In his first appearance in Space Adventures #33, Captain Atom’s true identity isn’t entirely revealed. He is simply referred to as “Captain Adam, the Air Force career man who knew more about rocketry, missiles, and the universe than any man alive… a specialist of the missile age, a trained, dedicated soldier who was a physics prodigy at eight, a chemist, a ballistics genius! In short, Captain Adam was an invaluable space-age soldier even before that memorable day at Cape Canaveral, Florida…”
In the very next issue, a General refers to him as “Captain Adams,” but in the panel immediately following, he is referred to as “Captain Allen Adam.”
Space Adventures #34 (1960)
And so began the mystery that was Captain Atom’s secret identity. Often in those Charlton books he would be referred to as Allen Adams. Just as often he would be Allen Adam. It is pretty clear from the first appearance that Joe Gill and Steve Ditko intended for him to be Allen Adam (Captain Adam and Captain Atom sound virtually the same when spoken aloud), but continuity was not an important part of Charlton Comics in those days.
In 1982, the character appeared in an issue of Charlton Bullseye written by Dan Reed and Benjamin Smith. In this comic he was referred to as “Colonel John Adam.” This version of Captain Atom never reappeared.
Charlton Bullseye #7 (1982)
Captain Atom had a brief mention in The History of the DC Universe Book Two in 1986. There he was first referred to as “Nathaniel Adam.” The picture used with this entry was of the Bronze Age Captain Atom, but the text gives the origin of the Modern Age Captain Atom.
The History of the DC Universe Book Two (1986)
The next year, DC Comics launched a new Captain Atom series written by Cary Bates with art by Pat Broderick. This new Modern Age Captain Atom was named Nathaniel Christopher Adam.
Captain Atom #1 (1987)
However, confusing matters even further, his civilian identity was Cameron Scott. This fake identity was established by the U.S. government to cover up the fact that Nathaniel Adam was still alive and serving as a super-spy super-hero.
Captain Atom #2 (1987)
In later appearances of the Bronze and Silver Age Captain Atom in DC Comics his civilian identity would sometimes also be referred to as “Nathaniel Adam” or even “N. Christopher Adam.” The Adams thing still hung over his head, though. In Convergence: Blue Beetle #2 (by Scott Lobdell and Yishan Li), he is referred to as “Adams” despite calling him Adam in the previous issue (mistake or intentional nod to Charlton Comics?).
Convergence: Blue Beetle #1
Convergence: Blue Beetle #2
When Captain Atom appeared in DC’s animated universe (in such shows as Justice League Unlimited and Young Justice), he was Nathaniel Adams. I don’t know if this was a mistake or an intentional way to set the DC Animated Universe Captain Atom apart from the Modern Age Captain Atom. In the spin-off comics he is also referred to as “Adams.”
Young Justice #9 (2011) – by Greg Weisman, Kevin Hopps, and Christopher Jones
The New 52 Captain Atom was also named Nathaniel Adam. However, in The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #15 by Dan Jurgens, he appeared to be ripped apart, and his particles were spread out across time and space. Part of his essence ended up in the far future and found a home in Legion Lost as Nathaniel Adym of the Science Police.
Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #15 (2013)
To confuse the issue even more, when Captain Atom was to be relaunched in 2005, his last name was to again be Adams. Although the relaunch was changed and the character was renamed Breach, at least twice in the first issue Major Tim Zanetti was referred to as “Major Adams.”
Breach #1 (2005) – by Bob Harras and Marcos Martin
When Captain Atom appeared in Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s The Multiversity: Pax Americana, his civilian identity was once again Allen Adam.
The Multiversity: Pax Americana #1 (2015)
Splitting Atoms 