Nathaniel Adam was coerced into an experiment which bonded alien metal to his skin and sent him 18 years into the future, giving birth to Captain Atom, a superhero fueled by the Quantum Field.
It seems that with a failed attempt at an ongoing that Cap doesn't have a large enough fan base and that he may be in a pre-flashpoint Aquaman category of characters that nobody cares about. So what do you think DC can do with this character to make him matter? Should they try again with an ongoing but with a different creative team? Or maybe a have him on a team himself? Or do you think that he's another character that will just languish in obscurity?
Captain Atom can never truly be completely cool/popular as you put it. He can become more relevant if he's written correctly. I think he needs a team book in which he plays more of a Reed Richards/Tony Stark role. Someone needs to play up his scientific background and have him explore more of the "microverse" as such. Maybe playing with different subatomic particles with his powers like tachyons or quarks to really flesh out how capable he is.
@Jonny_Anonymous: Oh...I got confused...CA is kinda a different story but not totally. He'll never be a Superman/Batman tier character and is a little too much like a poor man's Silver Surfer. What he really needs is a clear lane that he fills that no one else in DC can fill. Right now he's the guy between Superman and Green Lantern. Maybe he can go back to the government's weapon against intergalactic threats and lead a team of government sponsored heroes like a Secret Six that doesn't have pardons or explosive implants looming over them, but rather volunteer out of patriotism. The definitive right wing conservative team.
@Jonny_Anonymous: He needs to step away from the doctor manhattan look(The irony doesn't escape me) and he needs to get off Earth. With so many powerhouses there, it's hard to flex your muscle.
@TheCrowbar: Yea but the look is only superficial, that can't arm his character also Since Doc is based off of Cap I think it's apt and having him go cosmic is a surefire way to send him to limbo because readers will think he's to detached form the main DCU just like Demon Knights and All Star Western
@TheCrowbar: I don't think it hurts him and if it does that's reeeeeeeeealy stupid .
Na I think going cosmic would kill the character, no cosmic book can actually last, even Green Lantern has to be more earth based to work and him being in space would draw more of the poorman's Silver Surfer
I think a good start would be to make the book good. Now I can't really judge the New 52 Captain Atom book that got canceled too harshly as I didn't read it but I can't imagine it being spectacular as I heard nothing about it and no one seemed upset when it got canceled. I heard more grievances when Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. got canceled, which is saying a lot. If you make something good, there are going to be comic fans out there that will get the book based on word of mouth, regardless of what the character is. Kind of like what's happening with Aquaman right now.
@Jonny_Anonymous: Maybe I'll get the trade one day so I can get as upset as you xD. But I think his character may have potential. I'm just not sure how to market him. It's hard to elevate C and D listers to popularity without throwing Johns, Snyder, or Lemire's names on the cover.
And to answer you question, It is simple he must KILL Superman.
Kidding... I have no clue...Kidding... I have no clue...
I think it's better than metallic hair
I like that look! Maybe a writer like Jeph Loeb who doesn't care about continuity (because most of CA's continuity is irrelevant anyway) and only cares how many cool things he can make the character do would work! Jeph Loeb isn't available but I'm sure DC could find a suitable hack lying around munching on cheetos somewhere.
I think if gets his own book again and with that time the story developes as how he gets on some team(maybe the JLA) and starts showing more often,people will actually see him and will care more about him.
It's interesting that most of the qualities described here to make CA better can be seen in Richard Rider's Nova books:
Get him off Earth....check
Get him a new costume....check
Have him struggle with his powers....check
Play up his military connection/background/behavior....check
Get him better/more powerful enemies....check
Get a kick-a#*@! creative team to write & draw it....check
I took the New 52 as an opportunity to get on the ground floor with this character. The stories just never took off, and in some case were just dull and boring. I hope he does make a comeback. There's potential there if DC can handle him correctly.
It's interesting that most of the qualities described here to make CA better can be seen in Richard Rider's Nova books:
Get him off Earth....check
Get him a new costume....check
Have him struggle with his powers....check
Play up his military connection/background/behavior....check
Get him better/more powerful enemies....check
Get a kick-a#*@! creative team to write & draw it....check
I took the New 52 as an opportunity to get on the ground floor with this character. The stories just never took off, and in some case were just dull and boring. I hope he does make a comeback. There's potential there if DC can handle him correctly.
I have no doubt. I think Captain Atom is a wonderful super hero, it's just that he's just been neglected.
I think if gets his own book again and with that time the story developes as how he gets on some team(maybe the JLA) and starts showing more often,people will actually see him and will care more about him.
Couldn't agree more. I love Cap. and while I'm glad he's his minis now it up sets me that it will end soon. I hope DC has plans for Captain Atom. For the better cause of course
Captain Atom is too powerful for earth.His story would be better fitted in space like green lanterns but different. Make him in charge of a sector of his own.
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