The Coming of Atlas

"The Coming of Atlas" is a comic bookstory arc, from DC Comics, by writer James Robinson and artists Renato Guedes and José Wilson Magalhães, featuring Superman. This is Robinson's first story arc on the Superman title, as an ongoing writer after Kurt Busiek's departure. This, as well as Geoff Johns's "Brainiac" arc on Action Comics, led to their planned narrative unification on Action Comics, Superman and Supergirl in "Superman: New Krypton".

The character of Atlas' first and only appearance prior to this story was in DC Comics 1st Issue Special #1 in 1975.

James Robinson was named as the new Superman writer in February 2008.^[1] In many of his interviews approaching the start of his run, he stated that he always wanted to work on Superman, and also with writer Geoff Johns, comparing the two of them to Hal Jordan and Oliver Queen. Regarding his plans for the direction of the comic, starting with "Atlas", he was wary to share much, stating, "Geoff has a lot of ideas and I'm very much allowing him to run the show." He asserted, though, that by the end of it, every reader would care about every major character in the Superman universe. Because he had worked on "Batman: Face the Face", he was asked if his and Johns' work on the two Superman books would be the same. He was quick to reply that it would not be, but that it would be "better than that."^[2]

Robinson believes he has a connection to Superman, as he was "...a working-class British guy who came to America and America has given me everything", similar to the immigrant story that Superman's creation was based upon. But in regard to the choice of having Atlas as the villain for his opening arc, it was due to his love for "all things Jack Kirby".

His other main reason for doing the comic was Superman's rogues gallery, as he felt that:

"Tiene tipos que pueden vencerlo golpe a golpe; puño a puño, Doomsday es obviamente el mejor ejemplo. Pero a todos les falta humanidad. Atlas sí la tendrá. La forma en que me gusta verlo es como en el Universo Marvel : Namor es un héroe, pero se mueve en la delgada línea entre ser un héroe y un villano, aunque se mantiene del lado del héroe. Atlas también se mueve en esa línea entre ser un héroe y un villano, pero al final siempre cae del lado del villano".

Continuó diciendo que Atlas se convertirá en un actor importante en la mitología de Superman en el futuro y que habrá algunos giros importantes en el personaje. ^{[ 3 ]}

Superman, Krypto y Hal Jordan juegan a buscar la pelota en el espacio. Cuando Superman reflexiona felizmente sobre su vida, su esposa y su perro, Jordan se pregunta si ese punto de vista es lo que convierte a Clark en el Hombre Más Grande del Universo. En Metrópolis, la Policía Científica lucha contra un monstruo gigante. Su líder, Dubarry, no está seguro de poder liderar al equipo y odia sentirse como el conserje de Superman. El monstruo es asesinado por lo que parece ser Superman. Pero cuando atrapa el globo terráqueo del Daily Planet que cae , se revela que es Atlas, quien luego se enfrenta y derrota a la Policía Científica. Atlas grita llamando a Superman, quien viene directamente del espacio diciéndole: "No tenías que gritar".

Lois Lane y Jimmy Olsen corren hacia la escena mientras Superman y Atlas intercambian golpes. Durante un descanso, una segunda oleada de la policía científica es derrotada. En el pasado, Atlas tuvo una pelea similar con soldados frente a su amigo y figura paterna Chagra, pero fue absorbido por un portal, desde el cual observó cómo pasaban miles de años. Despierta en una habitación oscura, encontrándose suspendido en el aire y sujeto por una enorme máquina frente a un general del ejército. Después de un tiempo, Atlas y el general llegan a un acuerdo: Atlas luchará contra Superman y el general "observará". Atlas cree que el general irá tras él después de que haya matado a Superman, pero el general solo le desea suerte. Entonces se revela que Atlas eligió a Chagra para encontrar una manera de que dejara de portar el cristal, la fuente de su poder. Chagra, con la ayuda de brujas , usó esto para liberar a Atlas a tiempo, sin querer matar a su viejo amigo a pesar de que se había corrompido por el poder. Atlas y Superman comienzan a luchar de nuevo.

Superman is getting more tired and beaten up as the fight continues. Lois remembers a conversation with Clark that morning when he said he wanted to spend his life with her and the intimate embrace they shared afterward. Lois admits Clark is her world and worries for his life. Lana Lang tries to send help as Lexcorp's C.E.O. but is fired as all Lexcorp employees are contractually forbidden to help Superman in any way. Supergirl comes to help Superman and a man on a roof communicates with someone who refers to the figure as Colonel. A satellite with the words "Hotel 7734" written on it fires a beam of energy that weakens Supergirl. Atlas believes her to be an Amazon and proclaims "easy to fight easy to.." but Superman sends him flying and tells Supergirl to fly away to find out what going on and avenge him if he falls. Atlas returns commenting that it was a pity that Supergirl fled. Atlas stomps on Superman and then defeats Steel and Bibbo Bibbowski, asking if anyone else would fight him. Krypto then appears, stating in broken English: "This One hurt Man. Krypto loves Man, Krypto hurt this One".

Krypto is fighting Atlas and unlike Superman has no problem injuring Atlas. The figure on the roof calls down another strike on Krypto, who is not affected. He is attacked repeatedly by the satellite in different settings called rooms, but is unaffected. The figure on the roof is revealed to be floating. Atlas is having trouble with Krypto and asks what kind of magic is the dog. Superman stands at this and rushes to find Zatanna who is in the city for a show but instead finds Zachary Zatara, the new permanent resident of Metropolis. Zatara is now not yet as good with magic as his cousin and can only affect living things for a short period of time. Superman can get a boost but for only less than a minute from the moment the fight begins. Atlas almost kills Krypto but then Superman appears and rams Atlas underground, Superman then re-emerges from the crater victorious. Superman tells them to applaud Krypto his dog and the dog of Metropolis as well. Krypto is applauded as his master pets him and proclaims his happiness.

La historia completa se recopiló en un solo volumen:

• La llegada de Atlas (128 páginas, tapa dura, abril de 2009, 1401221319)