The Atom #5 is an issue of the series The Atom (Volume 1) with a cover date of March, 1963.
Synopsis for "The Diamond of the Deadly Dooms!"
Ray Palmer's colleague Ted Ralston finds an ancient diamond and takes it home. When examining the diamond, it shoots a beam that changes him and his cat into beings of pure diamond. Ray Palmer arrives just in time to see this and decides to investigate as the Atom. Shrinking down to a microscopic size, the Atom penetrates the atoms of the diamond and finds a microscopic civilization.
There, the Atom finds a larger alien fighting another and knocks him out. The alien creature he saves is named Moorn Jor, who explains that all the beings here are from the ancient civilization of Atlantis who escaped into the diamond to get away from the continent's sinking. Having created a utopia, Karl Jat, former warlord and the man responsible for turning Ralston into diamond, became embittered and wanted to attack the people of Earth, and when Ralston uncovered the diamond, it gave Jat that advantage.
With Karl Jat knocked out, the Atom is alerted of criminals coming to steal the diamond statue of Ralston, his cat, and the diamond itself. When the Atom grows large enough to deal with these criminals however, an eagle makes off with him and the diamond. The eagle is stopped when Karl Jat regains control of the device that allows them to turn beings into diamonds. The Atom shrinks down again and knocks out Karl Jat out once again and removes his control helmet, rending him harmless.
Afterward, Moorn Jor uses the device to restore Ralston and his cat, and Ray "arrives" and pretends like nothing happened.
Appearing in "The Diamond of the Deadly Dooms!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Karl Jat (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Moorn Jor (Single appearance)
- Ted's cat
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Specter of 3000-Moons Lake!"
Jean Loring and Ray Palmer arrive at a cottage located in 3000 Moons Lake. They are there for the weekend as invited guests of millionaire Don Morgan. Loring inquires as to how the lake received its unusual name and Morgan reveals the tale of an Indian Medicine man. The medicine man was sentenced to death for his false prophecies but he swore to return in 3000 moons. By coincidence the 3000th moon anniversary of his death had arrived and the medicine man has reportedly been seen by locals haunting the lake. The group attends the party that night at the wealthy Van Dorn mansion but they are suddenly interrupted by a neighbor named Fred Harris who announces that his property has been vandalized by the ghost of the medicine man. Ray Palmer then decides to investigate the situation as the Atom. He follows a set of glowing footprints that lead into the lake. He finds a set of glowing tubes that are creating the illusion of a phantom and then he spots an underwater scuba diver swimming back to shore. He watches as the diver emerges from the lake to create more glowing footprints. The Atom follows the diver into the Van Dorn mansion where he enters and starts to open a wall safe in the home to steal valuable jewels. The Atom attempts to stop the mysterious figure but he covers the Atom with a coat of iron filings and immobilizes him with a magnet. The setting changes to the home of Ned Harris where it is revealed that he was the thief all along. He is confident that he has gotten away with the jewel theft using his fake medicine man ghost scheme. All of a sudden he hears a voice in his ear from the ghost who seems to be angry with Harris for stealing the jewelry. Harris then trips and knocks himself out. He revives after a few minutes and heads back to the lake where he has hidden the stolen jewels. The Atom emerges from hiding and subdues Harris with a kick to the jaw. The next day Jean Loring is holding a newspaper with the headline announcing that the Atom had captured the ghost who was really the jewel thief Fred Harris.
Appearing in "The Specter of 3000-Moons Lake!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Fred Harris
Other Characters:
- Don Morgan
- Mr. Van Dorn
- Mrs. Van Dorn
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- The Specter of 3000-Moons Lakes! was reprinted in Action Comics #404
- Reprinted in The Atom Archives Vol. 1.