Secret Origins was one of my favorite series, believe it or not, especially because it usually featured a Golden Age hero's origin in each issue. One of the most memorable origins was from the Silver Age, but for a modern hero: Captain Atom's. Now Secret Origins #34 (DC, December 1988) could have been a dull one because this version of Captain Atom had only been around less than two years, his series starting WITH his origin story. What new element could they bring to the story? None. But what about an old element?In a genius move, we're told the Charlton Comics version of the story. I'd read a couple stories of the original via reprints with the Modern Comics banner, but I didn't think I'd ever see the permutation again. That origin? Dude drops a screwdriver in the nosecone of a nuclear missile bound for orbit testing. Wasting time reaching for it, he's gone with the rocket and atomized by the explosion.
NOT!
The storytelling baton is passed to another member of the select "we knew Captain Atom before he went public" club, filling us in amazing "feel good" adventures that clearly never happened post-Crisis (can anyone with access to the Charlton material confirm that these stories were actually published?).
So the twist: The government is trying to cover up their involvement in the creation and control of Captain Atom, so they've manufactured this cover story. Good ol' General Eiling is a bit of a nitpicker though:
A great use of the character's history, even if it's a history bought wholesale by DC. Captain Atom was without a doubt the Charlton character most changed from his origin concept (no screwdriver or anything), with Blue Beetle, Question, etc. rather close to the originals, so it's great to see the old red and yellow suit in action at least once in the DC Universe. Thanks for the memories, Cary Bates, Greg Weisman, Alan Weiss and Joe Rubinstein! (And Ditko, can't forget Ditko!)
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(Although the sideburns themselves rawked.)