Comic Title: Atom #18
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Apr/May 1965
On Sale Date: February 4, 1965 Newsstand Date February 4, 1965
Source: House Ad, 80 Page Giant #8, Page 40

Copyright Date February 4, 1965
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1965

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Circulation: 265691
Editor: Julius Schwartz

Title: "The Hole-in-the-Wall Lawman"
Pages: 14

Feature(s):
Atom (Ray Palmer of Earth-1)

Writer: Gardner F. Fox
Penciller: Gil Kane
Inker: Sid Greene

Reprinted In:
Showcase Presents:The Atom Vol. 2 TPB (2008)

Feature Character(s)

• Atom (last appearance in Justice League of America #34; next appearance in Atom #18)

Supporting Character(s)

• Jean Loring (last appearance in Atom #17; next appearance in Atom #18)

Villain(s)

• The Black Phantom (a jewel thief; no further appearances)
• Two unnamed safecrackers (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Professor Morton Oldham (a scientist; no further appearances)
• A police detective (no further appearances)

Comments:
The Atom's body is filled with residual chronal energy left over from his last trip through the Time Pool in the second story of Atom #17.

Synopsis:
The Atom stalks a jewel thief known as the Black Phantom inside a wall safe. He apprehends two crooks trying to rob the safe, but neither is the Black Phantom. The real Phantom has stolen an atomic explosive. Police remain convinced that the Phantom will strike the safe, so Atom hides in the safe again.

Residual chronal energy from his Time Pool journeys cause the Atom to relive his day over again. Only once during the day does he feel the influence of the chronal energy dissipate. That night the Black Phantom strikes. Atom captures him, but the crook reveals that the bomb he stole is set to go off if the police don't release him. Atom deduces that radiation from the bomb cancelled the chronal energy in his body. Atom is able to locate and deactivate the bomb before it explodes.