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I just can't picture a scenario where back in 1953, a couple of 10 year-olds were standing around at the local drug store saying: "Ya know, I'd really like to try those new Atlas issues with the Torch, Cap and Subby but, ya know, the covers are just too dark."


Of course the kids would never have said that. But faced with literally hundreds of books would the dark colors of the Atlas war, crime, horror, and superheroes covers have drawn the kids to them? I wouldn't think so. For crime, war, and horror, maybe. But to contrast the dark Atlas superhero covers with the DC superhero covers of the era (or the still recent Captain Marvel family covers) and expect ten year olds, who would have little or NO knowledge of Subbie, Cap, and Zippo, to pick those books over DC is unlikely. Why go for these dark, confusing covers when you knew what you were getting for your dime at DC? The covers are not just dark, they're ineffective in grabbing a child's attention amid a sea of comic book covers.

Again, the red, white and blue of Captain America's costume is the one I would have used on the covers. That would have gotten attention. Before a kid buys a comic he has to be interested in it enough to pick it up and look through it or already know it (as the Superman family) and like it. The covers Atlas used were simply not good enough to attract the kid's eye consistantly.

And again we have to go with the title, "Young Men." What the heck is that gonna mean to ten year olds? The book had already had, what, three different formats? If they recognize the title and think, "Oh, yuck, that's the one about cars." Then Subbie, Cap, and the Torch have NO chance to attract the new buyer.