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The Atom (collected editons)
Sword of the Atom
Collected for the first time in a single graphic novel! Sword of the Atom #1-4 and Sword of the Atom Special #1-3 take readers on a fantastic journey into the heart of a Central American jungle, where a race of 6-inch-tall aliens treats The Atom as their protector against titanic beasts and primeval sorcery!
232 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 19, 2024
After his marriage falls apart, Ray Palmer heads to South America on the trail of a fragment of a white dwarf and gets pulled into a war between tiny aliens...
When this came out, there were no comic shops in the area so I'd only read the second and third issue, as was the style at the time, before I scored a copy of this for around cover price. Fucking gougers had this thing all over the place the last few years.
Anyway, this collects Sword of the Atom 1-4 plus Sword of the Atom Specials 1-3. Years of shrinking have taken a toll on Ray Palmer's body as well as his marriage. Things go south and Ray is soon in South America, stuck at six inches tall and in an Edgar Rice Burroughs story.
Gil Kane does the art on all but the final special and Jan Strnad handles the script. Legend has it Gil Kane showed up at DC to pitch this with no writer and Strnad got the gig. Anyway, this is really fun stuff. I never cared that much about the Atom before but recasting him as a barbarian fighting tiny aliens really hit the sweet spot for me. Plus, Gil FUCKING Kane does the art.
This has a lot going for it for me. For one thing, it doesn't dump all of the blame on Jean Loring cheating for their marriage falling apart. Ray had been putting The Atom ahead of her for their entire marriage. It also doesn't make Paul Hoben, Loring's new man, the bad guy either. In fact, Paul seems fairly likeable and it sure seems like they were positioning him as the new Atom by series end.
The story is action packed and not just by today's decompressed standards. It almost felt like a Norvell Page Spider book at times. It just never let up in the original miniseries. The Specials weren't quite so fast paced but they had a lot going on too.
I really don't have anything bad to say about these stories except they were apparently forgotten or wiped away in one of the various Crises. Power of the Atom had Ray back to status quo after some minor costume changes and I think he was even back with Jean at that point. Jean, of course, went on to infamy in Identity Crisis and whatever that Eclipso story was that I can't remember the name of at the moment.
Seriously, how does the Atom go from being a barbarian and killing his enemies back to the cops and robbers world of regular super heroes after this? They should have left Ray in the jungle for at least a year and gave Paul Hoben the chance to juggle being The Atom with his law practice and his wife. Not to mention, maybe the Atom has some half-alien, size changing barbarian kids out there?
I don't know if it was worth waiting 35 years to read Sword of the Atom in its entirety but it was pretty damn good and holds up very well. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
When this came out, there were no comic shops in the area so I'd only read the second and third issue, as was the style at the time, before I scored a copy of this for around cover price. Fucking gougers had this thing all over the place the last few years.
Anyway, this collects Sword of the Atom 1-4 plus Sword of the Atom Specials 1-3. Years of shrinking have taken a toll on Ray Palmer's body as well as his marriage. Things go south and Ray is soon in South America, stuck at six inches tall and in an Edgar Rice Burroughs story.
Gil Kane does the art on all but the final special and Jan Strnad handles the script. Legend has it Gil Kane showed up at DC to pitch this with no writer and Strnad got the gig. Anyway, this is really fun stuff. I never cared that much about the Atom before but recasting him as a barbarian fighting tiny aliens really hit the sweet spot for me. Plus, Gil FUCKING Kane does the art.
This has a lot going for it for me. For one thing, it doesn't dump all of the blame on Jean Loring cheating for their marriage falling apart. Ray had been putting The Atom ahead of her for their entire marriage. It also doesn't make Paul Hoben, Loring's new man, the bad guy either. In fact, Paul seems fairly likeable and it sure seems like they were positioning him as the new Atom by series end.
The story is action packed and not just by today's decompressed standards. It almost felt like a Norvell Page Spider book at times. It just never let up in the original miniseries. The Specials weren't quite so fast paced but they had a lot going on too.
