Sword of the Atom by Jan Strnad & Gil Kane
The Atom had initially done well in the early 1960s as part of DC editor Julius Schwartz’s retooling and revival of the company’s Golden-Age heroes. Like Green Lantern, his tryout began in Showcase and he soon graduated into his own title.
But he never grew to be quite as popular, even though Kane’s art was often more dynamic and inspired in The Atom. Nearing the end of the 1960s, The Atom was merged with Hawkman. That lasted a few issues before cancellation and then Atom was relegated to back-up story status, with some additional team-ups and regular appearances in Justice League of America.
With DC revitalising itself in the early 1980s, it was the time to take fresh looks at established characters and concepts. Much like Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars and Carson of Venus, turning Ray Palmer into a miniature sword-wielding adventurer brought a lot of pulp appeal to Sword of the Atom, even if it wasn’t an obvious thing to do with the character.
Jan Strnad’s scripts brought a new depth to the Atom’s world with sensitive handling of Ray and Jean’s marriage and Ray’s eventual integration into an alien culture. After a four-issue mini and three specials, the concept seemed to have played itself out, but those of us who really liked it of course wished for more.
There was a bunch of great Kane art to be found as scans for this one, so we end up with a big post this time. Kane appears to have relished this assignment, bringing a lot of detail to his always dynamic art.
New colour and packaging by me.
Sword of the Atom No. 1
As published.
DC trade paperback collecting the mini-series.
Original art scan.
Art made production ready.
New colour.
Re-created and new trade dress applied. The original SOTA logo has always felt awkward to me, so I built a new one using The Atom’s original logo as the design basis.
Sword of the Atom No. 1 – Alternate Cover
An unpublished piece by Gil Kane.
Art made production ready.
New colour.
Re-created and new trade dress applied.
Sword of the Atom No. 2
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
New colour.
Sword of the Atom No. 4
As published.
Original art scan.
Art made production ready.
New colour.
Re-created and new trade dress applied.
Sword of the Atom Special No. 1
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
New colour.
Re-created and new trade dress applied.
Sword of the Atom Special No. 1 – Alternate Cover
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
New colour.
Re-created and new trade dress applied.
Who’s Who in the DC Universe
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
New colour and page layout re-created.
Omnibus
Amazing Heroes No. 28 from Fantagraphics.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
New colour.
Re-created and new trade dress applied.
Tom Derenick
Original art scan.
Colour version.
Re-created and new trade dress applied.
Related
The Atom No. 29 Cover by Gil Kane
Instead of splitting the atom, The Thinker is doing his best to perform fusion. Colour by Scott Dutton.
Green Lantern No. 71 Cover by Gil Kane
A simple and powerful composition by artist Gil Kane for this issue cover dated September 1969. Kane's cover design abilities were advancing steadily and would serve him well when he moved over to Marvel in the coming years.
Green Lantern No. 74 Cover by Gil Kane
By the end of the Silver Age, Gil Kane had transformed himself from anonymous journeyman to dynamic master. New colour by Scott Dutton.
Wonder Woman No. 306 Unpublished Cover by Gil Kane
Gil Kane drew a lot of covers, and some of them have never seen the light of day. Restored art and colouring by Scott Dutton.