Silver Age Sci-Fi Companion by TwoMorrows Publishing

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E IK M y

RR A B W.

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Book Design by Jon B. Cooke

TwoMorrows Publishing

Raleigh, North Carolina

by Mike W. Barr

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION by Mike W. Barr Book design and production by Jon B. Cooke Front Cover Art by Alan Davis (pencils) and Paul Neary (inks) Front Cover colors by Dave Billman Copyediting by Mike W. Barr and Eric Nolen-Weathington

TwoMorrows Publishing 10407 Bedfordtown Drive Raleigh, NC 27614 www.twomorrows.com • e-mail: twomorrow@aol.com First Printing • November 2007 • Printed in Canada Softcover ISBN: 978-1-893905-81-8 TRADEMARKS & COPYRIGHTS: Adam Strange, Alanna, Aquaman, Atom, Atomic Knights, Batman, Captain Comet, Darwin Jones, Felix Faust, Flash, From Beyond The Unknown, Gardner Grayle, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Ilda, Justice League of America, Justice Society of America, Kid Flash, Martian Manhunter, Mystery In Space, Space Museum, Star Hawkins, Star Rovers, Strange Adventures, Strange Sports Stories, Super-Chief, Superman, Wonder Woman TM & © DC Comics • Avengers, Captain America, Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Galactus, Hulk, Iron Man, Sgt. Fury, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, Strange Tales, Sub-Mariner, Thor, X-Men TM & © Marvel Characters, Inc.

Preceding spread and above: Panel details from Mystery in Space #75. © DC Comics

SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION

TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication

Foreword

A Too-Brief Interview with Murphy Anderson

May The Schwartz Be With You: An Introduction

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI SERIES Adam Strange

The Atomic Knights

Space Museum

Star Hawkins

Star Rovers

Darwin Jones

Strange Adventures Mini-Series

100

Spotlight on… “The Strange Adventure That Really Happened!”

106

Strange Sports Stories

118

Super-Chief

126

The Riddle of the Recycled Covers

129

Acknowledgments

138

DEDICATION To the memories of JULIUS SCHWARTZ, GARDNER FOX and JOHN BROOME. They created an Age that will never tarnish.

FOREWORD Once the idea of this book was conceived, it was quickly realized that the major problem would not be finding sufficient material to fill it, but rather, whittling down the amount of material included so its publication would not bankrupt the kind offices of TwoMorrows Publishing. Though The Silver Age SciFi Companion was always intended to focus on the stories edited by Julius Schwartz, it was quickly decided to narrow the focus of the book to the science-fiction series published during the Silver Age which, probably by no coincidence, are the stories readers most fondly remember to this day. So though it was obvious that Schwartz’ last issues of Strange Adventures and Mystery In Space were the cutoff dates for the inclusion of stories (with two pertinent exceptions), the earliest dates of inclusion were deemed to be Strange Adventures #100 (1/59) and Showcase #17 (11-12/58). The latter title marks the creation of the “Adam Strange” series, while the former marks the point at which Strange Adventures, after years of experimentation, settled into the format which its readers most fondly recall. It was then decided

Left: Detail from Mystery in Space #86 cover. © DC Comics

to include such series as “Strange Sports Stories” and “Super-Chief,” under the principle that we’re going to do this only once, so we might as well throw in everything relevant to the subject. I hope this book serves not only to stimulate the memories of older readers, as well as answer their questions (“How many giant Dalmatians did The Atomic Knights have…?”), but also to intrigue younger readers, who know some of these stories only from scattered reprints and DC Comics’ Archive Editions. Hopefully they will pick up the many stories cited herein that have not been archived, but are

MIKE W. BARR sold his first comics script to Julius Schwartz in 1973, then followed it up with scripts for many series, including long runs on Batman, Detective Comics and Green Lantern. He has created Camelot 3000, Batman and the Outsiders, The Maze Agency and Mantra. Also a prose writer, Mike has had published many short stories and the novel Star Trek: Gemini.

available in reprints, or economically-priced originals.

— MIKE W. BARR

He is the recipient of fan letters from Gardner Fox and John Broome.

A TOO-BRIEF INTERVIEW WITH

MURPHY ANDERSON necessarily, but I do see what you’re talking about. But [the [The following conversation took place on May 15, 2007.] similarities are] MIKE W. BARR: Murphy, thanks for consenting to this. pretty generic We were discussing the cover to Strange Adventures stuff, though. #74 [11/56], and the similarity of certain elements And in Buck between the alien on the cover [“The Invisible Raider Rogers, I drew Above: From the late 1940s from Dimension X” by John Broome and outfits very through the ’60s, Murphy Anderson handled the art Carmine Infantino] and the costume of much like this. chores on the Buck Rogers Adam Strange. MWB: That’s newspaper comic strip. MURPHY ANDERSON: [The alien on] This certainly particular cover does look vaguely like Adam true. Let’s go back in time a little more here Strange’s costume, but I don’t think it was the — appropriate for a book on science-fiction basis for anything. comics. When you first met Julie Schwartz, MWB: I see. It does have a lot of comdid you know that he had been a sciencemon elements, so… fiction agent? ANDERSON: Well, that was someANDERSON: Not before I met him, but we thing that [cover artist] Reuben soon discovered that after we sat down Moriera dreamt up. I don’t know how that for a couple of minutes. [chuckles] cover came about.<None> MWB: I’ll bet. MWB: No, me neither. The inside story — ANDERSON: He knew a lot of peowhich I haven’t seen — is by Carmine ple I knew when we were young. It’s Infantino. strange, but I’d been living in ANDERSON: Yeah, yeah, I’ve got that Chicago. I was stationed out story here. What kind of questions do there when I was in the Navy part you have…? of my time and I looked up Ray MWB: When I saw that cover on the Grand Palmer. Not Ray Palmer specifiComic Book Database on the Internet, it struck cally, but I went up to Ziff-Davis’ me there were a couple of thematic similarities to offices when I was still in uniAdam Strange’s costume. But that was not any form. I talked with him. That time, kind of influence on you, then. I met Ray Palmer and he had been Above: Murphy also regularly ANDERSON: I don’t think so. You know, drew the “Captain Comet” one of Julie’s personal friends. We series in Strange Adventures Carmine used to lay out some covers had a great deal to talk about. I did during the 1950s. This rendifor Julie and then he would do them covers — not covers, but illustrations tion is from 1990. © DC Comics for Reuben or whoever, you know. And for Ray. I don’t want to attribute that to him, He had Amazing Stories and Fantastic

Conducted and edited by Mike W. Barr Transcribed by Brian K. Morris

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION Adventures, I think, immediately after the war, ’46, ’47. I did a number of covers for him, even when I was doing Buck Rogers. [NOTE: Julie Schwartz named the Atom’s secret identity Ray Palmer after the editor, who was said to be quite short.] MWB: Oh, sure. Now Mystery In Space #56 [12/59, “The Menace of the Super-Atom!”] was the first “Adam Strange” story you inked over Carmine Infantino’s pencils. ANDERSON: Yeah, I don’t have that one in front of me. MWB: That’s okay, I do. I was curious, do you recall the first time you inked Carmine’s pencils? ANDERSON: Hmm, yeah, I do, vaguely. But I don’t think it was — I think it was just a regular science-fiction story of some sort. MWB: Not an “Adam Strange” story. ANDERSON: But it was in Strange Adventures #8 or 9, something like that. MWB: Oh, one of the early ones. [NOTE: The first published story as well as the first published cover listed in the Grand Comic Database in either Strange Adventures or Mystery In Space to be penciled by Infantino and inked by Anderson is the story and cover for “The Menace of the Super-Atom!” from MIS #56 (12/59), narrowly edging out “The Challenge of the Weather Wizard!” from Flash #110 (12/59-1/60). (MIS #56 carries an ad for Flash #110, proclaiming it “On sale Oct. 20th,” indicating it had not yet been published, while Flash #110 carries an ad for MIS #56, saying it is “On sale everywhere!” indicating it had already been published.) But this may not be definitive, as even the GCD has occasional errors and gaps. Also, the first Infantino/Anderson collaboration may have seen print in an earlier issue of another title.] ANDERSON: How I met Julie was one of the strangest things. I had work promised to me by Ziff-Davis’ comics line, so when I moved to New York, I was rather dismayed one day when I brought in some stuff to Jerry Siegel. Jerry was their — I guess you’d call it their art director or editor or whatever. He was running

