Ray Palmer (Arrowverse)
Ray Palmer, also known as The Atom, is a fictional superhero in the Arrowverse, played by Brandon Routh. He first appears in Arrow in 2014 and later becomes a main character in Legends of Tomorrow for five seasons. Ray is a tech billionaire who runs Palmer Technologies and builds the ATOM Exosuit, which lets him shrink and fight crime. His story begins after the death of his fiancée Anna Loring during Slade Wilson’s siege on Starling City, which motivates him to help save his city. He meets Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak, briefly becomes CEO of Queen Consolidated, and later of Palmer Technologies.
In Legends of Tomorrow, Ray joins Rip Hunter’s team to travel through time and stop the immortal Vandal Savage. He develops shrinking powers and falls in love with Kendra Saunders, though their engagement ends as she returns to Carter Hall’s reincarnation. The team journeys through many eras, including a stint in the 1950s and a stay in Feudal Japan. Ray helps the Legends gather the Spear of Destiny to defeat Savage, and time travel creates ripple effects that reshape their world. After a complicated arc with Nora Darhk, Ray marries Nora and seeks a peaceful life, though he faces danger again when he’s briefly possessed by demons and even sent to Hell before being rescued.
Ray appears across multiple Arrowverse series and events, including Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, and Batwoman, and he takes part in Crisis on Infinite Earths. He also returns for special appearances, including the 100th episode of Legends of Tomorrow and crossovers in The Flash. Brandon Routh’s portrayal helped define the character for several seasons, and the writers originally considered adapting Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) before deciding to feature Ray Palmer as The Atom. Ray Palmer remains one of the most recognizable Arrowverse heroes, known for his scientific genius, shrinking abilities, and the complex relationships that shape his journey.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:47 (CET).