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Justice League: The Atom Project
Justice League: The Atom Project (2025) #1
In the wake of Absolute Power, the superpowers of planet Earth are in chaos… and it’s up to the newly reformed Justice League to restore order to that chaos. Enter Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi, together as the heroes called Atom. These brilliant minds get to work crafting the world’s first superpower reallocation and backup system, code named the Atom Project. But not everyone wants their powers back, and Captain Atom is hell-bent on preventing his missing Atomic abilities from ever being found. Join Oscar-winning writer John Ridley, Rogue Sun co-creator Ryan Parrott and First Knight artist Mike Perkins down the rabbit hole of an intense atomic-fueled spy thriller that will drop change on the DCU like an atomic bomb!
Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2025
10 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
John Ridley
221 books92 followersJohn Ridley IV (born October 1965)[2] is an American screenwriter, television director, novelist, and showrunner, known for 12 Years a Slave, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He is also the creator and showrunner of the critically acclaimed anthology series American Crime. His most recent work is the documentary film Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982–1992.
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Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 8, 2025
2/8/25
January 1, 2025
It’s an interesting story and caught my attention, but I don’t know if it will keep it. Ray Palmer isn’t acting like a hero. Captain Atom is running. I’m not sure what’s going on. Hopefully the mystery is deepened in the next chapter.
January 1, 2025
The combo of Atoms, Palmer and Choy couldn’t help this issue. Found myself bored reading.
January 11, 2025
I am intrigued but so confused! I think in order to understand this I have to ignore the events of JLU #2 that teased this series, maybe it takes place after this issue because they already had a device that could transfer powers. We saw it with atom smasher and a bad actor using his powers for evil. But it kind of seems like they haven’t cracked that yet in this issue.
But this issue starts in such an odd way, with captain atom on the run! We get a mysterious voice over with 2 people that seem like they are watching his every move as he tries to slip away on a train with the Air Force tracking him down. He fully jumps through a train window and into the water below to escape them only to be greeted by Ray Palmer and a bunch of other Air Force asking him to call it and come back.
At its core the atom project is about restoring the powers lost and put else where due to Waller. We now cut back to three weeks earlier as we see these ideas on full display when a kid in Milwaukee started discharging electricity uncontrollably in the middle of a baseball field. We then see as Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi, the atoms, boom tube in and help the situation. Ryan on crowd control with Atom moving into help the kid. Ryan is able to do some really cool stuff, like changing the molecular composition on a car so that it turns into steam right before being thrown isn’t a family. And when Ray uses a prototype device to temporarily shut down the kids powers, Ryan is able to move in and place himself on the kids shoulder to talk him down. It’s interesting, even with the static abilities being disabled the electricity still had to be discharged, so they talked the kid into grabbing a nearby grounding agent and helped recover him when he got knocked out from the blast. We then see as they help find him a holding room in the watchtower. They currently have two dozen people with alpha level powers and no clue how to use them, all with Kimiyo Hoshi (Dr. Light) standing guard. For the kid they dealt with earlier they set his room up with a faraday cage and a grounding rod so he can discharge his powers. This also gives the chance to put the different methods the atoms take on full display. When the kid asks if they are going to fix him, Ryan doesn’t know how to answer other than they will do everything they can, but Ray quickly interjects and says they absolutely will. Everything is just a precaution and they are making progress that will get him fixed up in no time. He technically lied but it’s true they are making progress. Ray sees it as a part of the game, but Ryan sees the people and can’t treat it as a game.
We next see as they continue tests with Nathaniel Adam, aka captain atom. He lost his powers completely during the crisis and believe if they can crack his case, no matter how painful it is for Nate, then he can be the key to helping everyone else. But it seems that Nate is loosing hope, they have been at it for weeks and he hasn’t seen any progress. The only thing Ray can tell him is that there is a terrified 10 year old and two dozen others who need their help, but what they are dealing with is nothing compared to what they are dealing with. As Nate walks off Ryan asks Ray if that was necessary, captain atom wasn’t just a side hustle for him it was his entire life, and the choices Ray had been making have not been the best. Pushing Nate super hard, lying to a kid about their progress…but Ray assures him that it’s necessary they have to push hard as there may be a day when they don’t have a choice. Plus Nate is Air Force he isn’t worried about the pain…he’s worried about what they will be on the other side.