Below: Murphy’s cover for Strange Adventures #21. The artist would draw dozens of SA covers for editor Julius Schwartz. © DC Comics

all the comics for them and he said, “Murph, I’m sorry I don’t have another story for you. The writers haven’t delivered the scripts.” And I — big panic. And I went home and I got my — what do you call it? My showcase of my work. MWB: Portfolio? ANDERSON: Yeah. And I came back into town with my portfolio to a couple of publishers and DC was one of the first. And obviously, just hitting them like that, Julie wasn’t in, that was the one day he’d taken off, and Murray Boltinoff talked to me and said, “I think you have to see Julie. He’ll be in tomorrow.” So the next day, I came in and I talked to Julie and we were off and running. MWB: Or flying, via rocket-belt. ANDERSON: I was sharing a little studio at the time with a couple of guys. I shouldn’t say just a couple of

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION ly. It was pretty much the same scene that Gil [Kane] drew, but from a different angle. MWB: That is a shame, that’d be a real find. And I wanted to ask about the second story in SA #155, “The Prisoner of the Green Planet.” ANDERSON: Do you mean “The Invisible Space-Dog”? MWB: No, I mean Strange Adventures #155, “The Prisoner of the Green Planet.” “The Invisible SpaceDog” was in #130. There were two issues that had giant frog covers [laughs]. One of them was #130, and the other was #155. ANDERSON: Right. Did you have a question on that one? I’ve got them both right here. MWB: “The Prisoner of the Green Planet,” I wanted to ask you about that because it’s a very unusual story. It doesn’t adhere to the usual formula that Julie used and I wondered if you had any particular recollections about that. ANDERSON: You know, you can vaguely recall these things. I don’t recall the actual story. MWB: Well, it’s been a long time. ANDERSON: I’ve got a living brain there, huh? MWB: Oh, yeah. ANDERSON: The brain is still alive, I guess? MWB: I believe it is, yes. It’s a rock of some kind that they find. ANDERSON: This kind of reminds — that is kind of an Edmond Hamilton kind of story. MWB: The script is by Gardner Fox. ANDERSON: Oh, it was? Okay. Do you remember “Captain Comet”? I don’t know if you do or not. MWB: Oh, sure. ANDERSON: Not “Captain Comet,” I mean Captain Future. MWB: Sure, him too. ANDERSON: Well, he had an ally, Simon, a living brain. You remember him? MWB: Yes, one of the characters in the story. ANDERSON: Right, he was kind of a — he had been a friend of his father’s and they saved his brain. Anyway, that was an Edmond Hamilton twist. Captain Future stuff was very good and I loved it. I was in my teens already, but I liked his stuff very much. MWB: Edmond Hamilton was quite good. Now let’s talk

Above: Another fondly recalled Murphy Anderson series from the 1960s was “Hawkman.” © DC Comics

guys; Dan and Seymour Barry. I had to be in the office anyhow and it was easy to get around town. So I talked to Julie and he gave me a script and we were off and running. But suddenly, I was really “wealthy” in scripts. Jerry called me up, all this stuff had come in, and I was in a real mess. [Mike laughs] But anyhow, I didn’t stay with Ziff-Davis too long because obviously, it was not going anywhere much, you know. MWB: Sure. ANDERSON: I mean, even though Jerry was there, and as good as he was with story ideas I think it was pretty much doomed to failure. But anyway, I digressed about what we’d talked. Do you have another question? MWB: We talked about the cover that was intended to be a cover for Showcase #17, the first “Adam Strange” story, that you drew. ANDERSON: Yeah, that cover’s been lost, unfortunate-

A Too-Brief Interview With Murphy Anderson about “The Atomic Knights.” ANDERSON: Okay. MWB: Did you have any hand in the concept of the series? ANDERSON: Not too much, other in that I designed all their suits of armor that they wore and all that. Of course, we talked about things all along. You know, Gardner and Julie and I would all go to lunch, I came along to work plot problems. MWB: Now Julie, of course, liked to give his writers covers to work from to stimulate ideas. ANDERSON: Right. I would plot covers with Julie. He’d give me the assignment and again, when I’d come up from North Carolina especially, he would expect me to bring a number of possible covers. MWB: Right. ANDERSON: And he would look through them and pick those that got him started thinking of an idea that

could be developed into a cover. He’d have some ideas, too. MWB: Of course. So some of those covers were also your idea then? ANDERSON: Well, they started out maybe sort of a cover idea I might have had, but not necessarily one that was used, but it kept the thought process going in a certain direction as a

Top right: Sketch by Murphy Anderson. Above: Anderson art from Strange Adventures #156. © DC Comics

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION result of these discussions. I’d be down at my dad’s office. He was a taxi type operator. You know, there was a fleet of taxi cabs and they would always have an antenna on the top for the radios. And I probably developed an idea based on a radio antenna for a cover. I don’t have it in front of me. It’s one of those things. That’s just one that comes to mind. MWB: Sure, you mean about the creatures materializing from the antenna? [SA #151, 4/63, “Invasion Via Radio-Telescope!”]

ANDERSON: I think so, yeah. MWB: Yes, I remember that one, sure. That was pretty creepy. ANDERSON: You can see we’d take the basics of the idea and see what we could do with it that would be interesting. MWB: Of course. ANDERSON: You know the process. MWB: Oh, yeah. Do you remember when you learned that Julie would no longer be editing Strange Adventures and Mystery In Space? ANDERSON: I know it was when he took over Batman. He was — it’s difficult to say. Batman was obviously a challenge. The thing was pretty sickly at the time he took it over. MWB: Sure. ANDERSON: And you know, interest was recreated and of course, Batman took off not too long after that. MWB: With the television show. ANDERSON: And I think Julie would have to get some credit for that. MWB: Oh, of course. ANDERSON: And that’s about all I can tell you on that. MWB: I see. I was just curious if you had any idea how he felt at the time,

Above and right: When the “Atomic Knights” debut story was reprinted in the late 1960s, it was split over two separate issues, requiring a splash page for “part two.” Here’s the pencils by Gil Kane and the Anderson-inked printed page (Strange Adventures #218). © DC Comics

A Too-Brief Interview With Murphy Anderson

Above: Murphy Anderson’s great Strange Adventures covers dealt with the all-too real anxieties of the atomic age as well as the often quaint concepts of those “New Frontier” days. © DC Comics

whether he was sad to give up Mystery In Space and Strange Adventures. ANDERSON: I guess in a way, he was. But still, on the other hand, a story’s a story. He preferred science-fiction. He also liked mystery stories, you know. Cops and robbers detective stuff; Westerns too, for that matter. MWB: When you learned you would no longer be doing “The Atomic Knights” then, how did you feel about that? ANDERSON: Well, I think I’d given that up. I think the last “Atomic Knights” I drew was the last one and I signed it with my name over it, but “30” underneath it. [“Here Come the Wild Ones!” in SA #160.] You know, a “30” in newspaper work means “end.” MWB: In Journalism, sure. ANDERSON: Yeah. [chuckles] MWB: So you knew it was the last one. ANDERSON: Oh, yeah. Sure, sure.

MWB: Ah, I see. Because the final caption of the story reads: “Watch for another exciting Atomic Knights adventure in a forthcoming issue of Strange Adventures!” ANDERSON: It wasn’t something I particularly hated to give up because it was a lot of work. The villains always had — how many Knights were there? Six, something? MWB: There were six of them, yeah. ANDERSON: And I always had to draw all the different armor. MWB: [Chuckles] Yeah. ANDERSON: But I wanted to go as accurately as possible. MWB: Of course. ANDERSON: It just took more time. MWB: It was a lot of work, yes. ANDERSON: Yeah, that’s not to say that I’m giving them up, although I liked the concept. I liked — John

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION aware that “The Atomic Knights” seemed to be popular with the readers and that was interesting. MWB: Sure. ANDERSON: And you like to know that somebody out there appreciated what you were doing. You know, you have a mixed feeling about these things as you work on them. And you have other things, obligations, on the other hand. MWB: Sure. So probably just drawing the last covers was good enough for you. ANDERSON: Well, doing covers was not particularly something you really wanted to do because they only paid $2 more than the page rate. MWB: Oh, really? [mutual laughter] Man! ANDERSON: They were a losing proposition. You had to spend a lot of time with them everybody, especially when I was there on the premises. [DC Comics production manager] Sol Harrison would come up with a question, or [production assistant] Jack Adler, you know. MWB: Of course. ANDERSON: Anyhow, they were a pleasure to do and you like to see your stuff on the cover of a magazine. But as far as something you made money on, though, not really. Above: “Adam Strange” prose story page illoed by Murphy (SA #226). © DC Comics MWB: [Chuckles] Right, I understand. Now in Strange Adventures Broome’s scripts were a joy to work on. #226, you illustrated a story that Gardner Fox wrote MWB: Yes, he was very good. Now years after that, called “The Magic Maker of Rann.” when Strange Adventures came back as a reprint book ANDERSON: Yeah. [SA #217 (3-4/69)] you did some new “Atomic MWB: Do you have any idea how he — he had left DC Knights” covers. by that time. Do you have any idea how he came back ANDERSON: I remember vaguely doing those, yeah. to do that one story? MWB: I wondered if that triggered any urge to go back ANDERSON: I’m trying to think… Gee, I don’t know to the series. that he came back… not permanently, anyway. ANDERSON: No, not really. [Mike chuckles] I was

A Too-Brief Interview With Murphy Anderson MWB: No, it was just a ANDERSON: Yeah, that’s one-shot. This would have right. been about 1970 or so. MWB: So you have any [SA #226, 9-10/70.] idea why Julie didn’t give ANDERSON: Yeah, that that artwork away in the sounds about right. Strange Adventures letter MWB: Sure. So you columns? remember that story, that ANDERSON: I don’t know. I Adam Strange “picturegot some of mine back. story.” Sol Harrison would often ANDERSON: Yeah. come to me and say, MWB: Do you recall, was “Murph, there was stuff in there every any discussion back. If you see anything of an Atomic Knights “picyou want, you’d better go ture-story”? get it.” ANDERSON: Gee, I don’t MWB: Right. remember. I don’t think so. ANDERSON: Not much left, “The Atomic Knights,” usubut he was looking after ally, was a little more comme that way. Sol was a plicated. very good friend of mine. MWB: Yes. And Jack Adler, too. ANDERSON: A lot of charMWB: Yeah, Jack was a acters, which would take up Above: Murphy Anderson cover art, 1980. © DC Comics good guy. Now, the “Adam more space than Julie had given those text stories. Strange” story in Mystery In Space #80, is called “The MWB: That’s true, yes. Deadly Shadows of Adam Strange,” which you inked. ANDERSON: But I still have the originals [to the Adam ANDERSON: I don’t rememStrange “picture-story”]. One of the nice things about ber that. working with Julie, you get your own artwork back MWB: Adam spends some before they chopped it up. time in a hospital on Earth MWB: That was my next question. Julie used to give and he’s watched over by a away artwork to the “Adam Strange” stories, for “Nurse Calkins.” instance, to readers who wrote fan letters. ANDERSON: ANDERSON: Right. [Laughs] I MWB: But he never did that with the artwork in don’t know, Strange Adventures. He gave away a lot of art in probably Julie came Mystery In Space, but I don’t think he ever gave any up with — I don’t think I away from Strange Adventures. Was that because you would have designed a got your originals back? “Nurse Calkins.” ANDERSON: Yeah, I got some of those early ones MWB: Yeah, that’s what back, but not too many. It was only after I came back I — I’m thinking it was that I started getting my art back on a regular basis. probably done as some Above: MWB: You mean when you came back to DC after kind of a tribute to him. Pencil drawworking with Will Eisner [on P.S., the U.S. Army’s pre[Richard Calkins was ing from the ventive maintenance magazine]? the first artist of the 1970s. © DC Comics

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION

Above: Rare instance of the Atomic Knights receiving cover play. Strange Adventures #223 art by Murphy Anderson. Right: Gardner Grayle was redesigned as the (singular) Atomic Knight in later years. Who’s Who #1 illo by the supreme Anderson. © DC Comics

Buck Rogers comic strip.] ANDERSON: It might have been, it might have been. MWB: Or an in-joke, yeah. ANDERSON: Yeah. I knew Dick slightly, you know. They had me working on the premises, just doing drawings and stuff so I got to meet him and talk to him at times. MWB: Sure. ANDERSON: I knew Rick Yeager. Did the [Buck Rogers] Sunday pages. Phil Nowlan wrote that as a pulp story and it appeared in Amazing Stories. [“Armageddon 2419 A.D.,” in Amazing Stories, 8/28] I found them at the various conventions and things. The old pulp cons used to say there were no comic books allowed, you know. But there was a big mix of comic collectors and

pulp collectors. Some of the guys used to laugh that the comics are under the table, not on the table. [mutual laughter] MWB: Right, right. Down there with the bootleg stuff. ANDERSON: [Laughs] Right. MWB: Now, the “Atomic Knights” story, “The King of New Orleans,” was given to The New Orleans Jazz Museum. ANDERSON: Right, right. They actually wrote and asked for it. Have you been to that museum? MWB: I’ve not been to the museum, but I did speak to the Director of Collections down there and they still have it. ANDERSON: Yeah. Well, I’ve been to New Orleans a couple of times and I went over and I did see it. They

A Too-Brief Interview With Murphy Anderson had something or other on exhibit. MWB: Well, it’s not on exhibit now. All that stuff was removed to a more secure location after Hurricane Katrina hit [in 2005]. ANDERSON: Oh, really? That was in the old treasury building. MWB: I believe they call it the U.S. Mint. ANDERSON: Yeah. MWB: The director of collections told me that it is safe in storage and they’ll be bringing it back out when their facilities are repaired. ANDERSON: Okay. My daughter who’s a doctor, you know, she went to a convention in New Orleans and she discovered the stuff as she went over on some of her spare time. She’d taken my wife along with her on, I think, that one and they both saw the stuff. They had it on display in showcases out in front of the museum. MWB: [Chuckles] Oh, that’s great. ANDERSON: So naturally, the first comic convention I went to down there, I had to go over and see it. Of course, it’s only because of all the jazz, you know. MWB: Of course, Julie Schwartz was a big jazz fan. ANDERSON: Oh, yeah. He and John Broome both were. MWB: Broome was, too? That’s good to know. ANDERSON: But I had to sit and listen to all of that. [Mike laughs] My interest in jazz was just peripheral. You know, I liked a lot of music and my heart was more with country music. You know, I’d kid them, John and Julie. MWB: [Chuckles] Sure. ANDERSON: They were so interested in jazz, and of course, being in New York, they were able to go out

Note the similar posing in these two covers by the great Murphy Anderson. © DC Comics

and hear it back in the thirties, even before they knew one another. Anyhow, I’m talking too much. MWB: No, you’re not. Do you have any of those dozens of covers that you did? ANDERSON: I have a few covers, yeah. MWB: Oh, good. ANDERSON: When I came back to DC from P.S., I was pretty good about making sure I got some art back. MWB: Are you doing any kind of artwork nowadays? ANDERSON: Not really, no. MWB: Do people ask you to do recreations of your old covers? ANDERSON: Yeah, I did quite a few old covers. For Diamond Galleries and the like. Comics, it is pretty fickle. They’re always looking for something newer and better and often, the older guys get tossed out. It didn’t happen to me, exactly, but I saw a lot of it going on. MWB: I’ll bet you did. Murphy, thanks very much. ANDERSON: Okay, I’ve talked too much. MWB: I don’t think that’s possible, Murphy. Goodbye.

