| Atlas | |
|---|---|
 Atlas as seen on the cover of1st Issue Special (April 1975). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | 1st Issue Special #1 (April 1975) |
| Created by | Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Atlas |
| Species | Human (empowered) |
| Team affiliations | Justice League |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength and invulnerability |
Atlas is the name of several characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. The first Atlas is asuperhero andantihero who debuted in1st Issue Special #1 (April 1975) and was created byJack Kirby.
The first Golden Age version of a character named Atlas in DC Comics appeared inAction Comics #121 (June 1948).[1] The second appearance of an Atlas was inAction Comics #320 (January 1965).[2] The third was inAction Comics #353 (August 1967).[3]
The Jack Kirby Atlas' first and only appearance prior toSuperman #677 was in1st Issue Special #1.[4]James Robinson brought Atlas back inSuperman #678. According to Robinson, "Atlas is going to have humanity. The way I like to look at him is like in theMarvel Universe,Namor is a hero but he really skates the fine line between being a hero and a villain, but he stays on the side of the hero. Atlas, skates that line between hero and villain but he ultimately always falls on the villain side."[5]
One of the earlier characters named Atlas re-appeared inGrant Morrison'sAll-Star Superman, where a version of Atlas appears in issue #3. This Atlas is more closely based on the mythological figure ofAtlas and competes withSuperman andSamson to "win"Lois Lane, similar to the story inAction Comics #320 from January 1965.
The first Atlas is based on theGreek mythological figure, aTitan who was forced to support the Earth as punishment for his participation in theTitanomachy. WhenWonder Woman is onMount Olympus withHermes during the "War of the Gods" storyline, Hercules helps to protectThemyscira. Atlas is now carrying Themyscira on his shoulders, but struggles to do so, causing earthquakes throughout Themyscira.[6] Atlas is also one of the deities who empowerCaptain Marvel, providing him with superhuman stamina.[7]
Atlas' family and people were slain by the raiders of Hyssa the Lizard King. Atlas was raised by a wise and mysterious traveller named Chagra. Because of an alien crystal carried by Atlas, Chagra theorized that Atlas was one of the people of the Crystal Mountain. Chagra agrees to help Atlas achieve his revenge, but only if Atlas leads him to the Crystal Mountain. Atlas grows up to become a protector of the innocent, but once Hyssa was defeated, his petulance and darker nature come to the forefront.[4][8]
Atlas returns inSuperman #677 as part ofThe Coming of Atlas storyline. He is working with a secret government project that intends to kill Superman. Atlas wants to defeat Superman and replace him as Metropolis' champion on his way to conquer the modern world. He fights theScience Police and Superman.[9] Atlas holds the upper hand on Superman for most of the battle, but is defeated after Superman is magically enhanced byZachary Zatara. Atlas' return and fight with Superman were intended to testProject 7734, a government project that utilizes magic in an effort to kill Superman.[10][11]
Atlas is later kidnapped and brainwashed by an unknown party and forced to fight theJustice League.[12]
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A new incarnation of Atlas inspired by theTeen Titans version, whose name is an acronym forAutomated Titanium Lethal Attack Sentry, appears in the "Dawn of DC"Cyborg miniseries.[13]
The first Atlas has super-strength and invulnerability.
An alternate universe variant of Atlas appears inKingdom Come.
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