They were caused -- not by luck -- but according to the Law of Mathematical Probabilities! Apparently you acted as a 'catalyst' to increase the chance of an improbability happening. 
The Atom #2 is an issue of the series The Atom (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1962.
Synopsis for "The Oddest Man on Earth!"
While out for a drive, Ray and Jean happen to spot Tim Kerr's farm is on fire. After secretly putting it out as the Atom, Ray is pulled aside by a gentleman named Oscar D. Dollar. Dollar, who dubs himself "Mr. Odd", blames himself for the fire, explaining that his lucky silver dollar creates random events which could be lucky or unlucky for those around.
Dollar's neighbor overhears this and decides to follow Dollar around to try and capitalize on the situation. When a sudden earthquake allows him to break into a bank, the crook decides to steal the coin for himself. He finds the perfect opportunity when Dollar leaves behind the coin at Ray's lab, along with another object from his pocket: Another White Dwarf Star Fragment which is the key to the Atom's powers.
When the crook cold-clocks Ray, he takes the coin and tries to escape. Ray revives and knocks him unconscious as the Atom. Later Ray explains to Dollar that it was the chunk of White Dwarf Star Matter, reacting to his silver dollar was the cause for the strange happenings. When the chunk is exposed to light it became "Anti-Gravitic" and was shot out into space, so it may never menace anyone again.
Appearing in "The Oddest Man on Earth!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Oscar D. Dollar
Other Characters:
- Bart Tranter
- Ivy Town Police Officer
- Tim Kerr
Locations:
- Connecticut
- Ivy Town
- Ivy Town Industrial Trust Bank
- Ivy University
- Ray Palmer's Lab
- Jewelery Store
- Rapids River Bridge (Flashback only)
- Tim Kerr's Farm
- Ivy Town
Items:
- 1920 Silver Dollar
- Tornado (Flashback only)
- White Dwarf Star Fragment
Vehicles:
- 1960 Corvette Convertible
Synopsis for "The Prisoners Who Vanished!"
When crooks begin suddenly disappearing from their jail cells, escaping the law after being captured, Ray Palmer decides to investigate as the Atom. As the Atom he learns that Carl Ballard, the crook who took advantage of the alien Kulan Dar,[1] and who has mastered Kulan's teleportation ability. He has been setting up crooks with a means to escape with a combination of secretly feeding them Europium and hypnosis, a service he provides for a cut of their loot.
In his initial attempt to apprehend Ballard, the Atom is captured, forced to take Europium and given a hypnotic suggestion that should he try to attack Ballard between then and Thursday at noon, he will instantly be transported to Africa, giving Ballard enough time to get away.
However, the Atom comes up with a way to override the hypnotic suggestion after his first unintentional teleportation to Africa. Realizing that with Europium in his body for another 60 hours, he can teleport anywhere he wishes, the Atom teleports himself to Japan. There, due the time zone difference, it's already Thursday afternoon.
Having "met" the conditions of the hypnotic suggestion, the Atom returns to the United States and easily defeats Ballard, who is turned over to the authorities.
Appearing in "The Prisoners Who Vanished!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Dapper Joe
- Kulan Dar (Mentioned only)
- Police Chief Baxter
- Shakespeare (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- The Congo
- Congo River
- Leopoldville
- United Nations Post
- Connecticut
- Ivy Town
- Ivy University
- Ray Palmer's Lab
- Jail
- Police Station
- Ivy University
- Ivy Town
- Japan
Items:
Notes
- Reprinted in The Atom Archives Vol. 1.
Trivia
In "The Prisoners Who Vanished!", Ray Palmer quotes Shakespeare from Henry VI Part III "Ill blows the wind that profits nobody"
See Also