MAYBETHE SCHWARTZ WITH YOU! (with thanks to Mel Brooks) I have heard the anecdote more times than I can recall. Indeed, it’s even part of my experience. In a science class in elementary school, junior or senior high in the late 1950s or early ’60s, a student evinces knowledge that startles the teacher. Perhaps it’s the speed of light (186,000 miles per second), the distance of the Earth from the sun (93 million miles), or the name of the nearest neighboring star (Alpha Centauri). Happily surprised, the teacher asks the student how he knew this fact. The reply: “From a comic book, Strange Adventures.” Or “Mystery In Space.” The teacher’s face clouds. “No, you didn’t. You can’t learn anything from reading comic books.” But the student has learned one thing: never again to volunteer in class. No kid ever read an issue of Strange Adventures (SA) or Mystery In Space (MIS) without coming away with some kind of science fact. But though those titles were among the most educational of their day, their creator, editor and overseer knew first Great comics editor Julius Schwartz in the 1970s. and foremost that they had to tell entertaining,

imaginative stories that would keep their readers — generally assumed to be young or teen-aged boys — spellbound. Such an editor would have to generate hundreds of fresh story ideas designed to produce a repeat audience, while respecting his readers’ intelligence. A lab might stage a project to artificially produce such a human being, but the result would probably be inferior to Julius Schwartz. Born in 1915, Schwartz gravitated early to the burgeoning genre of science-fiction, immersing himself in the contents of such early pulp magazines as Astounding and Thrilling Wonder Stories. At City College of New York he majored in math and physics, excellent training for his future occupations. Schwartz and friend Mort Weisinger (later the editor of DC Comics’ Superman titles) then opened the first literary agency to specialize in sci-fi, “The Solar Sales Service.” Their Adam Strange pin-up by clients included such giants of Neal Adams. © DC Comics the genre as Stanley Weinbaum, H.P. Lovecraft and Ray Bradbury. Later in his career, Julius Schwartz would have a hand in creating many characters. But as an agent for science-fiction — or, in the delightful 1940s term, “scientifiction,” Schwartz was a character — he inspired the role of sci-fi agent M. Halsted Phyn in the

1942 mystery novel Rocket To the Morgue by Anthony Boucher, under the pseudonym of H.H. Holmes. (Boucher himself is a fascinating figure, the author of much seminal sci-fi and detective fiction, arguably the most influential critic of either genre, and co-founder of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.) The Schwartz would cry “Another penny!” when client Edmond Hamilton’s typewriter bell would signal the end of a line, the math being that one line equaled ten words, and, at a penny per word, one penny equaled agent Schwartz’ take. (But Julie would have his revenge. Rocket To the Morgue also mentioned a pulp sci-fi hero christened “Captain Comet,” modeled after Edmond Hamilton’s space-faring crusader, “Captain Future.” Captain Comet would later course a trail through Strange Adventures.) In 1944, Schwartz left the literary world for the world of comics. He claimed never to have read sci-fi after that and had never seen an episode of Star Trek nor any of the Star Wars films. (In 1983 he was delighted when artist Curt Swan, drawing my script for DC Comics Presents #58, used the likeness of Star Wars creator George Lucas for the character of a movie director in the story, though the resemblance had to be pointed out to him.) Offered a job as story editor at the burgeoning firm of National Periodical Publications, Inc. (later DC Comics), Schwartz arrived at the interview having perused only a handful of comics on the subway ride in. It was his innate story sense that got him the job, which he held until 1986, at which point he quit editing monthly comics with his triumphant “last” issues of Superman (#423) and Action Comics (#583, 9/86), written by Alan Moore. He then assumed the post of “Goodwill Ambassador of DC Comics” until his death in 2004.

Schwartz brought to his job as editor a skill unmatched at generating story ideas, a sense of drama and, by no means incidentally, a solid working knowledge of science, which would be translated into plot points for thousands of stories. Though Schwartz is perhaps best-remembered for editing such superhero comics as The Flash, Green Lantern and Justice League of America, it may have been that sci-fi titles such as Strange Adventures and Mystery In Space were his greatest achievements. According to the Grand Comics Database Project, the original title of Strange Adventures was to have been Project: Science. Someone, perhaps The Schwartz himself, thankfully realized that to the projected audience this title was about as exciting as: “Stories Approved By Your Parents;” the magazine instead carried the far more euphonious and evocative title Strange Adventures, which NPP registered by creating an “ashcan” title dated 7-8/50, using the soon-

“Lensmen” author E.E. “Doc” Smith. © respective owner.

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION to-become iconic logo and the art twists, often ringing fresh changes on from the cover of All Star Comics #47 old ideas. Together, Gardner Fox and (6-7/49). (The title had been previJulius Schwartz did their best work, ously used for two issues of a shortand reached professional heights lived science-fiction magazine in Great they had never achieved separately. Britain in 1946-47, and the title had Julius Schwartz and Gardner Fox can been usurped by rival publications, be compared, in some ways, to the sometimes while the NPP comic title editorial team of Stan Lee and Jack was still active.) Kirby, in that each member of their That first issue, dated 8-9/50, respective collaboration reached carried an eight-page adaptation, heights neither would ever match sepscripted by Gardner Fox, of the movie arately, nor with other collaborators. Gardner Fox portrait by Gil Kane. Destination Moon, and cover-blurbed Schwartz would later provide contacts the writers of the issue — nearly unheard of in a for Fox to write several novelettes for Planet Stories genre that favors the artists. and other pulps in the late 1940s and early ’50s, (Issue #3 of competibefore continuing a career as an author tor Fawcett’s Fawcett of science-fiction, sword and sorcery, Movie Comics also fantasy, Western and historical novels carried an adaptation and short stories, both before and after of Destination Moon, leaving comics. His story “Shadow of a this one a 32-page Demon” version scripted by was collectOtto Binder.) ed in The Though Schwartz got along fine with Year’s Best artists and respected their talent, he always Fantasy had a remarkable rapport with writers. Stories: 3 When Schwartz arrived at National, he met (1977). He the writer with whom he would produce his died in best work, Gardner F(rancis). Fox. 1986. Fox, born in 1911, was trained as a The lawyer, practicing law for “a year or two” writer who before being brought to comics by editor contributed Vince Sullivan. Fox would become a volumithe rest of nous source of scripts and story ideas, and the stories cited herein (with two would work for virtually every comics firm exceptions), John Broome, was born in that ever existed during a career that lasted 1913, and met Schwartz when Julie over thirty years, creating such DC stansold a few of his stories. When Julie dards as “The Flash” and “Hawkman.” came to comics, he brought Broome Despite his prodigious output, he was not with him. Schwartz was later to call the most prolific comics scripter of all time. Broome: “My best man [at Julie’s wedNo matter, he was certainly the most prolific ding to wife Jean], my best writer and scripter of good comics of all time. Never my best friend.” Broome’s scripts were tremendously strong on characterization, a little lighter on plot than Fox’s, and Fox’s stories were heavy on plot and plot featured more deeply-realized characCarmine Infantino-penciled and Joe Giella-inked caricature of writer John Broome (Detective Comics #343). © DC Comics 20

“May The Schwartz Be With You!” terizations. He died in 1999, after having been received as a hero at 1998’s San Diego Comic-Con. Fox and Broome were perhaps the ideal collaborators for Schwartz, for though The Schwartz was an unending source of ideas, he himself admitted he was no writer. He wrote only three scripts on his own, and realized he needed a good writer to breathe life into a plot, to make a set of circumstances a story. Both Fox and Broome spoke fondly of working with Schwartz as one of the highlights of their careers. Fox, who wrote most of the cover stories for Strange Adventures, discussed “the Schwartz method” of generating stories in the letter column of SA #142 (7/62). The Schwartz would work out an intriguing cover idea, which was then given to Fox, who would work up a possible story synopsis. Fox and Schwartz would then go over the proposed yarn and fashion it into a workable tale. Wrote Fox: “We change the original plot a little, sometimes. Most times we change it a lot. Occasionally, we throw out the whole idea and work on an entirely different one. We usually plot about three hours on the shorter length stories — about twice as long (over two sessions) on book-lengths.” However Schwartz, Fox and Broome generated the stories, they seemed to work. Even they produced the occasional clinker, of course, but Strange Adventures sold well enough to merit the introduction in 1951 of a sister title, Mystery In Space. (Usually, the cover stories of SA concerned some kind of a menace on the

Mystery in Space #90 cover (sans a few type elements). Pencils by Infantino, inks by Anderson. © DC Comics

planet Earth, while the covers to the pre-”Adam Strange” MIS featured some kind of threat to the planet Earth from outer space, though this was not a hard and fast rule. Schwartz was a practical man, and knew that deadlines must be fed.) From early on, both titles featured series characters. Scientific sleuth “Darwin Jones” (whom we will meet in these pages) debuted in SA #1, while “Knights of the Galaxy” premiered in MIS #1. SA’s first major series hit was “Captain Comet.”

