Is he about to trip that guy?
Armageddon: The Alien Agenda #2
DC Comics (December, 1991)
“Rome Alone” WRITER: Johnathan Peterson PENCILER: Mike Netzer INKER: Joe Rubinstein COLORIST: Tom McCraw LETTERER: Albert De Guzman ASSISTANT EDITOR: Kelly Puckett EDITOR: Denny O’Neil
Captain Atom, unable to summon his full armor or powers, is taken in by Romans who believe him to be both a sorcerer and a Christian (which shows how little they know about Christians) and the detonator some magical device he owns. When adrenalin allows him to summon up enough power to win the games against the lions he earns the praise of Nero himself. Meanwhile, the aliens trick Monarch into being put into cryogenic stasis to await the time Nathaniel shows up, still convinced he’s in league with some unnamed enemy. One of the alien soldiers wakes up instead to find the protective dome now houses a city of worshipers, the truth about the past now lost to them. He teleports to Rome but again Captain Atom can summon enough power to tear open the detonator, killing the alien and plunging Nat right in front of a stampede!
What they got right: One of the things I remember liking about this series is following the cultural development of the aliens kept inside the dome over the centuries. Also, seeing Captain Atom deal with his new surroundings was interesting.
What they got wrong: Wouldn’t the Romans know that Christians, especially in that time period, renounced magic and witchcraft and stuff? Or that the Christian symbol doesn’t look that much like the symbol Captain Atom bears (for some reason on his chest despite not being able to summon his armor, but that may be more telling of how little I know of Captain Atom). It only vaguely resembles a cross. Also, the exploding power of the detonator causes Rome to burn and Nero demands his violin because his city is so bright now thanks to the flames. (While that last part is common in portrayals of Nero, he still comes off as kind of nuts in this story as he dances around with the detonator before using it to accidentally invent bowling, but he doesn’t think that will go anywhere.) It always bugs me when they try to explain historical mysteries with time travel and/or space aliens, but at least it’s not trying to blame them for some advancement of society that we know has a genuine source.
Recommendation: I’m still enjoying this miniseries and next issue some of the DCU’s Old West characters are going to drop by. That alone should be worth checking out.
BW Media Spotlight 
The Roman rulers and officials liked to blame Christians for everything. The Roman Empire viewed Christians as “scapegoats”. And from what I’ve learned about Emperor Nero, he was a sicko! Nero and Caligula were probably the most depraved emperors in the Roman Empire’s history.
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