The Atom was one of the shining new champions of DC's Silver Age, the World's Smallest Super-Hero who constantly sought the hand of his ladylove Jean Loring. The Tiny Titan's fortunes turned toward the end of the era which spawned him, canceling his series. Ray Palmer found solace in his regular comic appearances through membership to the Justice League of America, and his marriage to Jean in the late '70s. However, the Mighty Mite's first solo series in over a decade would alter his life forevermore.
Matrimonial bliss proved elusive, with Palmer burying himself in work. This led Jean to seek male attention elsewhere, and on a dark and stormy night, Ray caught Jean steaming the windows of a parked car. As an indirect result, the Atom became a sword-swinging barbarian isolated from the mainstream DC Universe for half a decade, and the divorce from Jean was finalized early on into that daze.In one moment, like a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac, the Silver Age was certified dead with its grave pissed on by vandals. Turning Jean Loring into an adulteress wasn't just another transgression of the Bronze Age, but the first shot across the bow of the coming age of deconstruction.
Check out more highlights from the past 75 years of DC Comics at The Truly Most Memorable Moments of the DC Dodranscentennial
2 comments:
Remember when Damian used this panel for a Valentine's post? Muaha. Good times.
I hadn't actually. It's been years. I wish he'd come back to do his thing and remind us all.
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