Comic Title: Atom #22
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Dec/Jan 1965
On Sale Date: October 7, 1965 Copyright Date October 7, 1965
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1965

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

Title: "Bat-Knights of Darkness"
Pages: 24

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 #40; next appearance in Batman #177)

Supporting Character(s)

• Jean Loring (last appearance in Atom #21; next appearance in Atom #23)

Villain(s)

• Eddie Gordon (a thief; next appearance in Atom #30)

Other Character(s)

• The Bat-Knights and the Elvarans (Olan Parr named; next appearance in Atom #30)
• Avery Sanders and Slim Peters (a courier and a photographer; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Jewel carrier Avery Sanders is robbed aboard a train by a race of little people riding bats. After the robbery no one will believe his story, so he turns to Jean Loring for help. Ray Palmer learns about the case from Jean and investigates as the Atom. He has his own encounter with the Bat-Knights, but after a fierce battle he loses. Later Atom sets another trap for the Bat-Knights. Though the knights escape him again, he captures their leader Olan Parr.

When Parr is questioned, the Atom learns that the Knights are from the race of Elvarans who live in the caves where Ray Palmer first became the Atom. The Elvarans are acting under the hypnotic influence of Eddie Gordon, a small-time crook hiding in the caves. The sound of Gordon's gun causes the little people to obey his every command.

The effect of Gordon's influence has worn off of Olan Parr, so he returns to the caves with the Atom. Working together, they disarm Gordon and seal up the cave. Atom turns Gordon over to the authorities and creates a friendship with the Elvarans.