First Published: March 2007
Contents: Showcase #34 (September-October 1961) to #36 (January-February 1962); The Atom #1 (June-July 1962) to #17 (February-March 1965)
Key Creator Credits: Gardner Fox, Gil Kane, and Murphy Anderson
Key First Appearances: Ray Palmer/Atom, Jean Loring, Jason Woodrue/Plant-Master (Floronic Man), Chronos, Professor Hyatt, Enrichetta Negrini,
Story Continues In: Showcase Presents The Atom Vol. 2
Overview: Research physicist and graduate student Ray Palmer discovers that combining ultra-violet rays with material from a white dwarf star allows him to miniaturize objects. While leading a college field trip, Palmer and a group of students are trapped in a cave-in. Palmer leaves the group and finds a way to expose himself to the process to shrink himself. Palmer is able to get out of the cave and rescue the students. Crafting a red and blue costume, Ray Palmer adopts the identity of the Atom, protector of Ivy Town.
In that same issue, we meet Ray’s girlfriend, lawyer Jean Loring. Throughout the issues in this volume, Ray proposes to Jean multiple times but to no avail. (We do not see Jean’s acceptance until Showcase Presents The Atom Vol. 2.) A small supporting cast is also introduced, with Professor Hyatt, who develops the Time Pool used for many adventures, and lab assistant Enrichetta Negrini.
Jason Woodrue makes his DC Universe debut in The Atom #1, going by the name of Plant-Master. (He would get a power upgrade and a new name, Floronic Man, in the mid-1970s.) Other major foes including the time-focused Chronos and the JLA villain Dr. Light, who thinks that maybe he needs to face off against the smallest JLA member to rebuild his reputation.
Why should these stories be Showcased?: For all of the times that I have bashed the Silver Age books from DC Comics. I will go overboard in my praise for this book. This is a great collection! Some of the best comics I have read from DC Comics from the early 1960s. The Atom quickly became a mainstay in the DC Universe, becoming the second hero invited to join the Justice League and a core member for 20 years of that title. Some of these stories may seem simple, with the Atom fighting common hoods or rogue scientists. His chief foe in Chronos is introduced, who would return over and over to challenge the Atom. Gil Kane’s art, which has already been showcased in Green Lantern, is breathtaking in its simplicity. I really believe this should be part of your collection to see how good DC Comics could be in the 1960s.
Footnotes: The Atom #7 is also reprinted in Showcase Presents Hawkman Vol. 1.
The full review can be found at EssentialShowcase.com.
To find the original issues, or reprints, of The Atom, check with your local comic book. In the Midwest, I strongly recommend Clint’s Comics in midtown Kansas City. Clint’s has been in business for nearly 50 years at the intersection of Main St. and Westport Rd. The back-issue selection is incredible, and what you see in the store is just a small fraction of their total inventory. In addition to the back issues, Clint’s stocks current issues, trade paperbacks, toys, T-shirts, and more. Check out Clint’s Comics to build your own essential collection!
Categories: Jerry
We’re Having a Crisis! Episode 05 
We’re Having a Crisis! Episode 04 
We’re Having a Crisis! Episode 02 
WORST. COMIC. PODCAST. EVER! 
The Atom was one of my favorite heroes. I like the science fictioney aspect of his character. He’s not as obviously flashy (pardon the pun) as some of his fellow Justice League members which was an aspect the book played up in the late 60s, which I appreciated.
LikeLike
As a physics guy, I always loved the Atom. A great character even if I don’t know how you breathe when you are smaller than oxygen atoms. It is still great.
LikeLiked by 1 person