798 – Atomic Knights Go Green

A panel from Strange Adventures #129, April 1961
A panel from Strange Adventures #129, April 1961

In “World out of Time”, Strange Adventures #129 (Apr 1961), after the Atomic Knights manage to connect to a satellite orbiting the Earth and are able to see live video from across the globe, they discover an island that is lush and green – a surprising anomaly in a world devastated by atomic war.

It turns out this island is Atlantis, whose society had used a “cobalt bomb” thousands of years ago and had catapulted their island through time to land in apocalyptic Earth, but shrouded in an atomic field of death. The Atomic Knights go exploring using their gliders, are able to pass through the radiation belt, and are captured by Atlanteans. They manage to escape just as Atlantis finally sinks itself into the ocean, destroying its own society.

More interestingly, Marene, the only female Atomic Knight, managed to collect samples of grass, seeds, and fruit moments before the island sunk – meaning the Atomic Knights can now re-populate their dead planet! I really like how they stick to their continuity and show steady progress of the Knights against nuclear devestation.

Another panel from Strange Adventures #129, April 1961
Another panel from Strange Adventures #129, April 1961