I really don't have anything bad to say about these stories except they were apparently forgotten or wiped away in one of the various Crises. Power of the Atom had Ray back to status quo after some minor costume changes and I think he was even back with Jean at that point. Jean, of course, went on to infamy in Identity Crisis and whatever that Eclipso story was that I can't remember the name of at the moment.
Seriously, how does the Atom go from being a barbarian and killing his enemies back to the cops and robbers world of regular super heroes after this? They should have left Ray in the jungle for at least a year and gave Paul Hoben the chance to juggle being The Atom with his law practice and his wife. Not to mention, maybe the Atom has some half-alien, size changing barbarian kids out there?
I don't know if it was worth waiting 35 years to read Sword of the Atom in its entirety but it was pretty damn good and holds up very well. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
July 24, 2008
Trying to jump start interest in the Atom this mini series turns him into 'John Carter, Warlord of Mars'.
Trapped tiny and stranded in the jungles of south america, the Atom stumbles upon a race of tiny aliens, makes an enemy of their prime minister and falls in love with their scantily clad princess.
How come all science fiction female royalty tends to do their governing in a bikini?
Anyway, there are daring escapes and rescues, sword fights, beautiful Gil Kane art, fearsome beasts and the heroes noble steeds are frogs.
Great stuff. Nice characterization of the Atom as well as nice pulpy vibe.
Trapped tiny and stranded in the jungles of south america, the Atom stumbles upon a race of tiny aliens, makes an enemy of their prime minister and falls in love with their scantily clad princess.
How come all science fiction female royalty tends to do their governing in a bikini?
Anyway, there are daring escapes and rescues, sword fights, beautiful Gil Kane art, fearsome beasts and the heroes noble steeds are frogs.
Great stuff. Nice characterization of the Atom as well as nice pulpy vibe.
November 15, 2010
I was shocked at how well this series re-read after 19 years. I always thought Jan Stranad was a highly underrated writer and this is some of his best work and the Gil Kane art does not queer the deal. After reading this again you will think that the Hulk owes Strnad several royalty checks.
The premise is very convenient but it takes you on a wild ride. More Edgar Burroughs than Gardner Fox but Kane, the character's cocreator obviously not only approved but he hatched the concept with Strnad and edited the series.
The end of the book Sword of the Atom Special #3 could actually be torn out and it would be a better book.
The premise is very convenient but it takes you on a wild ride. More Edgar Burroughs than Gardner Fox but Kane, the character's cocreator obviously not only approved but he hatched the concept with Strnad and edited the series.
The end of the book Sword of the Atom Special #3 could actually be torn out and it would be a better book.
July 28, 2024
A really solid little refresh of the Atom, who’s basically DC’s version of Marvel’s lamest character, Ant-Man, without the ants. Strnad and Kane had their work cut out for them, but by taking him out of his typical setting and making him a barbarian warlord, they breathe new life into a character whose potential was largely exhausted before the Kennedy assassination.
It’s basically a riff on the Microverse Hulk/Jarella storyline, which makes me think Harlan Ellison probably threatened a nuisance lawsuit at some point, but it’s very well executed, with some of Gil Kane’s best work.
It’s basically a riff on the Microverse Hulk/Jarella storyline, which makes me think Harlan Ellison probably threatened a nuisance lawsuit at some point, but it’s very well executed, with some of Gil Kane’s best work.
May 2, 2009
This is one of my personal favorites among the graphic novels I've read, and that's almost certainly because it's really a sword & planet story. I thought it was quite inventive and enjoyable. If you like Burrough's Barsoom books then you'll probably get a kick out of this one.
January 12, 2023
Para un personaje casi eternamente relegado a roles secundarios y de soporte de otros más conocidos y populares, siempre que hablamos de The Atom, y específicamente de Ray Palmer, el Atom de la edad de plata y más conocido de todos, siempre se suele hablar de "Sword of the Atom" como la historia más icónica del superhéroe (no por nada la historia cuenta con 2 adaptaciones animadas, un corto de DC Nation y un capítulo de Batman: The Brave and the Bold).
Publicada en 1983, "Sword of the Atom" traslada al superhéroe a la selva amazónica y lo lleva a una aventura digna de los pulps de los 30s o de Jon Carter: Tras desmoronarse su matrimonio, Ray Palmer va en busca de un fragmento de estrella similar al que le da poder a su traje que le permite cambiar de tamaño; en lugar de eso encuentra aventura, amor y un nuevo sentido para su vida.
Ciertamente influenciado con el boom a comienzos de los 80's del revival pulp que significó Indiana Jones o Flash Gordon; Jan Strnad, Gil Kane y el resto del equipo creativo toman al personaje más inesperado y lo llevan a un mundo miniatura de fantasía épica, "sandalias y espadas" con un toque de ciencia ficción. Sin embargo, la historia como muchas de este tipo, no puede sacudirse los problemas inherentes de esta clase de narrativas: el clásico salvador blanco que viene a ayudar y civilizar a una población de "salvajes" (en este caso diminutos alienígenas atrapados en la Tierra y que habían perdido el uso de la tecnología desde su llegada y de característica piel amarilla), la "otrificación" de una civilización "exótica" y la asimilación del hombre blanco.
Pese a los problemas evidentes del género de historias de las cuales se nutre "Sword of the Atom", en general es una historia concisa, con un gran uso de la economía y distribución de paneles en el arte del legendario Gil Kane. Los primeros 4 números que componen la historia en general presentan una narrativa precisa y suficientemente autocontenida que, si DC hubiera querido jubilar a Ray Palmer en ese momento, perfectamente podrían haberlo hecho. Sin embargo, nuevas secuelas cortas de la historia fueron sucediéndose en el tiempo, todas bajo el rótulo de "Sword of the Atom Special" y que también están contenidas en este tomo.
En general es imposible sacudirse la sensación de que se estaba estirando innecesariamente el chicle. No bien la primera de estas historias le entrega profundidad y agencia a Jean Loring, la ex-esposa de Ray Palmer (cuya infidelidad había sido pintada en la más negativa de las luces en la historia original, pese a que como bien se nos menciona, el motivo primigenio de esta era el abandono del matrimonio por parte de Ray, quien dividía su tiempo entre sus carreras como superhéroe y científico), el resto de las historias no son más que simples excusas para revisitar el nuevo mundo amazónico y miniatura de Ray Palmer, desde un déspota alienígena que controla a la gente con chips y bombas en sus cerebros (adelantándose a Amanda Waller) en una historia que innecesariamente lleva a Jean y su nuevo esposo Paul a la selva, llegando al casi absurdo de una historia con zombies, publicada 5 años después del original.
Ciertamente estas historias adicionales de cierta forma disminuyen el legado de la historia original, pero no logran eclipsarla totalmente, mal que mal, 40 años después de publicada se sigue recomendando y hablando de "Sword of the Atom" como LA historia de Ray Palmer, y que con todos sus problemas, es un testamento a la longevidad del personaje.
Publicada en 1983, "Sword of the Atom" traslada al superhéroe a la selva amazónica y lo lleva a una aventura digna de los pulps de los 30s o de Jon Carter: Tras desmoronarse su matrimonio, Ray Palmer va en busca de un fragmento de estrella similar al que le da poder a su traje que le permite cambiar de tamaño; en lugar de eso encuentra aventura, amor y un nuevo sentido para su vida.
Ciertamente influenciado con el boom a comienzos de los 80's del revival pulp que significó Indiana Jones o Flash Gordon; Jan Strnad, Gil Kane y el resto del equipo creativo toman al personaje más inesperado y lo llevan a un mundo miniatura de fantasía épica, "sandalias y espadas" con un toque de ciencia ficción. Sin embargo, la historia como muchas de este tipo, no puede sacudirse los problemas inherentes de esta clase de narrativas: el clásico salvador blanco que viene a ayudar y civilizar a una población de "salvajes" (en este caso diminutos alienígenas atrapados en la Tierra y que habían perdido el uso de la tecnología desde su llegada y de característica piel amarilla), la "otrificación" de una civilización "exótica" y la asimilación del hombre blanco.
Pese a los problemas evidentes del género de historias de las cuales se nutre "Sword of the Atom", en general es una historia concisa, con un gran uso de la economía y distribución de paneles en el arte del legendario Gil Kane. Los primeros 4 números que componen la historia en general presentan una narrativa precisa y suficientemente autocontenida que, si DC hubiera querido jubilar a Ray Palmer en ese momento, perfectamente podrían haberlo hecho. Sin embargo, nuevas secuelas cortas de la historia fueron sucediéndose en el tiempo, todas bajo el rótulo de "Sword of the Atom Special" y que también están contenidas en este tomo.
En general es imposible sacudirse la sensación de que se estaba estirando innecesariamente el chicle. No bien la primera de estas historias le entrega profundidad y agencia a Jean Loring, la ex-esposa de Ray Palmer (cuya infidelidad había sido pintada en la más negativa de las luces en la historia original, pese a que como bien se nos menciona, el motivo primigenio de esta era el abandono del matrimonio por parte de Ray, quien dividía su tiempo entre sus carreras como superhéroe y científico), el resto de las historias no son más que simples excusas para revisitar el nuevo mundo amazónico y miniatura de Ray Palmer, desde un déspota alienígena que controla a la gente con chips y bombas en sus cerebros (adelantándose a Amanda Waller) en una historia que innecesariamente lleva a Jean y su nuevo esposo Paul a la selva, llegando al casi absurdo de una historia con zombies, publicada 5 años después del original.
Ciertamente estas historias adicionales de cierta forma disminuyen el legado de la historia original, pero no logran eclipsarla totalmente, mal que mal, 40 años después de publicada se sigue recomendando y hablando de "Sword of the Atom" como LA historia de Ray Palmer, y que con todos sus problemas, es un testamento a la longevidad del personaje.
May 19, 2023
I started this so long ago I do not remember everything about it. Which according to my notes might be a good thing.
This story could have been better if they had just focused on a husband and wife struggling to hold onto their love and marriage as they try to balance super-heroing and their normal lives.
A little basic but they could have made it their own.
But they just had to make it more about tiny alien creatures in some forest where Atom becomes a... rebel leader or something?
He forswears his old life and wife then hooks up with the first alien babe he met (who is much younger than him?).
Anyway, I committed myself to reading the Special comics. Well, kind of read them.
They felt basically exactly the same with slightly different characters and with slightly different stakes.
I do not think this moved the story of The Atom along at all. In fact, he felt a bit stuck in place.
This story could have been better if they had just focused on a husband and wife struggling to hold onto their love and marriage as they try to balance super-heroing and their normal lives.
A little basic but they could have made it their own.
But they just had to make it more about tiny alien creatures in some forest where Atom becomes a... rebel leader or something?
He forswears his old life and wife then hooks up with the first alien babe he met (who is much younger than him?).
Anyway, I committed myself to reading the Special comics. Well, kind of read them.
They felt basically exactly the same with slightly different characters and with slightly different stakes.
I do not think this moved the story of The Atom along at all. In fact, he felt a bit stuck in place.
October 23, 2023
Feeling generous by giving this a 4.0. I’m rounding up from somewhere in the mid-3’s. I’m trying hard not to judge a book in the 80s by the standards of something in the 20’s. The writing hasn’t aged well and maybe the story hasn’t either. But in the context of 1983, this story was pretty cutting edge and it changed the whole dynamic of the Atom character. Here in 2023, it’s a bit of a tough read. I loved it when I read this around 1986 or so, not loving it so much now. But I didn’t hate it either.
And I’m not sure I can ever say enough of Gil Kane’s art. It’s been ages since I’ve read anything he worked on and man oh man this art was as good as it ever got for Kane.
And I’m not sure I can ever say enough of Gil Kane’s art. It’s been ages since I’ve read anything he worked on and man oh man this art was as good as it ever got for Kane.
September 26, 2017
the atom as conan !!!!!
April 15, 2018
I enjoyed the story, for the most part. The biggest pleasure was Gil Kane’s artwork.
June 15, 2021
Fine. I just wanted to see the Atom in that cool costume where you can see his hair. What a great look.
September 30, 2019
I imagine this like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids meets Frog Thor and Planet Hulk. COMICS!
The Atom's marriage is in a rut, so he goes on a vacation that...doens't go as planned. He's stuck small. After dealing with a snake, he immediately comes across a tribe of diminutive (i.e. six inch tall) people. COMICS!
It's a race against time for The Atom to get back to his wife because she believes him dead, and she's read to move one. DRAMA! COMICS!
The Atom's marriage is in a rut, so he goes on a vacation that...doens't go as planned. He's stuck small. After dealing with a snake, he immediately comes across a tribe of diminutive (i.e. six inch tall) people. COMICS!
It's a race against time for The Atom to get back to his wife because she believes him dead, and she's read to move one. DRAMA! COMICS!
November 16, 2014
I made the mistake of reading this after reading the 'Planet Hulk' omnibus. It kind of failed in comparison. I know this predates 'Planet Hulk' .... but this one wasn't written as well.
That aside, I don't really care for the Atom or Ray Palmer. He's kind of a flat boring character.
The last few pages gave me the creep of my life though....
That aside, I don't really care for the Atom or Ray Palmer. He's kind of a flat boring character.
The last few pages gave me the creep of my life though....
March 31, 2016
I have always loved the idea of The Atom. I read these comics when they first came out, but never got to read the Specials that are included within this collection. The idea of the shrinking man has been in literature and media for --what seems like forever -- and this sort of CONANesque version of The Atom isn't the most ideal, but in some ways adds a dimension to the physicist turned into a man of no science--only wit and strength. The worst about this is that he can no longer become full-sized, so it is the story of a six-inch man and a group of aliens lost in the Amazon jungles. Interesting, but sort of a side life of a costumed superhero.
April 22, 2011
Really wanted to love this. The final chapter, where Gil Kane is no longer involved, knocks a couple of stars off my rating. If you stop reading on page 186, it's a five-star collection. The premise: Take the Atom (one of the weaker silver-age remakes) and throw him into pulp jungle adventure that could have been created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It shouldn't work, but it does.
June 28, 2015
Wow a scintillator detector....what will they think of next?
I never understood why Atom was not a more popular hero.
Oh the fun of riding jumping frogs and battling lizards. It was good to read a comic rather than just look at the pretty pictures most new graphic novels have....interesting twists....I was surprised how graphic the last story was....
I never understood why Atom was not a more popular hero.
Oh the fun of riding jumping frogs and battling lizards. It was good to read a comic rather than just look at the pretty pictures most new graphic novels have....interesting twists....I was surprised how graphic the last story was....
July 23, 2010
Don't read this as an Atom comic, but rather as a pulp story, where the hero is thrown into an alien world and must fend for himself.
July 6, 2012
Gil Kane really was the reason I liked this, though Strnad's script was just fine. I remember Broderick's contribution, and always enjoyed his art, too.
April 1, 2017
Good story and great Gil Kane art. Typical fish out of water story with a little sword and sandal action in it.
December 23, 2013
Really enjoyed Sword of the Atom and miss Gil Kane's artwork. This was a fun read. It reminded me of John Carter with a case of Starhawks. Great stuff!
June 15, 2014
The initial 4-issue mini-series was solid and fun. Going back to it again and again didn't work as well. The premise gets a little old.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews