Comic Title: Power of the Atom #4
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: November 1988
On Sale Date: July 26, 1988 Shipping Date July 26, 1988
Source: Direct Currents, #6

Shipping Date July 28, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #146

Newsstand Date August 20, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #146

Copyright Date August 2, 1988
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1988

Shipping Date July 26, 1988
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #760

Newsstand Date August 9, 1988
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #760

Cover Price: $1.00
Page Count: 48
Editor: Mike Carlin

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Notes:
Contains Bonus Book #8

Title: "Skulduggery"
Pages: 14

Feature(s):
Atom (Ray Palmer Post-Crisis)

Writer: Joe Calchi
Penciller: Jim Balent
Inker: Dan Schaefer
Letterer: Helen Vesik
Colorist: Matt Webb

Feature Character(s)

• Atom (last appearance in Power of the Atom #4; next appearance in Power of the Atom #5)

Supporting Character(s)

• Norman Brawler (last appearance in Power of the Atom #3; next appearance in Power of the Atom #6)
• Jean Loring (in flashback to college; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Secret Origins #29)

Villain(s)

• Cal Thornton (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Phariss (a scientist; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Cordwainer Thornton (Cal's father; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Cal's date and Cordwainer's lover (both die in this story; no further appearances)
• A legal secretary (no further appearances)
• A group of college students (no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Ray Palmer (in college; last appearance in Secret Origins #29; next appearance in Secret Origins #29)

Comments:
This story is presented as Bonus Book #8, the first in a program designed to showcase the work of promising newcomers.

Synopsis:
Cal Thornton, a college classmate of Ray Palmer, who has spent time in a mental health institution learns that Ray Palmer has returned to Ivy Town. He uses family money to finance an experiment which allows him to grow taller, for he is normally very short. He then goes on a murder spree, nearly killing Ray's friend Norman Brawler.

To disguise his identity, Thornton colors his skin yellow to resemble a skul-rider. He then attacks Ray on the Ivy University campus. Ray exposes Cal's true identity and defeats him before turning him over to the police.