This worry then drags us three weeks later. Nate has been on the run and Ray has just caught up with him and is asking for him to trust him and come back in and help them solve this together. The mysterious voices are questioning if they need to intervene. And as we watch Nate walk away the Air Force open fire to try and stop him, but instead he blasts them with some form of energy. Has his captain atom powers returned?? Why is he running, and what are they still trying to solve?? Ray moves in and fully tries to punch out Nate, but instead Nate fully transforms into his silver shell. He claims they don’t own these powers and no one in the league should be allowed to have them even if he has to destroy himself. He then speeds away from the scene and away from Ray as the mysterious voices talk about how they don’t even know how many powers he has at this point. They then ask when they should reveal themselves, and the other says if everything goes according to plan…Captain atom will come to them. WHAT IS HAPPENING?? Omg this is really intriguing, and this art style is so interesting. It’s so gritty and dark, with a major focus on realistic character expressions. At times it’s off putting but it works really well because of that.
But this issue starts in such an odd way, with captain atom on the run! We get a mysterious voice over with 2 people that seem like they are watching his every move as he tries to slip away on a train with the Air Force tracking him down. He fully jumps through a train window and into the water below to escape them only to be greeted by Ray Palmer and a bunch of other Air Force asking him to call it and come back.
At its core the atom project is about restoring the powers lost and put else where due to Waller. We now cut back to three weeks earlier as we see these ideas on full display when a kid in Milwaukee started discharging electricity uncontrollably in the middle of a baseball field. We then see as Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi, the atoms, boom tube in and help the situation. Ryan on crowd control with Atom moving into help the kid. Ryan is able to do some really cool stuff, like changing the molecular composition on a car so that it turns into steam right before being thrown isn’t a family. And when Ray uses a prototype device to temporarily shut down the kids powers, Ryan is able to move in and place himself on the kids shoulder to talk him down. It’s interesting, even with the static abilities being disabled the electricity still had to be discharged, so they talked the kid into grabbing a nearby grounding agent and helped recover him when he got knocked out from the blast. We then see as they help find him a holding room in the watchtower. They currently have two dozen people with alpha level powers and no clue how to use them, all with Kimiyo Hoshi (Dr. Light) standing guard. For the kid they dealt with earlier they set his room up with a faraday cage and a grounding rod so he can discharge his powers. This also gives the chance to put the different methods the atoms take on full display. When the kid asks if they are going to fix him, Ryan doesn’t know how to answer other than they will do everything they can, but Ray quickly interjects and says they absolutely will. Everything is just a precaution and they are making progress that will get him fixed up in no time. He technically lied but it’s true they are making progress. Ray sees it as a part of the game, but Ryan sees the people and can’t treat it as a game.
We next see as they continue tests with Nathaniel Adam, aka captain atom. He lost his powers completely during the crisis and believe if they can crack his case, no matter how painful it is for Nate, then he can be the key to helping everyone else. But it seems that Nate is loosing hope, they have been at it for weeks and he hasn’t seen any progress. The only thing Ray can tell him is that there is a terrified 10 year old and two dozen others who need their help, but what they are dealing with is nothing compared to what they are dealing with. As Nate walks off Ryan asks Ray if that was necessary, captain atom wasn’t just a side hustle for him it was his entire life, and the choices Ray had been making have not been the best. Pushing Nate super hard, lying to a kid about their progress…but Ray assures him that it’s necessary they have to push hard as there may be a day when they don’t have a choice. Plus Nate is Air Force he isn’t worried about the pain…he’s worried about what they will be on the other side.