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2/61). Two years later circulation had dropped (as had sales for the entire industry) but SA was still a respectable 180,000 copies per issue. MIS, meanwhile, was selling 248,000 copies an issue in 1960 (according to MIS #65, 2/61) and was still moving 190,000 copies an issue two years later. The types of stories in SA and MIS were called “space opera,” fantastic, imaginative, fast-moving adventures cartwheeling across space and through time, best personified in prose by the 1930s Lensmen novels of E.E. “Doc” Smith, the work of Edmond Hamilton and later, of Poul Anderson, creator of Dominic Strange Adventures #28 splash page. Art by Murphy Anderson. © DC Comics Flandry, Agent of Imperial Terra who appeared in such books as Ensign Flandry and Flandry “The Origin of Captain Comet,” in SA #9, by John of Terra. The Schwartz was unapologetic about the Broome (under the pseudonym of “Edgar Ray Merritt”) work. He knew they were by no means the “literature” and Carmine Infantino, told the story of Adam Blake, a of science-fiction, but he man born 100,000 years ahead of his time, possesswas proud of them for what ing all the extra-mental abilities of a normal person of they were. one thousand centuries in the future. Murphy Anderson And well he should took over the art and remains the artist most associathave been, for though the ed with the strip, which was featured irregularly until stories in SA and MIS SA #49. The good Captain was later revived and could by no remains an active member of the DC Comics line of means be characters to this day. called Recalled with affection by some fans — and with “prophetic” distaste by others — was the “Space Cabby” (or (the peo“Space-Cabbie”) series. The whimsical tales of a ple of the space-cab driver of the future, the series premiered in planet Rann “Dominic Flandry” creMIS #21, becoming a regular feature in #26 and lastator, Poul Anderson.

ing until #47. The Cabby was issued his license by writer Ed Herron and artist Howard Sherman, while most of his exploits were produced by writer Otto Binder and artists Gil Kane, Bernard Sachs and Joe Giella. Both titles sold reasonably well. The “Statements of Ownership” in the February-dated titles of SA and MIS reveal that in 1960, SA sold 207,000 copies an issue (according to SA #125,

“May The Schwartz Be With You!” #123 (12/60), taking the place of the regular “Spotlight On Science,” in which Schwartz answered questions from alleged readers — perhaps fabricated — about scientific phenomena, printing unanimous positive response to the first “Atomic Knights” story under the title “Atomic Knights Mail.” The first regular letter column, “Spotlight On Strange Adventures,” appeared in SA #139 (4/62), as “Spotlight On Science” continued. #140’s “Spotlight On SA” stated that the lettercol was instigated by fan and prolific letterhack Paul Seydor, of Imperial, Pennsylvania. Quoth The Schwartz: “Paul Seydor is one of Strange Adventures’ biggest boosters; he single-handedly waged a successful campaign to get us to initiate a letter column in this magazine.” Once in place, “Spotlight On SA” became, as did all Schwartz letter columns, a site for fans to exchange opinions (and sometimes addresses to establish contact and spread fandom), for Julie to beat the drum for SA and for other titles he edited, and to make the readers feel as though they were being given a rare look behind the scenes. When a reader asked

in “Adam Strange” possessed vessels capable of interplanetary travel, yet still sent their mail via pneumatic tube), at least a few of the stories predicted trends in popular fiction. For instance, in the non-series story “The Strangest Day On Earth!” by Broome, Sekowsky and Sachs (SA #120, 9/60), astronaut Robert Chambers emerges from a “gravity vacuum chamber” to find himself experiencing the same day over and over again — a theme later echoed in the movie Groundhog Day, which itself would inspire many imitations. Based on the quality of the scripts and art and the longevity of the titles, I’ll go out on the limb of a space-tree and call Strange Adventures and Mystery In Space the best science-fiction anthology comics ever produced. (Dissenting opinions from indignant EC Fan-Addicts will be forwarded to the author by TwoMorrows.) A contributor to the letter columns of the sciencefictions magazines of the 1920s and ’30s, The Schwartz knew the public relations value of a space where the readers could see their opinions printed. The first actual readers’ lettercol in SA appeared in

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that the lettercol occupy two pages instead of one, Schwartz replied (in SA #156): “Letter-column space depends on the amount of advertising per issue — when it’s heavy, the column must be light.” Julie became to the readers a favorite uncle, the one with the cool job. They always looked forward to his visits, and his unending stream of wordplay and puns. He was nearly always good-humored, sometimes slightly foreboding, but always respectful of the readers’ intelligence, always liked and, above all, always respected. Yet despite the Schwartzian success of SA and MIS, it all came to an end in April and May of 1964. In SA #163 (4/64), Julie bid a fond farewell to his readers. No such announcement appeared in MIS #91 (5/64), but by MIS #92, regime change had placed Jack Schiff in charge of both titles, while The Schwartz and his crew began working their editorial magic on the Batman titles, beginning with Detective Comics #327 (5/64, the 25th anniversary of Batman’s first appearance in the title) and Batman #164 (6/64). It could be argued that, though Schwartz was successful in reviving the Batman titles, DC had not gained as much as it had lost by removing Schwartz from the editorial reins of Strange Adventures and Mystery In Space. Creatively, that is. Certainly the ongoing health of the internationally known Batman franchise was of more concern to DC than the content of a couple of mid-level science-fiction comics. Yet Schwartz was always most comfortable — and most innovative — with those properties he’d had a hand in creating; his most personal contribution to the

revived Batman titles was his addition of the Elongated Man (a character whose creation, by Broome and Infantino, he had overseen as a supporting character in The Flash) as a back-up series for Detective Comics. It would be interesting to view that parallel world in which some other editor was assigned the task of reviving the Batman titles and Julie Schwartz kept SA and MIS. (The idea of DC editor Murray Boltinoff — who was then helming The Doom Patrol, one of DC’s best titles — taking over the Batman franchise, with at least one title scripted by DP writer Arnold Drake, is certainly intriguing. And to those readers who chafe at a Batman series of titles of the same mood and quality as Bob Haney’s The Brave and the Bold, it must be recalled that B&B was for years one of DC’s most profitable Batman titles, which is the only criterion by which corporations judge success.) It is reasonable to assume the same level of quality, with perhaps only a slight decline, would have continued at least until Gardner Fox and John Broome parted company with DC in 1969, at which point they would have been replaced by younger writers who would certainly have replaced the scientist-heroes of SA and MIS with rock stars and misunderstood, malcontented mystics created in the vein of the self-pitying Marvel second generation protagonists of the ’70s. Maybe what happened, a quick (though hardly painless) death, rather than a lingering illness, was better. Julie’s departure from SA and MIS, magazines featuring stories about heroes who were primarily concerned about the problems of the world (which, after all, were their problems, too), happened at about the

“May The Schwartz Be With You!” same time that the iconic Marvel hero, who was conafter the “Adam Strange” series debuted, Julius cerned mostly with his own problems, was gaining popSchwartz returned to the editorial reins of SA, reprintularity. Out with the old, in with the new, though “new” ing “Adam Strange” and “Atomic Knights” adventures, doesn’t necessarily mean “improved.” unofficially designating the title Adam Strange Despite lengthy and warm relationships with Julius Adventures, introducing a new generation of fans to Schwartz and DC Comics, Fox and Broome left the pubthese classic characters, as well as bringing a nostallisher in 1969. In the March, 1984 issue of Comics gic smile to the faces of more than a few “old-timers.” Interview, Fox described the parting of the ways to Sales were good enough to warrant a “new” title, From interviewer Lou Mougin: “Some of the writers and Beyond the Unknown (10-11/69), which reprinted artists were being paid more mostly non-series stories, and than others. When I heard that eventually to expand SA and some of these other fellows FBTU to 52-page status. SA who worked for [DC editor] Jack was finally cancelled with #244 Schiff were being paid more (10-11/73), but not before the than me, I felt very uncomforttitle published two new stories able about it, and didn’t see of “Adam Strange,” the latter of why that should be. So we writwhich reunited Gardner Fox with ers decided to form a little perhaps his most beloved creunion, you might say. [Business ation for one last trip to Rann. manager] Jack Leibowitz didn’t “One last trip”? Perhaps in our look upon that very kindly, and world. Yet in that limitless as a result I was told that I dimension of the imagination, wasn’t going to work with Julie in the land where Sherlock any more; Carmine Infantino Holmes still strides a fogbecame the big poobah, and he shrouded London foiling the said to me, ‘You’ll be working schemes of Professor Moriarty, with [Superman editor] Mort a valiant archeologist still jourWeisinger, not Julie any more.’ I neys to a far-flung planet he said ‘To Hell with that.’ has taken as his own, saving it [Laughter.] So I quit.” Broome from alien perils as, elsewhere John Broome and the author, 1998. left DC at the same time, over on that same plane, six couraa dispute about being paid for reprints, some sources geous figures still don armor to drag a world back to say, as did Batman co-creator Bill Finger. The departure the civilization it abandoned, believing that civilization of such giants marked the end of comics’ Silver Age. to be a good thing, and worth the saving. While Mystery In Space was cancelled with #110, And in an editorial office overlooking the entirety Strange Adventures had better luck. Incoming editor of that realm sit three men, endlessly devising thrilling Jack Schiff managed to keep sales alive, first by introadventures set in worlds fraught with peril, ducing semi-successful super-heroes such as “Animal yet which are ultimately part of a benevolent universe, Man” and “The Enchantress,” then by the addition of a universe which rewards knowledge and courage and “Deadman.” love. “I make known the end from the beginning,” reads Isaiah 46:10. Certainly the Old Testament prophet could not have had Strange Adventures in mind. And yet…. With issue #217 (3-4/69), just over ten years

