History ComicBook / TheAtom

The third Atom was '''Ryan Choi''', an Asian American scientist who inherited Palmer's costume and position at Ivy University after he disappeared following the events of ''Identity Crisis''. He first appeared in the one-shot ''"DCU: Brave New World''" (2006), created by Creator/GailSimone and Grant Morrison. He starred in his own series for 25 issues (September, 2006-September, 2008). He was then unceremoniously killed off, to the chagrin of his fans (and Gail Simone). Being one of few superheroes of color, Choi's death sparked a major controversy.

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]].)

Actually, there have been three superheroes named The Atom. The first was '''Al Pratt'''. He first appeared in ''"All-American Comics''" #19 (October, 1940), created by Ben Flinton and Bill O'Conner. Pratt was a short guy who got a boost in confidence after being trained in boxing, so he became the masked hero The Atom ([[DontExplainTheJoke because he was small but powerful, get it?]]) He had no actual superpowers, but was instead a BadassNormal. (It was later [[RetCon retconned]] that exposure to radiation gave him super strength.) His series continued appearing in ''"All-American Comics''" until its 72nd issue (April, 1946). He was a founding member of the ComicBook/{{Justice Society|OfAmerica}}, appearing in most of its adventures between 1940 and to 1951. He got a second series of his own in the back pages of ''"Flash Comics''", lasting from issues #80 to #104 (February, 1947-February, 1949). The character went into hiatus in 1953, but was revived in 1963 along with other Justice Society members. He became the father of the superhero Damage and the godfather of the superhero Nuklon.

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.)

The ''[[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League]]'' series of the ComicBook/{{New 52}} introduced a new character with the Atom mantle in issue 18. Her name was Rhonda Pineda, a Latina college student at Ivy University. She initially made a few cameos during the ''ComicBook/ThroneOfAtlantis'' arc, where Cyborg signalled her and several other heroes to help the League stop an Atlantean invasion. Rhonda formally met the League in issue 18 and was recruited along with ComicBook/{{Firestorm|DCComics}} and Element Woman. Issue 23 revealed that her real name was Atomica and she was essentially the Atom's evil counterpart from Earth-3. She spent her time with the Justice League so she could incapacitate them just before the evil Earth-3 Justice League arrived on Earth, allowing them to take over the world unopposed. She eventually got killed by Lex Luthor at the end of ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil''.

The ''[[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League]]'' series of the ComicBook/{{New 52}} introduced a new character with the Atom mantle in issue 18. Her name was Rhonda Pineda, a Latina college student at Ivy University. She initially made a few cameos during the ''ComicBook/ThroneOfAtlantis'' arc, where Cyborg signalled her and several other heroes to help the League stop an Atlantean invasion. Rhonda formally met the League in issue 18 and was recruited along with ComicBook/{{Firestorm}} and Element Woman. Issue 23 revealed that her real name was Atomica and she was essentially the Atom's evil counterpart from Earth-3. She spent her time with the Justice League so she could incapacitate them just before the evil Earth-3 Justice League arrived on Earth, allowing them to take over the world unopposed. She eventually got killed by Lex Luthor at the end of ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil''.

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 Ryan Zheng.

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 has also been confirmed to appear in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse, in ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague''.

* ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica (1991-1993)

* ''ComicBook/{{JLA}}

* ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}

* ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}

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 [[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]].)

* CityOfWeirdos: Ivytown is a bit like this in Choi's series. Basically, the locals - even the scientists at the university - have learnt to accept the laws of the universe are just ''broken'' here.
** In this case "a bit like this" means that there's a neighborhood in which the people have reverted to 18th-century puritanism, and worship the local cancer-god who lives in the sewers by watching cheesy [[BMovie B-movies]] at the drive-in theater.
** The floating heads that only talk in the future tense and plan to TakeOverTheWorld might be worth mentioning, too.

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.

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''.

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, 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.)

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 TheSilverAge, 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 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 the SilverAge, 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 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 has starred in his own series many times. (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, 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.)

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, which he attributes to a unique energy inside his body (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). 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.)

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''). 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''.

* StarterVillain: Al Pratt's was an unnamed crime boss who held his girlfriend as ransom against her rich father. He's clobbered and arrested at the end of his first appearance.

** In this case "a bit like this" means that there's a neighborhood in which the people have reverted to 18th-century puritanism, and worship the local cancer-god who lives in the sewers by watching cheesy [[BMovie B-movies]] movies at the drive-in theater.

* SquareCubeLaw: Explained away by the "miraculous" effects of white-dwarf star matter.

* DeathIsCheap: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in the All-New Atom's crossover with the Search for Ray Palmer, where the gang find themselves in [[spoiler: fake]] heaven with a ComicBook/BlueBeetle who cheerfully points out that [[ComicBook/WonderGirl Donna Troy]] and [[Characters/Robin Jason Todd]] have both been dead before, and that the "recidivism rate" for dead superheroes was frankly shocking.

The third Atom was '''Ryan Choi''', an Asian American scientist who inherited Palmer's costume after he disappeared following the events of ''Identity Crisis''. He first appeared in the one-shot ''"DCU: Brave New World''" (2006), created by Creator/GailSimone and Grant Morrison. He starred in his own series for 25 issues (September, 2006-September, 2008). He was then unceremoniously killed off, to the chagrin of his fans (and Gail Simone). Being one of the few superheroes of color, Choi's death sparked a major controversy.

* WeirdnessMagnet: The Dean of Ivy University claims that the Atom (both Ray and Ryan incarnations) is one, and that they spread this to the town. Ryan seems to have accepted it.

* WeirdnessMagnet: Dean of Ivy University claims that the Atom (both Ray and Ryan incarnations) is one, and that they spread this to the town.