2008 Captain Atom commission by Marcio Takara

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Marcio Takara

• Patrolwoman Diane Meade @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• Wonder Woman @ Diana Prince
• The Huntress @ DC Bloodlines
• Zatanna @ Justice League Detroit

2010 “The Atom's Family: Atom Smasher” animation-style fan fiction by N:TAS

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N:TAS DCU: The Atom's Family: Atom Smasher 10-02-10

"NightwingTAS" continues his Atom animated series concept cavalcade from the Super Buddies message board with a disgruntled former employee of Infinity Incorporated...

"Al Rothenstein finally lived his dream when he was recruited into the JSA, but his mother's death at the hands of Kobra haunted him. When he joined Black Adam and saved his mother from her fate Al lost a part of who he was, and his time in Khandaq with Black Adam allowed him to see his path is not with Black Adam, but with the JSA and was invited back when he helped the JSA defeat Black Adam at the request of his Godfather Al Pratt."

I didn't read that JSA crossover, but isn't that basically just a synopsis? How about a line where Rothstein has some sort of reunion with Pratt? September was kind of a "no duh" month for this fanfic, aside from reviving Al, but things get will start to twist in October, and November should be completely nuts.

Get Familiar

• Hawkman Families: Hawkling of Hawkworld @ Being Carter Hall
• 2011 “Z'Onn Z'Orr: Martian Boyhunter” @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu

2012 “JLA by George Perez” Atom Commission

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Aric Shapiro is a comic art collector with the good taste to pursue a series of Justice League of America member spotlight commissions in their full Satellite Era glory by George Pérez...

"The JLA ranks continue with Ray Palmer--the real Atom! One of the fiirst characters outside of the Original Seven. GP really knows how to draw the guy!"

Pérez is one of the Tiny Titan's finest artists, even if it is sad to note that his longest run with the character was inking Dan Jurgens on Teen Titans back when he looked like Marty McFly. My favorite parts of this piece are the chiaroscuro phone and quasi-panels that allow the Mighty Mite to really pop.

2012 “JLA by George Perez” Commissions

• Elongated Man @ Justice League Detroit
• Firestorm @ DC Bloodlines
• Martian Manhunter @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• Wonder Woman @ Diana Prince

2010 “The Atom's Family: Atom Al Pratt” animation-style fan fiction by N:TAS

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N:TAS DCU: The Atom's Family: Atom Al Pratt 9-30-10

"NightwingTAS" continues his Atom animated series concept cavalcade from the Super Buddies message board with the O.G. Atom...

"Al Pratt was a member of the Justice Society during War War II, and was thought to have perished at the hands of Monarch during the Zero Hour, but what no one knew was that they didn't die, the original mystery men we sent into a Nexus, what some call The Bleed, a place outside of time and space dividing the Multiverse. During the Infinite Crisis the Bleed opened and the JSAers finally escaped and returned to New Earth. Between the Zero Hour, their time in the Bleed and the Infinite Crisis the members were deaged some now in the prime of his life the Mighty Mite is ready to teach the New Generation of heros training them, while joining them occassionaly."

Um, okay, but he's still a short guy with a solid build and anger issues. How about another "Atomic Punch" or something? I also really miss the girdle. I like to think of Al getting so pissed off that he overexerts himself and needs the support to prevent hernias and stuff. The good thing about bringing Al back and maybe having Damage around is that they can bring the self-doubt/pity/inferiority issues so that Ray Palmer can be the Silver Age egotist I prefer!

Get Familiar

• Hawkman Families: Hawkgirl of Hawkworld @ Being Carter Hall
• 2011 “Z'Onn Z'Orr: Nasedo” animation-style fan fiction by N:TAS @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu

Atomic acCount for December, 2012

Captain Atom

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #15
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art and cover by DAN JURGENS and RAY McCARTHY
On sale JANUARY 2 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• Firestorm vs. Captain Atom!
• Two of the most powerful heroes in the universe go head to head, and things are going to EXPLODE!
• Don’t miss this issue’s shocking conclusion as the first hints of a disturbing new force in the DCU are seen!

Seeing Captain Atom classically drawn by Jurgens really brings home what a stupid Zippy the Pinhead redesign Freddie Williams gave him. What just occurred to me as well was the redundancy of the Captain being a white male in a universe in desperate need of diversity. Linking these two characters is a fun bit of nostalgia, but especially with Ronnie Raymond at the wheel, it seems like nothing much has changed in the quarter century since they began sparring. Natalie Adam and Jason Rusch would have worked far better.

