Twice-Told-Tales: Men of the Atom Into the Cosmos

Physicists Ray Palmer and Al Pratt were obsessed with scientific discoveries, built upon their previous exposure to life-altering technology. Ray harnessed the ability to shrink to microscopic proportions through use of a white dwarf star fragment housed within his specially designed belt and palm controls. Al harnessed superhuman strength through exposure from Tholium radiation while battling a supervillain. On these occasions, neither man was in full command of their mental and moral attributes, which made them brilliant scientists and legendary heroes.

When another physicist scientist published a paper duplicating research simultaneously discovered by Ray, which he was about to present at a scientific conference, he experienced a mental breakdown. Seeking a new scientific breakthrough, Palmer became obsessed to the point where he harnessed his shrinking technology to pierce the barrier between his own universe of Earth-One, and a mysterious subatomic Microcosmos. When his best friend Hawkman tried to stop him, Palmer attacked him. When then confronted by his Justice League allies, Ray as the Atom disappeared into this new realm, with the Leaguers following him. There, both he and his allies lost their memories aside from vague recollections. Hawkman recalled his Thanagarian origin, and yet also felt a connect to ancient Egypt when he saw some writings in the subatomic world of Goltha. Together with native inhabitants led by the Wanderer and her Siren Sisterhood, the Justice League defeat the oppressive ruler Kass-andre and her warriors, who had used the mindless gigantic Atom as a weapon to subdue the world's residents for a century in their time. The League returned to Earth-One, with Ray regaining his sanity.

When the Ultra-Humanite exposed his arch-enemy Superman to the mind-altering river Koehaha, also known as the Stream of Ruthless which removes morality from any who drown in its water, he then guided Superman into doing the same with some of his Justice Society allies. Among these were the Atom and Hawkman, as six Society members began to unleash their sinister desires upon their world of Earth-Two. Al Pratt as the Atom sought to expose himself to further Tholium radiation to increase his superhuman attibutes, although he was opposed by his step-son Albert "Nuklon" Rothstein. Hawkman likewise was obsessed with uncovering secrets of ancient Egyptian museum pieces, although he was likewise opposed by his son Hector "Silver Scarab" Hall. Eventually, the effects of the stream began to wear off, with the Justice Society returning to Koehaha to submit to is toxic influence once more. This was thwarted when their old foe Brain Wave pulled them, their children of Infinity, Inc., and Ultra-Humanite into inter-dimensional Limbo between universes. There, Ultra was finally defeated and the Society regained their sanity, allowing them to return to Earth-Two. Although the Justice Society didn't encounter sub-atomic beings during this adventure, one of those present in Wonder Woman had years earlier battled Queen Atomia and her minions on a subatomic world mirroring Goltha.