The Atom #4 is an issue of the series The Atom (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1963.
Synopsis for The Machine That Made "Miracles"!
Traveling to Happy Harbor to give a speech to graduates at Snapper Carr's home, Ray witnesses as Snapper's boat suddenly goes from being an ordinary row-boat to a giant sail boat he wishes he has. Deciding to learn the cause of his mystery, Ray changes into the Atom and decides to secretly help Snapper, so that Snapper has a good story to share with his fellow Justice League members.
When crooks realize that something around Happy Harbor is turning dreams into reality, they try to steal some dress jewels that have become real, prompting Snapper to stop them (with a secret assist from the Atom.) Tracking the source of the "wish fulfillment" to a downed alien space craft owned by a marooned alien named Entrol Kol.
Kol explains to Snapper that his ship was crashed and he was trapped inside, and that his device to create whatever one wishes reality would only work outside the ship. He then began using the device to hopefully attract people to the location to help fix his ship. After Snapper (once again secretly assisted by the Atom) defeats a group of crooks who came up with a similar idea as Snapper, the boy helps repair the ship and sends Entrol Kol off.
Appearing in The Machine That Made "Miracles"!
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Crooks
Other Characters:
- Entrol Kol
- Midge (Snapper's girlfriend)
Locations:
Synopsis for "The Case of the Innocent Thief!"
When a series of crimes are committed by people who have concrete alibis that put them far away from the robbery, Ray Palmer decides to figure it out as the Atom.
Realizing that the crook (a man named Elkins) spends his time studying his subjects, and then posing as a photographer would use a special camera to hypnotize his subject. He would then disguise himself as the person he intended to frame and take their place, while sending them off to commit the crimes in question.
When the Atom stumbles upon the plot, Elkins tries to use his special camera and hypnotic commands to try and hypnotically command the Atom to never try and apprehend him. The plot doesn't work because due the Atom's small size, Elkin's shouted commands were not audible. Because of the Atom's involvement, the men (who are all represented by Ray's fiance Jean) are cleared of any wrong doing.
Appearing in "The Case of the Innocent Thief!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Elkins
Other Characters:
- Tom Parks
- Jim Talbot
Locations:
- Ivy Town, New England
Notes
- The whole issue is reprinted in The Atom Archives Vol. 1.
- "The Case of the Innocent Thief!" is reprinted in The Brave and the Bold #115.