As a longtime comic book enthusiast and aficionado of the DC Universe, I have to admit that my heart sank when I picked up “Justice League: The Atom Project” #1 and saw it open with yet another example of the tired trope of starting in the middle of an action sequence before flashing back to explain what led us there. It’s a technique that I’ve seen used occasionally effectively, but more often it reeks of a lack of confidence on the part of the creators, either in their ability to craft captivating scenes without violence or in the audience’s willingness to engage with such scenes.
Having read countless comic books over the years, I can attest that this issue was not an exception. The opening scene, while visually striking, failed to deliver the adrenaline rush necessary to carry readers through the more expository pages that followed. The lack of context made it difficult to understand why we should care about the events depicted, and the issue ultimately failed to close the circle by the end.
That being said, I’ll give “Justice League: The Atom Project” a chance to improve. The premise is compelling enough, tapping into an interesting thematic vein about the relationship between science and the military-industrial complex. If future installments can deliver with more clarity and confidence, then this spinoff series could be worth following.
But for now, I’ll just have to hope that the creators can learn from their mistakes and deliver a more cohesive and engaging story in the next issue. And who knows, maybe they’ll even throw in a joke or two to lighten the mood! After all, laughter is the best medicine, right?
Published by DC on January 1, 2025
Written by Ryan Parrot and John Ridley
Art by Mike Perkins
Colors by Adriano Lucas
Letters by Wes Abbot
One aspect I find less enjoyable in comic book narratives is when stories begin amidst high-octane action, followed by flashbacks explaining how events led to this point through less engaging scenes. Although it can sometimes be utilized effectively to generate intrigue or suspense, it frequently comes across as a sign of uncertainty on the creators’ part, either about their ability to create captivating non-violent scenes or about readers’ interest in such scenes. Unfortunately, the debut issue of “Justice League: The Atom Project” by Ryan Parrot, John Ridley, Mike Perkins, Adriano Lucas, and Wes Abbot seems to fall into this category, revealing a lack of confidence both in the storytelling and in the audience. This approach sets a disappointing tone for what promises to be an ambitious spinoff series.
As a longtime fan of DC Comics, I have witnessed numerous shifts and transformations within the DC Universe over the years. However, the recent focus on power and its manipulation has been particularly intriguing to me. The “Absolute Power” event was a game-changer, with Amanda Waller’s consolidation of all superpowers being a bold move that shook the very foundation of the DC Universe. Her defeat and the subsequent return of powers to their original wielders brought a sense of familiarity back to the comics, but the scattering of powers to random humans has added an exciting layer of unpredictability.
The ongoing storyline in “Justice League Unlimited” is a testament to this new direction, as it explores the consequences of giving extraordinary abilities to ordinary individuals. The latest issue set the stage for the spinoff series, where the Atoms – Ryan Choi and Ray Palmer – are working tirelessly to find a solution to this crisis. Their experiments on Nathaniel Adam, also known as Captain Atom, are particularly painful to watch, as he is one of the heroes whose powers did not return to their prior host.
I am eagerly awaiting the next issue to see how this story unfolds and how the Atoms will navigate the complexities of their new mission. The DC Universe never fails to surprise me, and I am confident that this latest development will add another layer of depth and excitement to the already rich tapestry of stories within the DC Universe.
In the debut issue of “Justice League: The Atom Project,” we find character Adam embarking on a journey, leaving readers guessing about his circumstances. His unassuming outfit and concealing cap hint at him being in hiding or evading capture. The art style, featuring realistic linework combined with vivid yet slightly dreamlike coloring, creates an atmosphere of a chase ongoing. The sequence concludes with the arrival of Palmer and military reinforcements to apprehend Adam, followed by a flashback to the events that led up to this moment, three weeks prior.
The initial sections lack sufficient excitement to keep readers engaged during the explanatory parts that follow. The portrayed events seem unrelated and hard to grasp their importance. What’s more, the storyline doesn’t properly resolve itself by the end – although we revisit the opening scene, the events in between don’t clearly link back to the initial events or set up what follows.
In the central flashback sequence, the narrative emphasizes the stark differences in approach between the two characters portrayed as Atoms when faced with a crisis, shedding light on what this crisis symbolizes. The comic book series, The Atom Project, uses Captain Atom and two scientist-heroes themed around atoms to explore the theme of superpowers causing chaos in the DC Universe. It depicts this situation as a tale about nuclear power on a global political level, focusing on who possesses it and who shouldn’t be entrusted with such power.
In simpler terms, Palmer downplays Choi’s efforts to understand and relate to individuals who unintentionally gain new and potentially harmful powers, as well as Adam’s struggle with identity loss and physical pain due to the Atoms’ experiments. Instead, Palmer adopts a confident, mid-20th century American attitude that borders on being uncaring towards others, focusing solely on the possibility of a new player acquiring unknown superpowers. This obsession with maintaining the current order is so strong that he resorts to deceiving children and pursuing a colleague, raising questions about the connection between scientific research and the military-industrial complex.
However, we should consider if Palmer’s perspective holds water. Disregarding the fact that the Justice League frequently confronts novel superpowered dangers, the notion of a bold new superpowered entity arising without anything to lose is indeed alarming – at least for those who have something valuable at stake. Parrot and Ridley have unearthed an intriguing thematic layer to explore. Although the narrative in this first issue could use some polishing, the concept behind Justice League: The Atom Project is captivating enough to afford the creators a chance to refine their craft, hoping that subsequent episodes will offer more coherence and assurance.
Published by DC
On January 1, 2025
Written by Ryan Parrot, John Ridley
Art by Mike Perkins
Colors by: Adriano Lucas
Letters by: Wes Abbot
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2025-01-01 17:10