Captain Atom (DC 1987-1991) # 41-50 [COMICS]

Things get metaphysical, Plastique makes a return, and the title enters its final year as we cover Captain Atom # 41-50.

In Issue # 41, Adam celebrates his birthday with Catherine Colbert, but when things head to the boudoir, he can't go through with it because he feels like he's cheating on his wife Angela (who died years ago during the hero's jump through time).  In order to get some closure, C.A. enlists buddies like the Red Tornado, Silver Shield, and Chester King to help send his soul/astral self/mind to the quantum field so he can see Angela again and say goodbye.  But something goes wrong, and he gets stuck there!

If there was one DC Comics character I never ever would have guessed would guest star in an issue of Captain Atom, it's Death from Neil Gaiman's Sandman series.  But there she is in Issue # 42, and C.A. finds himself in a purgatory-like realm where he has to overcome his sins in order to move on.  He's ready to head for the afterlife, but gets turned back because an evil spirit has taken up residence in the body he left behind on earth: the evil villain Nekron.  It's a really weird storyline for a title like Captain Atom, but not per se bad.

Issue # 43 concludes the story arc, as Cap gets his body back but not before a sweet farewell to Angela.  Actually a good issue, considering how far out of the wheelhouse it is.

Classic cover to Issue # 44, probably the best of the series.  Plastique has been spotted in Paris giving a demonstration of her powers to the Queen Bee of Bialya, but she's having trouble controlling her explosions and is getting sick.  Captain Atom, as head of the new Justice League Europe, gets sent on a mission to bring her in.  He does so, but promises to do everything he can to help her.  Poor interior artwork here lets down an okay story.

A good story's in Issue # 45.  The subplot of the return of the Ghost has been appearing in the last several issues, and this time it involves General Eiling's subordinate Allard, who was kidnapped, "escaping" and returning to the military.  But Allard has been brainwashed into hating Eiling.  The plot fails, with Allard realizing he's been duped (after it's too late).

I think maybe Issue # 46 was one of those evergreen "filler" issues that creative teams usually put away just in case they can't make a regular deadline.  It's a team-up of Captain Atom and Superman against an alien named Kylstar that has abducted them, and is very old-fashioned.  I guess there is some ongoing story development, as it sees Major Force leave the solar system to join Kylstar, and Adam reunites with Peggy at the end.  Still, it's a weird issue, made more disappointing by the fact that it's the unceremonious end of Cary Bates' four-year run on the title.

Issue # 47, written by guest writer Sarah Byam, is actually really good despite being a standalone story with no real connection to any other storylines in the title.  It concerns a cult leader in Cambodia who is converting thousands of locals to his cause with the help of an Agent Orange-like chemical buried near his village by the U.S. government decades ago.  Captain Atom, his son Randy, and a local guide have to investigate without getting their own minds altered by the toxin.

Issue # 48 features a cool cover, as Captain Atom has to return to the quantum field/astral plane/whatever to try to retrieve Red Tornado's essence.  The best part of the issue is a subplot featuring, of all people, General Eiling's father visiting a local bar for an annual tradition where all the surviving members of his World War I unit assemble.  It turns out, he's the last one still alive.  It's sad, excellent writing.

Issue # 49 has "The Trial of Plastique!"  There's a nice recap of her past comics appearances.  Captain Atom does his best to get her acquitted (but fails) because apparently they really lurve one another.  It's a bit of a hurried storyline, but that's comics.

The big Issue # 50 has the Ghost's long-planned attack finally coming to fruition, aided by a veritable army of followers and underlings.  There's an attempt to have the brainwashed Babylon and Gos murder Dr. Megala at Randy's wedding, but Gos breaks free and helps Atom save the day.  Both sides then assemble for a massive battle, with Plastique even released from prison to help Atom out.  It's a satisfying wrap-up to years of storylines, with the Ghost defeated for good and Atom going on national television to come clean about the government-aided lies he's been telling.

By this point, we've strayed pretty far from the political/military intrigue that marked the series' first few years and made it such a different super hero book than the norm.  The issues after Bates leaves aren't all bad, but they're certainly less interesting and memorable.