{"id":35750,"date":"2026-06-19T17:39:54","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T17:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=35750"},"modified":"2026-06-19T17:39:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T17:39:54","slug":"adam-strange-archives-volumes-1-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2026\/06\/19\/adam-strange-archives-volumes-1-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Adam Strange Archives volumes 1 – 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nBy Gardner F. Fox<\/strong>, Carmine Infantino<\/strong>, Mike Sekowsky<\/strong>, Bernard Sachs<\/strong>, Joe Giella<\/strong>, Murphy Anderson<\/strong>, Gil Kane<\/strong> & various (DC Comics)
\nISBN: 978-1-4012-0148-7 (HB)<\/p>\n

This book includes Discriminatory Content<\/strong> produced in less enlightened times.<\/em><\/p>\n

For many of us the Silver Age of comics is the ideal era. Varnished by nostalgia (because that\u2019s when most of us caught this crazy childhood bug) the clear, clean-cut, uncomplicated optimism of the late 1950s and early 1960s produced captivating heroes and villains who were still far less terrifying than the Cold War baddies who troubled our parental units. The sheer talent and professionalism of the creators working in that temporarily revitalised comics world resulted in triumph after triumph to brighten our young lives and which – remarkably – still shine today with quality and achievement.<\/p>\n

One of the most compelling stars of those days was an ordinary Earthman who regularly commuted to another world for spectacular adventures, armed with nothing more than a ray-gun, a jetpack and his own ingenuity. He was Adam Strange<\/strong>, and like so many of that era\u2019s comics triumphs, he was the brainchild of Julius Schwartz and his close team of creative stars.<\/p>\n

Showcase<\/strong> was a try-out comic conceived to launch new series and concepts with minimal commitment of publishing resources. If the new character sold well initially, a regular series would follow. The process had already worked with phenomenal success. The revised Flash<\/strong>, new concept Challengers of the Unknown<\/strong> and at-last-promoted-to-solo-status (Superman\u2019s Girlfriend<\/strong>) Lois Lane<\/strong> had all won their own titles and Editorial Director Irwin Donenfeld now wanted his two Showcase editors to create science fiction themed stars to capitalise on the twin zeitgeists of the \u201cSpace Race\u201d and the popular fascination with movie monsters and aliens.<\/p>\n

Jack Schiff came up with the futuristic crime fighter Space Ranger<\/strong> (who debuted in issues #15-16) and Schwartz went to reliable cohort Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky & Bernard Sachs to craft the saga of a modern-day explorer in the most uncharted territory yet imagined.<\/p>\n

Showcase<\/strong> #17 (cover-dated November\/December 1958 and on sale from September 18th<\/sup>) launched as Adventures on Other Worlds<\/strong>, and told of American archaeologist Strange who, whilst fleeing from enraged natives in Peru, jumps a 25 ft chasm only to be hit by a stray teleport beam from a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri. He materialises in another world, filled with giant plants and monsters and is rescued by a beautiful woman named Alanna<\/em> who teaches him her language through uncanny science!<\/p>\n

Premier yarn \u2018Secret of the Eternal City!\u2019<\/em> reveals that Rann is a planet recovering from atomic war, and the beam was in fact a simple flare, one of many sent in an attempt to communicate with other races. In the four years (speed of light, right? As we <\/em>all knew, Alpha Centauri is about 4.3 light-years from Sol) that Zeta-Flare travelled through space, cosmic radiation converted it into a teleportation beam. Until the radiation drained from his body, Strange would be a very willing prisoner on a fantastic new world.<\/p>\n

… And an incredibly unlucky one apparently, as no sooner has Adam started acclimatising than an alien race named The Eternals<\/em> invade, seeking a mineral that can grant them immortality. The Terran tourist\u2019s courage and sharp wits enable him to defeat the invaders, only to have the radiation finally fade, drawing him home before the adoring Alanna can administer a hero\u2019s reward. Thus were established the narrative principles of this beguiling series. Adam would intercept one of the many follow-up Zeta-beams sent by Rann over the years, hoping for some joyful times with his alien sweetheart, only to be confronted with a planet-menacing crisis. The very next of these came in the same debut issue. \u2018The Planet and the Pendulum\u2019<\/em> saw him obtain the crimson spacesuit and weaponry that became distinctive trademarks in a tale of alien invaders which also introduced the subplot of Rann\u2019s warring city-states, each desperate to progress and all at different stages of recovery and development. Rann was a world of constant danger both domestic and from the skies above: non-stop peril for which brains, not brawn, were the best solution. Sadly, Strange was only able to stay on the atom-war scarred planet for as long as it took teleporting Zeta Beam radiation to dissipate, whence he would fade away to reappear on Earth until the next beam hit him – a procedure just as fraught and risky. Adam found true love with Alanna and unparalleled adventure, but the universe seemed determined to keep them apart.
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\nThe next issue featured the self-explanatory \u2018Invaders from the Atom Universe\u2019<\/em> and \u2018The Dozen Dooms of Adam Strange\u2019<\/em> wherein our reluctant hero must outwit the dictator of Dys who plans to invade Alanna\u2019s city of Rannagar<\/em>. With this tale Sachs was replaced as inker by Joe Giella, although he would return as soon as #19\u2019s Gil Kane cover, the first to feature the title Adam Strange<\/strong> over the unwieldy logo \u201cAdventures on Other Worlds\u201d. \u2018Challenge of the Star-Hunter\u2019<\/em> and \u2018Mystery of the Mental Menace\u2019<\/em> are classic puzzle tales wherein the Earthman must outwit a shape-changing alien and an all-powerful energy-being. These were the last in Showcase (cover-dated March\/April 1959). With the August issue (on sale from Jue 4th<\/sup>) Adam Strange took over the pole position and cover spot of venerable anthology title Mystery in Space<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

As well as a new home, the series also found a new artist. Carmine Infantino, who had worked magic with The Flash<\/strong>, applied his clean, classical line and superb design sense to create a stark, pristine, sleekly beautiful universe that was spellbinding in its cool but deeply humanistic manner, and genuinely thrilling in its imaginative wonders. MIS <\/strong>#53 began an immaculate run of exotic high adventures with \u2018Menace of the Robot Raiders!\u2019<\/em> by Fox, Infantino & Sachs, followed in glorious succession by \u2018Invaders of the Underground World\u2019<\/em> and \u2018The Beast from the Runaway World!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

With #56 Murphy Anderson became lead\/semi-regular inker, and his precision brush and pen made the art a thing of unparalleled beauty. \u2018The Menace of the Super-Atom\u2019<\/em> and \u2018Mystery of the Giant Footprints\u2019<\/em> are sheer visual poetry, but even \u2018Chariot in the Sky\u2019<\/em>, \u2018The Duel of the Two Adam Stranges\u2019<\/em> (MIS<\/strong> #58 & #59, inked by Giella) and \u2018The Attack of the Tentacle World\u2019<\/em>, \u2018Threat of the Tornado Tyrant\u2019<\/em> and \u2018Beast with the Sizzling Blue Eyes\u2019<\/em> (MIS<\/strong> #60-62, inked by Sachs) were – and remain – streets ahead of the competition in terms of thrills, plot complexity, spectacle and imagination.
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\nAnderson returned with #63, marking the introduction of some much-needed recurring villains (the Vacuumizers of Vantor<\/em>) who employed \u2018The Weapon That Swallowed Men!\u2019<\/em>, #64\u2019s chilling \u2018The Radio-active Menace!\u2019<\/em> and, ending this initial volume, \u2018The Mechanical Masters of Rann\u2019<\/em>; all superb short-story marvels that appealed to their young readers\u2019 every sense – especially that burgeoning sense of wonder.<\/p>\n

The deluxe Archive format made a fitting home for these extraordinary exploits that are still some of the best written and drawn science fiction comics ever produced. Whether for nostalgia\u2019s sake, for your own entertainment or even to get your own impressionable ones properly indoctrinated, you really need this book in your home.
\n\u00a9 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 2003 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n

Adam Strange Archive volume 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Gardner Fox<\/strong>, Carmine Infantino<\/strong>, Joe Giella, Murphy Anderson & various (DC Comics)
\nISBN13: 978-1-4012-0780-9 (HB)<\/p>\n

This book includes Discriminatory Content<\/strong> produced in less enlightened times.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Silver Age \u201cthinking man\u2019s hero\u201d returned for more alluring Love & Jetpacks action in this second compilation of adventures on other worlds, reprinting tales from Mystery in Space<\/strong> #66-80 (cover-dated March 1961 to December 1962).<\/p>\n

Adam Strange, more than any other character, epitomises the Silver Age of Comics. A calm clearheaded Earth archaeologist and scientist who coolly conquered all adversity through rational effort. It was witty, sophisticated, gloriously illustrated and fantastically imaginative, and there was always Alanna: beautiful, capable but somehow unattainable. The happy-ever-after was always just in reach, but only after one last triumphant exploit…<\/p>\n

After the bravura boldness of the first Adventures on Other Worlds the far-flung fantasy continued with \u2018Space Island of Peril\u2019<\/em> by Fox, Infantino & Giella, a duel with an alien super-being who planned to throw Rann into one of its suns, followed in #67 by the deceptively eerie \u2018Challenge of the Giant Fireflies!\u2019<\/em>, as Adam\u2019s adopted home was menaced by thrill-seeking creatures who live on the surface of Earth\u2019s sun.<\/p>\n

Next, Anderson returned as inker-in-residence for \u2018The Fadeaway Doom!\u2019<\/em> wherein Rannian General Kaskor<\/em> (another menace who would constantly vex Adam and many planets) made a unique attempt to seize power by co-opting the Zeta Beam itself. Then \u2018Menace of the Aqua-ray Weapon!\u2019<\/em> saw the Kirri<\/em> – a primordial species from Rann\u2019s primeval past – return to take possession of their old world, whilst #70 revealed how \u2018The Vengeance of the Dust Devil!\u2019<\/em> threatened not just Rann but also Earth itself!<\/p>\n

Inked by Giella, \u2018The Challenge of the Crystal Conquerors!\u2019<\/em> was a sharp game of bluff and double-bluff with Adam\u2019s other home planet at stake, whereas MIS <\/strong>#72 delivered a radical departure from the tried-&-true formula. \u2018The Multiple Menace Weapon!\u2019<\/em> found Adam deliberately diverted to Rann of the year 101,961AD to save his own distant descendants before being dumped back to deal with a threat to his own time and place. This was followed by action-packed mystery thriller \u2018The Invisible Raiders of Rann!\u2019<\/em> after which the puzzles continued with #74\u2019s complex conundrum \u2018The Spaceman who Fought Himself!\u2019<\/em>, inked by back-for-good Murphy Anderson, and leading into Mystery in Space <\/strong>#75 and a legendary team-up with the freshly-minted Justice League of America<\/strong>. Here Adam & Alanna save two worlds threatened by despicable slaver and star pirate Kanjar Ro<\/em> in \u2018Planet That Came to a Standstill!\u2019<\/em> – indisputably one of the best tales of DC\u2019s Silver Age and a key moment in the development of cross-series continuity.
\n\"\"
\nAfter that 25 page extravaganza it was back to 14 pages for #76\u2019s \u2018Challenge of the Rival Starman!\u2019<\/em> as Adam becomes involuntary tutor and stalking-horse for an alien Champion, prior to \u2018Ray-Gun in the Sky!\u2019<\/em>– an invasion mystery that invited readers to solve the puzzle before our hero did. \u2018Shadow People of the Eclipse!\u2019<\/em> then pitted the Earthman against a bored alien thrill seeker. MIS<\/strong> #79\u2019s \u2018The Metal Conqueror of Rann!\u2019<\/em> found him fighting a much more personal battle to bring Alanna back from the brink of death. This second deluxe tome closes with \u2018The Deadly Shadows of Adam Strange!\u2019<\/em> wherein nemesis in waiting Mortan wreaks a bizarre personal revenge on the Champion of two Worlds…<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t dawdle now. Catch that next Zeta beam for more amazing adventures…
\n\u00a91961, 1962, 2006 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n

Adam Strange Archive volume 3<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Gardner F. Fox<\/strong>, Carmine Infantino<\/strong>, Murphy Anderson<\/strong>, John Giunta<\/strong>, Sid Greene<\/strong>, Joe Giella<\/strong> & various (DC Comics)
\nISBN: 978-1-4012-1661-0 (HB)<\/p>\n

For us remaining Baby-Boomer brats, Adam Strange<\/strong>, more than any other character, epitomises the Silver Age of Comics. An Earthman visiting other worlds, filled with monsters, fabulous marvels and non-stop peril for which brains, not brawn, were the only solution. Strange was an interplanetary ambassador very much of his era. However, as his elegant genre-adventures gave way to a superhero avalanche, the creative dream team of Fox, Infantino & Anderson, (latterly aided and abetted by Sid Greene & Giella) were called away to shepherd more urgent and new-fangled costumed creations…<\/p>\n

From Mystery in Space<\/strong> #92 (June 1964 and on sale from April 30th<\/sup>) incoming editor Jack Schiff supervised Strange\u2019s exploits until his final appearance in #102 (September 1965). Space Ranger<\/strong> had joined the book\u2019s line-up and immediately taken over the cover-spot, with Adam & Allana\u2019s forays (not included here) crafted by Fox, Dave Wood, Jerry Siegel, Lee Elias & Dick Dillin, until they were ousted by incoming experiment Ultra, the Multi-Alien<\/strong>…<\/p>\n

This third and final hardback outing gathers the last vestiges of that Silver Age excellence – comprising Mystery in Space <\/strong>#81-91, and includes a team-up from Hawkman<\/strong> #18 and a pertinent short story from Strange Adventures<\/strong> #157.<\/p>\n

Jim Starlin\u2019s introduction \u2018Adam Strange: The Coolest Dude Around\u2019<\/em> precedes a deluge of daring delights from Fox, Infantino & Anderson, beginning with MIS<\/strong> #81 and testing our hero to his limits as Alva Xar<\/em> – the dictator who caused Rann\u2019s nuclear armageddon – returns after 1000 years to threaten both Adam\u2019s home planets in \u2018The Cloud-Creature that Menaced Two Worlds!\u2019<\/em>…<\/p>\n

Then a terrestrial criminal\u2019s scheme to conquer Earth is thwarted as a result of Adam ending a \u2018World War on Earth – and Rann!\u2019<\/em> before #83 pits the sagacious star man against a desperate \u2018Emotion Master of Space!\u2019<\/em> whilst relentless Rhyntharian Dust-Devil Jakarta <\/em>returns, shrugging off \u2018The Powerless Weapons of Adam Strange!\u2019 <\/em>(Giella inks). Triumphing anyway, Strange & Alanna are almost annihilated by the \u2018Riddle of the Runaway Rockets!\u2019 – <\/em>which sees a revived primordial robot rampage under the vivid veridian skies – before \u2018Attack of the Underworld Giants!\u2019<\/em> (inked by John Giunta) foreshadows big changes to come via a fantastic vision…<\/p>\n

An intriguing diversion from sci fi sister anthology Strange Adventures<\/strong> #157 (October 1963) follows. \u2018Rescue by Moonlight!\u2019<\/em> (Fox, Infantino, Giunta & Anderson) is a Space Museum<\/em> yarn (anthological done-in-one tales centred around Earth\u2019s official interstellar knowledge repository) wherein 25th<\/sup> century descendent Alan Strange<\/em> foils the theft of exotic mineral \u201cparastil\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mystery in Space<\/strong> had headlined Strange since #53, but with #87 (November 1963) Schwartz capitulated to and capitalized on the growing superhero boom: adding Hawkman <\/strong>(and Hawkgirl<\/strong>!) in a back-up slot that included full cover-privileges. Not included here, initial yarn \u2018The Amazing Thefts of the I.Q. Gang!\u2019 <\/em>subtly impacted our hero\u2019s lead tale as \u2018The Super-Brain of Adam Strange!\u2019<\/em> (with Sid Greene as final regular inker) sees the Earthman hyper-evolved by Zeta-radiation and an unlikely menace to all…<\/p>\n

An ethereal do-gooder went well astray in \u2018The Robot-Wraith of Rann!\u2019<\/em> and Adam subsequently proved irresistible to the \u2018Siren of the Space Ark!\u2019<\/em> before Infantino & Anderson reunited for Fox\u2019s extra-length length End-of the-World(s) epic \u2018Planets in Peril!\u2019<\/em> in #90. However, after teaming Adam and the Hawks to save two worlds, the glory days concluded quietly with \u2018Puzzle of the Perilous Prisons!\u2019<\/em> (MIS<\/strong> #91, May 1964), offering a return engagement with archfoe Mortan and a nasty case of evil duplicate girlfriend…
\n\"\"
\nStrange\u2019s later divergent direction was ignored by Fox & Anderson in early 1967 when they crafted Hawkman<\/strong> #18 wherein the Winged Wonder joined Strange against malevolent Manhawks<\/em> to locate the \u2018World That Vanished!\u2019<\/em> The planet in question was Thanagar and when it went, it took Hawkman\u2019s beloved wife Shayera<\/em> with it…<\/p>\n

This volume concludes with biographies of the creators, but not sadly the conclusion of that fable as Adam wasn\u2019t in it. If you hate to be kept hanging you\u2019ll need to find a different reprint edition carrying that one.<\/p>\n

Also available in a monumental omnibus edition, but not in any format ordinary earthlings can lift or afford, these tales are desperately in need of a digital age refit and restoration.
\n\u00a9 1963, 1964, 1967, 2008 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n

Today in 1915 literary agent, writer, editor and architect of the Silver Age of comic books Julius Schwartz<\/strong> was born. He shares his birthday with British cartoonist Jack Edward Oliver<\/strong> (Fresco-Le-Ray<\/strong>, The Champ<\/strong>, Master Mind<\/em>, Vid Kid<\/em>, Cliff Hanger<\/em>) in 1942 and in 1976 Brazilian illustrator Adriana Melo<\/strong> (Star Wars<\/strong>, Iron Man<\/strong>, Fantastic Four<\/strong>, Silver Surfer<\/strong>, Rose & Thorn<\/em>, Birds of Prey<\/strong>, Sinestro<\/em>, Witchblade<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

The date also marks the launch of Frank Willard<\/strong>\u2019s pioneering Moon Mullins<\/strong> strip in 1923 and Jim Davis<\/strong>\u2019 Garfield<\/strong> in 1978.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Gardner F. Fox, Carmine Infantino, Mike Sekowsky, Bernard Sachs, Joe Giella, Murphy Anderson, Gil Kane & various (DC Comics) ISBN: 978-1-4012-0148-7 (HB) This book includes Discriminatory Content produced in less enlightened times. For many of us the Silver Age of comics is the ideal era. Varnished by nostalgia (because that\u2019s when most of us … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Adam Strange Archives volumes 1 – 3”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[271,383,44,76,290,332,69,16,127,242,107],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adam-strange","category-carmine-infantino","category-dc-archives","category-dc-superhero","category-dinosaurs","category-gil-kane","category-hawkman-hawkgirl","category-jla","category-nostalgia","category-pirates","category-science-fiction"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-9iC","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35750"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35758,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35750\/revisions\/35758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}