Set Description
Synopsis: I think we may be about the only Atom collectors in the comic collecting universe, as our undercopies are the second best set in existence. This set is our best books and it has a lot going for it. It includes examples of all 48 books with a minimum grade of 9.4, excepting two issues, Showcase #34 and Atom #3, which are a 9.0 and 9.2, respectively. All 48 books are described and pictured below. As far as stats, there are 28 9.8s, 16 9.6s, 2 9.4s, 1 9.2 and 1 9.0 in this set, with 41 of our 48 books highest graded examples, including 13 of which are single highest graded. In short, it’s a pretty sweet set of the littlest member of the JLA.
Background: We just started this one in 2018 to complement our Flash and GL runs. There are certainly some interesting covers, especially before the Hawkman team-up. We really like the cover of Showcase 34, but are still looking for a nice copy. Also, looking for a nice #3, which may be difficult based on the low census.
June 2020 Update: It has been a successful year tracking down issues in this set, so much so that we have vaulted to the top of the registry. A large number of our books come from the John Fantucchio Collection, which were auctioned off the past year or so. Prices for these books have been relatively low and collectors few and far between, which has aided us in putting together this set. We still need a Showcase #34, having chosen to wait rather than to buy a placeholder, but we may just plug the spot until a better one comes along. We also would like to find a little better Issue #3. If anyone has one and would consider selling it, please drop us a line.
2021 Update: As has been the case since we started collecting these books, high grade examples keep coming on the market, which has allowed us to complete this relatively short set in record time. I am not sure what it says that we have been buying these books, while everyone else has been selling them. But Atom becomes our fourth complete DC set, to go along with Flash, GL and JLA. As far as stats, 40 of our 48 books are highest graded, with 12 being single highest graded. Of course, many of those holes are large ones, including Showcases #34 and #36 and Atoms #1, #3 and #4. So it is far from a perfect set, and lags considerably behind our Flash, GL and JLA sets relative to census standing, but they have still been fun to collect.
2022 Update: We only upgraded two books in the past year, Issues #3 and #4. But on the bright side, we did not lose any of our single highest graded issues, which is somewhat rare out of 13 books. Atom continues to be a somewhat underappreciated title and has not really benefitted at all from the COVID rise in prices. That being said, one of the three Showcase #34s graded 9.4 is currently listed for sale on multiple sites at the outrageous price of $200,000. ($200k for 8,850 registry points, what’s the world coming to LOL?) Obviously, we would love to acquire the book, but the ask is so out of touch with reality that nobody has ever paced a bid on the book and I think it’s safe to deduce that the book isn’t really for sale.
