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The All-New Atom
The All-New Atom, Vol. 2: Future/Past
In this second Atom trade paperback, collecting issues #7-11, the tiny titan encounters a man with a strange connection to the mysterious Time Pool — and a dangerous connection to the deadly Linear Men.
128 pages, Paperback
First published December 5, 2007
59 people want to read
About the author
Gail Simone
1,080 books1,236 followersGail Simone is a comic book writer well-known for her work on Birds of Prey (DC), Wonder Woman (DC), and Deadpool (Marvel), among others, and has also written humorous and critical commentary on comics and the comics industry such as the original "Women in Refrigerators" website and a regular column called "You'll All Be Sorry".
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
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January 8, 2020Simone does a pretty good job with Ryan’s character, and her dialogue can be funny, but she can’t bring any memorable stories to the table. Of the two stories in this volume, I like the first better because of its wackiness and genuinely affecting ending. The second one is plain dumb. Ryan, a 24-year-old, goes back to Hong Kong to help his high school crush fight her zombie husband. Even with the twist, I couldn’t find much to like in this one.
February 2, 2012
Despite the fact that I didn't want to enjoy this new character, Gail Simone makes him very enjoyable.
September 16, 2007
Gail Simone takes her incredible shrinking hero on some new and even more cartoonish adventures, while continuing to take her drama another step too seriously. This time out she doesn't seem to recognize the cliches she's trampling on (time travelling, ex-girlfriend, meddling with the forces of nature, mysterious death threats from an authority that doesn't explain itself until the end of the story, and a grown man fighting his high school bully, for God's sake), and so doesn't exercise her wit to play them off like her fans might hope. Gimmicks that were novel in the first volume of [i]Atom[/i], like block-quotes from famous scientists hinting at underlying meanings in dialogue, grow tired here. Quickly one feels one has seen all that's new in this all-new Atom, and that the rest will be made up of recycled character traits. That wouldn't be so bad if Simone would turn things on their heads with absurdity or humor, but for whatever reason, she doesn't.
December 19, 2014
2.5 stars
Like the first volume, a mixed bag here. Again, I like the characters and their interactions. I find the plots are a little weird though. Like the first one, where we meet a time traveller who's literally been cut in half and yet is just hanging out. The reveal at the end of that mini arc felt a bit anticlimactic.
Then Ryan returns home to the girl he's always loved and has to face his high school bully. Only the guy took a level in serious since high school and is super dangerous. And even ignoring that this series so far has a real lack of positive female characters, this one was just... eh. A grown man and professor at a university facing his mentally unstable high school bully feels weird, and the end here was also a bit unsatisfying.
Like the first volume, a mixed bag here. Again, I like the characters and their interactions. I find the plots are a little weird though. Like the first one, where we meet a time traveller who's literally been cut in half and yet is just hanging out. The reveal at the end of that mini arc felt a bit anticlimactic.
Then Ryan returns home to the girl he's always loved and has to face his high school bully. Only the guy took a level in serious since high school and is super dangerous. And even ignoring that this series so far has a real lack of positive female characters, this one was just... eh. A grown man and professor at a university facing his mentally unstable high school bully feels weird, and the end here was also a bit unsatisfying.
January 31, 2022
I had low expectations with this comic since I'm not very familiar with Atom. However, I was pleasantly surprised! It was gratifying. I skipped volume one because I could not find it at my local bookstores. I liked how Gail Simone had this take with real problems and monsters mic up. I liked how Aaron is like this misfit is trying to adapt to being a superhero. I found it cute how he goes back in time to help his crush. I loved the science vs. magic theme! The art was pretty decent.
March 5, 2024
A huge improvement over the first volume. In this volume's first arc, the book finally (if only for two issues) gets an artist that accentuates the absurd style Simone has been going for throughout. In the second arc, we get a darker, grittier tale that fleshes out Ryan's backstory in Hong Kong. Barrows returns as artist, much improved from his work in the first volume (though he still has trouble drawing women).
October 4, 2017
I never really read any Gail Simone stuff before All-New Atom vol 1 and vol 2, and I do not think I was missing anything. While both of these books have had moments, the stories as a whole have felt rushed and incomplete. The art is not very good either.
October 26, 2019
Been reading the Atom for 50 plus years and am a big fan of writer Gail Simone.
This was disappointing.
This was disappointing.
November 17, 2014
This is more like it!
Following on from the first volume, in which science and magic literally declared war, Ryan Choi is settling in as he replaces most of Ray Palmer's life - including, of course, his mantle as the shrinking superhero The Atom. Soon, after a short brush with the law (of time), he is whisked away to China, though, at the beck of the love of his life who is being hounded by an abusive boyfriend.
Gail Simone's signature "real-life drama mixed with comic book monsters, and feminism" is in full swing here. The last volume was brilliantly daft, which made it come off as silly - this volume is subdued in all the right ways. Not subdued enough, mind, that it isn't still one of DC's most phenomenally insane books. This still has all the brash, crazy action you'd expect from a book that stars a superhero who's primary superpower is being tiny. But the human stories are more real now, and, coming out of the first set of issues, the series seems to be coming into its own, finding its stride.
