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The Atomik Angels comic book is peculiar in more way than one. A ton of American comics find their way into my hands, but in this case a Canadian-published comic proved itself to be an unusual rascal. The irony is that Atomik Angels, as it says on the covers, are “supporters of Intrepid Air and Space Museum”. And where is that museum? Not in Canada, that is all you need to know! I told you it is a peculiar comic, didn’t I?
The story is that a comic hero gang is secretly hiding out in the bottom deck of the Intrepid aircraft carrier, also known as the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. This makes the story take place in New York City. The Atomik Angels are sometimes referred to simply as “Angels”. The teams is of all women, so it feels suspiciously reminiscent of Charlie’s Angels. In the first issue, rumors are discussed about the Empire State Building dispersing toxic gas.
None of this really matters because Atomik Angels does not have a lot of character development, nor does it make itself stand out compared to other super hero teams, such as the Avengers. What makes it worth reading (and collecting) is its conspicuous relationship to the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. It was also written before September 11th 2001, which since then has made discussion of NYC terrorist attacks a no-no. It was published in 1996, at the edge of the comic book industry crash. Be sure to check it out (Affiliate Link) for all of these reasons. Oh, and Fairchild makes a cameo appearance for no reason.
Atomik Angels Might Be the Only Comic That Treats a Museum Like a Secret Lair
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the sheer audacity of Atomik Angels. Not because it’s groundbreaking, or even particularly good, but because it’s one of the few comics that treats a floating museum like it’s the Batcave. The Intrepid Air and Space Museum is a real place, filled with Cold War jets and school field trips, and this comic decided it would be the perfect hideout for a team of all-female superheroes. That’s not just bold, that’s delightfully unhinged.
And let’s not ignore the fact that this comic was published in Canada, yet it’s obsessed with New York City. It’s like if a French comic book set its entire plot inside a Cracker Barrel. The Atomik Angels are Canadian in origin, but narratively squatting in one of America’s most iconic military museums. That’s not just cross-border storytelling, that’s cultural trespassing with flair.
Now, the comic itself doesn’t exactly reinvent the genre. The characters are thinly sketched, the plot is a bit of a fever dream, and the dialogue feels like it was written by someone who once watched Charlie’s Angels on mute. But that’s part of the charm. This isn’t a polished Marvel title with a billion-dollar movie deal waiting in the wings. This is a scrappy, pre-9/11, mid-crash indie comic that somehow got Fairchild to show up for a cameo like she took a wrong turn on the way to Gen¹³.
So no, Atomik Angels won’t change your life. But it might make you laugh, scratch your head, and wonder how a Canadian comic ended up using a U.S. aircraft carrier as its superhero HQ. And honestly, that’s more than you can say for half the books on the shelf.