History ComicBook / TheAtom

The Atom is a Creator/DCComics superhero character, best known for being "the tiny one in the Justice League." (Because of his [[SizeShifter shrinking powers]]- he's usually 6 inches tall.) He had his own series for most of [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks the Silver Age]], though hasn't been much of a headliner since then. (Should not be confused with ComicBook/CaptainAtom. Or Atom Smasher. Or [[UsefulNotes/NuclearGlossary an actual atom]].)

The second Atom was introduced during the UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks and had nothing in common with the first other than the name. He first appeared in ''"Showcase''" #34 (September, 1961), created by Gardner Fox and Gil Kane. '''Ray Palmer''' was a physicist who found a meteor made of "[[AppliedPhlebotinum white dwarf star matter]]" that he fashioned into a lens capable of shrinking and expanding objects although the latter process would cause said objects to explode. After getting trapped in a cave with his girlfriend Jean Loring and a group of students, Ray uses the lens to shrink himself to create an escape route knowing full well [[HeroicSacrifice he will die in the process of regaining normal size]]. Much to his shock, he does not explode but instead instantly and safely returns to normal size when he reenters the lens' beam, which he attributes to a unique energy inside his body.[[note]]Eventually this was retconned into Ray having discovered and incorporated a "compression matrix" into his costume that allowed him to change size at will, in order to explain the later several instances of people using his costume and powers with no problems.[[/note]] Ray incorporates the lens in a costume that allows him to shrink (all the way to subatomic size!) and also change his weight. Despite these unlikely powers he became a successful hero and joined the Justice League. Palmer is also known for having one of the worst romantic lives of any superhero: Jean Loring, his long-time girlfriend (then wife) not only cheated on him, she later [[ComicBook/IdentityCrisis2004 went insane]] and even later became a [[ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis supervillain]]. At one point Palmer had a series of LowFantasy adventures in the Amazon Jungle involving a tribe of really tiny aliens (in the "Sword of the Atom" miniseries).

* BreakoutVillain: Chronos the Time Thief, who quickly became UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} version's ArchNemesis, returns as a major villain in every subsequent ''Atom'' series, and is popular enough that he keeps appearing in various other heroes' comics whenever the Atom doesn't have one.

* HaveAGayOldTime: When he was brought back for UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}}, Al Pratt could travel between universes by way of an "atomic vibrator." Mounted on his belt, no less.

** A variation occurred with the Ray Palmer version during UsefulNotes/{{the Bronze Age|OfComicBooks}}, where the fact that his power to shrink caused him to be ignored at times by his normal-sized teammates gave him an inferiority complex for a while.

* SquashedFlat: The focus of a [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] story, Fate of The Flattened Out Atom.

* DatingCatwoman: Choi was in a relationship with Franchise/WonderWoman villainess Giganta.

[[TropeCodifier '''The''' ]] [[IncredibleShrinkingMan Shrinking Superhero]].

[[TropeCodifier '''The''']] [[IncredibleShrinkingMan Shrinking Superhero]].

'''The''' [[IncredibleShrinkingMan Shrinking Superhero]].

The second Atom was introduced during the UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks and had nothing in common with the first other than the name. He first appeared in ''"Showcase''" #34 (September, 1961), created by Gardner Fox and Gil Kane. '''Ray Palmer''' was a physicist who found a meteor made of "[[AppliedPhlebotinum white dwarf star matter]]" that he fashioned into a lens capable of shrinking and expanding objects although the latter process would cause said objects to explode. After getting trapped in a cave with his girlfriend Jean Loring and a group of students, Ray uses the lens to shrink himself to create an escape route knowing full well [[HeroicSacrifice he will die in the process of regaining normal size]]. Much to his shock, he does not explode but instead instantly and safely returns to normal size when he reenters the lens' beam, which he attributes to a unique energy inside his body.[[note]]Eventually this was retconned into Ray having discovered and incorporated a "compression matrix" into his costume that allowed him to change size at will, in order to explain the later several instances of people using his costume and powers with no problems.[[/note]] Ray incorporates the lens in a costume that allows him to shrink (all the way to subatomic size!) and also change his weight. Despite these unlikely powers he became a successful hero and joined the Justice League. Palmer is also known for having one of the worst romantic lives of any superhero: Jean Loring, his long-time girlfriend (then wife) not only cheated on him, she later [[ComicBook/IdentityCrisis went insane]] and even later became a [[ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis supervillain]]. At one point Palmer had a series of LowFantasy adventures in the Amazon Jungle involving a tribe of really tiny aliens (in the "Sword of the Atom" miniseries).

* RidingInThePalmsOfGiantHands: Ryan Choi often rode in the palm of his girlfriend, Giganta's, hand, when neither of them were on the clock being a superhero or supervillainess.

The Ryan Choi Atom was the most often seen in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' show, though Palmer also appeared in one episode (that was based on ''Sword Of The Atom''). He also represents the costume in ''VideoGame/Injustice2''. Ray Palmer was the one in ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]],'' and referenced in Justice League (regular). Prior to that, a future version of the Atom known as Micron appeared in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' as a member of the future Justice League. Additionally, a series of shorts dubbed ''Sword of the Atom'' were aired on the WesternAnimation/DCNation block on Creator/CartoonNetwork. Ray Palmer also had a minor recurring role in ''[[WesternAnimation/YoungJustice Young Justice: Invasion]]'' as the mentor of Bumblebee. The first appearance for the Atom in other media was in the late 60's ''Superman/Aquaman Hour'' Creator/{{Filmation}} series (other DC heroes also took part in rotating segments). Palmer appears in live-action, played by Creator/BrandonRouth in the CW series ''Series/{{Arrow}}'', though his role was originally intended to be filled by the Blue Beetle, and bears rather more similarities to him than the comics' Atom. However, Palmer's shrinking abilities feature in the spinoff, ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow''. Choi would make his Arrowverse debut in the latter three parts of the universe’s ''[[Series/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths2019 Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'' adaptation. Choi also appears as a STAR Labs scientist in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse, in ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'', played by Creator/RyanZheng.

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice''

* BackFromTheDead: Ryan Choi in ''[[Comicbook/{{Convergence}} Convergence]]: The Atom'', when it turns out the voice in Ray Palmer's head ''is actually Ryan''. After a fight with Barracuda, [[ItMakesSenseInContext Ryan makes himself a new body from Ray's severed hand]], before the two Atoms face down Deathstroke, who's come back to finish the job. In the end [[spoiler: Ryan steals mass from his hands rather than kill him in revenge, leaving him with ''teeny little baby hands!'']]

* ILoveNuclearPower: Pratt