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

Albert Explains It All

The story of Mayfairstivus is pretty straightforward. This blog's author had been bogged down throughout October with school work and a self-imposed deadline to complete a yearlong project examining in great detail the foes of the Martian Manhunter. Burnt out but needing material for five regularly published blogs, the author grabbed his copy of the 1993 Mayfair Games DC Heroes Role-Playing Game Third Edition and scanned various entries as filler material for his blogs. The posts ran in early November, and prompted reader/contributor Tom Hartley to offer the author a boxed set of the 1989 Mayfair DC Heroes game for a reasonable price. The author was hesitant, but after being sent a zipped folder with scans of for thirty of the 75 character cards in the set, he relented. Tom shipped the set off for $25 total, packaged exquisitely and in remarkably good condition for a twenty-one year old package. The author had so many great cards, he decided to make a ton of brand new scans and offer them to his blogging buddies as a crossover event. He erroneously thought this would be very little work, but correctly predicted it would be fun and fill a whole slew of days. Since Chanukah happened to begin on December 1st, he co-opted the Seinfeld make believe holiday of Festivus and exploited it as a part of the Mayfair theme.

The Jewish people follow a lunar calender, which isn't as consistent as the more common Gregorian calendar that follows the Earth's orbit around the sun. There's an eleven day difference between the two systems, necessitating the use of an additional winter "leap month" called Adar Aleph seven times every nineteen years. Also, Jewish "days" begin when the first star is visible in the night sky. Therefore, while Chanukah began on December 1st according to a regular calender, it technically didn't commence until that night and would therefore continue until nightfall on December 9th. Since Mayfairstivus roughly approximated Chanukah, this initial offering ran nine days, with an optional tenth for stragglers and after party cleanup. If there is a second Mayfairstivus, it will not follow Chanukah, since nobody would want to deal with a lengthy crossover on December 20-28, 2011.

These days, most people know the story of Chanukah-- about how the Maccabees retook the temple in ancient times, and manged to make one day's worth of consecrated oil last the eight required to make more. Since the story and holiday are so familiar, a lot of folks assume it's the Jewish celebration of the year. Actually, it was something of a lesser and irregularly observed holiday until all the gentile kids started getting all those presents relatively recently (late 19th-early 20th century.) Sukkot (sort of our Thanksgiving, but involving camping outdoors for a week,) and Purim (our Halloween,) were bigger for longer, but Rosh Hashanah (New Year's,) Yom Kippur (spiritual tax filing/accounting,) and Pesach (Passover, or Easter without the Jesus) are the really important observances each year.

Finally, punk rock was an anti-commercial, low-fi musical form whose heyday was from in the mid-to-late '70s. The aggressive mohawk hairstyle survived the movement into New Wave, which is where it landed on my head in 1983.

Any more questions?

At nightfall on the first day of Mayfairstivus, these candles were lit:

• BOO$TERRIFIC: Booster Gold Character Card

• Firestorm Fan: Remembering the Game

• Once Upon a Geek: DC Heroes RPG

• DC Bloodlines: 1989 Bronze Tiger Character Card

• The Idol-Head of Diabolu: Despero's 1990 The Justice League Sourcebook Entry

At nightfall on the second day of Mayfairstivus, these candles were lit:

• BOO$TERRIFIC: A Mayfairstivus for the Rest of Us! Day 2

• Comics Make Me Happy!: The Question 1989 Mayfair RPG Game Card

• Doom Patrol MGA 80: Mayfairstivus Changeling

• Firestorm Fan: Mayfairstivus Day 2 – Firestorm

• The Indigo Tribe: Mayfairstivus Green Lantern Corps

• Once Upon a Geek: Mayfairstivus Day 2 – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Edition

• Supergirl Comic Box Commentary: Celebrating The Mayfair DC Heroes Role Playing Game

• DC Bloodlines: 1989 Captain Marvel Character Card

• Diana Prince: 1989 The Cheetah Character Card

• The Idol-Head of Diabolu: Darkseid the Destroyer Character Card

• Justice League Detroit: Dale Gunn in the 1990 Justice League Sourcebook

• Power of the Atom: 1989 Doctor Light Character Card

At nightfall on the third day of Mayfairstivus, these candles were lit:

• BOO$TERRIFIC: Mayfairstivus Day 3 - Booster Gold Gaming Modules

• Being Carter Hall: Mayfairstivus 2010: Hawkman!

