The Atom (Ryan Choi) Timeline
This timeline is designed to detail the exploits of The Atom (Ryan Choi) throughout different eras of comic book history. These summaries are here to help make reading about The Atom (Ryan Choi) easier. For more information regarding our timeline project, see our about page here.
This timeline is heavily based on our “The Atom (Ryan Choi) Reading Order“. Non-indented sections correspond with The Atom (Ryan Choi)’s “Essential” storyline while indented sections correspond with his “Extra” storyline. Make sure to check out our reading order here for more information.
Rebirth
Ryan Choi is introduced to the DC Universe as a student of the original Atom, Ray Palmer. However, when Ray Palmer disappears, Ryan takes his place. His adventures start when he joins the newly formed Justice League of America (Timeline) and continue on from there.
Also be sure to view the Rebirth era of our “The Atom (Ryan Choi) Reading Order“.
DC Universe: Rebirth
Ryan Choi is Ray Palmer’s teaching assistant and the only person who knows that Ray Palmer is the Atom. When Ray goes missing, Ryan searches his office and discovers a message. In the message, Ray tells Ryan that he went to the Microverse to solve a potential disaster but that he ended up getting stuck there. He tells Ryan to use his size-changing belt to enter the Microverse and retrieve him.
This story is told in DC Universe: Rebirth #1. This issue is collected in DC Universe: Rebirth (Review).
Justice League of America: The Atom Rebirth
Ryan Choi is an incredibly promising new student at Ivy University. There, he is driven by his allergies and phobias to master physics, which he feels gives him some control over his life. His talent is noticed by Professor Ray Palmer. Eventually, Ray tells Ryan that he is a size-changing superhero known as the Atom and also asks for Ryan’s help with his future missions.
Ryan begins working with Ray, offering advice and vital information while Ray is fighting as the Atom. Together, the two solve a number of problems. However, one day, Ray disappears and leaves Ryan a message. In the message, Ray tells Ryan that he went to solve a problem in the Microverse but that he ended up getting stuck there. He tells Ryan to use his size-changing belt to enter the Microverse and retrieve him.
This story is told in Justice League of America: The Atom Rebirth #1. This issue is collected in Justice League of America: Road to Rebirth (Review) or in Justice League of America: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 1.
Justice League of America: Rebirth
Ryan Choi returns to Ray Palmer’s lab and finds Batman and Lobo (Timeline) waiting there for him. Ryan explains that Ray has been missing, and he has been trying to find him, but has been unsuccessful so far. Batman is about to leave but Lobo convinces him to let Ryan on the newly formed Justice League of America (Timeline).
Later on, Batman gathers each member of this new JLA and explains that the goal of this team is to inspire regular people. He also explains that something sinister is coming on the horizon.
This story is told in Justice League of America: Rebirth #1. This issue is collected in Justice League of America Vol. 1: The Extremists (Review) or in Justice League of America: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 1.
Justice League of America: The Extremists
Multiple superpowered villains, called the Extremists, suddenly appear in Saratoga, NY. Their leader, Lord Havok, claims to be from a universe where society fell apart because it lacked control. As a result he has decided to invade this universe and bring it under his total control which, in his eyes, would save it. He also claims that his power comes from a mysterious being known as the Might Beyond the Mirror.
The Atom and the Justice League of America (Timeline) go in to confront these Extremists. The League goes head to head with Havok and his warriors but they escape to the country of Kravia. Once there, Havok takes over the government and bends the people to his will.
The JLA decide to fight Havok by empowering a rebel group of Kravians who have been hiding near the country’s border. With these rebels, the League manages to take down the Extremists. As a result, the rebel group retakes the government and Lord Havok is put in prison.
This storyline extends through issues #1-4 of Justice League of America Vol. 5. These issues are collected in Justice League of America Vol. 1: The Extremists (Review) or in Justice League of America: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 1.
Justice League of America: Heart of a Bastich
The Justice League of America (Timeline) discovers that Penn City, a small town in Pennsylvania, has been taken over by Nikos Aegeus. This villain is using the city to manufacture an arsenal of magic weapons which he is then selling to the highest bidder. His plan was inspired by his hatred of order and is powered by a vision from a mysterious being known as the Might Beyond the Mirror.
