Review by Karl Verhoven

A joy of superhero comics over the long term is discovering which obscurity impacted so much on a writer when younger that they’re determined to return them. The fascination Roy Thomas had for the characters of the 1940s influenced the comics of the 1970s and 1980s. Zatanna obviously hooked Paul Dini, while Brian Michael Bendis latched onto Luke Cage and Spider-Woman. Not since Thomas, though, has a writer dabbled so extensively with the random and recondite than James Robinson, and on being assigned Superman his first thought was to revisit a one-off by Jack Kirby that never prompted a series.

Kirby’s 1975 story follows the four chapter manifestation of Atlas in Superman’s world. It introduces a brute in a strangely designed helmet and loincloth combination who’s Kirby’s answer to Conan the Barbarian. He’s taking on all-comers in the market, but haunted by a sorcerer, which is about as far as Kirby managed, although the art is prime 1970s Kirby action.

When manifesting on Earth, Atlas knows about Superman and references his previous life, while artist Renato Guedes switches from his more modern polish to draw Atlas in Kirbyesque pin-ups. Robinson dips into the Atom’s past to explain Atlas arriving on Earth, and establishes him as the pawn of a sinister military type himself under observation. Along with Atlas, Robinson introduces the Science Police, armoured soldiers tasked with clearing up after Superman when he’s needed elsewhere, and there are several guest stars.

Guedes is a really impressive artist, relatively unknown when starting out on Superman, yet having an instinctive grasp of how to make the overly familiar visually stimulating. His Superman swoops and soars, appearing human rather than musclebound, especially when contrasted with the bulkier Atlas, yet convincingly powerful despite the naturalism. The layouts are extremely cinematic, and were Superman not being battered, this would look joyful from start to finish.

“I heard you, no need to shout”, says an overconfident Superman on first meeting Atlas, but he’s then puzzled as to why he’s unable to cope with him. The answer’s clever, and Robinson’s up front with the clues, but may still slip them by readers not paying attention. Atlas is threat, not a well-intentioned visitor puzzled by Metropolis, and is eventually sorely tested, but not by Superman. It’s logical and well plotted, allowing for an ending that’s not as conclusive as you might hope. Events set in motion here continue in New Krypton Volume One, but there’s been enough dipping around the supporting cast to tantalise and intrigue.