Atom (Al Pratt)

Albert "Al" Pratt is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first character to use the name Atom. He initially had no superpowers and was originally a diminutive college student and later a physicist, usually depicted as a "tough-guy" character. Al Pratt is also the father of Damage and godfather of Atom Smasher.

The character made his live-action debut in the television series ''Smallville'', played by Glenn Hoffman. Henry Winkler cameoed as the character in the DC Extended Universe film '' Black Adam'' (2022).

Publication history

The Atom first appeared in '' All-American Comics'' #19 (October 1940) and was created by writer Bill O'Connor and artist Ben Flinton. The character continued to appear on and off through issue #72 (April 1946). In 1947, the Atom moved from ''All-American Comics'' to '' Flash Comics'' with issue #80 (February 1947), and continued until issue #104 (February 1949).

In winter 1940, the Atom also began appearing in '' All Star Comics'' as a member of the Justice Society of America, beginning with issue #3. He continued with that team until issue #57 (February 1951).

Fictional character biography

Golden Age

Initially a proverbial 98-pound weakling, bullied at school and unable to impress the girl of his dreams, Mary James, the Al Pratt was trained to fighting condition by ex-boxer Joe Morgan (the same man who trained Pratt's fellow mystery men Wildcat and the Guardian). Pratt soon became a founding member of the Justice Society of America, appearing in the team's various stories during their original Golden Age appearances. In ''All Star Comics'' #3 (Winter 1940), the Atom describes himself to his fellow JSAers as "Al Pratt, a quiet sophomore at Calvin College". He later became a founding and active member of the All-Star Squadron. During World War II, Pratt served as a tank driver for the United States Army.

According to ''Jess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes'', the Atom "fights the Emperor of America, agents of the Black Dragon Society, and the Carnival of Crime, in addition to the Cootie Gang, Mandini the Magician and the scavenger Undersea Raiders".

In 1948, the Atom gained super strength as a result of the latent effects of his 1942 battle with the reluctant supervillain Cyclotron (after whose costume Pratt redesigned his own). It was later revealed that he had taken partial custodianship of Cyclotron's daughter, Terri.

Pratt's last Golden Age appearance was in '' All Star Comics'' #57 in 1951, also the last Golden Age Justice Society story. Later it was revealed that a special Senate investigation panel had moved to obtain the identities of all active superheroes, at which point virtually all members of the Justice Society retired. At this point in his life, as depicted in '' JSA'' #70, Pratt was engaged to Mary James, leading to their marriage at an undefined point in time (as confirmed by ''Justice Society of America: The Kingdom'' Special and others).

Later years

Pratt was revived with the rest of the team in 1963 in ''The Flash'' #137, and continued to make various appearances in the years that followed.

''The Atom'' comic book, showcasing the adventures of Ray Palmer, brought the Atom of Earth-2 together with the Atom of Earth-1. Issue #29 (1967) depicts Al Pratt as living in Calvin City and as being a professor at Calvin College; he also possesses a modified automobile that transforms from an ordinary convertible to the ''Atomobile''. In the story, Palmer builds a "special dimensional vibrator" that allows travel between universe. In issue #36 (1968), Pratt is a professor of nuclear physics at Calvin College and has a dimensional vibrator integrated into his belt.

The Atom's status with the Justice Society of America was as a reserve member up until after the formation of '' Infinity, Inc.'' In '' Last Days of the Justice Society Special'' (1986), the Society enter a magical limbo to stop Ragnarök.

The 1992 miniseries '' Armageddon: Inferno'' brings Al Pratt and the other members of the JSA back into the post-'' Crisis'' continuity, with Pratt being depicted as short, stocky, balding, and about 60 years old.

In '' Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!'', Atom is killed by Extant. He has largely remained dead since, but was temporarily resurrected in the '' Blackest Night'' event as a Black Lantern.

Legacy

In the 1980s, Al Pratt's godson Al Rothstein was introduced; he was known as the superhero Nuklon (later changing his name to Atom Smasher), first appearing as a member of Infinity, Inc.

In 1994, it is revealed that Pratt has a son named Grant Emerson, who becomes the superhero Damage.

DC Universe

In '' Dark Nights: Death Metal'', Batman permanently resurrects Atom with a Black Lantern ring. Afterwards, he re-joins the Justice Society of America.

In " The New Golden Age", Atom was seen in different flashbacks like when he saw Doctor Fate being overwhelmed by future visions and assisting in the fight against Doctor Elemental.

When a girl calling herself Kid Eternity follows Wildcat into the afterlife after he had been killed by Lady Eve, Atom is among the dead JSA members that tell Kid Eternity that the JSA is in danger and that they will need her help.

Powers and abilities

During his early days of crime fighting, Al Pratt possessed no metahuman qualities. Instead, he is a formidable boxer, expert physicist, and superb athlete. After being bombarded by Cyclotron's energies, Pratt gained immense strength, stamina, durability, and speed, as well as the ability to focus radioactive energy into a punch. In addition, the Atom has resistance to certain types of radiation. He also gained eternal youth after the battle with Ian Karkull.

Other versions

* An alternate universe variant of Al Pratt / Atom appears in '' JSA: The Golden Age''.
* An alternate universe variant of Al Pratt / Atom from Earth-2 appears in The New 52. This version is an Army captain who was killed while creating a sanctuary, which is dubbed Atom's Haven in his honor.

In other media

Television

* A character partially based on Al Pratt / Atom named Tom Turbine appears in the ''Justice League'' two-part episode "Legends", voiced by Ted McGinley. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. He is a member of the Justice Guild of America, a superhero team from another universe who exist as comic characters in the "prime" universe, and died in a nuclear war years prior.
* Al Pratt / Atom appears in the ''Smallville'' episode " Absolute Justice", portrayed by Glenn Hoffman. This version was a member of the Justice Society of America (JSA) and a physics professor at Calvin College in the 1970s who was arrested during a student protest and framed for fraud by the U.S. government, who sought to take down the JSA. While Pratt was never convicted, he retired from heroics due to law enforcement being aware of his identity.

Film

Al Pratt appears in '' Black Adam'', portrayed by Henry Winkler. This version is Albert Rothstein's uncle and a former member of the Justice Society who previously operated as Atom Smasher before passing the mantle to him.

Video games

Al Pratt / Atom appears as a character summon in '' Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure''.

References

{{GoldenAge

All-American Publications characters
Comics characters introduced in 1940
DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds
DC Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability
DC Comics characters with superhuman strength
DC Comics male superheroes
DC Comics metahumans
DC Comics military personnel
DC Comics scientists
Earth-Two
Fictional acrobats
Fictional boxers
Fictional characters with nuclear or radiation abilities
Fictional physicists
Fictional United States Army personnel
Fictional World War II veterans
Golden Age superheroes