| Mister Atom | |
|---|---|
 Mister Atom as depicted in52 #52 (May 2007). Art byKeith Giffen. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Fawcett Comics (November 1947) DC Comics (1972–present) |
| First appearance | Captain Marvel Adventures #78 (November 1947) |
| Created by | Otto Binder C. C. Beck |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Robot |
| Team affiliations | Secret Society of Super Villains Monster Society of Evil |
| Abilities |
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Mister Atom is asupervillain appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. He is a radioactive robot who is regularly seen as an enemy ofShazam. The character first appeared inCaptain Marvel Adventures #78 in November 1947. Along with other members of Shazam's rogues' gallery, Mister Atom was recruited byMister Mind to be part of the secondMonster Society of Evil in 1973.[1]
Mister Atom first appeared inCaptain Marvel Adventures #78 and was created byOtto Binder andC. C. Beck.[2] He was initially owned by Fawcett Comics before the company went bankrupt following alawsuit against DC Comics, who acquired their properties.
Mister Atom was created by Dr. Charles Langley in a story inCaptain Marvel Adventures #78. His body was constructed first, and then Langley charged the robot with radioactive energy. The spark that gave the robot life also ended the life of his creator. Super-charged with anuclear reactor and armed with a deadly mind, Atom embarks on a wave of destruction, believing he should rule the world, before being challenged to a fight to the finish by Captain Marvel as he tried to attack the United Nations building.[3] Atom is imprisoned in an underground, lead-lined cell, as no other prison could contain his power, but he threatens to break out one day.[4]
Mister Atom is freed by aliens called the Comet Men, who intend to employ his power in the conquest of Earth. The Comet Men begin fighting among themselves when Atom realizes they planned to destroy him; they and Atom are apparently destroyed in a giant explosion.[5] Rather than being destroyed, Atom is transported forward in time to 2053, a future where almost everything is run by atomic power. Captain Marvel travels to this future after thewizard Shazam informs him of the danger which threatens it and battles Atom again, who threatens to destroy Earth. Atom is once again destroyed, this time in an atomic furnace.[6]
Mister Atom was re-introduced in 1976, by which timeDC Comics had purchased the rights to use the Captain Marvel characters; Captain Marvel's enemyKing Kull used his advanced scientific acumen to return Atom to the 20th century and employed his help battlingShazam's Squadron of Justice. Atom's first appearance in a DC comic was inJustice League of America #137, a crossover issue depicting Captain Marvel's first meeting withSuperman. Atom attempts to wreck a futuristic city onEarth-One called Tomorrow. Destroying the city meant the three super-speedsters had to repair it, which was causing increased rotation of the Earth. Atom easily withstood the efforts ofGreen Lantern ofEarth-Two,Green Lantern of Earth-One,Flash of Earth-Two,Flash of Earth-One, the god Mercury, andIbis the Invincible to subdue him. When Atom attempts to use Ibis's Ibistick to send Ibis to a faraway star, he is propelled into space by afailsafe within the stick that causes any commands that would harm Ibis to backfire on the user.[7]
Atom is returned to Earth byMister Mind, who attaches Atom's head to an atomic racecar and challenge Captain Marvel to an auto race inIndianapolis with the threat that he would level the city with an atomic blast. When Captain Marvel wins the race and destroys Atom's car, Atom re-attaches his head to his body and attacked Marvel, who hits him hard enough to achieveescape velocity and send Atom into orbit around the Sun. Mind was meanwhile captured byUncle Marvel using aGeiger counter.[8] Mind retrieves Atom with help fromOggar and enlists him into theMonster Society of Evil. During the Society's assault on theRock of Eternity, Atom is shoved off the rock into another universe where life never developed and he could do no harm.[9]
Two decades later, Atom was revamped byJerry Ordway and re-introduced inThe Power of Shazam! #23. His backstory is the same as his original counterpart, but he has been given a robotic design. Atom, at first not a villain, was told by Dr. Langley before he died to find a suitable woman to take care of him. Mister Atom interpretedMary Marvel as a suitable woman and kidnapped her, until Captain Marvel found Langley's assistant to watch over the robot.[10]
InPower of Shazam! #27, Mister Atom was controlled by Mister Mind into creating a nuclear explosion that destroyed the city of Fairview, home to the Marvels, killing thousands.[11]
InInfinite Crisis, Mister Atom joins theSecret Society of Super Villains, but is seemingly destroyed by the Golden Age Superman,Kal-L. He does not stay down for long.[12]
In "52", Captain Marvel mentioned that Mister Atom attacked the Rock of Eternity, only to fail. It is later revealed that Atom is one of the villains who helpedPrometheus plant explosive devices in various cities across the U.S., which leads to Atom and several other villains making an attempt to flee the country. Before they can cross the border, the group is attacked by theJustice League, and Atom is defeated and captured byStarman andCongorilla.[13]
In the "DC Rebirth" relaunch, Mister Atom originates from the Gamelands, one of the seven Magiclands. He was previously imprisoned in the Dungeon of Eternity within the Monsterlands until Mister Mind and Doctor Sivana free him and several other prisoners.[14] When Shazam defeats Mister Mind, the resulting magical energy knocks out Atom and the rest of the Monster Society of Evil. The Society's members are remanded to Rock Falls Penitentiary, which has had a special section built to contain magical threats.[15]
In the "Dawn of DC" initiative, several Mister Atom robots appear under the control of Charles Langley.[16]
Mister Atom has upper-level immense strength and durability. He can fly at subsonic speeds, fire nuclear blasts from his hands, and render radioactive materials inert. Due to hisartificial intelligence, he possesses a gifted mind.[17]
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