Adam Strange
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Adam Strange is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky, he first appeared in Showcase #17 (November-December 1958).
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[edit] History
[edit] Origins
Strange is an archeologist suddenly teleported from Earth to fictional planet Rann through the "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.
[edit] Background
Created by Gardner Fox, Adam Strange is reminiscent of Edgar Rice Burroughs's John Carter of Mars series. Both characters have origins in which they are chased by threatening aboriginal peoples only to find themselves mysteriously transported at the last moment to distant planets where they become heroic figures. In Carter's case this was to Mars, while Adam Strange was transported to Rann, though the John Carter stories depicted a more raw sort of adventure that included swordplay, physical action, nudity, and bloodletting. These are absent from the Adam Strange stories, however both characters shared a longing to travel to a strange world with alien opponents to fight and to be united with a beloved woman who resided there.
Like most other (non-EC) comic book science fiction stories of the 1950s, the problems and their stories were contrived, the solutions often based on haphazard application of simple scientific principles. After the initial run in Showcase, they moved to Mystery in Space (#53-100, 102), drawn by Carmine Infantino and inked by Murphy Anderson. He later appeared in Strange Adventures (reprints in #217 thru 244; new stories in #222, 226/227 text stories with illos).
[edit] 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.
[edit] Beginnings
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 as Adam was transported back to Earth soon after Alanna's arrival.
[edit] Planet Heist
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.
[edit] Rann-Thanagar War
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.
[edit] 52
Adam is featured as one of the main characters in DC's weekly event 52.
He is stranded on a paradise-like planet with Animal Man and Starfire. As a result of a teleportation accident involving the zeta beam, he has lost both of his eyeballs but in spite of his injuries, he is trying to fix a damaged spaceship so that they may return home. After being attacked by Devilance the Pursuer, they eventually escape having realized that the entire planet is a trap.
Encountered by Devilance again, they're saved by the intervention of Lobo. Having renounced violence and his career as a bounty hunter, Lobo agrees to serve as the group's guide. They are soon also joined by Ekron, a member of the Green Lantern Corps nicknamed the "Emerald Head" for his unique mode of transport. This ragtag team makes a stand against the villainess Lady Styx, whose undead legions are ravaging planets across the galaxy. With Styx presumbaly defeated and Animal Man seemingly killed, Strange and Starfire continue their journey back to Earth and Rann, still pursued by angry Lady Styx followers. With Starfire wounded in one of such battles, and their ship breaking apart and malfunctioning, Adam is forced to fly blindly in open Space. When he's about to crush into a sun, he is saved by Mogo and a Rookie Green Lantern. The story is ongoing.
[edit] Other appearances
- Justice League (TV series) comic books issues # 25-26 - "Strange Days" (Part 1 of 2)
- Justice League Unlimited comic books issue # 4 - "Local Hero"
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[edit] 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.
[edit] Trivia
- In Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series) during the episode "The Plot To Kill a City: Episode 2" (written by Alan Brennert, who had also written comics for DC) an announcement over a spaceport's loudspeaker system asks for "Doctor Adam Strange from Alpha Centauri" to "please report to the reservations desk."
- Adam Strange has a descendant, also named Adam Strange, in the future of the Space Ranger, as seen in Mystery in Space #94 (September 1964).
[edit] External links
- DCDP: Adam Strange - DC Database Project
- Brief History of Adam Strange -- from Sequart.com
- Toonopedia Entry
- Adam Strange: Planet Heist, extensive look at 2004-2005 mini-series
- Alley Awards main page at Comic Book Awards Almanac
