DCU Comic Book Reviews

THE ALL NEW ATOM #20

A Few Small Affairs

April 2008

Written by Gail Simone

Pencils by Mike Norton

Inks by Trevor Scott

Cover by Ladrönn

Synopsis

Ryan Choi (aka The Atom) is being held captive by Dean Mayland, who declares that the Atom will die tonight.  As part of his captivity, Ryan hallucinates about what he desires the most.  He is also visited by Chronos, who tells Ryan that the damage to Ivy Town is part of the plan to destroy everything Ray Palmer loved.  The town is then attack by monsters from old monster movies. Elsewhere, Sylbert Rudine is about to attack Panda when suddenly the Head arrives to tell Panda that Ryan is in trouble.  Panda heads home to get the other Dwarf Star belt and the other professors to rescue Ryan while Head gathers help to fight the movie monsters.  Realizing that what he desires most is already in Ivy Town, Ryan is able to break free from the Dean.  Ryan then tells the others to go save the citizens while he gets flushed down the toilet so he can ask M’Nagalah to help get rid of the monsters, which it does. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

As much as I loved the way this issue ended by basically tying together all of the loose threads that Simone started when the book begin, I do have two quibbles with it.  First, it happens awfully short.  I wonder if Simone had to (or wanted to) wrap it up earlier than she had expected.  I am not saying this is a good thing or a bad thing, just making an observation.  It just seemed like there were several spots in this issue that would’ve made for a good cliffhanger or tow, which makes me think that this might’ve been originally plotted for three or four issues.  In some ways it helps, because I am not sure the dream sequences would’ve been as humorous if they had been extended to an entire issue.  In contrast, the fight scenes are too short and we don’t get to see the Atom actually talk to M’Nagalah, just the outcome of that talk.  Second, Simone wrapped up all of her plot lines and wrapped them up in such a way that leaves Atom in a better place than he had been at the beginning.  I am not sure if Simone will remain as the writer (and I hope so) but I would not be surprised if someone else took over.  It just feels like too much of an ending, like a writer completing the story (or the journey for the main character).  Yes, there are a few plot points left open (Rudine, the dead, Giganta) but Ryan’s story is complete and that is what makes me think Simone might be leaving.  I hope not.  

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