DC Comics Supervillains: Johnny Quick with Atomica Action Figure Solicitation

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DC COMICS SUPERVILLAINS: JOHNNY QUICK WITH ATOMICA AND OWLMAN ACTION FIGURE!
FROM THE PAGES OF FOREVER EVIL!
Johnny Quick
6.75”
with Atomica
X.XX”
Owlman
6.75”

From their Earth to ours, the villainous members of the Crime Syndicate—Johnny Quick, Atomica, Owlman and more—invade your home with all-new action figures based on designs by superstar artist David Finch!
EACH SOLD SEPARATELY
$24.95 US • On Sale March 2014 * Allocations May Occur

Justice League #18 (May, 2013)

In the wake of "Throne of Atlantis," it was decided that the Justice League needed to expand its membership to include more dedicated full time heroes on the roster. Cyborg had become a nexus point for electronic information passing throughout the world, and used this facet of his abilities to create "The Grid," a directory of active super-heroes that he could directly contact as needed. In Pittsburgh, Firestorm was approached to join via an MP3 player, while in Baltimore, Cyborg used a billboard to assist and enlist Black Canary during a fight with Copperhead. Zatanna received a cell phone call in San Francisco, while the Atom was thanked for her help in Boston by her computer monitor during a class at Ivy University. The lot were joined for a recruitment drive aboard the League's satellite by Black Lightning, Blue Devil, Element Woman, Goldrush, Nightwing, Platinum, and Vixen. However, only Cyborg knew of Atom's existence, although Superman detected her tiny heartbeat as she lurked among the collected heroes.

The Metal (wo)Man Platinum was brought in by Cyborg as a test drive and favor to Doctor Will Magnus, but she malfunctioned and began attacking people. Magnus pleaded with Cyborg to save her precious "responsometer," so Vic Stone had the idea to have Firestorm convert her liquid platinum shell into water. Lacking coordination, the small responsometer was left to fall toward the ground as the rest of Platinum dissipated. The Atom made her debut before other heroes catching the responsometer before it could be damaged. A surprised Flash asked "Where did she come from?" The still shrunken Atom lifted her goggles up to her brow and said with a wry grin "Hi guys. Is it too late for tryouts?"



In a later meeting with the core seven Leaguers, Cyborg explained, "The Atom's real name is Rhonda Pineda. I invited her, but I wasn't sure she'd show. She's a little shy... an unsung hero. Something shut down one of Atlantis' bombs in Boston... It took me a few days to sort through the security cameras and the sat feeds. I didn't even see her at first. But she was there on the battlefield with us." Cyborg tracked her down, and along with Firestorm and Element Woman (who had also performed well against Platinum,) the Atom formed the trio of new members inducted. There was no time for celebrating though, as someone had hacked the League's computers and stolen files on their entire five year history...

"The Grid" was by Geoff Johns and Jesus Saiz. It was a mildly entertaining issue, with Black Canary dropping in a disparaging line about the absent Hawkman's lack of professionalism. So far, I've liked Saiz's take on the Pineda Atom best.

New 52's Day

• Col. Steve Trevor in Justice League of America #1 @ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman
• Vibe #2 @ Justice League Detroit
• Martian Manhunter in Justice League of America #2 @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• The Movement #1 @ DC Bloodlines

Justice League #17 (April, 2013)

The reserve of heroes called by Cyborg to fight back the Atlanteans recovered from the explosion and continued on their mission. Perhaps late arrival Zatanna contributed to the renewed vigor of Vixen, Firestorm, Black Lightning, Black Canary, Hawkman, and Element Woman off-panel? The Nuclear Man continued to struggle with team dynamics, turning the floodwaters to steam that inadvertently blinded and choked the other heroes. One heroine who was more than holding her own was the new Atom, who quietly disarmed the explosive devices Ocean Master had intended to sink the city with. "You're welcome."

The Justice League and Mera had arrived by that point, with Aquaman taking point. Ocean Master tried to drown everyone in a tsunami, but Mera held it back long enough for Zatanna to turn it to ice. Aquaman beat his brother until he abdicated the throne, which turned out to be Vulko's plan all along. Vulko surrender the scepter he had used to command the Trench, King Arthur ordered Atlantis to stand down, and Ocean Master was sent to Belle Reve Prison.

Back at their satellite headquarters, Batman called the Justice League together for a new initiative. "We need to do what we haven't done before... We open our ranks." At A.R.G.U.S., Amanda Waller saw a similar need. "Atlantis's (sic) attack is the event we needed to push this operation through, Colonel Trevor... The world's skeptical. They want another team. They need one." A third mysterious meeting was taking place elsewhere, as a villain looked over snapshots of DC rogues. "The opportunity is now. It's time for recruitment... starting with the Scarecrow."

"Throne of Atlantis, Chapter Five" was by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis and Paul Pelletier with Joe Prado, Oclair Albert and Sean Parsons.

New 52's Day

• Talon #1 @ DC Bloodlines
• Martian Manhunter in "Security Detail" @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• Steve Trevor in Justice League #17 @ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman
• Vibe in Justice League of America #1 @ Justice League Detroit

Aquaman #16 (March, 2013)

Ocean Master had captured Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman-- sentencing them to be eaten alive deep underwater by the Trench. Aquaman was off in search of them, while Cyborg underwent voluntary surgery to replace his lungs in order to carry the fight under the sea. In the meantime, Cyborg activated a list of prospective candidates for Justice League membership he'd been discussing with Batman. The Vixen, Firestorm, Black Lightning, Black Canary, and Element Woman were shown slowing Atlantean forces in their misguided assault on the surface world. A tiny voice warned "Get down, Hawkman!" It came too late, as he and the other heroes were caught in an explosion. A miniature silhouetted figure moved amongst the unconscious party. "Hawkman? Hawkman, get up! Why did I leave my guild for this?" Cyborg completed his procedure under his father Silas Stone and his associate T.O. Morrow, then journeyed with Mera to help Aquaman in the Trench...

