Atlas | |
---|---|
![]() Atlas as seen on the cover of 1st Issue Special (April 1975). | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | 1st Issue Special #1 (April 1975) |
Created by | Jack Kirby (writer & artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Atlas |
Species | Human (empowered) |
Team affiliations | Justice League |
Abilities | Superhuman strength and invulnerability |
Atlas is the name of different characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first Atlas is a superhero and antihero who debuted in 1st Issue Special #1 (April 1975) and was created by Jack Kirby.
In 1st issue special #1 editorial discussed the creation of Atlas in "The Story Behind the Story"
Legend has it that Atlas was the king of Atlantis, and the leader of the Titans that Zeus overthrew. For his role championing the titan cause, he was condemned to carry the heavens on his shoulders. Yet what is a legend? The Dictionary defines legend as "a story coming down from the past; especially one popularly accepted as historical though not verifiable." But Modern interpretation has given the word legend the quality of something larger than life... more dramatic, more powerful, more unique. And that's appropriate for our new version of Atlas. Certainly our hero is larger than life. Laden with qualities beyond the reach of ordinary mortals. The only part of the description that doesn't work is the "coming down from the past" section, but that's easily enough explained. This is the era of instant legend. Electronic media and mass market magazines publicize any extraordinary feat so rapidly that new heroes... new legends, are born everyday. No sooner has the world record for anything has been broken than the media use their influence to announce the birth of a new star and so the value of age wanes. A story is no longer a classic because it has been handed down from generation to generation. Our classic are now the tales aimed at our decade, our year, our instant. Which brings us to Atlas #1. If there's been one theme running through comics career of Jack Kirby, its been legend and that applies on two levels: The first being the new characters who he's raised to the quality of legend, and the second the numerous experiments with magazines devoted to modern versions of the legends of the past. Whether its Greek, Roman, Norse or entirely new gods, alien races with stature approaching godhood have always entered into the Kirby scheme of themes. Nowadays its very popular to hypothesize about the possibility of alien races landing on earth and giving unintentional birth to the concept of pantheons of gods, but Jack Kirby envisioned such events years earlier. In that sense, Atlas is the latest in a long series of visions of the past/present/future unknown. It possess the qualities that made the earlier Kirby creations so popular, and draws upon the concept of legend again. But more importantly it is an entire new speculation-a new addition to the Kirby mythos. How it develops, whether it gains the vast popularity of the other Kirby myths, only time will tell. Its up to you, the readers, to tell us if you want this magazine to continue, even an incredibly fast artist like Jack Kirby can only do a certain number of magazines at once, and if you want this to be one of them-let us know."
The first Golden Age version of a character named Atlas in DC Comics appeared in Action Comics #121 (June 1948). [1] The second appearance of an Atlas was in Action Comics #320 (January 1965). [2] The third was in Action Comics #353 (August 1967). [3]
The Jack Kirby Atlas' first and only appearance prior to Superman #677 was in 1st Issue Special #1. [4] James Robinson brought Atlas back in Superman #678. According to Robinson, Atlas is going to save humanity: "The way I like to look at him is like in the Marvel Universe, Namor is a hero but he really skates the fine line between being a hero and a villain, but he stays on the side of the hero. Atlas, skates that line between hero and villain but he ultimately always falls on the villain side". He continued to say that Atlas will become a major player in the Superman mythos moving forward and there will be some real twists to the character. [5]
One of the earlier characters named Atlas re-appeared in Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman , where a version of Atlas appears in issue #3. This Atlas is more closely based on the mythological figure of Atlas and competes with Superman and Samson to "win" Lois Lane, similar to the story in Action Comics #320 from January 1965.
The first Atlas is based on the Greek mythological figure, a Titan who was forced to support the Earth as punishment for his participation in the Titanomachy. During the "War of the Gods" storyline, Atlas was later found by Hercules to be holding up Themyscira on his shoulders. He is also one of the deities who empower Captain Marvel when Shazam asks for his stamina in a flashback. [6]
The second Atlas is an orphan who is raised by the traveler Chagra after the lizard king Hyssa massacres his people. After defeating Hyssa, Atlas becomes a villain and enemy of Superman. [4] [7] [8] [9]
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2024) |
A new incarnation of Atlas inspired by the Teen Titans version, whose name is an acronym for Automated Titanium Lethal Attack Sentry, appears in the "Dawn of DC" Cyborg miniseries. [10]
The first Atlas has super-strength and invulnerability.
