Atoms R Us!

From Atoman by Jerry Robinson from Spark in 1946 to Radioactive Man from Bongo in 1996, here are fifty years of fun-loving characters who adore nothing so much as to play with the very fabric of nature and reality. But then, that's what comics are all about anyway Enjoy a good look at these four-color "Children of the Atom"!

More Atomic Action tomorrow!

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Atomic Spotlight 1940's - Atoman!

Jerry Robinson was getting some notoriety within the comic book ranks as one of the ghosts for Bob Kane on the hit Batman series first under Kane himself and later for DC directly. Then he was given the chance to create his own character for the up and coming comic book company Spark Publications, a character who spoke to a new age defined by a new weapon. He co-created with writer Ken Crossen what is almost certainly the first Atomic Age superhero when Atoman debuted in 1946.

But Spark was a small company and didn't last, and neither did Atoman having but two issues published.

Here is a link to read the debut issue.

(1950 Atomaster)

Above is the 1950 reprint of the debut issue from Metropolitan Comics in which  Atoman becomes Atomaster and gets a new color scheme. To read this origin story in a new format go here.

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The End Of Atoman!

The late Jerry Robinson is one of the truly legendary names among comics creators. Because of the enormous popularity of Batman, and Robinson's singular contributions to that character he will always be remembered among the most important of comic book talents. But it's his creation of Atoman for Spark Publications which I first gravitate to. Ever since seeing Atoman, I think then of one my favorite heroes - Captain Atom. Clearly Atoman seems to have been a visual influence for the good Captain, and given Robinson's influence on Kubert and so on Ditko, it makes sense that the two heroes might resemble one another. Atoman led to Joe Gill's and Steve Ditko's Captain Atom, and the good Captain himself led to Nicola Cuti's and Joe Staton's E-Man (by way of Plastic Man of course), my all-time favorite superhero. Thanks Jerry. Here's a link to a complete Atoman story at one of BookSteve's blogs. Rip Off