comic cartoons: Adam Strange

Creation

Adam Strange was introduced in Showcase, a comic book series from the 1950s and 1960s which served the purpose of introducing a character to see if they might be a popular addition to the DC lineup. This featured such additions as the creation of the silver age Flash ( Barry Allen). Adam Strange was introduced in issue 17 and featured in a story that ran through until issue 19. After his introduction he was mostly ignored until later in the 1960s when DC decided to launch on a new direction in its titles focusing more on science fiction than on fantasy or mystical elements. Adam Strange came to be featured in the series Mystery in Space, where he gained the greatest deal of his popularity.

Character Evolution

Only occasionally headlining his own series, Adam Strange has more often been reduced to that of a secondary or supporting character in the history of the DC universe. The majority of the time which he spent headlining his own series was in the 1960s where continuity in character development was not a staple of writing form. Even so he did experience some development in that he came to be more attracted to Alanna and the two eventually married. In addition although his character development was mostly ignored afterwards as he was mostly assigned a guest role in comic book titles, he became to be regarded as an experienced and trustworthy hero. As a guest character he is most commonly seen with either Hawkman, Swamp Thing or the Justice League of America. Some time later in an attempt to make him appear more mature, his daughter Aleea was introduced to continuity.

Major Story Arcs

Adam Strange’s early stories were mostly one shots, in that there was little continuity from one story to the next as each story was self contained in an issue. These stories typically started with Adam Strange on Earth from where he would be transported to Rann by the Zeta Beam and where he would usually be met by Alanna who informed him of some planetary threat. At the end of such an issue he would routinely be returned to Earth (although the Zeta beam would later be modified so that Adam could stay on Rann.)

Following the cancellation of Mystery in Space, Adam began to show up periodically in various publications, most notably Hawkman and the Justice League of America, with whom he was made an honorary member.

The next major appearances of Adam Strange were in the pages of the Swamp Thing after the writer ( Alan Moore) decided to set the title character’s stories in space. The character in this case was given some more depth as questions pertaining to him were answered (involving such topics as his relationship with Alanna, Rannian technology, and Rannian society.) After a nuclear war Swamp Thing helped the planet to be remade (by terraforming it) but the inhabitants, including Adam Strange were left to decide how to proceed with their future. Building on this appearance Adam Strange would soon after appear in his own miniseries.

His next appearance was in the pages of Mark Waid’s JLA though this is generally regarded as not a part of continuity, as the depiction here ignored some vital parts of the character’s history. Another short lived series appeared in 2004.

In terms of his relevance to modern DC continuity his most important contributions were to the Rann-Thanagarian War. Adam Strange is one the planet’s leaders against the Thanagarians although it is later revealed that both planets have been set up to battle another. Adam would later join R.E.B.E.L.S. a loose group of freedom fighters led by Vril Dox.

DC New 52
When the DC Relaunch of most of DC Comics' stories happened in September of 2011, Adam Strange is yet to re-appear. Adam Strange was mentioned that he will be a Canadian superhero with other superhero's such as Booster Gold. In 2013 some of the members will be from Canada in the New Justice League of America series as part of the DC New 52 Series.

Powers and Abilities

Wears a suit with built in jet pack and protected for survival in space. Carries an energy gun in a holster. Also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, a skilled scientist and a battle tested leader. After being blinded during the events of Infinite Crisis and during most of 52 he has his eyesight returned to him after Sardath cloned eyes from his daughter. These new eyes were enhanced to see across the electromagnetic spectrum.