You shouldn’t be feeding your rabbit many carrots in any respect, no matter what Bugs might say. And but, there may be one rabbit–fictional, clearly–who not solely eats them however thrives on them.
Atomic Rabbit #1 was printed by Charlton in 1955 on the peak of America’s fascination with nuclear energy and concern of the supposedly immoral affect of comics. The latter state of affairs explains this notice that seems on the e book’s first web page.
It’s healthful!!
Al Fago, who identifies himself as the chief editor, additionally created, drew, and, wrote this comedian, so that is totally his child. Let’s see if he can reside as much as his promise of delivering “the highest quality of wholesome entertainment.”
Our first story, “The Discovery,” begins in Rabbitville, the place The Fox (is “The” his first identify?) is the mayor. Looks like which may current a battle of curiosity, however anyway, a poor ravenous rabbit involves city and begs a carrot from the previous mayor’s spouse.
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However there’s one thing funky about this carrot.
The as-yet-nameless rabbit instantly features superstrength and the flexibility to fly, each of which he makes use of to beat up The Fox, run him out of city, and restore the earlier mayor.
Look, I do know I used to be kidding a few battle of curiosity earlier, however we don’t have proof that The Fox wasn’t duly elected or that he’s completed something fallacious but other than being a jerk. We don’t even know that the ex-mayor wasn’t, I don’t know, caught embezzling broccoli. I don’t name utilizing your superpowers to stage a coup very “wholesome,” however there’s one other Atomic Rabbit story on this problem. Perhaps Fago will do higher in spherical two.
The second story, “Just Water Over the Dam,” begins with this panel.
Oh, good, the untrained, superpowered rabbit has full presidential immunity. So healthful!
Anyway, Atomic Rabbit goes to Washington with soil samples from the backyard the place the power-giving carrots develop to seek out out what’s happening right here. After consulting with President Eisenhower, AR learns that the soil is laced with uranium.
That’s it. Nobody asks the place the uranium got here from, or why it solely affected Atomic Rabbit, or if there may be unwanted side effects. It’s taken with no consideration that this radioactive substance–and Problem 2 confirms it’s U-235, the kind of uranium utilized in bombs–is innocent at worst and downright benevolent at finest.
AR makes use of his powers and a present of vegetable seeds from the president to supply for the residents of Rabbitville, who’re brief on meals for some motive. It’s by no means defined why. I assume we’re imagined to blame The Fox, an concept that features credibility after we see how mad The Fox will get when the rabbits rejoice AR. The Fox recruits his younger sons to attempt to sabotage the vegetable discipline. Atomic Rabbit places an finish to that proper fast.
Youngster endangerment! Healthful!!
Clearly, I had some enjoyable clowning on what the Fifties considered “wholesome entertainment,” however Atomic Rabbit is a enjoyable little bit of fluff. It’s at all times fascinating to me how modern problems with concern or curiosity–on this case, nuclear energy–discover their means into the weirdest locations.
Atomic Rabbit ran for eleven points, from 1955 to 1958, earlier than being rebranded Atomic Bunny and persevering with for an additional eight points. The concept of a uranium-powered animal was apparently a profitable one for Fago, who additionally created Atomic Mouse in 1953 and Atom the Cat in 1957, each for Charlton.
So keep in mind: if anybody ever tells you there may be uranium in your yard, plant some veggies and chow down. Nothing unhealthy will occur!
