Atlas (DC Comics)

Atlas
Atlas as seen on the cover of 1st Issue Special (April 1975)
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	1st Issue Special #1 (April 1975)
Created by	Jack Kirby (writer & artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Atlas
Abilities	superhuman strength and invulnerability.

Atlas is the name of several fictional characters, comic book superheroes and deities published by DC Comics. Jack Kirby's Atlas debuted in 1st Issue Special #1, (April 1975), and was created by Jack Kirby.

The very first Golden Age version of a character named Atlas in DC Comics occurred in Action Comics #121 (June 1948). The second appearance of an Atlas was in Action Comics #320 (January 1965). And the third appearance of an Atlas was in Action Comics #353 (August 1967).

The Jack Kirby Atlas' first and only appearance prior to Superman #677 was in 1st Issue Special #1.James Robinson brought Atlas back in Superman #678. According to Robinson, Atlas is going to save humanity. "The way I like to look at him is like in the Marvel Universe, Namor is a hero but he really skates the fine line between being a hero and a villain, but he stays on the side of the hero. Atlas, skates that line between hero and villain but he ultimately always falls on the villain side." He continued to say that Atlas will become a major player in the Superman mythos moving forward and there will be some real twists to the character.

One of the earlier characters named Atlas re-appeared in Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman, a version of Atlas appears in issue 3. This Atlas is more closely based on the mythological figure of Atlas, and competes with Superman and Samson to "win" Lois Lane, similar to the story in Action Comics #320 from January 1965.