Captain Atom Annual # 1 1988 NM-

Captain Atom Annual # 1, released in 1988 (cover-dated 1988), is a pivotal Copper Age issue that explores government corruption and the dangerous consequences of the project that created Captain Atom. Written by Cary Bates and Greg Weisman, the oversized annual is primarily known for introducing the darker "shadow" of the protagonist: Major Force. 

 "The Dark Side of the Force" 

The story follows the military’s attempt to replicate the experiment that gave Nathaniel Adam (Captain Atom) his powers. 

• The New Subject: Under the oversight of General Wade Eiling, a sociopathic soldier named Clifford Zmeck is bonded to a different variant of the alien alloy used on Captain Atom.
• The Public Hoax: Eiling orchestrates a public debut for Zmeck as the new hero Major Force, using an staged alien attack to gain public trust.
• Reckless Heroics: Major Force's lack of concern for collateral damage leads to catastrophic results, including the crash of a rescue helicopter and the destruction of a tenement building during a hostage crisis.
• The Confrontation: Captain Atom publicly denounces Major Force's violent methods. A brutal battle ensues between the two atomic-powered beings, ending with Captain Atom’s victory and his decision to sever all ties with Eiling. 
• Writers: Cary Bates and Greg Weisman.
• Artists: Penciler Pat Broderick and Inker Bob Smith.
• Editor: Denny O'Neil.