Retro Reviews: Doctor Solar Man of the Atom Vol. 1

Doctor Solar: Man of the Atom Vol. 1

Writer: Paul S. Newman, Matt Murphy
Artist: Bob Fujitani, Frank Bolle
Covers: Richard M. Powers, George Wilson
Publisher: Gold Key (Reprint by Dark Horse)

A review by Josh Rose

In 1962, Doctor Phillip Solar made his first appearance as the Man of the Atom in Gold Key Comics. After 27 issues, Doctor Solar: Man of the Atom was cancelled in 1969. He made an appearance in an issue of the Occult Files of Doctor Spektor in 1975, and had a short lived return in the 1980’s. Solar didn’t appear again until Valiant Comics launched him in 1991 as physicist Phil Seleski along with another Gold Key character, Magnus, Robot Fighter. After Acclaim Entertainment purchased Valiant Comics in 1996, they proceeded to publish Doctor Solar comics on and off until they lost the rights in 2001. Dark Horse Comics gained the rights to republish classic Gold Key comics in 2004, which included Doctor Solar.

Doctor Solar: Man of the Atom Vol. 1 contains the first seven issues which sees Doctor Phillip Solar gain his nuclear powers which not only give him fantastic powers, but because of his radioactivity make it dangerous for people to be around him for too long. After a few run-ins with the criminal mastermind Nuro’s henchmen, and unable to hide his radioactive secret from fellow scientist and romantic interest Dr. Gail Sanders, Solar decides to make a superhero suit for himself and keep protecting Atom Valley as the “Man of the Atom”.

Paul Newman and Matt Murphy did a fantastic job setting up the mystery of Doctor Solar’s nemesis, Nuro, who wants to take over Atom Valley for some nefarious reason.  We never find out who he is, but we do understand why he decides to eliminate Solar after he foils all of his schemes. The plot for these stories are all very simple, it was the 60’s after all, and children were the primary audience. An occurrence happens and after some scientific investigation, Solar leaps into action and solves the problem with one of his numerous yet fantastic abilities, often using too much nuclear energy and endangering his own life. Yet for all its simplicity there are still a few times where Newman caught me off guard with an exceptional plot twist.

One of the great things about Doctor Solar: Man of the Atom was its focus on science throughout. It didn’t just use the public’s fascination with atomic energy back then, it also took the reader into far away and dangerous places such as outer space, volcanoes, and to utterly fictional underwater cities. Newman and Murphy did all this while maintaining a James Bond-esque mystery in relation to Nuro.

The art by Bob Fujitani and Frank Bolle was nicely done, if not standard for the time with a simple panel layout. Compared to artwork in today’s comics they are simplistic and stiff, but they are good nonetheless. What really drew readers to Doctor Solar was the cover art. The two covers by science fiction illustrator Richard M. Powers were surreal and fantastic. He incorporated paint splatters and random scientific symbols into his art, including atoms, test tubes and nuclear explosions, while making it relate to the sole figure painted in the centre. George Wilson’s covers, while less surreal, were no less amazing. They often incorporated the good doctor in a dramatic scene related to one in the book but with much more detail.

The Verdict
Buy It! If you are already a fan of Solar, or looking for something new to try, Doctor Solar: Man of the Atom Vol. 1 should be on the top of your list. Its a classic origin story for a grounded version of the character. At the very least you should be checking out the cover art for these issues.

Check out Dynamite Comics for new Solar: Man of the Atom stories which feature Dr. Phil Seleski’s daughter Erica in the heroic role of Solar. Other versions of Solar also appear in Gold Key: Alliance and The Sovereigns.