It is canon in the comics that July 9th marks the birthday of Ray Palmer, the DC Comics superhero also known as The Atom. First appearing in 1961, The Atom has been fighting evil for decades with his superhuman abilities to shrink to subatomic levels. If you want to learn more about this great character, Sons Of Gotham has you covered. To celebrate Ray Palmer’s canon birthday, here are ten facts about The Atom!
Who Was First?
Ray Palmer may be the Atom we know and love today. However, he was not the first to use the moniker. In fact, the original Atom was a character named Al Pratt who debuted in 1940.
The REAL Ray Palmer
Did you know that Ray Palmer’s name is paying homage to someone else? Raymond A. Palmer was an editor of a popular sci-fi magazine that started in 1938 called Amazing Stories. The comic character’s name is a nod to this real-life sci-fi author.
Origin
Just how did The Atom get his powers, anyway? In short, a white dwarf star fragment had crash-landed on earth, which Palmer then made a lens out of to shrink any object down to subatomic size. After giving it a test run on himself, he realized he could use these powers to fight crime.
The Atom...Has A Sword?
You read that correctly! At one point in the comics, Ray Palmer’s marriage falls apart. Taking his life in a new direction, he donned a sword and shield and led a group of inhuman characters called Morlaidhans. His series changed its name to “Sword Of The Atom” and took a more fantasy-inspired tone and style.
Life's A Breeze
The Atom has mastered control of his shrinking powers of time. In fact, he can shrink so small that he effectively becomes weightless. Even more, this allows him to float along a breeze in the air.
Disappearing Costume
The Atom doesn’t need phone booths or alleyways to change into his super hero gear. By shifting the atoms in his costume, he can make it appear and disappear at will.
That’s Gotta Hurt
The Atom once shrunk down to stop one of the Black Lanterns, and then resized within him. Essentially, it ripped the Black Lantern open from the inside out. That’s why you don’t mess with The Atom!
Superman Plays The Atom
Ray Palmer appears in the live-action CW Arrowverse. In this series, The Atom is played by Brandon Routh. Does that name sound familiar? It should! Routh played Superman in Superman Returns.
Size Doesn’t Matter
While The Atom might shrink down to such a small size, that does not mean he’s weak! In fact, The Atom retains his strength regardless of what size he is at.
Traveling The Multiverse
Finally, The Atom can do WAY more than just shrink down with his powers. If he shrinks down far below what the eye can see, Ray Palmer can actually slip through the multiverse.
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