YOUNG JUSTICE #23
Written by GREG WEISMAN
Art and cover by CHRISTOPHER JONES
On sale DECEMBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E

• Batgirl takes on Match—alone!
• Alpha Squad infiltrates Brainiac’s ship as it hovers above Metropolis!
• Superboy and the Justice League battle their captor, Kylstar!

Micron

BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #11
Written by ADAM BEECHEN, J.T. KRUL, DUSTIN NGUYEN and DEREK FRIDOLFS
Art by FIONA STAPLES, HOWARD PORTER, LIVESAY and NORM BREYFOGLE
Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
On sale JANUARY 2 • 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

• The first time in print for these digital-first adventures!
• The Joker King’s assault on Gotham City takes a dark, sinister twist…can Bruce Wayne and Batman thwart his evil plan?
• The origin of Justice League Beyond member Micron is revealed, illustrated by the Eisner-nominated Fiona Staples, artist on the best-selling series Saga.
• The shocking motivations of Superman’s new enemies are revealed — followed by the Beyond Universe debut of one of DC’s most beloved characters!

Truncated back-ups is an Atom-ic sort of place, isn't it?

The Atom

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VOL. 6 TP
Written by LEN WEIN, DENNIS O’NEIL, CARY BATES and others Art by DICK DILLIN and others Cover by NICK CARDY On sale JANUARY 23 • 528 pg, B&W, $19.99 US • In this new, value-priced collection of stories from the 1970s, the JLA faces foes including Felix Faust, the Shaggy Man, Eclipso, Amazo, the Injustice Society and more. • Collects JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #107-132.

Dragon*Con 2012 The Atom Cosplay Gallery by Shag Matthews

Atlanta, Georgia's premier comic convention was held on August 30th-September 2nd, and as ever, the Irredeemable Shag was on the scene to record the festivities. The biggest cosplay con in the dirty south saw the induction of the Atom into The Box Hero Corps.



What the hell are "Box Heroes" you ask? Well, you know how people like Lego figures, and then other companies started doing blocky miniature figures like Legos? Well now people dress like those things, and make their costumes out of cardboard. Maybe it's a statement against the growing expense of cosplay in a harsh economic environment. Also, it might be a reaction to cosplayers with gross bodies, or maybe they get tired of seeing the outlines of geeks' peen. I know I sure do! Is there some sort of Poindexter ethical code against stopping by Academy for a jock strap? Anyway, note how I failed to use "box" as a double entendre, as though I selectively enlarge key photographs in search of camel toes? Oh, you did notice that, huh? Yeah, I might be a little bit gender biased when it comes to wardrobe malfunctions.



Speaking of genitalia, why does the Tiny Titan have a tinier pee hole prominently poking out of his crotch? Somebody took the time to carefully craft a six inch (so he claims) Atom figurine, drew facial expressions, detailed the ears coming out of his skullcap, colored the costume, and then put a dot in his bikini zone. There are plainly abs there, so there's no passing the Mitey Meatus off as a bellybutton! Who would do such a thing?



This guy. Right here. The one scoping out the Palmer Posterior. This guy drew a pee hole on the Tiny Titan's tiny titan, or an agent in service to this fellow. Add his name to your neighborhood watch list. File under "Premeditation" and "Aberrant Ideation." Query: Why such large hands and feet?



"It... it wasn't me! It was Ray Palmer! He's always whispering in my ear... telling me to do things... bad things. Please, help me. Stop me before I kill again..." Seriously though, this picture is terrifying, like the ventriloquist's dummy from Magic or the big reveal at the end of Sleepaway Camp.



Oh dear Gods... it's like one of those holographic Jesus pictures whose eyes follow you across a room. Hell, it changes expressions. I think I've made it angry. Ackgrglghhhh!?!?!?...

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Thwap! It's a living, breathing, human Atom cosplayer to the rescue! Take that, you Shipping Box Servant of Satan!

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Not only that, but he's brought the fleshy Martian Manhunter cosplayer to take out the cardboard one. I believe this exact same duo ran together in Shag's pictures from 2010, although the quality of those Atom shots had me wondering if the Mighty Mite's appearance wasn't a trick of the light, like a Sasquatch sighting. I could count dozens of Batman, but 2010 Atom was a true urban legend. This year's shots of the Tiny Titan were much better, not requiring the services of F.B.I. facial recognition software or anything.

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Back when Damian Maffei was still running The Tiny Titan Blog that was directly responsible for my dumb ass decision to carry on its legacy here, we talked about how we liked one another's characters, and thought it a shame that then as now they had virtually dick to do with one another after decades of DC Comics. Here I have two cosplay sets pairing the Alien Atlas with the Mighty Mite at the same convention. I suspect the primary factors in this equation are that Hawkman cosplayers already have enough trouble with the wings and helmet to add a facsimile Atom to their gear, and Aquaman is finally too popular to get stuck standing next to J'Onn J'Onzz anymore. They're pals because no one else will have them, the true forge of modern relationships built on diminished expectations!

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Shag wanted to make sure that we all thanked the Superhero Costuming Forum for setting up these photo shoots every year, and you might also check out the Irredeemable One's gallery of nearly 700 pictures. If that prospect feels a bit imposing, you might also sample one of these lovely blogs for more fine tuned targeting of demographics...

Dragon*Con 2012 Cosplay Galleries by Shag Matthews

• DC Cosplay Obscura @ DC Bloodlines
• Aquaman @ The Aquaman Shrine
• The Atom @ Power of the Atom
• Black Canary @ Girls Gone Geek
• Booster Gold @ BOO$TERRIFIC
• Doctor Fate @ Tower of Fate
• Doom Patrol @ My Greatest Adventure #80
• Firestorm the Nuclear Man @ Firestorm Fan
• The Flash @ Speed Force
• Hawkman & Hawkgirl @ Being Carter Hall
• Martian Manhunter @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• The Vixen and Zatanna @ Justice League Detroit
• Wonder Woman @ Diana Prince

2010 “The Atom's Family: Atom Ryan Choi” animation-style fan fiction by N:TAS

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N:TAS DCU: The Atom's Family: Atom Ryan Choi 9-28-10

"NightwingTAS" continues his Atom animated series concept cavalcade from the Super Buddies message board with the All New Atom...

Ryan Choi was a student of Ray Palmer's before he went on his tour of the Multiverse. Ryan found his notes and his belt, and decided the world needed an Atom and took up his mentor's role while he was gone. When Ray returned to New Earth, he found things had changed and that he now was more than just him and his science that he had inspired others, and resumed his role as the Atom, along side of Ryan. Ryan was recruited by Jason Todd to join the Outsiders.

Yeah, that was pretty much just a pre-Final Crisis recap. These get better, folks...

Get Familiar

• Hawkman Families: Hawkwoman of Hawkworld @ Being Carter Hall
• 2011 “Z'Onn Z'Orr: Martian Huntress” animation-style fan fiction by N:TAS @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu

2005 Justice League of America #60 cover recreation by Arthur “Art” Adams

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David Mandel commissioned Art Adams to recreate a classic 1968 cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson featuring the Atom, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, the Flash, Superman, and most prominently, Batgirl versus Queen Bee. While a swingin' piece in its time, the original composition was a bit clumsy and simple, so Adams wisely chose to deviate in ways that improved upon the source piece. I love the tiny winged heroes emerging from the hive, their full figures intact. Aside from the extra lift, it was just another day at the office for the Tiny Titan. Art Adams rarely draws the Mighty Mite, but he does it so well that I wish I could afford to get him to do it again. I did get a lovely piece for my Martian Manhunter blog this year though, linked below...

Arthur "Art" Adams

• 2000 Big Barda commission @ DC Bloodlines
• 2007 Zatanna commission @ Justice League Detroit
• 2005 Wonder Woman WonderCon sketch @ Diana Prince
• 2012 Zook Space City Con Commission @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu

2010 “The Atom's Family: Atom” animation-style fan fiction by N:TAS

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N:TAS DCU: The Atom's Family: Atom 9-26-10

"NightwingTAS" is a fan of the modern DC Animated Universe spearheaded by Bruce Timm since the early '90s launch of Batman: The Animated Series and continuing through the original cartoon movie currently being released several times a year. I think Young Justice marks a separate continuity, but I'm not at all certain of it. Anyway, NTAS has devoted a lengthy thread at the Super Buddies message board to building "families" of supporting players around second tier DC heroes, should they ever stumble into their own series. God bless him, but there's an Atom treatment that starts like this...

My DCU veers off from the DCU on New Earth as of Infinite Crisis...

Ray Palmer faced his own crisis of fate when his ex wife was possessed by the entity known as Eclipso. Having traveled the Multiverse Ray finally found away to bring back the woman he loves. Through out his journey Ray was aided by those he has known as friends and those he has mentored who took his example and followed in his steps. Giving him his own family.

Nothing revolutionary here, as it's basically the Timm Atom design from Justice League coupled with DC Comics continuity as of 2010. Things get weirder and more imaginative as he goes on though, which we'll be looking at for weeks to come...

See Also

• Hawkman Families: Hawkman of Hawkworld @ Being Carter Hall
• 2011 “Z'Onn Z'Orr: Martian Manhunter” animation-style fan fiction by N:TAS @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu

2006 Hawkman & the Atom 11x17" commission by Rags Morales & Michael Bair

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