The Coming of Atlas

"The Coming of Atlas" is a comic book story 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. 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."

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:

He continued to say that Atlas will become a major player in the Superman mythos moving forward and there will be some real twists to the character.

Superman, Krypto, and Hal Jordan play fetch in space. When Superman reflects happily on his life, wife, and dog, Jordan wonders if this point of view is what makes Clark the Greatest Man in the Universe. In Metropolis, the Science Police are fighting a giant monster. Their leader Dubarry is unsure if he can lead the team and hates feeling like Superman's janitor. The monster is killed by what appears to be Superman. But when he catches the falling Daily Planet globe, it is revealed to be Atlas, who then takes on and defeats the Science Police. Atlas yells for Superman, who comes straight from space telling him, "You did not have to yell".

Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen run to the scene as Superman and Atlas exchange blows. During a break, a second wave of science police are defeated. In the past, Atlas had similar a fight with soldiers in front of his friend and father figure Chagra, but he was sucked into a portal, from which he watched as thousands of years passed. He awakes in a dark room, finding himself held in the air and restrained by a massive machine in front of an Army General. After a time, Atlas and the General come to an agreement that Atlas will fight Superman and the General will "observe". Atlas believes the General will go after him after he has killed Superman, but the General just wishes him luck. It is then revealed that Chagra was picked by Atlas to find a way for him to stop carrying the crystal, the source of his power. Chagra, with the aid of witches, used this to unstick Atlas in time, not wanting to kill his old friend even though he had become corrupted by power. Atlas and Superman begin to fight again.