An alternate universe variant of Atlas appears in Kingdom Come .
Darkseid is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer-artist Jack Kirby, the character first made a cameo appearance in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134, before being fully introduced in Forever People #1.
Aqualad is the alias of several superheroes in American comic books published by DC Comics and appearing in media published by DC Entertainment. The character was originally created by writer Robert Bernstein and artist Ramona Fradon, serving as the sidekick and junior counterpart to superhero Aquaman alongside contemporary, Aquagirl. The character's first incarnation, Garth, debuted in Adventure Comics #269. A native Atlantean unlike his mentor, Garth in both continuities has purple eyes signifying a heritage considered evil and was an outcast taken in by Aquaman. He eventually abandons the "Aqualad" role and adopts the alias, "Tempest".
Orion is a fictional superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the son of Darkseid and half-brother of Kalibak and Grayven who was traded to Highfather as part of a peace deal between Apokolips and New Genesis. Since then, Orion has assisted the New Gods of New Genesis against his father and was also a member of the Justice League.
DeSaad is a supervillain, appearing in books published by DC Comics. He is one of the followers of Darkseid from the planet Apokolips in Jack Kirby's Fourth World meta-series.
Granny Goodness is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.
Forever People are a group of extraterrestrial superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Forever People #1, and were created by Jack Kirby as part of his "Fourth World" epic.
Daniel "Terrible" Turpin is a character published by DC Comics. He first appeared as Brooklyn in Detective Comics #64, and first appeared as Dan Turpin in New Gods #5.
Big Barda is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Mister Miracle #4, and was created by Jack Kirby. She was raised as a member of the New Gods, but left to become a hero.
Klarion the Witch Boy is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, having first appeared in The Demon #7 and was created by Jack Kirby. The character is typically portrayed as a powerful but mischievous, immature extradimensional warlock who serves as both the archenemy of Etrigan the Demon and is a reoccurring adversary for various mystic characters and teams in the DC Universe.
Jinx is a supervillain appearing in American books published by DC Comics. Created by Marv Wolfman and Chuck Patton, she first appeared in Tales of the Teen Titans #56. The character is often depicted as a skilled Indian sorceress and one of the leaders of the Fearsome Five, a group of super-villains most notable for being adversaries of the Teen Titans and its derivatives. She is unrelated to the character of the same name who first appeared in Adventure Comics #488 as an adversary of Chris King and Vicki Grant.
Isaiah Crockett is a character appearing in media published by DC Comics. The character is a superhero and former member of the Teen Titans.
Trigon is a supervillain appearing in media published by DC Comics. He is one of the most powerful beings in the DC Universe, having enslaved many worlds and dimensions. He is an adversary of the Teen Titans and the Justice League, the father and arch-enemy of the superheroine Raven, and husband of the human Arella.
Livewire is a supervillain appearing in multimedia produced by DC Entertainment, and American comic books published by DC Comics. Created for Superman: The Animated Series, the character appeared in March 1997 in Superman Adventures #5. Her first mainstream comic book appearance was in DC Comics' Action Comics #835.
Mantis is a fictional supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, part of Jack Kirby's New Gods series.
Lashina is a supervillain and Goddess warrior appearing in comics published by DC Comics.
Persuader is the name for three unrelated supervillains appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.
Danny Chase is a fictional superhero in DC Comics publications.
Stompa is a supervillain and goddess appearing in books published by DC Comics. Created by writer/artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Mister Miracle #6.
Kanto is a supervillain and extraterrestrial assassin published by DC Comics.
Mammoth is a supervillain appearing in media published by DC Comics. Alongside his twin sister Shimmer, he is a founding member of the Fearsome Five and enemy of the Teen Titans.