Comics Fondle

Unfortunately, after such superhero comic heights, Sword of the Atom goes out with a dull whimper. Gil Kane didn’t come back for this one, with Pat Broderick handling the art instead. Broderick can handle the icky elements of Strnad’s script, but he’s missing all the wonder Kane brought to the series. Actually, maybe there’s no possibility for wonder in the story, which is also lacking the presence of Jean Loring and the mature, thoughtful handling of her new marriage and the Atom’s.

Strnad’s story is, eventually, a straight zombie one… The Atom narrates the whole adventure, with Strnad taking shortcuts left and right (there are two significant subplots the Atom retells without any possibility of knowing the events) and it ends badly too.

The story’s competent and the Atom, regardless of an odd ponytail and Broderick’s poor handling of the mask, is a solid protagonist. Another big art problem is Broderick doesn’t seem to understand the people are supposed to be little aliens, not just Iron Age primitives. A lot of the responsibility, I suppose, falls on editor Mike Carlin, who appears to have napped instead edited.

C

Technorati Tags: Sword of the Atom, Comic Book, Pat Broderick, DC Comics, Jan Strnad, Review

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