Captain Atom: J.T. Krul, Freddie Williams II, Jose Villarrubia, Rob Leigh, Mike Choi

So here we are in the “future” that the multiple Captain Atoms are trying to avert. We see what’s become of Ranita and the hand that Captain Atom created for her. Well, apparently, creating body parts out of nothing has transferred his abilities to her, and she now fights for peace in a scene that mirrors issue #3.

Atom also visits various parts of the world to see that people all over are worshiping him as a God - something I always said was likely to happen in the series - because of the great change and harmony that Atom’s provided over time. But it’s with Mikey, the young boy whose cancer Captain Atom cured early on in the series…a very emotional moment, to be sure…that Atom learns the source of the world’s destruction.

Apparently, this Chrono Mota is a form of Atom, perhaps his far-future self, that has called for the end of the world so as to wash it clean in a very Great Flood kind of way. The only thing I don’t understand about this is why? It looks like Atom’s been able to bring a lot of peace to the world, so where’s this evil that requires the destruction of the planet to eradicate? Sure, it looks like all of western civilization is cured of strife, but the Middle East is still a problem apparently. Is this a statement to how this area will never overcome its shackles?

And does the whole world need to go just to get rid of some terrorists?

So Atom tries to stop the bomb thingy when Chrono Mota pulls Atom back to his time, and Atom finds himself in that volcano from the beginning of the series. Interesting how it all went full circle, and he created the volcano that appeared in New York. I like that we’re getting an explanation there, and I wonder if Krul planned this all along.

So this Chrono Mota slips into the timestream with the Atoms and starts attacking them…but if Earth is still going to be destroyed, why does it care still? Just to make sure the Atoms don’t try to interfere again? Also…if it destroys the Atoms in the Timestream, does it also destroy itself? Causing it to never exist? And therefore never give Mikey the idea to destroy the Earth? This is a little confusing, when you think about it…

…That’s why I chose to think about time travel and such as a linear story, while the timestream around it remains fluid. It’s difficult to explain, and I don’t want to lengthen this review with my ramblings about linear time travel. But it works if you let it. If you overthink time travel, you’ll go nuts.

Captain Atom #9, the verdict: While I thought it was a good issue, it wasn’t my favorite. But I like how elements from previous issues are coming into play again…Ranita’s hand, Mikey, the volcano…because it helps this all feel like one story, one world, where actions have consequences. A lot of times, in a comic, a hero will do something…save the day…and then you’ll never see what happened to the fifteen buildings that were destroyed in the process, or whatever. The victims never cry out, or are heard from again. Not the case here. This is a book about consequence, and I’m definitely digging that motif.

(Photo Source: Tess Ate Chai Tea)