Monday, February 29, 2016

THE FURTHER SPACE ADVENTURES OF...CAPTAIN ATOM !!!



The Charlton Comics version, my personal favorite, of Captain Atom was Allen Adam. His origin story had Adam working as a technician in a special experimental rocket when it accidentally launched, with him trapped inside. He was atomized when the rocket exploded while entering the upper atmosphere. However, Adam somehow gained superpowers that included the ability to reform his body safely on the ground. He was outfitted in a red and yellow (blue in the first story) costume designed to shield people from the radiation of his nuclear powers. When he powered up, his hair changed to a silverish-white.

Stunning painted cover for Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #1, was by famed paperback cover artists Richard Powers.
 

Captain Atom's powers were similar other nuclear-powered superheroes, such as Gold Key Comics' Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom & Dell Comics' Nukla (with Joe Gill scripts & Ditko cover & interior art on issue #4.)










Back cover for Space Adventures #34! Fondly remember these ads!
Space Adventures #34  Extra! The Further Adventures of...Capt. Atom"
Captain Atom image on the cover taken from page five, panels 1-2 of interior story.
"The 2nd Man in Space"
Captain Atom goes into space to check on the first Russian cosmonaut and finds himself helping save the Russian.
Written by Joe Gill with Steve Ditko art.
Captain Atom's uniform is yellow in the series for first time.  

From the mid sixties, Capt. Atom appeared in the last three issues of Strange Suspense Stories.

From the late seventies, Capt. Atom appeared in four issues of Space Adventures.
This issue's Captain Atom story was reprinted a couple of times in comic book format, prior to the nice hardcover treatment from DC Comics. First in Strange Suspense Stories #75 & then in Space Adventures #9, as pictured above.  

The slipcover for the DC Comics Action Heroes Archives Volume 1 (of 2.)
The iconic emblem on the hardcover itself. 
Finally, all the Captain Atom stories were best reprinted, both cover and story in DC Comics Action Heroes Archives Volume One & Two. The Captain Atom story from Space Adventure #34 was published in the first volume, the original cover & story. Highly Recommended! 




Roy Thomas' Alter Ego #106 carried a great feature on the Action Heroes of Charlton Comics. Charlton editor Dick Giordano’s long and illustrious career, both at Charlton and DC Comics, is chronicled, accompanied by his art. If you can find it, you'll enjoy it!
 




Here's another long running comic book publication (in a newspaper format) covering the Charlton Action Heroes. Unfortunately Comics Buyers Guide is no longer published. 

The well respected logo for Charlton Comics!


 Live Large My Friends!

Thank You!
Captain Atom was created by writer Joe Gill and legendary artist & writer Steve Ditko!
Personal Data on Captain Atom from DC Comics Who's Who series.




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