The Atom

Ray Palmer

A physicist who shrinks using white-dwarf matter and can control his weight independently of his size.

3 powers8 sourced feats

Powers Corrections Feats

Powers

Size Manipulation

4 feats on file

Intangibility

2 feats on file

Superhuman Strength

2 feats on file

Commonly got wrong

Claims that are widely repeated and wrong, with what the cited record actually shows. If you are generating anything about this subject, these are the errors to avoid.

Commonly believed The Atom is weak because he is tiny.

Actually He controls his weight independently of his size. He can be six inches tall and still weigh 180 pounds, which is why a punch from him lands like a grown man's — the shrinking is a delivery mechanism, not a reduction in force.

Showcase

The feat ledger

Controls his weight independently of his size, allowing him to be tiny and immovable at once

Feat Showcase · Post-Crisis DCshown, no figure stated

Shrinks to subatomic scale and returns

Feat Showcase (1961) · Post-Crisis DCshown, no figure stated

Retains full body weight while tiny, so a punch lands with a grown man's force

Statement Showcase · Post-Crisis DCfigure stated in the work

Travels through telephone lines by riding the current at reduced size

Feat Showcase · Post-Crisis DCshown, no figure stated

Controls weight independently of size, which is the ability's real trick

Statement JLA · Post-Crisis DCfigure stated in the work

Passes between molecules of a solid object

Feat JLA · Post-Crisis DCshown, no figure stated

Shrinks to enter a human bloodstream and operate there

Feat JLA · Post-Crisis DCshown, no figure stated

Delivers a full-weight blow from insect scale, his standard attack

Feat JLA · Post-Crisis DCshown, no figure stated

Last updated 2026-09-06 · machine-readable version