War of the Realms: Agents of Atlas #1 is a book that has been on my personal spec list for a while. Normally this is just that key that sits, waiting for more of its original characters to get news. Well, maybe it's time we look at this key another way.
With Shang-Chi in the making, and Silk's fanbase continuing to grow rapidly, there is now a chance for us to see something like "The New Agents of Atlas" hitting some sort of screen. The "Team" angle like Avengers and Edge of Spider-verse being as big of hits as they are, this is another big group up that we could see soon.
With that in mind, there are a ton of characters to keep an eye out for in the upcoming couple of years. Agents of Atlas #1 is the first appearance of Aero, Luna Snow, Wave, and Crescent and Io. So let's get to know some of the Atlas team.
Aero (Lei Ling)
Aero is a great place to start with Agents of Atlas. Born Lei Ling, Aero is possibly the most popular of the "Not-so-known" Atlas team members. Having had her powers since she was little, the Aero we get is already quite powerful and accomplished as a hero. She was taken to well enough that she was even given her own solo series.
Aero #1 is another great pickup for any fan of the character. This is a very new comic (2019), so most of the original covers are very low on the picking pole right now. So if Aero hits a big break, this series will also get hot.
With 28 appearances and her own title under her belt, Aero is slowly moving into gem territory. All she really needs is a gate into the MCU. Or a couple of stunning appearances in bigger titles, and she'll be a breakout character in no time.
Luna Snow (Seol Hee)
Miss Seol Hee was caught up in an accident that gave her Cryokinetic abilities, allowing her to become the hero Luna Snow. Using different colored ice for fighting or healing, Luna is able to defend, attack, medic, and even sing on stage if needed. Though that last one is really just a talent.
There is a second printing of the Agents of Atlas #1, featuring Hee on the front. Raw copies are very cheap right now, maxing at about $10. The virgin variant however is harder to find outside a slab at the moment. A 9.8 of which is running at the $160 mark.
Outside of War of the Realms, Luna has only been in one other title, Future Fight Firsts: Luna Snow #1. However, she has made a total of 14 appearances thus far. So Luna will need a bit more time on the page if she is to be noticed. That being said, her ice powers are pleasant to look at, colorful and could be super easy to CGI, which is a great trifecta for being on screen.
Wave (Pearl Pagan)
Wave is another big name I hope to see soon in the future. Pearl Pagan much like her fellows, Luna and Aero, can control an element at will. Using her thoughts she can make water take shape, use it to speed herself up, and much more. This makes her a versatile addition to the Atlas team.
Pearl was the feature on the Suayan Variant cover, giving us a look at how she utilizes her gear and her full costume. This is an exclusive variant, and as such is hitting almost $300 for a 9.8. The virgin variant is a little harder to find at the moment; however, if you can, it is around $400 for a raw copy.
Much like Luna Snow, Wave has only made 20 appearances so far, so she needs just a bit more traction and some fans behind her. Though she did also have a small part in Aero #1, so at least she's starting to move outside her original issue a little.
Crescent (Dan Bi) and Io
A ten-year-old taekwondo prodigy, Dan Bi forms a bond with a bear spirit that resides in an ancient mask. With this newfound partner, Crescent protects Korea from those who would harm it. Crescent wears Io like a living suit of armor, giving her more power, durability, and reach. Utilizing Io's power, Crescent's martial arts are empowered and allow her to take on heroes and villains alike.
This duo is pretty unique in the current superhero atmosphere in Marvel. Here we have a very human character paired with a supernatural entity. Rather than just having innate power or an accident-related backstory; which I think adds a lot to this character's overall persona.
Crescent has made a total of 12 appearances since her original, one of them being in Future Fight Firsts: Crescent and Io #1. This is a little low for a character to really be considered a gem. But this could always change, as we saw Aero get a solo title a full four years after her inception. Either way, I love this duo and really hope to see more of them going forward.
Final Remarks:
While these heroes are certainly new to the game, they by no means lack the aptitude to start snowballing. Now is the perfect time for the Atlas team to get more traction. Since we have Shang-Chi coming in the MCU, we could see more Asia based heroes popping up soon. Maybe not immediately with Shang-Chi, but it opens doors for these characters to step through. Look what a couple years did for the Young Avengers #1, or Ultimate Fallout #4.