This worry then drags us three weeks later. Nate has been on the run and Ray has just caught up with him and is asking for him to trust him and come back in and help them solve this together. The mysterious voices are questioning if they need to intervene. And as we watch Nate walk away the Air Force open fire to try and stop him, but instead he blasts them with some form of energy. Has his captain atom powers returned?? Why is he running, and what are they still trying to solve?? Ray moves in and fully tries to punch out Nate, but instead Nate fully transforms into his silver shell. He claims they don’t own these powers and no one in the league should be allowed to have them even if he has to destroy himself. He then speeds away from the scene and away from Ray as the mysterious voices talk about how they don’t even know how many powers he has at this point. They then ask when they should reveal themselves, and the other says if everything goes according to plan…Captain atom will come to them. WHAT IS HAPPENING?? Omg this is really intriguing, and this art style is so interesting. It’s so gritty and dark, with a major focus on realistic character expressions. At times it’s off putting but it works really well because of that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2025
Captain Atom's personality has taken a bit of a beating, it seems. He is now less heroic, more PTSD-suicidal-war-vet.
The artwork is primarily the worst thing about this issue. A little dirtier, a little less refined, than what I would like. There also isn't any attempt to distinguish the Ryan Choi Atom from the original Atom, other than the fact Ryan Choi is the voice of caution. There aren't even text boxes explaining why there are two different Atoms. (Not that I really mind; since I read Ryan Choi's debut graphic novel, I sort of feel like he is "my" Atom.)
There isn't even a whole lot of explanation for why the two Atoms decide that Captain Atom is the perfect test subject to try to figure out the power-switching problem from the Amazo androids. Sure, he is a superhero who lost all his powers. But, is that it? There aren't any other depowered heroes they could have used? Hell, there were heroes who lost all their powers even before the Absolute Power event. Batman has been temporarily given powers at least a half-dozen times. Can we admit that Captain Atom is used as the primary test subject just because his name fits with the "Atom Project" theme?
The artwork is primarily the worst thing about this issue. A little dirtier, a little less refined, than what I would like. There also isn't any attempt to distinguish the Ryan Choi Atom from the original Atom, other than the fact Ryan Choi is the voice of caution. There aren't even text boxes explaining why there are two different Atoms. (Not that I really mind; since I read Ryan Choi's debut graphic novel, I sort of feel like he is "my" Atom.)
There isn't even a whole lot of explanation for why the two Atoms decide that Captain Atom is the perfect test subject to try to figure out the power-switching problem from the Amazo androids. Sure, he is a superhero who lost all his powers. But, is that it? There aren't any other depowered heroes they could have used? Hell, there were heroes who lost all their powers even before the Absolute Power event. Batman has been temporarily given powers at least a half-dozen times. Can we admit that Captain Atom is used as the primary test subject just because his name fits with the "Atom Project" theme?
July 7, 2025
Very interesting first issue. The dialogue and dynamic between Ray, Ryan, and Nathanial is easily the best part of this issue and probably this whole series. Can’t wait to see where they take their relationship from here.
I’m enjoying how this seems more like a science project than a good guy bad guy series. It has its militia and metahumans but it’s feeling more like a one and one character story. Loving it so far.
I’m enjoying how this seems more like a science project than a good guy bad guy series. It has its militia and metahumans but it’s feeling more like a one and one character story. Loving it so far.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2025
I really do enjoy a good Atom story and this one has them in all guises. I truly loved Nathaniel Adam’s New 52 era mini and I think he deserves more exposure. When written well the character is extraordinary anc here this does seem to be the case
January 9, 2025
Its ok
Not the best but it did hook me. The art was serviceable and the story was easy to follow. I will read more when it comes out. We don't get to see these characters too often, so its always a treat to see The Atom and Captain Atom back in the limelight.
Not the best but it did hook me. The art was serviceable and the story was easy to follow. I will read more when it comes out. We don't get to see these characters too often, so its always a treat to see The Atom and Captain Atom back in the limelight.
January 3, 2025
Interesting story with grade-B level superheroes. Wondering where it will go and if it will keep my interest. I do like the premise of this storyline now it is just how well the writers grow it.
January 4, 2025
I was intrigued to see three atoms together but this issue has been boring, it's just the first issue, Maybe the later ones will be better.
February 4, 2025
I'm always excited to try a new series, but this one was a let down. The art wasn't great and the story was boring.
October 14, 2025
Está bastante bien, sobre todo me gustó el dibujo. Pero hacia el final se complica todo porque crossover y termina medio meh. Pero lindo ver de vuelta al cap Atom.
December 4, 2025
A good graphic novel.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews