Source: Action Comics #314 (1964)
Type: Alternate timeline
As shown last Amalgamonday, there was this story in which Jor-El used a gadget to preview what Kal-El's life would be like if he sent the rocket to different planets. Turns out each world turns him into a different member of the Justice League. Would he have been better off?
This week: Becoming the Atom
Landing site: Xann, a planet of giants
Adoptive parents: A young reddish-blond couple who teach him their language but forbid him to reveal his powers.
A new life: Kal-El is generously described as a "pygmy" and grows up a biological anomaly to those around him. When criminals take hostages, Kal dares to raid their base, but can't show his face. He dresses up in a colorful costume and flies into the base with a flock of birds. No worries about his secret identity - though the hostages immediately think he's as tiny as Kal-El the Pygmy, they're also convinced it can't be the same guy because this one has terrific powers! (So if you thought the glasses were stretching it...) Kal goes on to become Xann's premiere superhero, "Birdman", but because of his size, can never marry and have kids. For that reason, Jor-El looks elsewhere.
Final score: C+
Next Amalgamonday: Jor-El gives the Great Computer Forecaster another spin!
Type: Alternate timeline
As shown last Amalgamonday, there was this story in which Jor-El used a gadget to preview what Kal-El's life would be like if he sent the rocket to different planets. Turns out each world turns him into a different member of the Justice League. Would he have been better off?This week: Becoming the Atom
Landing site: Xann, a planet of giants
Adoptive parents: A young reddish-blond couple who teach him their language but forbid him to reveal his powers.
A new life: Kal-El is generously described as a "pygmy" and grows up a biological anomaly to those around him. When criminals take hostages, Kal dares to raid their base, but can't show his face. He dresses up in a colorful costume and flies into the base with a flock of birds. No worries about his secret identity - though the hostages immediately think he's as tiny as Kal-El the Pygmy, they're also convinced it can't be the same guy because this one has terrific powers! (So if you thought the glasses were stretching it...) Kal goes on to become Xann's premiere superhero, "Birdman", but because of his size, can never marry and have kids. For that reason, Jor-El looks elsewhere.
Final score: C+
Next Amalgamonday: Jor-El gives the Great Computer Forecaster another spin!
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