All images © DC Comics

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall at that National Periodical Publications’ editorial meeting in 1957! There — as has been recorded elsewhere — it was decided that two new science-fiction series would debut in the pages of DC’s tryout magazine, Showcase. One would tell the exploits of a future-age crimefighter, while the other would detail the adventures of a modernday man swept up into adventures on another planet. The former concept fell to longtime editor Jack Schiff to develop, and became “Space Ranger,” essentially a masked crime-fighter in a future era with a secret identity (businessman Rick Starr), a clever and reliable assistant (Cryll, a shape-shifting alien), a girl friend (secretary Myra Mason), a secret headquarters (inside an asteroid) and a colorful rogue’s gallery of enemies. In some ways, the “Space Ranger” series reflects exactly one of the dictates of seminal sciencefiction editor John W. Campbell, Jr. — they were adventure stories that would have been perfectly at home in magazines of the future, just as readers of 1958 read the then-current exploits of Nero Wolfe and Perry Mason. “Space Ranger” was at least a serviceable hit, debuting in Showcase #15 (7-8/58), with stories that have been credited to Gardner Fox and Edmond Hamilton, plotting and scripting, respectively, and art by Bob Brown. The strip soon shifted to Tales of the

Unexpected with #40 (8/59), where it was written by Arnold Drake, then to Mystery In Space (last appearing in #103, 7/65) after editor Julius Schwartz had been pulled off the latter title to helm the more valuable (to DC, at least) Batman series. (The mystery Space Ranger never solved is why his writing chores were split between Fox and Hamilton, each a reliable pro who could have done the job solo.) The latter concept fell to The Schwartz to turn into a series. Never one to turn down inspiration from past colleagues, Schwartz put his head together with his best writer, Gardner Fox, and, with a few cues from Edgar Rice Burroughs, came up with “Adam Strange.” Interviewed by Lou Mougin in a 1984 Comics Interview, Fox was asked if “Adam Strange” was derived from Burroughs’ John Carter series about an Earthmen who traveled to the planet Mars, had fantastic adventures, and fell in love with a native girl, Fox replied: “I suppose you could probably say John Carter was in my subconscious. You had to think of some interesting way to transfer him from Earth up to the planet Rann before you even got started in on a plot, but it was fun to do.” Indeed, of the possibly dozens of features Fox had

Above: Mystery in Space #91 panel detail. Art by Infantino & Anderson. © DC Comics

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION story of John Carter, but it is also the story of Moses. And it is with the character of Adam that the series comes into its own. Previously, science-fiction comics series, such as Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon, divided the personas of man of action and thinker into two discrete characters. Buck and Flash were the heroic, reckless side of the coin, willing to dive into action and ask questions later, content to let elderly scientists Dr. Huer or Dr. Zarkov, respectively, handle the thinking which, by implication, was always deemed slightly less important than the fighting. Adam Strange had such an elder scientist figure, Sardath, Alanna’s father, to provide pseudoscientific gimmickry. But Schwartz and Fox valued the plot of a story as much as they valued its action, and they respected the thinker as much — if not more — than they respected the doer. The brains of the series was really Adam, aided and abetted by a woman who was his equal. So they combined brains and brawn in one character, crafted three issues of exploits in Showcase, drawn by the team of Mike Sekowsky, Bernard Sachs and Joe Giella, and waited for reader response. (Artist Murphy Anderson designed Adam’s costume and even drew a cover for Showcase #17, which was rejected and has, alas, been lost to time.) Five months after Adam’s last appearance in Showcase, he debuted in a new series in © DC Comics

created, let alone been involved in, “Adam Strange” remained one of his favorites. In the interview previously cited, Fox said: “I suppose I’ve been asked again and again who my favorite was, and I always had a soft spot for Adam Strange…” And in the Winter, 1963-64 issue of Alter Ego (#6), Fox wrote: “And a sigh for the good times I had writing about Adam and Alanna on Rann. I just turned in the last script (sigh) I will do about them.” As Rex Stout, the creator of Nero Wolfe, said, “If I don’t have any fun writing a story, no one’s going to have any fun reading it.” By this standard, Fox must have been having fun, for the “Adam Strange” series remains a high-water mark in the memories of many comics fans. The adventures of “Earth’s First Spaceman,” teleported by zeta-beam to the distant planet Rann, that incredible planet of green skies and super-science existing side-by-side with utter savagery, rang true to hundreds of thousands of readers who admired Adam for his quick wits and, not incidentally, his romance with the lovely Alanna of Ranagar. As noted elsewhere in these pages, Fox’s forte as a writer wasn’t characterization. In some ways, the “Adam Strange” series is no different. Despite over 50 stories of Adam & Co., there is virtually no supporting cast save Alanna’s father, Sardath; almost no citizens of the planet Rann are named unless they are later revealed to be the mystery villain. Characterization was mostly saved for the hero and heroine. Unlike most Fox series, what a reader takes away from “Adam Strange” is a memory of the clever plots second, and of the warm, mutually supportive relationship of Adam and Alanna first. “Adam Strange,” like many other stories, tells of an foreigner who comes to a strange land, adopts it as his own, loves one of its daughters and becomes its champion, saving the land from perils, many of which it has created itself. It may be the Right: MIS #83 panel detail.

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION Mystery In Space, there drawn by Carmine Infantino. Months later, inker Murphy Anderson would join the team, and comics history was made. Though Infantino, the premiere stylist of the Silver Age, would do his best and most famous work in the pages of “Adam Strange” and The Flash, he professed affection for neither feature. In issue #8 of The Amazing World of DC Comics (9-10/75), Infantino said: “I never liked drawing Batman. It’s weird, but the ones I’m best known for I never liked drawing. ‘Adam Strange’ didn’t thrill me, Flash was a tough one and I never liked Westerns.” Still, being a professional, even if Infantino never liked drawing “Adam Strange,” he nonetheless gave it his best. And the readers’ enthusiasm more than made up for any lack of same on his part. Beginning with MIS #69, the “Wonders of Space” letter column, which previously answered science questions submitted by readers, was devoted to letters of comment on MIS and the “Adam Strange” series. With issue #72, the title of the column would be changed to “Via Rocket Mail,” and Julie would begin to award original art and scripts to readers who wrote the best letters. Most of the other Silver Age art was destroyed; whether he realized it or not, Schwartz was saving much of the “Adam Strange” art for future generations. With everyone (except possibly Infantino) having so much fun — Schwartz, Fox and the fans — there was

no reason to think “Adam Strange” and MIS wouldn’t continue on the same trajectory forever. Indeed, in issue #87, Schwartz had just added “Hawkman” to the pages of MIS. Though the origin of this Silver Age incarnation of the character had its roots deep in science-fiction (he was a lawman from the planet Thanagar, sent to Earth to retrieve a fugitive and to survey Earth criminology techniques), most of his adventures were set in modern-day Earth, unlike the former back-ups in MIS, which were invariably set in the future. Perhaps Julie just wanted to give Hawkman another chance at winning his own title; the character had had an unprecedented set of two three-issue tryouts and failed. No matter the reason, it must have been a delight for Fox; now two of his favorite series, created nearly twenty years apart, were together in one title. Certainly there was no sign internally that Schwartz and Co. were about to be taken off MIS. Alanna had been given a new outfit in #88, hardly the action of a team about to leave its assignment. Though Schwartz had written a farewell note to his readers in the lettercol of Strange Adventures #163 (4/64), no such note was to be found in MIS #91. Thus unprepared for the regime change, thousands of readers must have felt the bottoms of their stomachs drop when they saw MIS #92. Schwartz, Fox and Infantino were gone, and though “Adam Strange” remained, our

Above: Who’s Who #1 illustration of Adam Strange by Carmine Infantino (pencils) and Murphy Anderson (inks). © DC Comics 30