After hearing about this, Batman has every member of the JLA, except the Atom, storm the city and immediately begin fighting Aegeus’s forces. However, Aegeus’s weapons are powerful and are even able to temporarily put Lobo (Timeline) out of commission. Luckily, the Atom disobeyed Batman’s orders and accompanied them on the mission. He ends up knocking out Aegeus with a devastating punch, an action that essentially gives the JLA the victory.
In the aftermath, the JLA ensures the people of Penn City that they will be provided for in the future. In addition, they take in Xenos, a man who was forced to build Aegeus’s weapons but has now agreed to design tech for the JLA. Frost also tells Black Canary that the Atom may have found a cure for her heat-sickness.
This storyline extends through issues #5-6 of Justice League of America Vol. 5. These issues are collected in Justice League of America Vol. 1: The Extremists (Review) or in Justice League of America: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 1.
Justice League of America: Terrorstrike
Frost and the Atom go to a museum to investigate if a frozen fossil might help cure Frost’s heat-sickness. While there, they are attacked by another villain whose power is derived from the mysterious Might Beyond the Mirror. They defeat this villain but their investigation does not find a cure for Frost’s condition.
In the aftermath, Frost and Black Canary talk. Black Canary tells Frost that she notices a growing romance between Frost and the Atom. Frost says that even if there were something there, her heat-sickness would prevent her from telling the Atom about it.
This story is told in issue #7 of Justice League of America Vol. 5. This issue is collected in Justice League of America Vol. 2: Curse of the Kingbutcher (Review) or in Justice League of America: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 1.
Justice League of America: The Man from Monster Valley
An organization called S.K.U.L.L. has just infiltrated an excluded valley where a young man, named Makson, has been raised by monsters his whole life. Though the Justice League of America (Timeline) is able to stop them, they arrive too late to save Makson’s adoptive “parents”. Afterwards, they reintroduce Makson to society, where he learns that he is the heir to a fortune.
As a result, Makson hosts a gathering where he will be able to meet every member of his new family. However, Batman doubts his motives and starts an investigation. They Atom agrees with Batman’s doubts and helps him investigate. They discover that S.K.U.L.L. was funded by Makson’s family to find and kill Makson, thus allowing the rest of the family to take his fortune. Makson discovered this and is using his gathering to kill his new family. Luckily, he is stopped by the JLA, who return Makson to the wild and imprison the people responsible for the attempt on his life.
Afterwards, Lobo says he noticed the Atom flirting with Frost, though the Atom denies this.
This storyline extends through issues #8-9 of Justice League of America Vol. 5. These issues are collected in Justice League of America Vol. 2: Curse of the Kingbutcher (Review).
Justice League of America: Curse of the Kingbutcher
In the Ray’s hometown, numerous people are visited by the Might Beyond the Mirror in their dreams. When they wake up, the Might has granted a wish for them. Unfortunately, this has caught the attention of the Lords of Order, who have sent the Kingbutcher to undo these wishes. He is eventually stopped by most of the JLA (Timeline).
While this is happening, the Atom and Frost continue trying to find a cure for Frost’s heat sickness. They travel to the Mndawe Foundation in Africa for help but are unable to make any progress there. However, after returning home, Ryan’s computer finally succeeds in finding where Ray Palmer has gone.
This storyline extends through issues #10-11 of Justice League of America Vol. 5. These issues are collected in Justice League of America Vol. 2: Curse of the Kingbutcher (Review).
Justice League of America: Panic in the Microverse
The Atom, Frost, Lobo (Timeline), and Batman descend into the Microverse to find Ray Palmer. Once there, they are approached by a woman named Preon, who claims to have been working with Ray Palmer. She explains that the Microverse is dying and that she, Ray, and a scientist named Aron Aut were looking for a way to save it. Later, Aron Aut shows up and freezes Preon in time, claiming she was a traitor and a liar.