• Comics Make Me Happy!: Batman 1989 Mayfair RPG Game Card

• The Continuity Blog: 1989 Plastic Man Mayfair Games Card

• Firestorm Fan: Mayfairstivus Day 3 – Elemental Firestorm

• Once Upon a Geek: Mayfairstivus Day 2 – Doctor Fate

• Speed Force: Celebrating The Flash in the DC Heroes RPG

• DC Bloodlines: 1989 John Constantine- Hellblazer Character Card

• Justice League Detroit: 1989 Vixen Character Card

• Power of the Atom: 1989 The Atom Character Card

At nightfall on the fourth day of Mayfairstivus, these candles were lit:

• The Anti-Didio League of America: 1989 Jericho Mayfair Games Card

• DC Bloodlines: 1989 The Huntress Character Card

• Diana Prince: 1989 Troia Character Card

• Girls Gone Geek: Get Your Mayfairstivus On with Black Canary, Big Barda & Starfire

• The Idol-Head of Diabolu: Manhunter (Mark Shaw) Character Card

At nightfall on the fifth day of Mayfairstivus, these candles were lit:

• The Aquaman Shrine: Mayfairstivus: Aquaman - 1989

• DC Bloodlines: 1989 Sergeant Rock Character Card

• Girls Gone Geek: Our Mayfairstivus Finale with Catwoman, Raven & Black Adam

• Justice League Detroit: 1989 Elongated Man Character Card

At nightfall on the sixth day of Mayfairstivus, these candles were lit:

• BOO$TERRIFIC: A Mayfairstivus for the Rest of Us! Day 6 - Skeets

• DC Bloodlines: 1989 Blackhawk Character Card

• Firestorm Fan: Mayfairstivus Day 6 – An Element of Danger Module

• The Idol-Head of Diabolu: The Sandman Character Card

• Once Upon a Geek: Mayfairstivus Day 6 – Animal Man

• Power of the Atom: 1989 Captain Atom Character Card

• Supergirl Comic Box Commentary: Mayfairstivus Post 2: Supergirl In The DC Heroes Game (featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes)

At nightfall on the seventh day of Mayfairstivus, these candles were lit:

• BOO$TERRIFIC: A Mayfairstivus for the Rest of Us! Day 7

• DC Bloodlines: 1989 Jonah Hex Character Card

• Diana Prince: 1989 Wonder Woman Character Card

• Firestorm Fan: Mayfairstivus Day 7 – The New Thinker and Brimstone

• The Idol-Head of Diabolu: Who's Who in the DC Universe Role-Playing Supplement 1: Despero

• Once Upon a Geek: Mayfairstivus Day 7 – Starman (Will Payton)

At nightfall on the eighth day of Mayfairstivus, these candles were lit:

• BOO$TERRIFIC: Mayfairstivus Day 8 & Out: The Time Sphere

• DC Bloodlines: 1989 Power Girl Character Card

• Firestorm Fan: Mayfairstivus Day 8 – Weasel, Mindboggler, Stalnoivolk and Zastrow

• The Idol-Head of Diabolu: 1989 Martian Manhunter Character Card

• Justice League Detroit: 1990 Mayfair Games DC Heroes The Justice League Sourcebook: Vibe - Deceased

• Power of the Atom: 1990 The Atlas of the DC Universe: Ivy Town, Connecticut

• Siskoid's Blog of Geekery: Reign of the Supermen #49: DC Heroes' Supermen

• Supergirl Comic Box Commentary: Mayfairstivus Post 3: Brainy And More Supergirl Stuff

As Mayfairstivus drew to a close, these final gifts were presented:
As Mayfairstivus drew to a close, these final gifts were presented:

• DC Bloodlines: 1989 The Creeper Character Card

• DC Bloodlines: 1989 Mayfair Games DC Heroes Character Card Blank & Checklist

• Diana Prince: 1990 The Atlas of the DC Universe: Themyscira

• Firestorm Fan: Mayfairstivus Finale – Multiplex and Plastique

• The Idol-Head of Diabolu: 1990 Mayfair Games DC Heroes The Justice League Sourcebook: Gypsy

• Justice League Detroit: 1990 Mayfair Games DC Heroes The Justice League Sourcebook: Steel - Deceased

• Once Upon A Geek: Mayfairstivus – Be Part of the Legend

• Speed Force: Captains Cold & Boomerang in the 1989 DC Heroes RPG

The World's Smallest Jewish Super-Hero?

There's been some confusion regarding religion and the Atom, so to set my own head straight, I figured now would be a good time to explore the matter.

I don't believe the faith (or lack thereof) of Al Pratt has ever been dwelt upon. The name Pratt is Dutch, and the Netherlands were good for Jews until the Nazi occupation, but nothing in his personality strongly indicates a specific religious background.

