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When Ray Palmer, Ivy University physics student discovered a piece of white dwarf star material, it completely changed his life. He managed to use it to construct a belt that would allow him to control his own size and density. The Atom's early adventures mostly took place with the original Justice League of America. He was the seventh member to join the team and fought along their side for many years. Most of his solo adventures were efforts on his part to help his girlfriend, Jean Loring, out. Ray had proposed to Jean and before Jean would accept, she wanted to have her career as a lawyer established before she would marry Ray. As the Atom, Ray would help her to ensure her happiness and eventually his own. Jean and Ray got married, but the two quickly became estranged. Jean was once again putting her career ahead of Ray leading Ray to spend more and more time as the Atom. Eventually, Ray caught Jean with Paul Hoben, a partner of hers. Ray and Jean still wanted to work things out, but Ray felt he needed some time on his own. He took a trip to South America where his plane crashed and he was presumed dead for a brief period of time. He was in fact not dead, but had been found by the Katarthans, a six inch tall alien culture who had settled in the South American jungle. Ray eventually decided to live among those people after he fell in love with Princess Laethwen. He gave his belt to Paul Hoben and was forced to stay at his six inch height. He also vowed never to return and co-wrote a book about his life that revealed his identity to the world. The Atom had many adventures among the Katarthans. He learned about them and discovered that they were once six feet tall, but their star drive was powered by a white dwarf star and that caused them to shrink. His time among them was cut short when the CIA's Operation: Slash and Burn destroyed the jungle and killed all of the Katarthans. Ray absorbed the white dwarf material and came back to Ivytown. He discovered that Jean and Paul were married and that life without a secret identity was not easy. Ray led a directionless life for a time as he dealt with new abilities he received by absorbing the white dwarf star material. The Atom eventually discovered that the CIA was behind the death of his alien friends and had his vengeance. He also disappeared for a time. The Atom resurfaced as part of the Suicide Squad for a time. That Atom was in fact not Ray Palmer but a kid by the name of Adam Cray. Cray was killed and Ray returned to the role of the Atom. It was right after that when Ray's life intersected with the JLA again briefly. He hung around the JLA right before and right after Superman's death, but he moved on again and went back to Ivytown for awhile. After Superman's return, during the "Zero Hour Crisis," Extant shot the Atom with a beam that caused him to de-age. Ray was 16 and had forgotten everything he had known. Gone was all of his knowledge about physics and other sciences as well as his experience. The Atom briefly went solo but wound up leading a new group of Teen Titans. It was during this time that Ray eventually regained his years and knowledge back and returned to being 35. At that time, Ray went back to Ivytown, became a physics professor, and retired from the super hero business. Well, he tried to anyway. The current JLA convinced him to return to duty and he now occasionally goes on missions with them and also teacher the younger, less experienced heroes. POWERS: The Atom can shrink anywhere from under his 6 foot height to subatomic size. He can also alter his density. He also has an atomic punch that adds incredible power to his punches. Bio by Carlin Trammel RELATIONS
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The Atom, JLA and all other characters and stories on this page are a copyright of DC Comics. Used without permission.