When the JLA (Timeline) and Aron eventually rediscover Ray Palmer, he explains that Aron Aut was actually the real traitor. Aron accompanied Ray and Preon on their mission to discover the source of the Microverse’s collapse only to turn on Ray once they discovered it. Aron is secretly part of a doomsday cult attempting to accelerate the death of the Microverse and was using Ray to advance his goals.
In the present, both Atoms and the rest of the JLA fight and eventually defeat Aron. They are also able to stop the death of the Microverse and, consequently, the death of the entire Multiverse. Ray Palmer decides to stay in the Microverse to continue to repair the damage there and also to be with his new love, Preon. Before departing, he tells the League that the near-death of the Microverse was not an accident, someone caused it (the artwork implies that this someone is Dr. Manhattan). He also tells Ryan that Ryan is a better Atom than he ever was and that he has a ton of potential to be a great hero.
During all of these events in the Microverse, Frost and the Atom have their first kiss. In addition, at one point, Frost loses control of her powers and accidentally kills a few villains, which Lobo witnesses.
This storyline extends through issues #12-17 of Justice League of America Vol. 5. These issues are collected in Justice League of America Vol. 3: Panic in the Microverse (Review).
Justice League of America: Surgical Strike
The members of the JLA (Timeline) are being interviewed by a mysterious individual who begins to sow doubt among them, something that is easier now that Batman is gone (due to his involvement in Dark Nights: Metal (Reading Order)). In the Ray, this doubt becomes so pronounced that he storms off and effectively quits the team.
Once this happens, it is revealed that the interviewer was actually the villainous Prometheus, whose latest goal is to destroy the JLA. He hacks the JLA’s base and seals everyone inside. He then subdues Frost and the Atom. Meanwhile, Afterthought, another villain, severely injures Black Canary and nearly defeats Lobo (Timeline).
Prometheus then begins talking to Vixen and threatens to kill her. However, while he does so, Black Canary is able to revive Frost, the Atom, and herself. The revived heroes are then able to take down Afterthought. Together, all of the heroes are able to defeat Prometheus.
In the aftermath of this attack, the JLA discuss how easily the Prometheus was able to sow doubt among the team. While discussing this, Lobo reveals that Frost killed people in the Microverse. The team is shocked to learn this and Frost feels worse than ever about her condition.
This storyline extends through issues #18-20 of Justice League of America Vol. 5. These issues are collected in Justice League of America Vol. 4: Surgical Strike (Review).
Justice League of America: The Light and the Warrior
The Ray is still in his hometown of Vanity, while the rest of the JLA (Timeline) deals with Frost’s recent admission. Ryan takes the news especially hard, since he is surprised that she wouldn’t tell him about what happened. However, he is still supportive and insists that he will be by her side no matter what.
Later, Frost has a dream where she is visited by the Might Beyond the Mirror. When she wakes, she discovers that her heat sickness has been cured.
This story is told in issue #21 of Justice League of America Vol. 5. These issues are collected in Justice League of America Vol. 4: Surgical Strike (Review).
Justice League of America: Deadly Fable
It is revealed that the Might Beyond the Mirror is an ancient monarch who was imprisoned by her own people. They did this because the Might’s rule was too harsh; she was only softened by her sister’s compassion. However, when she was imprisoned, her sister died of grief. Now, she believes that Caitlin Snow is the reincarnation of her dead sister and wants to rule the world alongside her. She showed Caitlin what her powers could do to the world and convinced her to accept a wish, which allowed the Might to break free of her imprisonment.
Now free, the Might easily defeats the JLA (Timeline) and puts them in chains. She then begins construction on a portal that will allow her to reach the realm of imagination, which she plans to conquer. However, upon activating the portal, its guardian, Promethea, appears and begins fighting the Might. This signals a change in the tide of battle, as the Ray rejoins the team and Vixen is able to channel the power of the JLA’s supporters. Then, Frost finally defeats the Might, an act that restores her heat sickness.
In the aftermath of the battle, Batman rejoins the team and tells them they have another world to save.
This storyline extends through issues #22-24 of Justice League of America Vol. 5. These issues are collected in Justice League of America Vol. 5: Deadly Fable (Review).
