Here’s what I love about Krul’s Captain Atom. It’s not just Captain Atom, but his Flash too. He makes them sound like grown-ups. They don’t feel like younger versions or hip and modern versions. They sound real.

Krul had some problems last issue, but they’re gone here. Until the last page, the issue is absolutely fantastic. Williams has a great double page spread, Krul continues his gentle rip-off of Watchmen. It’s a friendly Dr. Manhattan, one who innocently helps the world.

Not much happens, even though there’s a lot of action. Most of the issue is the Flash and Captain Atom walking around talking. Sure they’re doing it at super-speed so no one can see them, but they’re just talking.

The question of Captain Atom’s naiveté is very muted (another success from Krul).

Not even Williams can sell the issue’s obvious and predictable cliffhanger. It’s too bad.

CREDITS

Divine Intervention; writers, J.T. Krul and Freddie Williams II; artist, Williams; colorist, Jose Villarrubia; letterer, Rob Leigh; editors, Rickey Purdin and Rachel Gluckstern.; publisher, DC Comics.

More great art from Williams and only one or two pages of lame exposition from Krul keep Captain Atom at the top of the New 52.

The exposition is really bad though, I must say. Having someone recount Captain Atom’s origin while he’s in the room… doesn’t strike me as a particularly inventive way of getting the information across.

Here, we meet some of his acquaintances, including a lady who likes him and a gentleman who doesn’t like the lady liking him.

It makes Atom feel contained and manageable. There aren’t forced ties to the rest of the DC Universe. When Captain Atom goes off and uses his powers for what amounts to real world magic, it’s passable. Krul doesn’t quite get the significance of the act down–even if Atom doesn’t get it, we should see he doesn’t–but it passes.

It’s less of a surprise, but still solid.

CREDITS

Rebuilding Blocks; writer, J.T. Krul; artist, Freddie Williams II; colorist, Jose Villarrubia; letterer, Rob Leigh; editors, Rickey Purdin and Rachel Gluckstern; publisher, DC Comics.

I hate to say it, but I like Captain Atom. Notice I’m not saying Captain Atom is good, though J.T. Krul’s writing on this title is about the best I’ve ever read from him. He basically just gives Captain Atom the same internal monologue Firestorm had back in the eighties. It works.

And for the plotting—besides having a Stephen Hawkings knockoff, which might be in bad taste—Krul is basically cribbing plots from the Superman movies. Solid things to rip-off, in terms of action sequences. Oh, and Volcano with Tommy Lee Jones. Krul likes his movies apparently.

But the reason I like Atom is because Freddie Williams II is a terrible choice for the series. It looks like he’s drawing Atom is colored pencil and doing the rest somewhat regular. It’s not great art, but it’s distinctive and distinctive counts these days in mainstream comics.

It’s peculiarly engaging.

CREDITS

Evolution of the Species; writer, J.T. Krul; artist, Freddie Williams II; colorist, Jose Villarrubia; letterer, Rob Leigh; editors, Rickey Purdin and Rachel Gluckstern; publisher, DC Comics.