Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!
Publisher: Oni Press, AAA Pop Comics
Cover Date: April 2003
Cover Price: $2.99
Writer: Mike Allred
Artist: J. Bone
Frank Einstein (Madman) discovers his beatnik pal Jack Pomade (Mr. Gum of the Atomics) homeless and ridden with amnesia on the streets of Snap City. He brings Mr. Gum to Dr. Gillespie Flem, who restores his memories via a drinkable concoction. Now, Mr. Gum remembers that he was drugged by William Shriner (VP of his father’s candy business), along with all of the other employees at the company in the hopes of winning the beautiful Daisy. So, Mr. Gum sets out to take down the dastardly villain with the help of his teammates, the Atomics. With Shriner subdued, the company’s employees are released from their stupor and Mr. Gum is given a wonderful opportunity to reunite with his estranged father.
Here’s a heart-warming tale in the style of the Silver Age of comics-storytelling. There’s colorful super-heroes, a brewing romance, family tenderness and a not-so-extremely-evil-to-the-core villain with a “whacky” weapon designed to help him get his way. There’s nothing new here in the way of super-heroics but if you enjoy classic super-hero stories, this one’s for you.
On Ebay: Atomics | Mike Allred | J. Bone