Power of the Atom #17 is an issue of the series Power of the Atom (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 1989.
Synopsis for "Sword of the Atom"
In Langley, C.I.A. Agent Bailey is desperately packing his files while Blacksnake readies the helicopter. The Atom is coming for them. In the confusion, Agent Stevens sneaks a look at the contents of Project:Fireball, and learns of the C.I.A.'s culpability in the destruction of New Morlaidh. He hasn't a chance to contemplate the information before being lead away at gunpoint.
In Ivy Town neither Norman nor Dr Hyatt could disuade the Atom from his mission as he takes his miniturized weaponry and dives into the phone line. His only request is to keep the line open.
The C.I.A. Agents arrive at "The Hive" in Potomac, Maryland, with Agent Stevens still at gunpoint. The first thing they do is to unplug the phone lines to Atom-proof the estate. An old friend of Blacksnake, the supervillain Sting, waits for them -- with jars of bees. On his way to detention, Stevens gets the better of Agent Ginsberg and manages to plug in a phone and call the Atom, who hops from the receiver. Blacksnake sees Stevens deception and blasts the lock open with his .44 Magnum, but now he faces the Atom. Blacksnake is tossed across the room at the end of his own whip.
Sting calls upon his robotic insects to blast the Atom, but his sword is quick and his mini-blaster is quicker still. Without his robotic swarm, Sting hasn't any powers or courage and surrenders at the point of the Atom's sword -- and gives away Bailey's position in exchange for his life. As his agents fall, Bailey -- drunk -- reaches for his briefcase, but there is no gun inside. Only a livid Ray Palmer.
The Atom refuses to give Bailey a warrior's death with his sword, and seemingly disintegrates him with his mini-blaster. Agent Hubbard screams, but the Atom is in a rage and will not stop.
Appearing in "Sword of the Atom"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Agent Bailey
- Agent Ginsburg
- Agent Hubbard
- Blacksnake
- Sting (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Agent Kevin Stevens
- Kathartans (In a photograph only)
- Princess Laethwen (In a photograph only)
- Bug-Eyed Bandit (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Connecticut
- Ivy Town
- Hyatt's Residence
- Negrini's Residence
- Ivy Town
- Maryland
- Potomac
- Ronald Sweet's Residence
- Potomac
- Virginia
- Langley
- Central Intelligence Agency Headquarters
- Langley
- Amazon Rainforest (Mentioned only)
- Morlaidh (In a photograph only)
- Florida (Mentioned only)
Items:
- White Dwarf Star Matter
- Sting's Robotic Bees
- The Atom's Mini-Blaster (First appearance)
- Gas Can
Vehicles:
- Helicopter (Mentioned only)
- Riding Bullfrogs (In a photograph only)
Notes
- The spelling of Katarthans changes in the last two issues. The 'h' is transposed and they are now called "Kathartans".
Trivia
- This is the fourth issue in a series featuring The Atom at shrinking from his standard size next to the logo; in subsequent issues, artist Graham Nolan has him shrink until disappearing entirely in Power of the Atom #18.[1]