Atom the Cat #10

Atom the Cat is living up to his heroic billing on this 1957 Charlton cover, where the plucky black-and-white feline — cape billowing and dripping with seawater — hauls a massive naval mine up from the ocean while a large ship looms in the background. Maurice Whitman's linework gives the scene a wonderfully kinetic energy, with crashing waves and the heavy chain adding real tension to what could otherwise be a purely comedic moment. If you enjoy mid-century funny-animal comics with a dash of genuine adventure, this issue — featuring the story "It Won't Work" — is a charming slice of what Charlton was delivering for a dime.