Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #1
This volume collects the first story arc of Dark Horse's 2004 revival of the classic Gold Key hero, Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom. Written by Jim Shooter with art by Dennis Calero, it follows physicist Dr. Phil Sellar as he gains incredible atomic powers after a lab accident and must learn to control them while facing threats born from his own radiation. The collection reprints issues #1-4 of the series, setting the stage for a modern take on the character's original 1960s adventures.
In "Solar's Secret," Doctor Solar and the team at Atom Valley push the limits of energy-to-matter conversion when industrial spy Rasp, working for the shadowy Nuro, sabotages a test to eliminate project lead Bently. The resulting radiation surge should have been fatal—but instead, it transforms Solar into a living source of atomic power. With help from project director Clarkson, Solar begins a dangerous new life, hiding his changed nature while the team presses forward with their groundbreaking work.
In "An Atomic Inferno," Doctor Solar must master his volatile atomic powers after an accident throws his control into chaos. As espionage threatens from within, Jo faces danger when she uncovers Rasp's betrayal, forcing Solar to intervene before it's too late. With Clarkson unraveling the truth about Solar's need for radiation, the stakes rise—especially when Rasp's failures lead to a deadly consequence.
In "The Remote Control Traitor," Jo is kidnapped and drugged, then forced to attack Doctor Solar using a hidden radio implant. Though she survives the assault and resists her programming, Jo must fight to reclaim her mind as she uncovers the truth behind the device controlling her.
In "The Hidden Hands," scientist Doctor Gantry unleashes an experimental invisibility suit that begins with harmless pranks—until the device starts to twist his intentions, and a mysterious force named Nuro takes hold of both suit and wearer. As Gantry’s control slips, the line between inventor and instrument blurs, and the consequences spiral beyond his grasp.
In "Solar's Deadly Double," Doctor Solar faces a crisis when sunspots disrupt a weather-control satellite, forcing him to intervene. The surge of energy splits him into two distinct forms—one blazing red, one icy blue—each a mirror of his own power, now at odds with one another.
In "Treacherous Trap," Jo finds herself caught between loyalty and curiosity as Professor Neilson’s de-radiation experiments stir tension with Solar, whose growing distance only deepens the rift. When Solar is suddenly trapped in a sealed chamber, his life hanging in the balance, the situation takes a desperate turn—forcing a tense intervention that could change everything.
In "The Crystallized Killer," Doctor Solar's groundbreaking experiments yield a mysterious new crystalline element, drawing him to New York to consult with expert Wolson—only for the scientist to be murdered by two thieves. As the unknown crystal erupts, it engulfs Solar and the killers, trapping them in a rapidly expanding lattice. With the thieves claiming Solar possesses unnatural powers, their testimony is dismissed as madness, leading to their death sentence—while Solar grapples with the consequences of his discovery.
In "The New Man of the Atom," Doctor Solar, grappling with the visible effects of his radiation, confides in Gail and teams up with Clarkson to craft a new identity. Donning a face-concealing uniform, he steps into the public eye as the enigmatic Man of the Atom, drawing the attention of Nuro’s forces who set fire to the prairie in a bid to expose him.
In "The Imposter," Doctor Solar finds himself in a dangerous game of deception when he deliberately allows his capture to track down Gail, who’s been taken by an unknown enemy. As the android he faces in the ruins of Nuro’s base fights with chilling precision, Solar and Gail make their escape—only to wonder if the real threat, Nuro, has truly been stopped.
In "Vanishing Oceans," Doctor Solar races to stop a mysterious drop in sea levels, uncovering an alien scheme to steal Earth's elements—and a crew trapped inside a submerged bathyscaph. With the fate of the oceans hanging in the balance, Solar must outmaneuver extraterrestrial forces, rescue the captives, and restore what’s been taken, all while the planet’s waters begin to recede.
In "The Guilded Comet," Doctor Solar faces a cosmic threat when the villain Nuro unleashes a guided comet aimed at Earth. Forced to divert the deadly object, Solar's powers wane—but with quick thinking, he harnesses a crippled satellite to reach the Van Allen Belt and recharge. The story unfolds with tense momentum, as Solar races to stop the comet before it strikes, testing his limits in the vastness of space.
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Reprints
↩ Reprints Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #1 (1962), Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #2 (1962), Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #3 (1963), Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #4 (1963), Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #5 (1963), Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #6 (1963), Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #7 (1964)
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