Changes: The Atom Vol 1 3

Revision as of 14:17, 15 March 2019

"The Time Trap!"

Cover

The Time Trap!

The Secret of "Al Atom's" Lamp!

Inkers

Murphy Anderson

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The Atom # 2	The Atom # 4

They say time knows no master -- but I'm going to change all that.

— Chronos

The Atom #3 is an issue of the series The Atom (Volume 1) with a cover date of November, 1962.

Synopsis for "The Time Trap!"

David Clinton is a former con who has become obsessed with clocks and has opened up a clock shop following his release from prison. Deciding to become a costumed criminal, Clinton adopts the guise of Chronos, and uses clock related weapons to steal exotic clocks. When he learns that Ivy University has an atomic clock when Ray Palmer visits his clock shop, he decides to steal it that night as Chronos.

When he does so, he rouses Ray Palmer who tries to stop Chronos, however Chronos' weapons prove to be too much of a match for plain ordinary Ray Palmer. Changing into the Atom, Ray is unable to stop Chronos who not only manages to escape but begins to suspect the Atom's true identity.

Figuring that the Atom may have deduced his as well, he devises a trap in anticipation of the Atom's appearance as his clock shop. Sure enough, after Ray Palmer notices an exaggerated bruise on Clinton's face the next day, he decides to pay him a visit that night as the Atom. He falls for Chronos' trap and is knocked out with gas and stored in a watch on Chronos' wrist while he goes back to steal the atomic clock knowing that Ray Palmer would not be there to stop him.

However, the Atom takes advantage of the fact that Chronos has no idea the full extent of his powers, and shrinks small enough to escape the watch, get away and confront Chronos as Ray Palmer. Knocking out Chronos and calling the police, Ray then shrinks back down to size and gets back inside the watch, preserving his identity when the police arrive to capture him.

Appearing in "The Time Trap!"

Featured Characters:

Template:Apn

Supporting Characters:

Jean Loring

Antagonists:

Template:Apn (First appearance)

Other Characters:

Locations:

Ivy Town
- Ivy University

Items:

Vehicles:

Flying Sundial

Synopsis for The Secret of "Al Atom's" Lamp!

When Ray Palmer is invited to his colleague Alpheus Hyatt's home to see his latest invention. This invention turns out to be a "Time Pool", a small portal which Alpheus sends a magnet into to try and collect artifacts from different eras. This device turns out to be a success when Alpheus manages to pull back ore from the year 850 A.D.

Curious about what can be discovered by the device, Ray decides to travel through it as the Atom, since the Atom is small enough to travel through the portal. Using the device he travels to the year 850 A.D. in the Middle East. Initially dazed, the Atom unties the magnet (to keep the portal open) and decides to take a nap in a nearby lamp.

By twist of fate, the Atom ends up starting the myth of Aladdin's lamp, when a young boy named Hassan has his heirloom lamp stolen by Abdul the Thief. As "Al Atom", the Atom helps the boy recover the lamp and helps the boy uncover a long lost treasure before leaving. As a token of gratitude, the young boy gives Atom a coin, which he brings back with him to the present for Alpheus when he wakes up the next day.

Appearing in The Secret of "Al Atom's" Lamp!