COUNTDOWN # 25 "ATOMIC KNIGHTS ON THE RISE" BY "FREE" STEVE CHUNG Last week in Countdown #25, Gardner Grayle and the Atomic Knights made their presence known in Bludhaven. But what are the origins of Grayle, the Knights, and their cool armor? Click the link comics fan and we'll shed some light on the Great Atomic War and more ....
The Great Atomic War had ended and left a ruined planet in its wake. There is no plant life and of animal life, only a few humans remain. Without government, "might makes right" is the prevailing law in this new world.
At this point in Earth's history, there is an organization which strives to represent law and order. Its members aid in righting wrongs and battling evil. The group's name is The Atomic Knights.
One man is on the run. To where and from whom, he does not know. The mob have been chasing him since sunrise. In a passageway, he waits for the first of them, and catches him by surprise. After finding a place to hide, he watches as they continue on their way, and his memories return. The atomic war has destroyed everything. A newspaper has the date of October 29, 1986. The war lasted for only twenty days.
His name is Gardner Grayle, and in his back pocket, there is an old clipping. Sgt. Gardner Grayle was Mr. Average Atomic Warrior. Now knowing who he is, Gardner doesn't know why the mob was chasing him. He takes out a good tin from one of his other pockets. Gardner then realizes that they must have been chasing him for what he had been carrying, and wonders how his fellow humans could have sunk so low. After his meal, the ex-soldier goes out in search of someone to talk to.
As he walks along, Gardner remembers being in an underground bunker, and the power failing. He and the others were listening to the radio announcer's report about the war's eleventh day, and how the Super-H explosions have changed the shapes of the continents on the planet. It was unknown how long the reports would continue, and there was very little left intact on the surface. Minutes after the speaker goes dead, the bunker trembles from the explosion above it. Two days later, Gardner Grayle woke up, alive and well. He hopes that the Anti-H pills they took before the war started will protect him from the bomb-radiation.
The mob are now attacking someone else. The former soldier leaps to the aid of their prey. Gardner makes the acquaintance of Douglas Herald, school teacher. Finding the odds against them, the mob moves off in search of easier victims. They were after Douglas's food can, which he found inside the museum. It used to be their town supply cache, until the Black Baron and his men raided their town. If they wanted to survive, the townspeople would have to submit to the Black Baron.
The school teacher tells Gardner about how World War III affected the people. Not only were memories affected, plants and animals were killed. With no food able to grow any more, the only food to be found are in the remaining stockpiles stored before the war. If distributed equally, there would be enough for all in the valley for years to come. Without law and order, the Baron's men were able to raid every food cache. Anyone who tried to stop them was ray-blasted into submission.
With the entire town under his control, the Baron has the townspeople working for him, and all the power at his disposal. Without weapons, Douglas can't see how they can win in a fight against the Baron. There's only a few radiation blasters left after the atomic war and the Black Baron has got them. An R-Grenade soon has Gardner and Doug diving for cover behind some suits of armor. The school teacher can only wonder what's kept them alive from the deadly rays.
When their attackers have gone, Gardner inspects the suits of armor in the museum, and figures that the metal was what stopped the rays. Over the centuries, the metal must have hardened into a certain molecular structure which acts as a shield against nuclear radiation. If the armor protects them from R-Grenades, it will also protect them from R-Guns, as well. Now, they have a way to fight back against the Black Baron.
Now in the center of town, Gardner and Douglas address the townspeople about their plans, and ask for four volunteers to join them in wearing the armor suits. Two brothers make their way forward. They are Hollis and Wayne Hobard. Another volunteer is a scientist named Bryndon. Since they blame the scientists for making the bombs which ravaged their world, the townspeople are ready to tear him apart.
A lone girl points out that a man's death won't bring back their world. If Bryndon wants to help to get rid of the Black Baron, then maybe his science can help them. The scientist demonstrates an invention by passing it over the ground, and tells them to dig in an exact spot. When they dig at the area, a food can is uncovered, and the food-pack detector is a proven success. As Bryndon is welcomed to the group, Douglas introduces Gardner to his sister, Marene.
The former soldier takes a moment to savor her beauty before turning to the task at hand. Since the sixth suit of armor is too small for an adult male to wear, five of them will have to do the job. As they march towards the castle, Hollis wonders if the armor will protect them, and his brother assures him that their leader will be worthy of their trust. Eyeing a nearby tree, Gardner Grayle knows that it will come in handy. The armored knights are spotted by the Black Baron and his men from a parapet. With the Radiation-Guns aimed on him, the former soldier steps forward, and demands that the food stores be opened for distribution to all.
If the Baron refuses, they will break into the castle, and handle the distribution themselves. Unimpressed by the sight of the armored visitors, the Baron tells them to leave or be atomized on the spot. The "Knights" seize the tree, using it as a battering ram against the main gates. The atomic weaponry fails to stop them in their tracks.
Within the castle, the "Knights" strive to stop their quarry from using other methods of stopping them. Gardner personally takes charge of pursuing the Black Baron, and learn the location of the hidden food. Now in possession of a rifle, the Baron fires, and the former soldier barely ducks in time. The armor may protect them from deadly radiation, but would it stop a bullet? As the Baron takes careful aim, Gardner Grayle tries to reach him in spite of the heavy armor.
Before the trigger can be pulled, another of the "Knights" leaps to the rescue, and spoils the shot. As Gardner removes the rifle from his fallen foe, he wonders who the mystery "Knight" was, and why they ran away. With the rifle in hand, the leader of the "Knights" is able to bring things to a close. Once the keys to the storerooms are seized, the food is distributed to all, and the Black Baron is placed in custody. Douglas Herald is now in charge of the food supplies.
Gardner then discovers that there are six armored figures in their midst. When he raises the visor on the sixth Knight, he sees Marene there. Since the small suit of armor fitted her, and she wanted to help in the fight, Marene hopes that Gardner will forgive her. The former soldier does better than that, giving her a kiss, and hoping that they'll be able to try that again without the armor. Now that the Black Baron has been taken care of, and the town is free, Gardner proposes that they become the Atomic Knights.
With the confusion left by the Atomic War, they can use the Ragun-proof armor to aid others, as the Knights of old have done. An organization like theirs is sorely needed. Without government or police, someone must represent law and order in the times they are living in. They must be ready to help those in need. Bryndon has been testing the metal of their suits, and discovered that they are protected against Ragun fire for a limited time only. Although not invulnerable, that is only one more danger they'll have to face, and the world needs them. As she stares at their leader, Marene Herald wonders if she's fallen in love with Gardner Grayle?
The Atomic Knights originally appeared in Strange Adventures #117, March, 1960. They fought mutated men and plants, creatures created by radiation, dictators of ruined cities, beings from inner and outer space, runaway orphans, and survivors from lost Atlantis.
The Atomic Knights appeared in every third issue of Strange Adventures through #156 and had their last adventure in #160, January, 1964.
"The Origin of the Atomic Knights" was by John Broome and Murphy Anderson.
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