“Adam Strange”

old friend just wasn’t the same. Certainly there was nothing lacking in the credentials of incoming editorial team of editor Jack Schiff, writer Jerry Siegel (co-creator of Superman) and artist Lee Elias. But just as the character of Adam Strange had been struck by the zeta-beam; his series had been struck by lightning, and that can’t be repeated. Now Space Ranger and Adam Strange, who had been conceived on the same day, were together in the same book, and sometimes in the same story. (“Hawkman” had finally won its own title, “won its wings!” crowed Julie, announced in MIS #90.) Later, “Space Ranger” was replaced by the more freakish “Ultra the Multi-Alien” in MIS #103 (7/65), when Captain Ace Arn was turned into a being each quarter of whose body sampled a different alien race, in a

story drawn by Lee Elias and possibly written by Dave Wood. This was perhaps an attempt to capture the success of Metamorpho, another freakish DC hero created in the mold of what editorial heads thought was “the Marvel style,” but “Ultra” ultimately did nothing to change the sales of MIS, which were plunging fast. Issue #110 (9/66), was the last issue of the series’ original run. The entire run of the first “Adam Strange” series lasted five and one-half years, only a year and two months longer than the time it took the zeta-beam to travel from Rann to Earth… yet to its fans it seemed to have lasted only as long as it took Adam to travel from Earth to Rann. — MWB

Above: Pencil sketch by Carmine Infantino. © DC Comics 31

All images © DC Comics

“ADAM STRANGE” IN MYSTERY IN SPACE AND OTHERS “The Duel of the Two Adam Stranges!” Mystery in Space #60, 6/60: “The Attack of the Tentacle World!” Mystery in Space #61, 8/60: “Threat of the Tornado Tyrant!” Mystery in Space #62, 9/60: “The Beast with the Sizzling Blue Eyes!” Mystery in Space #63, 11/60: “The Weapon That Swallowed Men!” Mystery in Space #64, 12/60: “The Radio-Active Menace!” Mystery in Space #65, 2/61: “The Mechanical Masters of Rann!” Mystery in Space #66, 3/61: “Space-Island of Peril!” Mystery in Space #67, 5/61: “Challenge of the Giant Fireflies!” Mystery in Space #68, 6/61: “The Fadeaway Doom!” Mystery in Space #69, 8/61: “Menace of the Aqua-Ray Weapon!” Mystery in Space #70, 9/61: “Vengeance of the Dust Devil!” Mystery in Space #71, 11/61: “The Challenge of the Crystal Conquerors!” Mystery in Space #72, 12/61:

• THE “ADAM STRANGE” SERIES Showcase #17, 11-12/58: “Secret of the Eternal City!” “The Planet and the Pendulum!” Showcase #18, 1-2/59: “Invaders from the Atom Universe!” “The Dozen Dooms of Adam Strange!” Showcase #19, 3-4/59: “Challenge of the Star-Hunter!” “Mystery of the Mental Menace!” Mystery in Space #53, 8/59: “Menace of the Robot Raiders!” Mystery in Space #54, 9/59: “Invaders of the Underground World!” Mystery in Space #55, 11/59: “The Beast from the Runaway World!” Mystery in Space #56, 12/59: “The Menace of the Super-Atom!” Mystery in Space #57, 2/60: “Mystery of the Giant Footsteps!” Mystery in Space #58, 3/60: “Chariot in the Sky!” Mystery in Space #59, 5/60:

Panel detail by Carmine Infantino & Murphy Anderson. 33

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Giants!” Mystery in Space #87, 11/63: “The Super-Brain of Adam Strange!” “Amazing Thefts of the I.Q. Gang!” [Hawkman] Justice League of America #24, 12/63: “Decoy Missions of the Justice League!” Mystery in Space #88, 12/63: “The Robot-Wraith of Rann!” Mystery in Space #89, 2/64: “Siren of the Space Ark!”

“The Multiple Menace Weapon!” Mystery in Space #73, 2/62: “The Invisible Invaders of Rann!” Mystery in Space #74, 3/62: “The Spaceman Who Fought Himself!” Mystery in Space #75, 5/62: “The Planet That Came to a Standstill!” Mystery in Space #76, 6/62: “Challenge of the Rival Starman!” Mystery in Space #77, 8/62: “Ray-Gun in the Sky!” Mystery in Space #78, 9/62: “Shadow People of the Eclipse!” Mystery in Space #79, 11/62: “The Metal Conqueror of Rann!” Mystery in Space #80, 12/62: “The Deadly Shadows of Adam Strange!” Mystery in Space #81, 2/63: “The Cloud-Creature That Menaced Two Worlds!” Mystery in Space #82, 3/63: “World War on Earth and Rann!” Mystery in Space #83, 5/63:

“The Emotion-Master of Space!” Mystery in Space #84, 6/63: “The Powerless Weapons of Adam Strange!” Mystery in Space #85, 8/63: “Riddle of the Runaway Rockets!” Mystery in Space #86, 9/63: “Attack of the Underworld

Mystery in Space #90, 3/64: “Planets in Peril!” Mystery in Space #91, 5/64: “Puzzle of the Perilous Prisons!” Hawkman #18, 2-3/67: “World That Vanished!” Hawkman #19, 4-5/67: “Parasite Planet Peril!” Strange Adventures #222, 1-2/70: “Beyond the Wall of Death!” Strange Adventures #226, 9-10/70: “The Magic-Maker of Rann”

KEY TO CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS (w) DO – Denny O’Neil FH – France Herron GF – Gardner Fox JB – John Broome ARTISTS PENCILERS (p) CI – Carmine Infantino GK – Gil Kane MA – Murphy Anderson MS – Mike Sekowsky SG – Sid Greene INKERS (i) BS – Bernard Sachs CI – Carmine Infantino

FG – Frank Giacoia JA – Jack Adler JG – Joe Giella JGi – John Giunta MA – Murphy Anderson SG – Sid Greene MAGAZINES ASW – All Star Western BB – The Brave and the Bold HM – Hawkman JLA – Justice League of America MIS – Mystery In Space SA – Strange Adventures SH – Showcase

“Adam Strange”

The Stories “Secret of the Eternal City!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: GK (p&i). SH #17, 11-12/58. GF (w), MS (p), FG (i). “Across 25 trillion miles of space the planet Rann circles the star-sun Alpha Centauri — surely a strange place to find a present-day Earthman! And yet — transported bodily across that great gulf of space, Adam Strange arrives on Rann in time to challenge the invasion of the Eternals — super-scientific creatures who ruthlessly destroy whatever opposes them in their quest for a fantastic city that has not existed in 1000 years!” First appearance: Adam Strange, Alanna of Ranagar, Sardath (Alanna’s father). Synopsis: Leaping across a chasm while fleeing from hostile Incas, archaeologist Adam Strange inadvertently intercepts the zeta-beam, a burst of energy intended to facilitate communication between the planets Earth and Rann, but which “some unknown spaceradiation” converted… to a teleportation beam!” While touring Rann, the planet is invaded by The Eternals, an alien race seeking Vitatron, an element whose radiations give them immortality. Before defeating them, Adam and Alanna must visit the ancient city of Samakand, which appears only once every 25 years. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The

Menticizer, which teaches Adam the language of Rann instantly. Hostile alien race: The Eternals (no home planet named). Commentary: This, the first recorded exploit of Adam Strange, remains one of the best, an imaginative yarn filled with action, suspense, and a clever solution by Adam, whose lastminute stratagems will become as familiar to his readers as Perry Mason’s courtroom maneuvers were familiar to fans of Erle Stanley Gardner. “The Planet and the Pendulum!” — 10 pages (second story). SH #17, 11-12/58. GF (w), MS (p), JG (i). “Across 25 trillion miles of space a beautiful girl named Alanna and an exciting world of adventure beckon Adam Strange! And while the Earthman waits impatiently for the zeta-beam to teleport him once again to Rann — he is unaware of the terrible doom being prepared for him on the planet circling the star-sun Alpha Centauri!” First appearance: Adam’s space suit, found on the spaceship which took Alanna and Sardath to Anthorann; the backward tribe of Zoora; the planet Anthorann. Synopsis: Captured by the backward tribe of Zoora when he materializes on Rann, Adam is condemned as a sorcerer and sent via a teleportation device to a neighboring planet, Anthorann, where he finds Alanna and Sardath, who have arrived via a spaceship. When the domed city of New

Ranagar is attacked by the Morleen with a swinging pendulum, Adam must save the city. Auctorial inspiration: The title and dominating visual of this story were inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s 1842 story, “The Pit and the Pendulum.” Fox sci-fi device introduced: The Rainbow Doom “… actually a teleport station… scientists had set up a thousand years before!” Hostile alien race: The Morleen. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Commentary: The recipe (which allows for some variation, as opposed to a formula, which does not) for the rest of the “Adam Strange” series is now in place. Young Romance: A caption refers to Alanna as “… the women [Adam Strange] loves… “ Adam refers to the girl as “… my beloved Alanna.”

