Atom Eve

Atom Eve
Bonus pin-up of Atom Eve from Invincible #23 by Khary Randolph
Publication information
Publisher	Image Comics
First appearance	Invincible #1 (January 2003)
Created by	Robert Kirkman Cory Walker
In-story information
Alter ego	Samantha Eve Wilkins
Team affiliations	Teen Team
Abilities	Control over atomic particles

Atom Eve (real name: Samantha Eve Wilkins) is a fictional superhero, who appears in the comic book Invincible, published by Image Comics. Her first appearance was in Invincible #1 (January 2003).

Fictional character biography

Atom Eve was created by the government to be a weapon. At birth, she was switched with a stillborn, and sent home with her birth-parents so as to avoid the government's seizing of her. She was a prodigy in science and received a scholarship to a prestigious school. Her scientific ability turned out to be an early manifestation of her powers. A man approached her one day, warning Eve that her powers may be her downfall and encouraged her to never to use them again^[1].

Prior to the first issue of Invincible, Atom Eve joins the Teen Team as an after-school superhero. She soon starts a friendship with Invincible after the two meet saving a shipment of video game consoles from a Mauler twin^[2]. Eve and Mark are thought by many to be in a romantic relationship, despite their protests that they are "just friends"^[3]. After discovering that Rex Splode, her boyfriend, is cheating on her with Dupli-Kate, she resigns from the Teen Team^[4].

Although she does not join the new Guardians of the Globe along with her former Teen Team teammates, she continues as an active superhero for some time. She eventually decides that her talents are being wasted on superheroics and that she could do more good elsewhere. Subsequently she quits superhero work and moves to Africa to engage in aid work.^[5] She has come out of "retirement" in response to large threats, like the cosmic villain Omnipotus and a Martian invasion.^[6]

In Invincible #34, Invincible meets a version of Atom Eve from 15 years in the future who confesses her undying love for him. She instructs him to either tell her that he loves her or that he hates or doesn't want anything to do with her romantically, so that she could get on with her life.^[7] While Invincible is recovering from the incident with the Reanimen, he flies to meet Eve, whom he had not talked to since the fight with Angstrom Levy. After sharing a friendly hug and an awkward pause afterwards, they share a passionate kiss. Immediately afterward, however, Mark apologizes and voices his guilt at going behind his girlfriend's back, and is relieved to be called to fight off an alien invasion.^[8]

After hearing that Invincible broke up with his girlfriend, Eve shows up at his dorm asking, "So -- are we dating or what?"^[9], but leaves without a word when he tells Eve about his encounter with her future self.

In issue 50, the situation is resolved after Invincible returns from his encounter with Cecil Stedman. He and Eve reconcile and kiss, suggesting that they are now a couple.

By issue 58, Eve and Invincible are in a serious relationship, having consummated their love for each other after a date that literally spanned the globe. Eve has since moved back in with her parents so she would be closer to Invincible but their strictness as well as Mark's wanting to spend more time away from his home has caused them to want to live together in their own home. Their goal, however, is somewhat strained by their lack of money.

Eve takes it upon herself to find a solution to both their money problems. Fashioning a business suit for herself, Eve visits and leaves Stronghold Penitentiary secretly. When Invincible approaches her after hearing about her visit, Eve tells him her plan, which she was saving as a surprise: Eve had been visiting Stronghold and other such scenes where other super-villain battles have taken place (not shown but rather alluded to in her dialogue) in the hopes of creating a super-protection service wherein Invincible would be paid to be on-call to protect certain locations from threats, ultimately being paid to do what he would normally be doing for free. With Eve in charge of the business end of the venture, she calculates that they would earn enough money in four months to afford their own place. Although, the business has yet to be established officially, Invincible is quite surprised by her resourcefulness and agrees.

Following the events of the disastrous Invincible War, Eve is in a coma and remains that way for most of the aftermath. Once she awakens, she learns of Mark's battle with the Viltrumite named Conquest and insists on joining the fight. Cecil agrees, mostly because he is short on allies. Eve dons her costume and flies to the scene where she tries to contain Conquest with her force fields. This proves ineffective when Conquest gravely injures her by punching a hole in her stomach.

Eve appears to die, but suddenly recovers as Invincible continues to battle with Conquest. Releasing a bolt of energy, she significantly injures Conquest, and Invincible is able to finish the battle and put a stop to the Viltrumite's takeover of Earth.

Her recovery is explained as a result of massive trauma temporarily disabling the blocks that prevent her from altering organic matter, as seen in Invincible Presents: Atom Eve #2. Atom Eve made unconscious "slight improvements" during her recovery, resulting in a larger bust.^[10]. That same evening, Eve and Mark make love.

As Mark continues to assist in the cleanup, Eve suggests that they expand their ranks for their job program, believing Oliver would be suitable candidate to join their group. Later that night, Eve takes a pregnancy test that reads positive upon completion.

Powers and abilities

Atom Eve is able to manipulate matter at the sub-atomic level by sheer will power. Organic (not animal life, however) and inorganic matter can be changed into anything she desires. She can augment normally unhealthy food such as cakes and other sweets into nutritious foods as well as re-arrange the environment. Her costume is created by altering her clothes to fashion her Atom Eve suit. She can also fly by lowering the density of the air around her as well as creating force fields.^[11]

A downside to Atom Eve's transmutation powers is that she absorbs any unused atoms into her body, which must later be eliminated from her system as waste. She claims that on days when she uses her powers a lot she can "go to the bathroom" six or seven times.^[12]

Notes

1. ^ Origin story from the back of Invincible #25
2. ^ Invincible #1
3. ^ Invincible #4
4. ^ Invincible #6 & 8
5. ^ Invincible #19-20
6. ^ Invincible #39-41
7. ^ Invincible #37
8. ^ Invincible #38
9. ^ Invincible #43
10. ^ Invincible #65
11. ^ Invincible #25 (August 2005)
12. ^ Official Handbook of the Invincible Universe #1 (Dec 2006)