Warning: Spoilers for Jenny Sparks #1
Summary
There’s oneJustice Leaguehero who is on Superman’s level in terms of raw power, but DC has neglected him to the point where he’s been all but forgotten. Now, he’s returned as a villain in a shocking departure from his original characterization, and I can’t help but wish that he would finally be given the respect he deserves.
InJenny Sparks#1 by Tom King and Jeff Spokes, the Spirit of the 20th Century has returned in the modern day to help take downCaptain Atom after he’s gone berserk. Although this Captain Atom bears a visual resemblance to the Captain Atom we know, that’s where the resemblance ends. He has become a bumbling villain obsessed with becoming a god, and it’s a troubling indicator of how far he’s fallen over time.
With this villainous take on Captain Atom leaving much to be desired, I’m worriedtheJustice League’s underrated powerhouse is being wastedwhen he has the potential to be one of the greatest heroes in the DC Universe.
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Captain Atom’s Potential Is Being Wasted in the DCU
This Justice League Hero’s Villain Era Is a Disservice to Him
In 1986, Captain Atom made his debut in the DC Universe, starring in his own ongoing series that ran until 1991. Nathanial Adam was a soldier charged with a crime he didn’t commit, but in lieu of standard punishment, he agreed to an experiment that exposed him to the “Quantum Field” and gave him his powers. With his newfound abilities, he became the superhero Captain Atom, and he was even the leader of the Justice League Europe. Captain Atom’s quantum powers make himstrong enough to rival Superman, which means he’sone of the Justice League’s most powerful heroes.
Captain Atom has been turned into a mindless villain, undermining his history with the Justice League.
In more recent years, however,Captain Atom hasn’t been treatedwith the respect he deserves as a Superman-level hero. Many of his appearances feature him being killed off by blowing himself up, and those are the stories that remember to include him at all. Now, Captain Atom has been turned into a mindless villain,undermining his history with the Justice League. It doesn’t look likeCaptain Atom will be done justiceas he once again loses control of his powers, and it’s a shame to see such a promising superhero reduced to something far from heroic.
The New Justice League Is Captain Atom’s Last Hope
Will Captain Atom Finally Get the Recognition He Deserves?
As a Captain Atom fan, I find it disappointing that a hero on par with Superman has been so mistreated. However, all is not lost, because Captain Atom has been featured in the roster of the upcomingJustice League Unlimitedseries by Mark Waid and Dan Mora. He may be a villain in the pages ofJenny Sparks, but his future looks much brighter now that he’s returning to the League. I can only hope that Captain Atom will finally get the respect he deserves in this promising new era for theJustice League.
JENNY SPARKS #1 (2024)
