Captain Atom

Introduction

Captain Atom was created by Joe Gill and famous artist Steve Ditko in Space Adventures #33 in March of 1960 under Charlton Comics, but was later acquired by DC comics in 1987 where he first appeared in Captain Atom #1. Both versions were military officials, in Charlton he was Scientist Allen Adam and in DC Ai Force Captain, Nathaniel Christopher Adam.

Strange Suspense Stories

The Charlton Years

Scientist Allen Adam was working on an experimental rocket, which launched with him trapped inside. The rocket exploded and the good scientist disappeared. However he gained superpowers, and didn't disappear later reforming his body on the Earth. he wore a red and yellow costume which shielded people from the radiation he gave off and his hair would turn white when he'd power up to his alias. later he would replace the yellow and red for a more liquefied metal look. Captain Atom was first published in a series of short stories in the anthology series , titled "Space Adventures # 33-40 (March 1960-June 1961) and # 42 (October 1961). he'd have the series eventually renamed after himself and he would find himself facing odd villains and teaming up with other heroes, such as the famous "Blue Beetle. " By 1967 Charlton's Superman was cancelled after issue number 89. He would later appear in 1982 in a series called Charlton Bullseye in which he wore his initial outfit. Before DC bought off the Charlton characters he last appeared in 1983 which teamed him up with most of the other symbolic Charlton heroes. These characters would be bought by DC appearing in the infamous "Crisis on Infinite Earths" as these characters would appear as people from Earth 4 of the multiverse whilst characters like Superman and Batman would derive from Earth 1. The last time the Charlton Captain Atom would ever appear would be in "Dc Comics presents: #90" being teamed up with Firestorm, and Superman. After this event this characters would be rebooted to fit the rebooted fictional universe.

The DC years

Captain Atom

In 1986, Captain Atom was launched in the post crisis DCU with a new costume and a new solo series, written by Cory Bates, that ran for more than 50 issues. The story begins back in Vietnam-War era 1960's. Captain Nathaniel Christopher Adam of The United States Air Force is accused of a crime he didn’t commit while over seas. Given the option of execution or to take place in an unusual experiment. Should he survive, he would receive a presidential pardon. Obviously Nate chose the ladder, and participated in a project called “Project Adam.” Placed in a chamber with an alien alloy which it would be tested for its durability by exploding a nuclear device over it There was little chance of survival, and when the test occurred, Nathanial Adam left behind his wife and his child with a world he knew, as it sent him into the future over 20 years. When he arrived in the future, the alien alloy had bonded with Nate, causing him to have a sleek silvery skin and with it bizarre extraordinary powers. After being a little disgruntled, he discovered his wife had remarried, and throughout the early stories of his ongoing, The newly dubbed “Captain Atom” dealt with learning about his powers while serving under the government and General Eiling, the man who married his wife. He did this to clear his name. “A man out of his place” Captain Atom had to adjust to life of the 1980’s and after some stints with Firestorm and Plastique, among others, it was his battle with Major Force, where Captain Atom decided not to serve under Eiling anymore. Captain Atom would later marry the Canadian terrorist Plastique, though they would find themselves divorced by 1999, Captain Atom would eventually find himself serving with the Justice League.

Being placed as leader of The Europe team of the JLA. It would be this time where Major Force would serve as his successor in the military, who was involved in “Project Atom.” When Captain Atom lost the ability to tap into the Quantum Field, he found himself being taught some basics under The Dark Knight Batman and would command a force of Meta humans during the “invasion” story line. Sadly in 1991, Captain Atom’s ongoing series was cancelled with it’s 57th issue and it was during this time DC was plotting for Captain Atom to be the newly plotted villain “Monarch” in the crossover series “Armageddon 2001” , however when word was leaked and after many placed context clues, they changed it to “Hawk.” This has gone down as one of the more embarrassing moments in DC history. However, they had Captain square off with Monarch. The two were sent back in time, in “Alien Agenda.” where both characters would eventually be sent home. Captain Atom would later be seen in 1995 leading The Extreme Justice, after dismissing the styles of The Justice League. The series did not last long, and neither did the team, and the team would be disbanded after low sales. In 1999 Captain Atom would be a part of The all Charlton team L.A.W , though it was merely a Mini-series, it was poorly received.

In 2003, in one of the more embarrassing moments of the characters run, he was paired off in the comical mini-series, “Super-Buddies formally known as the Justice League” where he played the straight man. Around this time, the writers developed an inner struggle between with his roles as super hero and government agent. Later, in “Superman/Batman: Public Enemies" President Luthor noticed a kryptonite comet heading to Earth, placed a price on the Man of Steel’s head and ordered Captain Atom to lead a group to capture the Man of Steel. After finding out what would happen, should the comet hit Earth, Captain Atom took a ship and blew up the comet. The impact, along with the absorption of the kryptonite, caused Captain Atom to Quantum Leap, sending him to The Wildstorm Universe.

Finding himself in The WSU, he was immediately confronted by the Superman-esque character, Mr. Majestic. After fending him off would ask himself the same questions “Why Am I gold?” and “How can I get home?” for throughout the series finding it impossible to leave. Being confronted by Majestic again, by the Wildcats, and by The Authority holding his own fairly well. By the end of the series Captain Atom was sent home.

The Age of Monarch
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Monarch

After returning to DC proper, Captain Atom is revealed to be contained inside the devastated city of and used to administer radiation treatments to metahumans. Damages to his radiation-shielding skin had left him comatose and unable to keep his body’s radiation within safe levels. The Atomic Knights were forced to keep him contained within a bunker in Bludhaven. After being fitted with a new containment suit (similar to the Monarch costume of Armageddon 2001) Captain Atom seems to become mentally unstable. He breaks free of his containment, apparently killing the destructive Major Force and finally releasing a vast amount of energy that obliterates what’s left of Bludhaven. Captain Atom is unseen again until Kyle Rayner, as Ion, discovers him in the Bleed, a place between dimensions.