Atom (character)

This article is about the superhero with size-changing powers. For the superhero with atomic absorption and superhuman strength, see Captain Atom.
"The Atom" redirects here. For other uses, see Atom (disambiguation).
Atom
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearance
  • Pratt:
  • All-American Comics #19
  • (October 1940)
  • Palmer:
  • Showcase #34 (Oct. 1961)
  • Cray:
  • Suicide Squad #44 (August 1990)
  • Atom One Million:
  • DC One Million 80-Page Giant #1,000,000 (August 1999)
  • Choi:
  • DCU: Brave New World (2006)
Created by
In-story information
Alter ego
Team affiliations
Abilities(All):
  • Genius-level intellect
  • Combat experience

(Ray, Cray, & Ryan):

  • Size and mass alteration via belt

(Pratt):

The Atom is a name shared by five superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

The original Golden Age Atom, Al Pratt, was created by writer Bill O'Connor and artist Ben Flinton and first appeared in All-American Publications' All-American Comics #19 (October 1940).[1] The second Atom was the Silver Age Atom, Ray Palmer, who first appeared in 1961. The third Atom, Adam Cray, was a minor character present in Suicide Squad stories. The fourth Atom, Ryan Choi, debuted in a new Atom series in August 2006. Another Atom from the 853rd Century first appeared as part of Justice Legion Alpha in August 1999.[2]

The Atom has been the star of multiple solo series, and four of the five have appeared as members of various superhero teams, such as the Justice Society of America, the Justice League, the Suicide Squad, and the Justice Legion Alpha.

  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
  2. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.