Adam Strange
| Adam Strange | |
|---|---|
| File:AdamStrange.jpg Art by Pasqual Ferry. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Showcase # 17 (November-December 1958) |
| Created by | Gardner Fox Mike Sekowsky |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Adam Strange |
| Team affiliations | Justice League, Seven Soldiers of Victory |
| Abilities | None. Wears a jet pack spacesuit that allows for sustained flight and interstellar travel; Carries energy blast guns; Generates hard-light equipment via spacesuit. |
Adam Strange is a DC Comics superhero. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky, he first appeared in Showcase #17 (November-December 1958).
Inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars series, Strange is a human being who defends the fictional planet Rann He is an archeologist who was suddenly teleported to Rann through a “Zeta Beam.” Called on to protect the planet from extraterrestrial threats using high-tech weaponry, Strange grew to care for the planet and its inhabitants, especially the blue-haired Alanna. Independently wealthy, he traveled Earth, intercepting the regular patterns of the Zeta Beam to defend Rann and be with Alanna.
Strange’s adventures were published in a several anthology series in the 1950s and 60s and, although never a headlining character, he has had a consistent presence in the “DC universe.”
Costume
His costume was a red jumpsuit with a crested helmet, worn with a white rocket pack that was fastened on by white cross-straps. Alanna wore one too, and the standard means of transport they used on Rann was to fly to scenes of danger together.
Invention
Adam Strange was invented as a character by Gardner Fox as being reminiscent of Edgar Rice Burroughs's Barsoom series, though there wasn't the swordplay, physical strain, nudity, and bloodletting, merely the looking up to the sky - to Alpha Centauri, though, not Mars - and the longing to travel to a strange world with alien opponents to fight and to his beloved woman.
Like most other (non-EC) comic book science fiction stories of the 1950s, the problems and their stories were contrived. After the initial run in Showcase, they moved to Mystery in Space (#53-100, 102), drawn by Carmine Infantino and inked by Murphy Anderson.
The Past
One spectacular, even award-winning story, however, resulted from a continuity gaffe in the Justice League of America comic book, in which the Flash mentioned him as a possible new member for the Justice League. That group and he had not met, and when a letter to the editor reported this, Gardner Fox wrote a story showing how the JLA came to Rann and how Adam Strange got them out of the traps that Kanjar Ro set for them there.
For years, the character was a regular presence in the DC Universe. By the 1980s, the acclaimed author Alan Moore provided a more cynical reason for his visits to Rann. Apparently, the population of the planet--the majority of whom viewed the Terran with contempt--is sterile, and the real reason for Adam's presence is to be a breeding stud. This new situation was further illustrated in a 1990 limited series where Adam learned of the population's opinion of him and Alanna died giving birth to their daughter Aleea. In JLA #20 (July 1998), Alanna was revealed to be alive, and at the end of the story, she was reunited with her husband and daughter, albeit briefly (Adam was transported back to Earth soon after Alanna's arrival).
Modern Strange
A 2004 eight-issue limited series, written by Andy Diggle, pencilled by Pasqual Ferry and colored by Dave McCaig, updated Adam Strange's appearance and abilities by giving him a new costume, a spacesuit that allows for interstellar travel. In the series, Adam was prepared to relocate to Rann permanently when he was informed that the planet was destroyed and that he was blamed for its destruction. In fact, Sardath transported Rann to another dimension to save the planet from the cosmic being, Starbreaker, intent on destroying the planet. Adam, with the help of the Omega Men and the Darkstars, among others, saved Rann and defeated the evil being. However, the planet Thanagar was destroyed in the process. Many Thanagarians were relocated to Rann, but enmity between the two races has resulted in a war, which is depicted in The Rann-Thanagar War, a six-issue precursor to DC's 2005-2006 limited series and DC crossover event, Infinite Crisis.
52
Most recently, Adam is featured as one of the main characters in DC's weekly event 52.
His first appearance in the book has him stranded on a paradise-like planet with Animal Man and the exterrestrial superheroine, Starfire. As a result of a teleportation accident involving the zeta beam, he has lost both of his eyeballs. In spite of his injuries he is trying to fix a damaged Thanagarian battlewagon so that they may return home. In 52 #7, he uses a bit of tough love on his teammates, who were eating an odd fruit which acted like a drug on their minds. A week, two days and one night later, Adam and Buddy search for Starfire. When they eventually find her, she's caught in a rather large net, hanging from above. They are then caught in a similar trap and examined by Devilance. The story is ongoing.
Awards
The character and series of the same name have received several awards over the years, including the 1967 and 1968 Alley Awards for Strip Most Desired for Revival.
External links
- Brief History of Adam Strange -- from Sequart.com
- Toonopedia Entry
- Adam Strange: Planet Heist, extensive look at 2004-2005 mini-series
- Comic Book Awards Almanac