Milk Wars
On a higher dimension, a powerful corporation, called Retconn, attempts to sell the entire DC Universe to a potential client. In order to make the purchase more attractive, they attempt to homogenize the sensibilities of the universe by sanitizing many of the heroes. This results in brainwashed versions of the JLA and the Trinity that resemble society of the 1950s. In this reality, the JLA (Timeline) is the “Community League of Rhode Island” and their job is to police people’s actions to make sure they comply with their sensibilities.
Luckily, interference from the Doom Patrol helps break the JLA out of their spell. In addition, the actions of Mother Panic and Shade the Changing Girl help break Batman and Wonder Woman out of their spells. All of these characters are then brought together by Cave Carson to defeat Retconn. Together, they use Flex Mentallo, Crazy Jane, and Vixen’s powers to reboot reality and restore it back to how it was.
The Justice League of America’s role in this storyline extends through JLA/Doom Patrol Special #1 and Doom Patrol/JLA Special #1. These issues are collected in Milk Wars (Review).
Justice League of America: New Life and Death
Though the Might Beyond the Mirror is defeated, the Justice League of America’s (Timeline) headquarters is destroyed. Vixen leads the rebuilding effort and explains that the new building will also have a new purpose. In addition, the Ray’s new friend, Aztek, joins the team.
At this time, Batman and Black Canary leave for a bit to attempt to bring life back to Angor, homeworld of the Extremists. They are successful with this mission.
While this is going on, Lobo (Timeline) decides to leave the team, since he helped defeat the Might like he promised he would. Before he leaves, the Atom says a heartfelt goodbye and tells Lobo to “Frag [himself].” Lobo chuckles and returns the friendly retort before leaving.
Elsewhere, Chronos, a time-traveling villain, decides to return to the past and bother his old enemy, Ray Palmer.
This storyline extends through issues #25-26 of Justice League of America Vol. 5. These issues are collected in Justice League of America Vol. 5: Deadly Fable (Review).
Justice League of America: Dawn of Time
Thousands of years before the present, a god landed on Earth and imbued the planet with the very idea of superheroes. This point of contact is what allowed superheroes to exist and is now buried underneath the JLA’s (Timeline) base. Chronos has learned this secret history and has decided to travel back in time and stop the god of superheroes before he is ever able to inspire the future.
To do so, Chronos storms the JLA’s base and easily dispatches the team. They follow him as he travels to the past but find he has already amassed an army there. Using this army, he holds off the JLA and manages to kill the god of superheroes. However, the Atom is able to steal Chronos’s time-controlling hourglass and send Chronos back to the present, where Lobo (Timeline) is waiting for him. After this, Aztek uses the hourglass to heal the god of superheroes’ wounds and bring him back to life. The god of superheroes is then able to make contact with the Earth and restore history to the way it once was.
The JLA then travels back to the present where they make a huge announcement. They decide to disband the JLA and become the Justice Foundation instead. This new group is set to become a “superhuman think tank” that will attempt to create medicines and technology to help push society into the future.
This storyline extends through issues #27-29 of Justice League of America Vol. 5. These issues are collected in Justice League of America Vol. 5: Deadly Fable (Review).
Justice League: Justice Lost
It is revealed that most of the heroes invited to the Justice Foundation were distracted by the cataclysmic events taking place in Justice League: No Justice (Review). This indicates that the heroes will continue to serve as heroes, but it also seems to indicate that the Justice Foundation has ended before it began.
This story is told in issue #43 of Justice League Vol. 3. This issue is collected in Justice League Vol. 7: Justice Lost (Review).
Justice League: No Justice
Heroes and villains from across the world of DC Comics have been kidnapped by Brainiac to fight the Omega Titans, four powerful entities representing the forces of Mystery, Entropy, Wisdom, and Wonder. In response, Brainiac splits up the characters into four teams corresponding with each of these forces. The Atom is placed on Team Wisdom.
From here, the Atom helps the team as they attempt to save the plant of Colu. Though they are unable to save this planet, they learn more about the Omega Titans there and bring this knowledge back to Earth. On Earth, they fight the Omega Titans again and are able to defeat them this time.
This storyline extends through issues #1-4 of Justice League: No Justice. These issues are collected in Justice League: No Justice (Review).