GoCollect Blog: Atom Smasher and the New JSA (atom-smasher-and-the-new-jsa )

Get ready to meet an all-new Atom Smasher on the big screen in Black Adam. When mainstream audiences discover him, you’ll want these keys in your long boxes.

Gamers will remember Atom Smasher as a nonplayable character from the original Injustice video game. You can see him in the background of the Hall of Justice stage fighting with Giganta. Like so many obscure DC characters, most players were not familiar with the two giants. Black Adam should help in the marketing department, at least for Atom Smasher.

Who is he? Originally known as Nuklon, Albert Rothstein is DC’s answer to Marvel’s Giant Man. He is the godson of the first Atom, Al Pratt. Superpowers apparently run in Rothstein’s family, as his grandfather is the obscure villain Cyclotron. In a case of pure comic book science, Cyclotron’s genes made Rothstein a metahuman who can change the size and density of his body.

Atom Smasher is all set to appear in the Black Adam movie later this year, and that should put these issues on your collecting radar.

ALL-STAR SQUADRON #25

In 1983, the character who would become Atom Smasher appeared in his first comic, All-Star Squadron #25. At this time, he was known as Nuklon, but it still counts as his first appearance. During his early days, Albert sported a mohawk and was a member of the superteam, Infinity, Inc.

Along with Nuklon, this issue saw the first appearances of Obsidian, Silver Scarab, and Jade. The last time a 9.8 traded hands online, one sold for $330 in January.

KINGDOM COME #2

Considering Nuklon’s godfather is the Golden Age Atom, it makes sense that Albert would choose the name Atom Smasher. Like Maxine Hunkel/Cyclone, the first time anyone used the name Atom Smasher was in the alternate-reality tale, Kingdom Come. Both Atom Smasher and Cyclone appeared in the second issue when Superman recruited a new Justice League.

With both those cross-dimensional firsts, it could help this issue’s FMV once Black Adam reaches theaters. At the moment, you can have a graded 9.8 for about $120.

ALL-STAR COMICS #2 (1999)

This issue has been more popular since Stargirl premiered on the CW, and Black Adam will give you another reason to add it to your collections. In this issue, Nuklon canonically appears as Atom Smasher, although it’s in a cameo. Alongside Stargirl in her first appearance as the Star-Spangled Kid, there is also the debut of Hawkgirl.

Once the JSA comes together on the silver screen, this could be a hot collectible. There hasn’t been a 9.8 to sell online since 2020, but the raw copies are currently selling for no more than about $10.

JSA SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS #1

Months after Nuklon became Atom Smasher, he fully embraced the new name and costume in JSA Secret Files and Origins #1. Since it’s not the first time we’ve seen him as Atom Smasher, this won’t be a major key. However, this is the debut of the updated Justice Society of America, which appears to be forming in the DCEU thanks to Black Adam.

The graded 9.8 has averaged over $200 in the past year, but you can still find raw copies for anywhere from $15-$25.

ATOM, SMASH!

With Black Adam introducing multiple characters to the DCEU, Warner Discovery has plenty riding on the movie’s success. Like The Suicide Squad, Black Adam could be ground zero for a number of streaming series on HBO Max. That makes for solid odds of us seeing more Atom Smasher in the future, which would impact those key issues.