"A 'Slight' History of Golden Age Comic Book Super Heroes" look at the heroes of All American (DC) 's "All American Comics" continues, as I present "The Mighty Atom"!
"The Atom" of the golden age was 19 year old Calvin College student Al Pratt, runty little guy (5' 1") who was put upon by everyone. Rather than get all pissy about it or develope a Napoleon complex, he devoted some time to honing his mind and his body to be the best he could be. Not to seek revenge of bullies, but to help defend all the other underdogs out there who needed someone to stand up for them.
He had no super powers, except that he was a good upstanding fella who wanted to make good. Not a bad person to exemplify if you ask me, and when you clicked on this h'yar blog you kind of did.
Premiering in "All-American Comics" #19 in 1940, The Atom lasted as a feature until the end of the run and in "All Star Comics" (we'll get to it, be patient dear reader) he was a charter member of The Justice Society of America and lasted with the team until their last appearance in 1951, the end of the golden age. In fact, other than Hawkman (we're GETTING there! Calm down!) appeared in more of the JSA's adventures than any other member.
The Atom has since been retconned into having some super powers, but I'll get more into my tirade about fan-boy comic book "writers" trashing whatever came before them to their own ends another time, for now it's time to check out The Atom in his very first appeareance by Bill Flinton and Bill O'Conner.
Enjoy!
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