Atom

Al Pratt was a short, physically unimposing college student who trained himself to peak condition to compensate for his small stature, becoming the original Atom — a scrappy, powerless fighter relying on boxing skill and sheer determination. He later gained limited super-strength through atomic radiation exposure.

Few Golden Age heroes have the staying power of DC's Atom, who first burst onto the scene in All-American Comics #61 in 1944, brought to life by writer Alfred Bester and artist Paul Reinman. Born in the fertile creative boom of comics' earliest era, this character has kept remarkable company over the decades — sharing adventures with legends like Green Lantern, Hawkman, Alan Scott, and Carter Hall — a roll call that places the Atom squarely at the heart of DC's Golden Age pantheon. With a publishing history stretching an extraordinary eight decades and key-issue appearances that collectors actively seek out, the Atom's presence across All-Star Squadron, Infinity, Inc., and Justice League of America speaks to a character who has genuinely endured. If you're tracing the deep roots of the DC Universe, this is one figure you simply can't overlook.