Comic Title: Atom #1
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Jun/Jul 1962
On Sale Date: April 24, 1962 Newsstand Date April 24, 1962
Source: House Ad, Challengers of the Unknown #26, Page 15

Copyright Date April 24, 1962
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1962

Newsstand Date April 24, 1962
Source: Newsdealer Magazine, V17 #2

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Julius Schwartz

Title: "Master of the Plant World"
Pages: 25

Feature(s):
Atom (Ray Palmer of Earth-1)

Writer: Gardner F. Fox
Penciller: Gil Kane
Inker: Murphy Anderson

Reprinted In:
Atom Archives Vol. 1 HC (2001)
Showcase Presents:The Atom Vol. 1 TPB (2007)

Feature Character(s)

• Atom (last appearance in Showcase #36; next appearance in Atom #2)

Supporting Character(s)

• Jean Loring (last appearance in Showcase #36; next appearance in Atom #2)

Villain(s)

• Jason Woodrue (an interdimensional exile; first appearance; next appearance in Atom #24)

Other Character(s)

• Henry Chalmers and Walter Dudley (Jean Loring’s client and a horticultural expert; no further appearances)
• Maya and the Dryads (next appearance in Atom #20)

Synopsis:
Strange fast-growing plants break into a bank which is then robbed by some dryads. A passerby, Henry Chalmers, is arrested for the crime. Chalmers hires Jean Loring to defend him and investigate his story.

Jean visits a horticultural expert, but is put to sleep by some flowers. The Atom, who has followed Jean, then follows some dryads back to Jason Woodrue. Atom learns that Woodrue is an exile from an interdimensional world inhabited by the dryads. He has imprisoned the queen, Maya, and now controls them as well as his advanced plants.

Atom frees Maya and together they try to prevent Woodrue’s takeover of the world. Woodrue’s plant creations threaten cities, but Atom manages to subvert the man’s control and force him to surrender. Woodrue is then turned over to the authorities, and Chalmers is released.