815 – The Silver Age Atom

Ray Palmer and a white dwarf star lens in Showcase #34, July 1961
Ray Palmer and a white dwarf star lens in Showcase #34, July 1961

Though DC just introduced the concept of the multiverse, Gardner Fox didn’t stop reinterpreting Golden Age characters in the Silver Age: The Atom debuts in Showcase #34 (July 1961). Ray Palmer is a graduate student and fellowship physicist who seeks to shrink matter via using white dwarf star material. He has a girlfriend named Jean Loring who has just launched her career as a lawyer.

Of course once Ray gets his tech working, he fashions himself a belt and mechanism to become a superhero. As one does in the 1960s.

Ray shrinks as the Atom in Showcase #34, July 1961
Ray shrinks as the Atom in Showcase #34, July 1961
Ray in costume as The Atom in Showcase #34, July 1961
Ray in costume as The Atom in Showcase #34, July 1961

There is also an interesting 2-page article with pictures that describes who the Golden Age Atom was, his distinctive costume (that I always hated and frankly found disturbing), and his involvement in the Justice Society of America.