The spy. The spaceman. The goddess. The robot. The Gorilla. During the late 1950s, the U.S. government allowed FBI Special Agent Jimmy Woo to forge a team of unlikely heroes. Together, they stormed the fortress of a criminal mastermind to rescue President Eisenhower - but the group disbanded soon after. Now, almost 50 years later, an unauthorized S.H.I.E.L.D. mission goes down in flames - and from the ashes arise forces from the Golden Age of Marvel! Collects Agents of Atlas #1-6.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Whoop2Do
Format:Hardcover
During the 1950's, Atlas Comics (a name that Martin Goodman's pre-Marvel comic book line was known as) published many comics primarily in the genres of Westerns, Romance, Monsters and Horror. A few attempts were made to produce Adventure-type comics with recurring and mostly forgettable characters, like Venus, the villainous Yellow Claw, Marvel Boy and a female version of the Sub-Mariner, named Namora.
In the late 70s - Marvel did a one-shot comic featuring these forgotten characters plus a faux 50's type hero (3D Man) as well as 2 characters from Horror/Monster stories, Gorilla Man and M-11, the human robot (I can't make this stuff up!). The team was presented as sorta of a secret Avengers-type team that was soon forgotten.
Forgotten by most, but not writer Jeff Parker. Parker somehow convinced Marvel to allow him to do a six issue mini-series more or less flowing out of the events depicted in this esoteric comic. The series was very aptly named Agents Of Atlas.
Typically, second-banana or obscure characters from the pre-modern era are revived for a modern audience by discarding much of the silly and off-beat aspects of their earlier incarnation. Parker, however, embraces their past and makes it work in a contemporary setting, without abandoning the simpler almost nonsensical 50s style. It's a smash up of genres, pulp action hero mixed with spies and intrigues, camp monsters and a liberal dose of cheesy science fiction. Unbelievably, it works. Its not a deep, angst-filled exploration of anything, but a decent fun story that entertains and entertains without insult.
Leonard Kirk's artwork is not ground-breaking, but is more than adequate to match the needs of Parker's story-telling. It is at once very contemporary, yet at the same time very evocative of the peculiar style of 50ish comics.
Marvel outdid itself on this package, giving it all the extras that reminds one of the 2-disc Special Edition DVD of a favorite movie.
Recommended.
In the late 70s - Marvel did a one-shot comic featuring these forgotten characters plus a faux 50's type hero (3D Man) as well as 2 characters from Horror/Monster stories, Gorilla Man and M-11, the human robot (I can't make this stuff up!). The team was presented as sorta of a secret Avengers-type team that was soon forgotten.
Forgotten by most, but not writer Jeff Parker. Parker somehow convinced Marvel to allow him to do a six issue mini-series more or less flowing out of the events depicted in this esoteric comic. The series was very aptly named Agents Of Atlas.
Typically, second-banana or obscure characters from the pre-modern era are revived for a modern audience by discarding much of the silly and off-beat aspects of their earlier incarnation. Parker, however, embraces their past and makes it work in a contemporary setting, without abandoning the simpler almost nonsensical 50s style. It's a smash up of genres, pulp action hero mixed with spies and intrigues, camp monsters and a liberal dose of cheesy science fiction. Unbelievably, it works. Its not a deep, angst-filled exploration of anything, but a decent fun story that entertains and entertains without insult.
Leonard Kirk's artwork is not ground-breaking, but is more than adequate to match the needs of Parker's story-telling. It is at once very contemporary, yet at the same time very evocative of the peculiar style of 50ish comics.
Marvel outdid itself on this package, giving it all the extras that reminds one of the 2-disc Special Edition DVD of a favorite movie.
Recommended.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Babytoxie
Format:Hardcover
In 1978, I was blown away by What If? #9, in which the "1950s Avengers" raced to save President Eisenhower from the clutches of the evil Yellow Claw. While I was already well-versed in the standard Marvel heroes of the time, I had never heard of such Golden Age characters as Human Robot, Gorilla Man, Venus, and Marvel Boy. They made quite an impression on me (also thanks to story editor Roy Thomas' copious footnotes) and when they turned up briefly in Kurt Busiek's AVENGERS FOREVER, I was thrilled. So now we come to 2008, and I finally pick up the hardcover collection of AGENTS OF ATLAS, which brings these formerly-alternate-timeline characters into the standard Marvel Universe of today, and what a treat it is.
