Comic Book History
Who is ATOM?
The Atom is Ray Palmer, a DC Comics superhero introduced during the Silver Age of comic books in Showcase # 34 (1961). However, Ray Palmer is not the first to take the name of the Atom but he probably is the closest one associated to it. Nicknamed the Mighty Mite, the Atom has the ability to shrink to incredible sizes while retaining his full mass and density. This makes him a formidable combatant. He was a member of the original Justice League of America, where he gained a great deal of respect from his peers. Aside from his crime-fighting career, he is also one of the world's top scientific minds, a brilliant physicist. He is capable of shrinking to subatomic sizes, and explores the universe on a frontier unknown to any other man.
First Appearance
DC Comics Official Origin of the Atom
The Atom's love interest is Jean Loring, whom she met while they were students in an Ivy University. Palmer was studying physics while Jean Loring was a law student.
After they graduated, and several marriage proposal turndowns by Jean, the two eventually got married. Unfortunately, for the diminutive hero this wedding would not last, and the two would get a divorce later on.
Ray Palmer's Several Proposals
The Atom was one of the first superheroes recruited by the original Justice League of America. He is a well-respected member of the team, and was even provided a special chair scaled to his default size, which can elevate to whatever height needed.
While with the Justice League of America, the Atom met Hawkman, who became one of his closest friend within their Superhero Community.
The Atom had a short-lived mini series entitled Sword of the Atom, in which he abandons civilization after his divorce and became a Barbarian-like heroic paragon of a tribe of six-inch tall Morlaidhans in the jungles of South America.
During the crisis of time known as Zero Hour, Ray Palmer, was de-aged from a man of 30 to a 17-year-old teenager. He would later meet other teenagers who recently manifested powers, and these powered teens would decide to band together and become the newest incarnation of the Teen Titans. After several adventures with this team Ray would revert back to his proper age.
The Atom (lower left) with this Teen Titans team
In the event called Identity Crisis, Ray discovered that her ex-wife murdered the wife of Elongated Man, Sue Dibney. Ray was so distraught over Sue's death that he needed to run away, out of his world, which led him to travel to other "realities".
When he finally returned to his own world, he found it overrun by Black Lantern Zombies. He would then be temporarily deputized as a member of the Indigo Tribe complete with a power staff that has some similar attributes of that of a Green Lantern ring.
With the shake-up in the DC Universe, we are yet to see what Ray Palmer - Atom's place is in this new beginning. How big or small it would be.
The Atom wearing a specialize suit while helping Firestorm during the Brightest Day event
ANIMATED APPEARANCE/S
1967: Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure
1967: Ray Palmer's Atom appeared in his several episodes of this series; Pat Harrington, Jr. voiced him.
1977: The All-New Super Friends Hour
Atom made occasional appearances on the show; Wally Burr voiced him.
2004: Justice League Unlimited
John C. McGinley voiced atom in this show. His first appearance was in the episode "The Return".
2008: Batman: Brave and the Bold
Atom appeared in the episode "Sword of the Atom!" voiced by Peter Scolari.
LIVE MEDIA APPEARANCE/S
1979: Alfie Wise
The Atom appeared in "The Roast", the second of two 1979 live-action TV specials aired under the umbrella title Legends of the Superheroes.
1997: John Kassir
The Atom appeared in the 1997 live action Justice League of America TV Pilot.
POWERS & ABILITIES
Note: Due to the nature of comicbooks being an on-going tale, the character's powers along with his appearance, is in a constant state of flux.
Microscopic Stability: For some reason, Ray's physiology allows him to not explode when he is miniaturized unlike other living things, which explode after a short time of being miniaturized.
Size Alteration: Able to shrink his body to varying degrees (including the subatomic level). As the Atom, Ray can assume any size from his normal six-foot stature down to sub-microscopic, although he generally deems a height of six inches as most functional.
Mass/Density Alteration: Able to instantly alter his molecular density to whatever degree he desires. Ray can also assume any weight at any height — up to his full 180 pounds. It has never been explained where his mass goes when he discards it to make himself lighter.
Flight: at a low setting, he has been able to glide on air currents
Superhuman Strength: at a high setting, he has been able to handle and/or strike objects with the equivalent strength of his normal size and build.
Phone Line Travel: A favorite travel method Ray had was to call some location on the telephone; when the intended phone answered, he could shrink down enough to literally travel through the phone lines in seconds to emerge out of the answering phone.
Abilities
Judo: Ray Palmer often finds himself in situation where physical violence becomes necessary. As such, he has developed a proficiency in the martial arts form known as Judo.
Physics: Dr. Palmer has a Ph.D. in physics and was a full professor at Ivy University.
Master Swordsman: The Atom used a long sword as a weapon while living among the Katarthans, gaining considerable skill in its use.
Sources : http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Raymond_Palmer_(New_Earth) : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom_(Ray_Palmer)#In_other_media : http://www.comicvine.com/atom-palmer/29-34685/ : http://www.dccomics.com/dcu/heroes_and_villains/?hv=origin_stories/the_atom&p=1
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