Moving forward, we go from Space Adventures #42 to an actual Captain Atom title, with issue #78. The numbering continued from Strange Suspense Stories (Charlton, 1955 series) #77, which ran three issues, #75-#77, of various Captain Atom reprints from Space Adventures #33-#42.
Captain Atom was created by writer Joe Gill and artist/co-writer Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Space Adventures #33. When he got his own title in Captain Atom #78, it gave the hero full-length stories and supervillain antagonists such as Dr. Spectro. (previous stories involved Cold War anti-Communist missions or dealing with aliens). He later teamed with the superhero Nightshade, with whom he shared a mutual attraction.
"The Gremlins from Planet Blue"
Captain Atom must rescue Professor Jupe and his daughter from aliens who have brainwashed him into working for them on killer missiles. Brief recap of origin.
Written by Joe Gill (Doomsday +1) with art by Steve Ditko (Blue Beetle) & Rocco "Rocke" Mastroserio (Fightin' 5.)
"The Sun God"One page text story."Part II Planet Blue"
Captain Atom faces death at the hands of the aliens from Planet Blue.
Written by Joe Gill with art by Steve Ditko & Rocco "Rocke" Mastroserio.
"The Vast Unknown-n-n-n"
One horizon of man's knowledge has been pushed back. We know now that the moon is not made of green cheese.
Art by Ernie Bache (Fightin' 5.)
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| Volume Two includes an unpublished Question story by Alex Toth! |
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| Fan colored cover for the unpublished Captain Atom #90. Steve Ditko's unfinsihed art was finished by John Byrne. |
The two part Captain Atom story was reprinted in DC Comics The Action Hero Archives Volume 1. If you're any kind of Captain Atom fan, this is the book for you. Volume 2 finished out the Captain Atom comics, issues #83-#89. There's also an unfinished Captain Atom gem, that was to be issue #90, in the second volume. The only other place you can find that gem is from the hard to come by Charlton Bullseye magazine series, issues #1 & #2.
Here's where things really get rolling for Captain Atom, leading up to a dramatic twist in issues #83 & #84. I remember the excitement with that change, as well as the introduction of the new Blue Beetle in issues #83-#86.
And then the Blue Beetle got his own title! It was a great time to be reading Charlton Comics.
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| House ad and features from Captain Atom #78. |
Thank You!
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| Joe Gill co-created Doomsday +1 with John Byrne. |
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| More Steve Ditko magic! |
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| Joe Gill & "Rocke" Mastroserio worked early on the Fightin' 5 series. |
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| Joe Gill, Bill Montes & Ernie Bache worked on later issues of Fightin' 5. My favorite cover, #41 (got me with the dinosaur.) |
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| From Charlton Bullseye #2, Jim Stalin does Captain Atom! |
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