Ray Palmer's mother was Jewish, which makes Ray one by birth. "Half-Jewish" is kind of a wonky term, because according to Jewish law, you either are or are not one. You can lay secular claim to being half-Jewish through your father, but since it's passed through the mother, Talmud would designate Ray as fully Jewish. Obviously, stated/practiced faith and communal acceptance would come into play. However, Susan Palmer was almost certainly non-practicing, as her adult son claimed ignorance of the Hanukkah story. Ray married Jean Loring in a church (not that she wouldn't have insisted,) and has expressed atheistic sentiment (unceasingly favoring science over the supernatural.) Despite my own occasional claims and others I've heard (including my recent accidental and stomach-turning visits to two white supremacist message boards,) Ray Palmer is likely only Jewish by the broadest standard.

Albert Rothstein is pretty unambiguously Jewish. For starters, his name is Albert Rothstein. Al has popped up in a Hanukkah-centric story or two, and turned down a relationship with Beatriz (Fire) da Costa because she wasn't of the faith (also: trampy.)

I don't recall Grant Emerson ever being remotely religious.

I'm open to correction here, but I thought I remembered Ryan Choi being an atheist.

So okay, we've established that despite popular misconception, none of the Atoms are especially Jewish, but Atom-Smasher is. I'm kind of bummed about that, but there you go.

• 1989 Mayfair Games DC Heroes Character Card Blank & Checklist

The Super-Hanukkah Song

Repurposed lyrics by Adam Sandler:

Put on your yarmulka, here comes Hanukkah
It's so much fun-akkah to celebrate Hanukkah,

Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights,
Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights.

But when you're the only kid in town without a Christmas tree,
here's a list of people who are Jewish,
just like you and me:

Aline Kominsky-Crumb lights the menorrah,
So do the Thing, Colossal Boy, and Team Youngblood's Masada

Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli,
Brian Michael Bendis, and Mad Magazine's Al Jaffee.

Bobby and Kitty from "X-Men" say the Chanukah blessing.
So does their foe Magneto, not one to be messing.

Scarlet Witch is half Jewish,
Wesley Dodds is half too
Put them together
What a knockout Wiccan Jew

Moon Knight and Ragman throw blows with such precision.
But the one thing they couldn't fight their way out of?
Painful circumcision.

Joe Simon and Trina Robbins never mixed meat with dairy.
Nor did Maus' Art Spiegelman or pervert animator Ralph Bakshi

You don't need to Deck the Halls or Rock Around the Christmas Tree
Cause you can spin a dreidl with Jack "King" Kirby and Stan "the Man" Lee--both Jewish!

Green Lantern-- not a Jew!
But guess who is... Bill Finger, Mart Nodell, Gil Kane and Julie too!

People thinking Lex Luthor's a Hebrew really hurts,
Well, he's not, but guess who is: All three Kuberts!

Marv Wolfman, Mort Weisinger and Art Spiegelman attended shul.
Shuster & Siegel invented Superman
But first came Hebrew school.

Prime from Malibu Comics was a Jew
and we hope someday to have him back,
Rā's al Ghūl's other daughter is half-Jewish
'Cause we're pretty good in the sack.

So many Jews are in the comic biz--
Bruce Banner isn't, but I heard Doc Samson is.

Tell your friend Volcana, it's time to celebrate Hanukkah
I hope I get an Absorbasconicah, On this joyful, toyful Chanukah

So visit Bizarro World-icah, and jerk off to Howard Chaykin-a-kah,
But I Digressikah, Have a happy, happy, happy, happy
Hanukkah……. HAPPY HANUKKAH!

The Top 5 Atom Smasher Covers

Due to being in a medium profile super team buoyed by great artists (Ordway, Bair, McFarlane,) Albert Julian Rothstein (Al Pratt's godson) has some fairly nice cover appearances for a confirmed D-list hanger-on. I never really liked the guy, being one of two Mohawk sporting non-punks in Infinity Incorporated, the boy band of metahuman groups. Still, Al was a good-natured kid, so I can't quite hate him, either.

Honorable Mentions: All-Star Squadron #25, Infinity, Inc. #48 and Justice League America #0.

5) JSA #2 (September, 1999)


Hulking muscle, soon to carry such shame he had to mask it materially. This foreshadows Atom Smasher's role for the duration of JSA

4) Infinity, Inc. #20 (November, 1985)


Al holding a wounded body in the midst of a crossover crisis. This is what Al did, and what Al continues to do.

3) Infinity, Inc. #1 (March, 1984)


The memorable team shot from their debut issue, Nuklon serving the role of Colossus as "team strongman whose appeal is initially way overestimated."

2) JSA #58 (May, 2004)


Howling angrily into the air. That's Al's characterization of the past decade in a nutshell right there.

1) JSA #12 (July, 2000)

Nothing like punching Kobra troops in their entire bodies to sell how big this guy gets, eh?

Check out more spotlight countdowns of great art from the past 75 years of DC Comics Covers at DC75: Top Character Covers of the Dodranscentennial