Other reviewers here have adequately summarized the plot. I'll just join in by saying it was a wholly entertaining read. This is the first work by Jeff Parker that I've read, and I can say that I'm willing to try more. Thankfully, the story doesn't overdo the "we're so cool" factor of many team books. This is a true group of outcasts, and they act like it. Sure, I may be biased by my prior exposure to these characters, but this is an excellent follow-up to their original appearance, and Parker made it easy for me to love this story. Leonard Kirk's artwork is exceptional - seriously, he's THE perfect choice for this title. It's very realistic work with excellent layouts, and his character designs are superb. So like I said: 30 years, and the wait was definitely worth it.
Most of all, I have to give Marvel a thumbs-up for including not only What If? #9, but solo appearances from various Golden Age comics. All this extra material tops the book out at a thick 256 pages, and when you consider the price, that's a steal of a deal. I have relentlessly bashed Marvel in the past for their outrageous trade paperback prices, but this gives me hope that they will even things out with their hardcovers.
Other reviewers here have adequately summarized the plot. I'll just join in by saying it was a wholly entertaining read. This is the first work by Jeff Parker that I've read, and I can say that I'm willing to try more. Thankfully, the story doesn't overdo the "we're so cool" factor of many team books. This is a true group of outcasts, and they act like it. Sure, I may be biased by my prior exposure to these characters, but this is an excellent follow-up to their original appearance, and Parker made it easy for me to love this story. Leonard Kirk's artwork is exceptional - seriously, he's THE perfect choice for this title. It's very realistic work with excellent layouts, and his character designs are superb. So like I said: 30 years, and the wait was definitely worth it.
Most of all, I have to give Marvel a thumbs-up for including not only What If? #9, but solo appearances from various Golden Age comics. All this extra material tops the book out at a thick 256 pages, and when you consider the price, that's a steal of a deal. I have relentlessly bashed Marvel in the past for their outrageous trade paperback prices, but this gives me hope that they will even things out with their hardcovers.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a fine example of how amazingly fun and literate revisionist comic books can be. Granted, the characters here were originally little more than filler-fluff, even in the way too filler-fluffy Fifties, as the collection readily shows in the reprints of their initial appearances. But together they make a solid team with interesting characterization and fabulous dialogue, easily on par with the best Avengers and JLA stories of recent years. I truly hope Marvel decides to do more Agents stories; there's a rich backstory now that could develop and produce more fun comics. This is a sterling collection with enhancing and intriguing extras; all in all, a great package and highly recommended.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is what comics are all about!
Agents of Atlas represents everything that comics are about, and it is absolutely, definitely one of the best (and I'd have to research this before I completely agree to it, but... Read more
Published 3 months ago by mckennal1851
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fun spy series!
I had next to no knowledge of these characters going into this book and came away pleasantly surprised. The plot was intriguing and the dialogue was very good. Read more
Published on March 14, 2011 by S. Penrose
3.0 out of 5 stars
almost perfect story, printing error hurts novel
Almost a classic on its own merit. I got the vibe of something like League of Extraordinary Gentlemen from it. Read more
Published on December 22, 2010 by squidracerX
4.0 out of 5 stars
Agents Of Atlas: Marvel returns to it's more lighthearted roots.
The Agents Of Atlas trade paperback was a very enjoyable read. If you enjoy things in the same vein as Project Superpowers, Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters, or The Twelve, then... Read more
Published on July 5, 2009 by Grant D. W.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Say Hello To My New Favorite Comic
I picked up Agents of Atlas after seeing an ad for the series in an issue of Spider-Man.
The story is probably one of the best I have read in years. Read more
The story is probably one of the best I have read in years. Read more
Published on April 30, 2009 by Brock
4.0 out of 5 stars
that golden age revial
Agents of Atlas is a good read, if your sick of what Marvel Comics is producing then you be surpised by Agents. It has a beginning a middle and an end. Read more
Published on September 29, 2008 by Bruce Bezold
2.0 out of 5 stars
Well, the concept was good...
Agents of Atlas was almost good. The concept is excellent...but that's as far as it goes.
The very basics of a good comic are missing: story and art. Read more
The very basics of a good comic are missing: story and art. Read more
Published on April 24, 2008 by J. Mentzer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Charming but average...
This book may have been more interesting if not wrapped so tightly in the Marvel Universe; most of these characters predated Marvel Comics, after all. Read more
Published on October 4, 2007 by N. Absentia
5.0 out of 5 stars
good story with an offbeat ending
Just as was done in the Starman series by James Robinson, they take 2nd tier heroes and make them interesting with much better writing. Read more
Published on July 13, 2007 by Carl W. Taitano
3.0 out of 5 stars
Marvel goes all out!
The hardcover collection of the first Agents of Atlas miniseries IS the comic book deal of the year. Read more
Published on July 9, 2007 by Max Michaels
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