CBR

Debuting in 1940, Al Pratt, the Golden Age Atom, had an interesting back story. 1 / 8

The character debuted in All-American Comics #19, as a short guy who got picked on. 2 / 8

He was trained by a boxer to be so strong that he basically had super-strength. 3 / 8

The next issue, he adopted a costume and the Mighty Atom was born! 4 / 8

But look, there already WAS a Mighty Atom! Joe Greenstein, a short circus strongman. 5 / 8

Joe Greenstein had an odd life. He actually survived getting shot in the forehead! 6 / 8

He attacked a local American Nazi Party meeting and beat up 20 Nazis! 7 / 8

Greenstein was still working in his 80s. He was likely the inspiration for Al Pratt. 8 / 8