Earlier Thursday we took a closer look at one of the upcoming limited series launching from Brave New World - Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters. Now we’re going to take a closer look at the only ongoing “BNW” title – the July-debuting The All-New Atom by writer Gail Simone and artists John Byrne and Trevor Scott (with covers by Ariel Olivetti).

Newsarama caught up with series editor Mike Carlin Thursday for a brief chat about the new title, and DC sent along some preview pages to gussy the whole thing up.

First, let’s take a look at what DC had to say about the new, series…

”The startling adventures of the new Atom begin in this series based on concepts developed by comics superstar Grant Morrison, written by Gail Simone (VILLAINS UNITED) with Art by John Byrne (ACTION COMICS) and Trevor Scott (THE AUTHORITY) and gorgeous covers by Ariel Olivetti (SPACE GHOST)!

Strange things have been happening in Ivy Town since Ray Palmer disappeared. In fact, it appears that the the whole town's been experimented on for decades. Enter Ryan Choi — the young hotshot professor who's filling the empty slot on Ivy University's teaching staff... and who inadvertently ends up filling the old Atom's super-heroic shoes!

Can Choi make a difference in a town more creepy and mysterious than anyone ever realized? And can he live up to the towering legend of his predecessor?

Mike Carlin: Hadn't heard 'em called "black notebook creations"... not sure what kind of notebook Grant uses... but yes, this is one of several series that Grant supplied high concepts and springboards for - that he simply wouldn't have enough time to write himself.

NRAMA: Do you recall, did this concept come from Grant as a detailed, fully formed outline/proposal, or simply one of the brief, brilliant germs of a concept that suggested possibilities? If the latter, do you recall what the "hook" for this new series was?

MC: This proposal was a fleshed out outline of ten or so pages that included the character of the new Atom and several supporting players... as well as a passel of possible storylines. And with Grant there's always a "hook"... and this time it was the idea that the series should be a hybrid of cutting edge sci-fi adventure mixed with a Twin Peaks-kind of weirdness in Ivy Town itself. This we liked!

NRAMA: How about how Gail Simone was chosen to write this series? Was there anything specific about Morrison's concepts and/or Gail's particular talents that made her the best choice for this series.

MC: Gail and I had done a couple of storylines together (Rose & Thorn, the current JLA: Classified series)... though we've been Internet friends for a few years... and we have long wanted to do some ongoing work together. Gail was joining DC exclusively... I had some openings in my schedule... so that was a start.

But specifically, Gail had done a pitch for revising another character in the DC Universe that I had read and liked - it was passed on for various logistical reasons - but several of the concepts and tone were eerily up the same alley as what Grant had proposed for Ivy Town.

So it was a match made in Twin Peaks!

NRAMA: Speaking of Ivy Town, the solicitation copy also suggests it is as much of a "character" as anyone else in the series. You already made the comparison to Twin Peaks, so to draw another analogy, this is sort of in the tradition of say Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sunnydale – i.e. Ivy Town is now one of those seemingly normal, mid-American-ish towns with a secret underbelly?

MC: Though the belly is starting to show a little (another reason I was appropriate for this series... heheheheh!)

As mentioned earlier Ivy Town is not what it has seemed - and it will turn out that it hasn't been what it seemed for a very long time - even when Ray Palmer was operating there! Mwoooo-hahahahahahah!

NRAMA: Would it be safe to say Ivy Town's secrets are more mad/weird science-based than supernatural?

MC: Why not both?

NRAMA: Fair enough…

The copy for the debut issue also says weird things have been going on since Ray Palmer disappeared. Now, as the once pre-eminent scientist of Ivy Town/University, can this be interpreted as Palmer knew about this strangeness all along and secretly kept it in check for years, or perhaps might he have been a cause of some of the strangeness?

MC: Interpret away... could be all of the above... could also be that Ray was busier with outside super-heroics to have missed the obvious signs. Something his ex-wife might have accused him of, as well, at one point...

NRAMA: Tell readers about the new Atom, Ryan Choi? He's brand new to the DCU, right?

MC: Yup, never before seen... hence the "All-New" in his logo.

Ryan's from China... and he's a young science whiz who campaigned mightily to assume Ray Palmer's vacant position at Ivy University - particularly after the recent death of his mother back home.

Ryan's a kind of a savant when it comes to his work - though he seems oblivious to his obvious charms amongst the clearly smitten female student body...

Ryan is all about the research... finding new answers to new and old questions... he will be less superhero than what we'd call "an adventurer".

He's smart for sure - and has a little bit of a problem in the "all work and no play" area... but he is learning the American Culture quickly and is even known to get off an accomplished wisecrack or three when the timing is right.

NRAMA: Ryan is of Asian descent, which actually makes him pretty rare in the mainstream American comic book scene. An early promo image from Brave New World #1 showed what looked like a Caucasian version of the character, which was quickly replaced by an image showing him to be Asian…

MC: He's been Asian all along... that was more of a reference problem for an artist new to the concept... (one of the reasons early images aren't always final images).

NRAMA: Okay, is this an effort to make the DCU more diverse? Will Choi's Asian descent play a prominent role in the series?

MC: His father is still in China... and his heritage will play a factor in the series.

NRAMA: The solicitation copy also he "inadvertently" winds up filling Ray Palmer's shoes as the Atom. Does he do so reluctantly? Or is this a guy who’s going to embrace the role of superhero?

MC: He's not here to embrace the role of super-hero... though Ray Palmer was a hero to Ryan... he isIS going to embrace Ray's "work"...

What's inadvertent is what steers Ryan to being a tiny titan!

NRAMA: Mike, writers like Grant Morrison and Mark Waid have shown obvious, great affection for the Atom when it came to his role in the JLA. Is it too early to say if this new Atom will have a role in the new Justice League?

MC: Too early to say... but it won't be on Ryan's agenda... he wants to see what's "down there" in our world!

NRAMA: All right. Any final, parting thoughts then? A first impression you want to leave readers with about this new character and series?

MC: The character was designed by series inker Trevor Scott and the combination of John Byrne's fluid and clear storytelling with Trevor's outstanding embellishment will make this a series to check out. And Gail will be throwing curveballs, too... so look out!