Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom

Solar
Promotional art by Michael Komarck for Dark Horse Comics' Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #1 (July 2010)
Publication information
Publisher	Gold Key Comics Valiant Comics Acclaim Comics Dark Horse Comics Dynamite Entertainment
First appearance	Doctor Solar: Man of the Atom #1 (Oct. 1962)
Created by	Paul S. Newman (writer, concept co-creator) Matt Murphy (editor, concept co-creator), Bob Fujitani (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	(Dr.) Raymond Solar Phil Seleski Frank and Helena Seleski Philip Solar
Notable aliases	Doctor Solar Man of the Atom
Abilities	Energy Manipulation and is able to use Energy to manipulate Matter on the atomic and subatomic levels Fire Energy Blasts Invulnerability Superhuman Strength, Speed and Endurance Flight Genius Level Intelligence

Solar is an American fictional comic book superhero created by writer Paul S. Newman, editor Matt Murphy, and artist Bob Fujitani. The character first appeared in Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #1 in 1962 by Gold Key Comics and has since appeared in other incarnations in books published by Valiant Comics in the 1990s, Dark Horse Comics in the 2000s, and Dynamite Entertainment in the 2010s.

Solar was created in 1962 by writer Paul S. Newman and editor Matt Murphy, along with illustrations from artist Bob Fujitani for the Silver Age comic book publisher Gold Key, a new company formed by Western Publishing who, earlier that year, had ended its business arrangement with Dell Comics. The character premiered in issue #1 of Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom in Summer 1962 (cover date October 1962) in the first batch of comics released by Gold Key, with Solar being Gold Key's first original character. Though Gold Key did not have as large a distribution network as Dell Comics, the Gold Key comics stood out on the newsstand shelves because of their cover art and their 12 cent price (Dell Comics sold for 15 cents). The first two issues of Solar appeared with cover paintings by Richard M. Powers; after the second issue the cover paintings were done by George Wilson. The interior artwork in the first few issues also had unique features: the superhero, Dr. Solar, did not have a costume until the fifth issue, rectangular word balloons and no black holding line around each panel. Following the practice of Dell Comics, and thanks to Western Publishing's reputation of publishing other child-friendly books, Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom was able to be distributed without the Comics Code Authority symbol. The original creative team of writer Paul S. Newman and artist Bob Fujitani lasted until issue #5 when Frank Bolle took over the art work. With the exception of issue #7 written by Otto Binder, Newman wrote the comic book until issue #10 when Dick Wood took over for the remainder of the series. Other artists who contributed included: Mel Crawford, Win Mortimer, Alden McWilliams (issues #20-23), Ernie Colón (issues #24-26), José Delbo (issue #27).