Simone writes great characters, in particular women, and with a focus on a woman this time, it feels like she's more comfortable than when she was writing backwards-talking robot heads. Some people are really down on Simone for being big on doing right by women in comics, but I think it's an unfortunately unique signature that sets her writing apart from the typical superhero male power fantasy nonsense in many regards. So having that prominently featured by her made reading this volume feel... more comfortable, somehow. It just felt more like a Simone book, which is certainly a plus for my tastes.
All-New Atom is one of my favourite DC series, with its cult status earned with gusto - it's no surprise it gets better as it goes. However, Future/Past really does represent a turning point of quality for the series. Check it out.
Following on from the first volume, in which science and magic literally declared war, Ryan Choi is settling in as he replaces most of Ray Palmer's life - including, of course, his mantle as the shrinking superhero The Atom. Soon, after a short brush with the law (of time), he is whisked away to China, though, at the beck of the love of his life who is being hounded by an abusive boyfriend.
Gail Simone's signature "real-life drama mixed with comic book monsters, and feminism" is in full swing here. The last volume was brilliantly daft, which made it come off as silly - this volume is subdued in all the right ways. Not subdued enough, mind, that it isn't still one of DC's most phenomenally insane books. This still has all the brash, crazy action you'd expect from a book that stars a superhero who's primary superpower is being tiny. But the human stories are more real now, and, coming out of the first set of issues, the series seems to be coming into its own, finding its stride.
Simone writes great characters, in particular women, and with a focus on a woman this time, it feels like she's more comfortable than when she was writing backwards-talking robot heads. Some people are really down on Simone for being big on doing right by women in comics, but I think it's an unfortunately unique signature that sets her writing apart from the typical superhero male power fantasy nonsense in many regards. So having that prominently featured by her made reading this volume feel... more comfortable, somehow. It just felt more like a Simone book, which is certainly a plus for my tastes.
All-New Atom is one of my favourite DC series, with its cult status earned with gusto - it's no surprise it gets better as it goes. However, Future/Past really does represent a turning point of quality for the series. Check it out.
May 11, 2013
Always had a soft spot for the Atom.
While not thrilled with the idea of replacing a hero, by putting a new guy in the suit, instead of just writing the old guy well, Gail Simone put a lot of effort into this series.
The new Atom is a decent character, a social misfit as well as trying to learn to be a super hero. Gail has also made a great effort in making fictional Ivy Town into a real feeling city.
Unfortunately, it feels like she's trying too hard. There's 128 sub-plots and story arcs and it seems like every member of the cast is either up to something or should be wearing a t-shirt saying 'Hey! Look at me! I'm clever and quirky!'
The results are really uneven.
Enough fun/interesting bits to keep me reading, but it's not in the 'oh boy! Gotta read that!' category.
While not thrilled with the idea of replacing a hero, by putting a new guy in the suit, instead of just writing the old guy well, Gail Simone put a lot of effort into this series.
The new Atom is a decent character, a social misfit as well as trying to learn to be a super hero. Gail has also made a great effort in making fictional Ivy Town into a real feeling city.
Unfortunately, it feels like she's trying too hard. There's 128 sub-plots and story arcs and it seems like every member of the cast is either up to something or should be wearing a t-shirt saying 'Hey! Look at me! I'm clever and quirky!'
The results are really uneven.
Enough fun/interesting bits to keep me reading, but it's not in the 'oh boy! Gotta read that!' category.
April 18, 2008
The all-new (all-Asian!) Atom goes on a time traveling adventure with a friend of the old Atom, then travels back to his hometown Hong Kong to help an old crush. The lack of Grant Morrison's guidance in Gail Simone's writing is quite noticeable, though the continued "science vs. magic" theme is enjoyable.
I really enjoyed Eddy Barrows art in the second story. He uses lots of tilted angles, and his art is packed with energy and is just slightly better than most DC superhero art.
I really enjoyed Eddy Barrows art in the second story. He uses lots of tilted angles, and his art is packed with energy and is just slightly better than most DC superhero art.
January 5, 2008
Not as good as the first All-New Atom trade. In this collection (which collects issues #7-#11 of the All New Atom comic), Ryan Choi goes time travelling to help out a man literally cut in half (vertically) and goes head to head with the ghosts of his high school bullies. Sadly, this second volume isn't as much fun as the first one.
May 7, 2015
Choi starts to settle into the role of the Atom. The Linear men have a problem and need his help. There's a couple of short stories, including ones involving his first crush that is quite good. The main story is clever, and has some nice twists. I like the idea of the atom travelling in time. A good read.
October 26, 2014
I am getting sucked in. I can even handle the use of the <> brackets in dialogue.....someone fill me in...what is that for?
I wonder if it means they are talking another language?
Hate the flying stick
I wonder if it means they are talking another language?
Hate the flying stick
September 30, 2014
Still meh. Maybe the stakes weren't high enough. I can't put my finger on it, but I just wasn't excited. I found myself wishing for Ray Palmer and it's not like I've ever read him either.
Maybe I just don't get Gail Simone.
Maybe I just don't get Gail Simone.
February 2, 2010
Old girlfriend calls crying out of the blue, high school bully returns as an undead adversary, cheesy yet clever superhero dialogue. It was fun.
January 31, 2015
Much better set of stories than the first. The ending to the half-professor story was heartbreaking.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews