Set Description
The flagship DC science fiction book of the 50s and 60s, Strange Adventures gave us a photo cover for issue 1, introduced Kris KL-99, Captain Comet, The Space Museum, The Atomic Knights, Immortal Man, Animal Man, Enchantress, and Deadman. Additionally, it contained some of the best written, well illustrated, science fiction stories of the time - many based on the scientific facts known at the period, and others based on pure speculation. When the other science fiction books of the 60s died - Strange Adventures lived on, reprinting Adam Strange and Atomic Knights stories. A kind retirement - a putting out to pasture, if you will - for a stallion that has paid its dues.
Strange Adventures is a special book to collect, a series made up of smaller series, each of them representing a unique period. Issues 1 through 8 represent the trying out period for a new series that hadn't found its groove. They are interesting and one-of-a-kind, but with the exception of issue 1, they are not particularly sought after by collectors.
The Captain Comet period follows! running from issue 9 through issue 49 (excluding issues 45, 47 & 48), Capt. Comet was the mainstay of DC science fiction for years, an actual superhero, created and headlining during the Atomic Age, making him unique. Oddly enough the good captain only rated 25 covers during his run, making the covers where he is not featured harder to acquire quality examples of.
The good Captain's stories in Strange Adventures are as follows:
9 - The Origin of Captain Comet
10 - The Air Bandits from Space
11 - The Day the Past Came Back
12 - The Girl from the Diamond Planet
13 - When the Earth Was Kidnapped
14 - Destination Doom
15 - Captain Comet - Enemy of Earth
16 - The Ghost of Captain Comet
17 - Beware the Synthetic Men
18 - The World of the Flying Men
19 - Secret of the Twelve Eternals
20 - Slaves of the Sea-Master
21 - Eyes of Other Worlds
22 - Guardians of the Clockwork Universe
23 - The Brain Pirates of Planet X
24 - Doomsday on Earth
25 - The Day that Vanished
26 - Captain Comet vs. Miss Universe
27 - The Counterfeit Captain Comet
28 - Devil's Island in Space
29 - The Time Capsule from 1,000,000 BC
30 - Menace from a World of Make-Believe
31 - Lights, Camera - Invasion
32 - The Challenge of Man-Ape the Mighty
33 - The Human Beehive
34 - The Lady or the Tiger-Man
35 - The Cosmic Chessboard
36 - The Grab-Bag Planet
37 - The Invaders from the Golden Atom
38 - The Seeing-Eye Humans
39 - The Guilty Gorilla
40 - The Mind Monster
41 - The Beast from Out of Time
42 - The Planet of Ancient Children
43 - The Phantom Prize-Fighter
44 - The Plant that Plotted Murder
46 - Interplanetary War Base
49 - The Revolt of the Thinking Machine
The third period is what I refer to as the "first interlude" - issues 45, 46, 48, and 50 through 103, have no central character and no recurring theme. They are pure science fiction, some more science based others mostly fiction. Some of the hardest issues to find in high grade are from this period.
Starting with issue 104 with the first Space Museum story, then the first Star Hawkins story at issue 114, and finally the first Atomic Knights story with issue 117, we enter the serial period where every third issue featured a story from one of these three features. Although it is looked back on fondly now, the Atomic Knights feature lasted the fewest issues with only fifteen appearances, ending with issue 160.
Murphy Anderson did a great job with the Atomic Knights stories – if you get a chance, pick up some reader copies or read one of the reprints – the stories appear as follows:
SA 117: Rise of the Atomic Knights – reprinted 217
SA 120: Menace of the Water Raider – reprinted 218
SA 123: The Cavemen of New York – reprinted as a cover story 219
SA 126: The Lost City of Los Angeles – reprinted 220
SA 129: World Out of Time – reprinted 221
SA 132: Thanksgiving Day 1990 – reprinted 222
SA 135: War in Washington – reprinted as a cover story 223
SA 138: The Attack of the Giant Dogs – reprinted 224
SA 141: Menace of the Metal Looters – reprinted 225
SA 144: When the Earth Blacked Out – cover story – reprinted 226
SA 147: The King of New Orleans – reprinted 227
SA 150: The Plant that Hated Humans – reprinted 228
SA 153: Danger in Detroit – reprinted 229
SA 156: Threat of the Witch Woman – reprinted 230
SA 160: Here Come the Wild Ones – reprinted 231
Space Museum wrapped up with issue 161, and Star Hawkins at 162, with a brief return for issues 173, 176, 179, 182, & 185.
The next period I refer to as the "second interlude" - running from issue 163 through issue 204. Although this period introduced Animal Man and The Enchantress, there is no real continuity. The go-go check period overlaps this period including 18 issues ending with issue 202.
Issue 205 begins the next, and most collectable period of Strange Adventures with the introduction of Deadman. Taken over by Neil Adams with issue 206, Deadman ran through issue 216, when it was cancelled due to poor sales.
The final period is the reprint period - reprints being a favorite money saver of Carmine Infantino, who was then head art director at a DC. Whatever his reasons, it was a kind end for my favorite old stallion running another two and a half years, until it finally ended at issue 244.
Ahh, but the reprints - such reprints, cover stories reused from earlier issues of Strange Adventures, from Mystery in Space, Adam Strange stories, some with completely new covers, some with old images updated by new artists, some with the old image recolored - and at the same time, reprints of Strange Adventures and reimagined cover art in From Beyond the Unknown, with cover swipes from Strange Adventures and from Mystery in Space.
Let's see if I can get these reprints right – although I admit I will likely have to edit this as I get more knowledgeable.
Reprints of Adam Strange and Atomic Knights stories as well as other stories previously issued in Strange Adventures (SA) & Mystery in Space (MIS), started with Neal Adams creating new covers for the Adam Strange stories originally appearing in Showcase 17 for issues 217 & 218 of SA.
The Atomic Knights get their second cover story at issue 219 with Cavemen of New York, originally in SA 123, with an original cover by Joe Kubert.
At issue 220, Joe K. continues with a re-imagined cover for Beast from Runaway World, originally the cover story for MIS 55.
Murphy Anderson gets a crack at re-imagining covers starting with issue 221 and a re-imagined cover for The Duel of the Two Adam Stranges, originally the cover story for MIS 59.
Issue 222 gives us the first of what will be two original Adam Strange stories that were first issued during the reprint period – this one with a cover by Murphy as well.
Issue 223 is a giant bone of contention with me – it should be recognized as the second Atomic Knights cover, but since it was first issued during the reprint period it is overlooked. A great cover by Murphy, likely from when the cover story War in Washington was originally issued in SA 135, and just not used for that issue (or it would have been the first Atomic Knights cover appearance).
Issue 224 has Murphy doing a fine job of re-imagining the cover to MIS 63.
And the Joe K. is back at issue 225 with a great re-imagined cover for the cover story Wooden World War, originally the cover story for MIS 33.
Issue 226 features the second of the new Adam Strange stories – this time with a fresh cover by Joe K.
Issue 227, The Man Who Couldn’t Drown, originally the cover story for SA 68, this time with an excellent re-imagined cover by Joe Kubert.
Neal Adams is back re-imagining covers at issue 228, with a fresh take on the Day the Earth Split in Two, originally the cover story for MIS 31.
Is Murphy Anderson back with issue 229? I don’t know – but I think that this is a re-imagined cover by Murphy for The Last Mile of Space, originally the cover story for MIS 17.
The Secret of the Moon Sphynx – originally the cover to MIS 36, now re-imagined without the grey-toned goodness, by Murphy for the cover if issue 230.
Issue 231 – the first of the straight up re-colored original covers reused – this one from SA 125, the Attack of the Flying Gorillas.
Joe K. is back again with issue 232 – this time with a re-imagined cover for Hollywood in Space, originally the cover story for MIS 14.
Another straight up, recolored cover, reused from SA 161 (the most current cover to be re-used or re-imagined) originally by Murphy for the cover story Earth’s Frozen Heat Wave, graces issue 233.
Joe K. is back with issue 234 – this time re-imagining the cover story The Human Icicle from SA 53.
Neal Adams is back for issue 235 – this time to do a complete new cover image for The Planet that Came to a Standstill, a great, early JLA crossover, originally the cover story for MIS 75.
Issue 236, the Human Fishbowl, cover by Anderson (?) is a re-imagining of the cover story originally in MIS 27.
I don’t know who did the cover to issue 237 – but it is a re-imagining of the cover story The Skyscraper that Came to Life, originally told in SA 72.
Michael Kaluta treats us to only a couple of re-imagined covers during the reprint period and the first is issue 238 – a great, fresh look at the cover story The Secret of the Tom Thumb Spacemen , originally the cover story told in SA 78 – and I have to say, both these covers are great!
Nick Cardy does a single cover (or did he do a second at issue 241? I don’t know) during the reprint period, and checks in here at issue 239 – a good re-imagining of The Amazing Trial of John (Gorilla) Doe, originally the cover story for SA 100.
Kaluta is back for his second re-imagined cover – this one’s a favorite of mine too – with issue 240 Lifeboat in Space – re-imagining the grey-toned beauty that originally graced the cover of MIS 40.
I don’t know who did the cover to issue 241 – maybe Cardy, maybe not – but it is a re-imagined cover for the Adam Strange cover story, The Cloud Creature that Menaced Two Worlds, originally in MIS 81.
Issue 242, is the second of three consecutive Adam Strange covers – this one a reused cover from MIS 82.
There is one final, new cover, as The Emotion Master of Space, originally the cover story for MIS 83 is re-imagined by Murphy Anderson for issue 243.
Issue 244 offers up one last re-used, re-colored cover, this time Prisoner of the Parakeets, originally the cover story for SA 52.
But the fun doesn’t end there – a number of Strange Adventures cover stories were re-used in the reprint book, From Beyond the Unknown (FBtU), often with re-imagined covers by Neal Adams & Joe Kubert.
The cover story from SA 118, the Turtle Men of Space, gets the Joe Kubert treatment for FBtU issue 1.
Issue 82’s cover story gets a fresh look from Murphy Anderson, as the new cover story for FBtU 2.
One of the few grey-toned covers for Strange Adventures – issue 150 – gets re-imagined by Neal Adams for the cover story of FBtU 3.
Issue 55 – The Gorilla Who Challenged the World – becomes the cover story to FBtU 5 with a new look by Murphy Anderson (love the plaid jacket!).
SA 85, the Amazing Human Race (not a favorite of mine), gets a re-imagined cover by Neal Adams (which still isn’t good) for FGtU 6.
FBtU 7, with the cover story, The Giant From Beyond, re-imagined from SA 101 by Joe K., is a winner.
SA 56 has the unique treat of being used twice – the first time as the re-imagined cover on FBtU 10 by Murphy Anderson; the second time – below in modern cover homages.
Joe Kubert goes a little overboard on the cover of FBtU 12, as he takes a very fresh look at the classic cover story from SA 147.
SA 154 is beautifully re-imagined by Joe K. as the cover story for FBtU 13.
And Joe is back with another great re-imagined cover story for FBtU 14, originally the cover to SA 108, one of those great gorilla covers.
Murphy Anderson takes a shot at re-imagining the classic cover from SA 95, as the cover story for FBtU 15.
And then Murphy is back at it for FBtU 16 as he re-imagines the amazing cover from SA 50 and does a great job.
FBtU 19 – Kaluta is helping out with a re-imagined cover for the cover story originally in SA 126 – not my favorite Kaluta work.
Nick Cardy does a great job as he re-imagines the cover to one of my all-time favorite issues of Strange Adventures – with FBtU 20 – and a new image for the cover story from SA 105.
But, then, Nick lets me down the very next issue, FBtU 21, with a not-as-good re-imagining of SA 149.
Nick Cardy wraps up by doing the covers to FBtU 23 and 25, with re-imagined cover stories from SA 75 and 47, respectively.
It is my hope, one day, to add these issued of From Beyond the Unknown to my Strange Adventures run.
Finally, in 2014, DC did a series of cover-swipes or cover homages to different eras in the title Superman Unchained. Strange Adventures gets treated to two homages in the Silver Age variant covers, with a clear cover swipe of SA 56 on issue 3, and a swipe of SA 59 on Superman Unchained 4.
