THE DAY DOCTOR SOLAR, MAN OF THE ATOM DIED -- PART II

When danger and disaster threaten the innocent, Solar leaps into action as The Man of the Atom!

Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom was published by Gold Key Comics. Created by prolific writer Paul S. Newman and editor/artist Matt Murphy. Gold Key came out with issues #1-#27, issues #28-#31 were published by Whitman around 12 years after Gold Key cancelled Doctor Solar.
Written by prolific Paul S. Newman (#8-#9) & notable Dick (Jet Dream) Wood (#10-#14)
Terrific artwork by Frank (Phantom, Flash Gordon) Bolle (#8-#14), some of his best work!

Fantastic painted covers graced all of these covers.  As far as I can tell, there were painted pin-ups on the first ten issues of the series, as Gold Key did a lot back then.

Doctor Solar was a physicist named Dr. Raymond Solar, assisting fellow worker Dr. Bently to avert an imminent meltdown of the nuclear power plant where they worked, sabotaged by Dr. Rasp, agent of an evil mastermind named Nuro.  

Just for fun!

 Bently lost his life trying to prevent the meltdown while Solar absorbed a massive amount of radiation in the process. He survived, discovering he gained the ability to convert his body into any kind of nuclear energy. Using his new powers, Solar began searching for Nuro, who would become Solar' nemesis. Nuro used a robot double of himself called Orun and later transferred his mind into it, calling himself King Cybernoid.

Doctor Solar did not gain a superhero costume until the fifth issue of his comic, becoming "The Man of the Atom". Doctor Solar manipulates matter at the atomic level, flies and blasts bolts of energy. In addition, his skin turns green whenever he uses his powers. 

Doctor Solar #8  Solar Rages in Atomic Fury When Nuro Creates a Thought Machine to Unbalance his Mind!
"The Thought Controller" 
"Magic Fuel"
Prof. Harbinger feature.

Doctor Solar #9  Solar Meets his Match -- A Power Hungry Machine That Devours Everthing in Sight!
"Transivac the Energy-Consuming Computer"
"The Robot Spaceman"
Prof. Harbinger feature. 

Doctor Solar #10  A Panic-Stricken World Turns on Solar Tranformed Into a Monstrous Giant! 
"The Sun Giant"
"Mystery Signals from Space"
Prof. Harbinger feature.

Doctor Solar #11  The Man of the Atom Becomes Nuro's Willing Slave -- THE DAY SOLAR DIED!
"The Day Solar Died"
"The Shimmering Earth" 
Prof. Harbinger feature.

Doctor Solar #12   Solar Multiplies His Powers to Uncover the Secrets of Nuro's Fleet!
"The Mystery of the Vanishing Silver" "Fish People of Tomorrow"
Prof. Harbinger feature. 

Doctor Solar #13  Evolution Runs Wild to Turn a Horde of Monsters Loose on a Terrified World!
"The Meteor From 100 Million, B.C."
"The Raptures of Space"
Prof. Harbinger feature.
Last issue with a back cover pin-up.
 

Doctor Solar #14  A Strange Midas Touch Turns Solar's Power Against Him!
"Solar's Midas Touch"
"The Angry Waves"
Prof. Harbinger feature. 

 
These issues of Doctor Solar are included in fabulous Dark Horse Archives Vol. 2 hardback, sporting the dynamic cover to Doctor Solar #10. These are great editions you cannot miss, they are fantastic. The first three volumes are available on Kindle as well. 

Tomorrow will present my third installment of four of Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom. It's great to relive the excitement of the Gold Key comic. After this, I plan on covering the Gold Key comic book series of Magnus, Robot Fighter. Russ Manning's artwork is simply outstanding!
Live Large My Friends!

Thank You!