to microscopic size. He has not been seen since, but one of Countdown’s main themes is “The Search for Ray Palmer”. It involves not only the new Atom Ryan Choi, but the new Challengers of the Unknown: Donna Troy, Jason Todd and a rogue Monitor.
When they find Ray, what kind of reception will they get? Although the Atom has had a habit of “disappearing” in the past, this time I think he meant business, and may not be so happy to be found. Either way, I hope he is okay – because I always like to root for the “little guy”.
NEXT WEEK IN WHO COUNTS IN COUNTDOWN? With any luck, Dan DiDio or one of his DC entourage at San Diego Comicon let slip some of the upcoming events and characters we should expect from Countdown. If they were characteristically cagey, I may have to bribe someone or ply them with alpaca treats. Either way, rejoin us in one week for another fun- and fact-filled feature on favorite and unfamiliar friends and foes from the DC Universe.
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WHO COUNTS IN COUNTDOWN? – Episode #40
Until 1956, that is. DC Comics had a series called Showcase, where editors planned on, well, showcasing potential titles and characters. If sales eventually proved positive, they might consider giving the character a regular series. Stories of firemen, adventuring animals and frogmen, failed to capture the public’s imagination. But Issue #4 introduced comics readers to a new version of an “old” character, The Flash. That started a whirlwind that has yet to abate – and led directly to the re-imagining of another Golden Age hero a few years later: The Atom. DC tested the Mighty Mite in Showcase #34 through #36 (Sep/Oct 1961 through Jan/Feb 1962). Sales on his three-issue tryout were strong enough to merit his own title, The Atom (Issue #1, Jun-July 1962).
On the other hand, this white dwarf matter gave the Atom abilities that were so cool: He could shrink to microscopic proportions and visit subatomic worlds! He did so in Justice League of America #18 (Mar. ‘63) and saved the League from tiny androids in the story aptly named, “Journey into the Micro-World!” With the controls on his belt, the Atom could also instantly change his mass, catapulting his normal 180-pound weight on his reduced six-inch body to sock some bad guy in the jaw. (I don’t know if anyone has ever explained how his action-figure-sized frame wasn’t instantly crushed to a pulp by instantly applying the force of 180 pounds. But, hey… It’s white dwarf matter!)
One of the key plot points in the early Atom tales was his relationship with Jean Loring. It was also one of the most pathetic, and probably contributed to a bit of an inferiority complex for Ray Palmer. Loring refused to marry Palmer until she had made a name for herself as an attorney and Palmer himself accomplished something of significance in his own scientific career. (This was similar to Barry Allen’s – The Flash – early relationship with his main squeeze, Iris Allen. This is not surprising, as the adventures of both the Atom and the Flash were written by the same person, Gardner Fox. However, Iris’ chiding Barry about his constant tardiness was merely annoying, whereas Jean comes off as a real shrew when she is constantly attacking Ray’s self-worth. What must new readers of these Silver Age DC adventures think of American culture in the early Sixties?)
After he helped close the case, he is finally able to attend his first JLA meeting. The other teammates present him with a special gift, which was probably well-intentioned but nevertheless a fairly demeaning gift: His own special high chair.
But that would make for boring comics. Instead, writer Gardner Fox usually pitted the Atom against non-powered foes like kidnappers or bank robbers, with the hook of the story typically being that the Atom was trapped in some confined space because of his diminutive size. One exception to the weak caliber of the Atom’s opponents was Chronos. 
At this early stage in his career, Chronos didn’t manipulate or travel through time. (That came later.) Instead, his gadgets all took the form of timepieces, like an hourglass that when smashed unleashed a miniature sandstorm or his infamous wristwatch that showered his opponent with deadly flying gears and hands. By far, Chronos’ coolest gimmick was the “Flying Sundial”, which he uses to this very day.
One unique aspect of the Atom’s Silver Age book was his endearing (and enduring) friendship with fellow Justice Leaguer, Hawkman. The two were teamed together (and the Atom’s comic was re-titled) in Atom and Hawkman with Issue #39 (Oct/Nov 1968). This was perhaps because the Winged Wonder was similarly un-powered, and certainly because sales were flagging on both heroes titles in the late 60s. Although Fox continued to script most of the issues, he was spelled by the venerable Bob Kanigher and Young Turk Denny O’Neil for a couple of issues each – and the team-up breathed new life into the comic. But it was not to last, and the title was canceled after a mere seven team-up issues and one year (with Issue #45 Oct/Nov 1969).
Ray Palmer had previously convinced social climber Jean Loring to walk down the aisle – but due to Jean’s infidelity their marriage lasted about as long as all the Atom’s comic titles. Literally “getting away from it all”, Ray took a trip to the jungles of South America. There he discovered a miniature society of yellow-skinned aliens and fell in love with the tribe’s princess. He permanently shrank to the height of six inches and tossed his size-changing belt to live with the tribe. 
Like so many comic protagonists, Ray Palmer’s happiness was short-lived. In the Power of the Atom series (1988), writers Roger Stern and Tom Peyer recount how a rainforest clearing operation destroyed his Amazon paradise and killed his true love. The demoralized Palmer returned to Ivy Town and resumed more traditional “Atom” adventures, “80s”-style. 
Feeling responsible for Loring’s actions and disgusted by the events of Identity Crisis, Palmer decided he needed a little “alone time”. He discarded his Justice League communicator and shrank himself to microscopic size. He has not been seen since, but one of Countdown’s main themes is “The Search for Ray Palmer”. It involves not only the new Atom Ryan Choi, but the new Challengers of the Unknown: Donna Troy, Jason Todd and a rogue Monitor. 
