Editorials
School Library Journal
Gr 11 Up
This volume collects the first 17 issues from the early '60s into one hefty paperback. At more than 500 pages, there are many adventures to follow along with the "World's Smallest Superhero." The difficulty comes, however, with the dated nature of the story lines and the simplicity of the artwork. Primitive computers, plots about safecracking, and atomic hysteria are more readable nowadays for their commentary on postwar America rather than as escapist fantasy for young readers. The artwork is solidly black-and-white-pen and ink minus the computer enhancements used today. Eyes are bugged out, faces show little emotion, all men are square-jawed, all women have hourglass figures. It's unlikely that contemporary readers will be able to jump into these stories, and, sadly, the image of the Atom is no longer as captivating as it was 40 years ago.
—John LeightonCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.