"Throne of Atlantis, Chapter Four" was by Geoff Johns, Paul Pelletier, and Sean Parsons.

New 52's Day

• Martian Manhunter in Justice League of America #1 (2013) @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• National Comics: Eternity #1 @ DC Bloodlines
• Superman Annual #1 (2012) featuring the Manhunter from Mars @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• Talon #0 @ DC Bloodlines
• Vibe #1 @ Justice League Detroit
• Wonder Woman in Action Comics #14 @ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman

Rhonda Pineda is your New 52 Atom

Sorry for the late acknowledgment, but following 2012's cameo debut in DC Comics - The New 52 FCBD Special Edition #1, the New 52 Atom was more properly introduced in Justice League #17-18 as Rhonda Pineda. She quietly took part in the "Throne of Atlantis" crossover, indicated only by dialogue balloons, joining numerous other heroes in coming to the assistance of a Justice League on the verge of defeat by the forces of Ocean Master. The Atom stopped bombs that would have sank part of the Eastern Seaboard, and then was sponsored by Cyborg for League membership.

The Atom discretely entered the League Satellite during a membership mixer, shunning small talk by looking on from hiding. When prospect Platinum was hijacked by forces unknown and forced to attack the League, the Atom saved Platinum's "life" by protecting her Responsometer after Firestorm liquefied her body. The Atom was joined by Element Woman & Firestorm as the first recruits onto the League since the Martian Manhunter's term ended in conflict. They beat out Black Canary, Black Lightning, Blue Devil, Goldrush, Nightwing, Vixen, and Zatanna, although many of these prospects declined consideration. Dick Grayson especially gave a flat "no" to Batman's face.



I'm not fond of the bland "Rhonda Pineda" name, but I don't have a problem with making the Atom female. I do have a major problem with ruining the perfect symmetry of Gil Kane's costume design with stupid '90s ornamentation and long flowing hair. Still, it's much better than anything they gave Ryan Choi to wear. There's been a bunch of different costumes teased for the character though, including a vastly different one seen on solicitations for an upcoming cover. Jesus Saiz drew the character well, and it'll be interesting to see if there's further plans for Pineda beyond adding more women to the team.

DC Comics - The New 52 FCBD Special Edition #1 (June, 2012)

At the Rock of Eternity, a trio of the "greatest transgressors mankind has ever known" were tried. One was a leanly muscular Caucasian male with reddish-blonde hair and numerous bodily scars. "I will not beg, wizards. I defy the authority you claim! Do what you wish to me! But if you do not kill me, I will rise to power again! And you will fear my name as does the world!" Or not, since the beings made this guy forget his own name, along with everyone else. Further, they stripped him of his face, turning it into a mass of flesh. "You will forever question your identity and forever search for answers you will never find."

I really have to applaud DC for giving away a free comic book featuring their biggest names. Shame it was so cheesy. The first four pages were drawn by Ivan Reis. We learned that the Phantom Stranger is probably Judas, that the Question is most likely now a mystical being, and that the actual Pandora is the mysterious anti-heroine who was shoehorned into all the New 52 #1s. Together, they form the "Trinity of Sin." These are all still terrible ideas. Having 8th century B.C. Pandora being tried alongside thirtysomething A.D. Judas and Rorschach by a bunch of Crossgen sigil-bearers does not impress. Was the historian consulted named Kirk Cameron by any chance?

Kenneth Rocafort drew pages 5-6, and I wish that he hadn't happened, because I didn't like looking at them. They were preoccupied with trying to convince folks that Cyborg is a worthy addition to the JLA. Not likely. Then there's this thing with five pages of Gene Ha art involving Steve Trevor and Pandora's Box, except the box is a skull. Whatever.



Finally, there was a flash forward to the future drawn by Jim Lee, which was so disconnected from the main narrative that you know this is literally pages Jim Lee has already drawn for a script a year in advance because he doesn't want to blow his deadline (spoiler: he'll blow his deadline.) I've been over Jim Lee a damned long time now, and dual gatefold battle scenes that are sparsely populated by action figures amidst lazy props/backgrounds (wooo, nondescript pillars and rubble) had a lot to do with that. It foreshadows "The Trinity War," which is about how the Puerto Rican Vibe (?), the African American Green Lantern, and the Asian (?) female (?) Atom aren't as good as their Caucasian betters, while hurling unjust accusations at the Anglo-Saxons Supreme. Oh, and Cyborg (eyes roll...) I'm not sure who is on which side, but Black Adam, Deadman, the Flash, Aquaman, Mera, Wonder Woman, Element Woman, Batman, Green Arrow and Hawkman were also present.

Twelve pages of back matter reprints incomprehensible excerpts from the New 52 Wave Two titles ordered at a fraction of the levels of Wave One books. Even Captain Atom.

New 52's Day

• Aquaman #7 (April, 2012) @ Justice League Detroit
• Stormwatch #7 (May, 2012) @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• The Huntress #6 (May, 2012) @ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman
• Steel in Action Comics #7 (May, 2012) @ DC Bloodlines