“Invaders From the Atom Universe!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: GK (p), BS (i). SH #18, 1-2/59. GF (w), MS (p), FG (i). “One man on Earth has been given the strange power to travel instantly to the planet Rann of the star-sun Alpha Centauri — 25 trillion miles across space! On two previous visits to Rann, Adam Strange has shared dangerous adventures with a girl named Alanna! Now once again he waits to return to Rann — unaware that before he can see his beloved he must face the Invaders From the Atom Universe!”

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Synopsis: Materializing on Rann, Adam finds the entire planet has been conquered by the Vrenn. Captured by them and exiled to a sub-atomic world, he and Alanna must determine first how to return to Rann, then how to defeat the Vrenn. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The Orkinomikron, a machine that can shrink and expand matter. Hostile alien race: The Vrenn. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: Its contact point is mid-air in a chasm of the Rocky Bara country of Southern Madagascar. (For a reason never specified, Adam is not wearing his rocket pack.) Commentary: Some plot similarities between “The Planet and the Pendulum” are driven from the reader’s mind by the more complex plot and greater length. Interplanetary Romance: In the story’s last panel, Adam, rematerialized on Earth, gazes up longingly at the sky and says: “I’ll be back, Alanna… soon!” This charming coda would provide the ending of most of Adam’s adventures. “The Dozen Dooms of Adam Strange!” — 10 pages (second story). SH #18, 1-2/59. GF (w), MS (p), JG (i). “Once again across the black void of space comes the siren call of Rann — summoning Adam Strange from Earth to the planet of the star-sun Alpha Centauri! He is the only Earthman ever to know the lure of this distant world, its dangerous adventures, and his

romance with the lovely Alanna! Oddly enough, he now finds that he is the only person on Earth or on Rann who can possibly save Alanna and Rann from… The Dozen Dooms of Adam Strange!” Synopsis: The city-state of Dys is suspected of plotting an attack against Ranagar. Adam enters the city, posing as one of twelve life-size robot replicas of himself, which have become all the rage among the children of Ranagar, to investigate the threat. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: The contact point for the beam is in the middle of the city of Sydney, Australia, in broad daylight.

“Challenge of the Star-Hunter!” — 13 pages (first story). Cover: GK (p), BS (i). SH #19, 3-4/59. GF (w), MS (p), JG (i). “While his fellow-Ear thmen still must await the future day when they can journey to other worlds, Adam Strange already knows the fantastic secret of how to travel instantly to Rann, a planet 25 trillion miles from Earth! “There on this world of wonder he is confronted by a super-alien who can change his shape at will — who challenges Adam to capture him — or doom the planet and its people to utter destruction!” Synopsis: Adam is chosen by a delegation of Rann city-states to meet the three challenges of Leothric, who can change his shape “to that of any creature.” If Adam fails, all of Rann will be

put in Leothric’s “suspended animation enslavement.” Hostile alien: Leothric from Ardvak, the first of a series of many conquerors who will match wits with Adam Strange — and fail. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: The beam will strike several feet in the air over the city of Calcutta, India, in broad daylight. Science Says You’re Wrong… : Since Alpha Centauri can be seen only from Earth’s Southern hemisphere, it was stated repeatedly that the zetabeam can strike only in the Southern hemisphere. But Calcutta is well north of the Equator. Chronological note: A caption states: “It was about a year earlier… that Adam Strange first encountered the teleportational powers of the zetabeam…” Design note: The cover to this issue is the first use of the “Adam Strange” logo that would be used when the series shifted to Mystery In Space. Throughout the life of the series, no other logo would be used. “Mystery of the Mental Menace!” — 12 pages (second story). SH #19, 3-4/59. GF (w), MS (p), JG (i). “Ever y time Ear thman Adam Strange has been teleported 25 trillion miles to Rann, he has found trouble, danger and excitement on the planet! “But this time when he arrives on Rann, the planet is peaceful — at least on the surface! But lurking in secret ambush there is a menace, so fantastic

“Adam Strange”

and awesome that when it confronts Adam Strange, the Earthman is helpless to meet it!” First appearance: Alanna’s blue tunic and yellow leggings, which she will wear for the majority of the series. Synopsis: Appearing on Rann to find no menace threatening, Adam is awarded honors by two Rann city-states. When these prizes prove to be counterfeit, it’s Adam’s first clue to the interference of Zakkad, a being “powerful beyond all imagining,” who has “solved all the secrets of the universe but one… teleportation,” which he seeks to obtain from our hero. Hostile alien: Zakkad of Ekelon. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: In the African veldt, Adam must leave the spot where the beam will strike to rescue an injured hunter from the path of an elephant stampede. Commentary: By this, the sixth entry in the series, Fox, Schwartz and even Adam and Alanna are having fun with the recipe. Adam knows a menace will strike every time he arrives on Rann, and so originally doubts Alanna when she tells him no menace is in the offing. She’s right… but not for long.

“Menace of the Robot Raiders!” — 10 pages (first story). Cover: GK (p), BS (i). MIS #53, 8/59. GF (w), CI (p), BS (i). “While Earthmen still must wait for the time they can journey to the moon — and nearby planets — one man on

Ear th already knows the secret of instantaneous space-travel! Adam Strange has the power to flash 25 trillion miles across space to Rann, a planet of the Alpha Centauri solar system! Now once again he travels to Rann — to share another exciting adventure with the beautiful girl named Alanna… Menace of the Robot Raiders!” Synopsis: Adam is told that an alien race, the Griks, have traded a dozen giant robots for mining rights to the mineral Orichalk, “a common mineral on Rann.” When the robots go berserk, Adam must determine who is responsible. Alien race: The Griks. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: Two kids sitting in the exact spot where the beam will strike. Commentary: Incoming penciler Carmine Infantino hits the ground running, his imaginative layouts making the series his own, while simultaneously somewhat redesigning Adam’s uniform to the version we will come to know and love.

“Invaders of the Underground World!” (cover title: “The Invaders From the Underground World!”) — 9 pages (first story). Cover: GK (p), FG (i). MIS #54, 9/59. GF (w), CI (p), BS (i). “Having discovered the teleportational secret of the zeta-beam, Adam Strange uses it to hurl his Earthly body across 25 trillion miles of space to the

planet Rann! Previously, whenever Adam landed on Rann he had been obliged to fight off menaces that threatened the planet! This time, the Ear thman himself is regarded as Rann’s greatest menace!” Synopsis: Adam is accused of using his teleportation “power” to steal military secrets from an otherwise impregnable vault. His inquisition is ended by his kidnapping at the hands of the underground dwellers, who fear only he can defeat their planned invasion of the surface. Wish I Had One of Those: Adam’s ray-gun fires “gravity bubbles,” which presumably weigh down their target. Hostile race: An unnamed race of humanoid dwellers who “come from the center of Rann,” giving them a body density much greater than solid rock. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: A superconstellation passenger plane which is in the direct path of the beam. Make Up Your Mind: When Adam is accused of possessing a “mysterious power to appear and disappear at will,” he replies: “I can’t appear and disappear of my own free will!” But in “Mystery of the Mental Menace!” he refers to the zeta-beam as “the secret of my teleportational power.”

“The Beast From the Runaway World!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: GK (p), JA (wash) MIS #55, 11/59. GF (w), CI (p), BS (i). “To one man alone of all Earth’s

teeming millions — Adam Strange — has been granted the strange power to ride a teleportational zeta-beam 25 trillion miles across space to Rann, a planet of the solar system of Alpha Centauri! On Rann he shares daring adventures with the lovely Alanna, his interplanetary sweetheart! On Rann also he has learned to expect an unusual menace — which this time turns out to be — The Beast From the Runaway World!” Synopsis: Adam materializes on Rann to find Ranagar being terrorized by a giant, dinosaur-like lizard whom the Ranagarians have named Zaradak (“which means ‘the terrible one’ in our language,” Alanna informs him). Adam befriends Zaradak just in time to plan to use it against the invading Sfarri, but when Zaradak’s zeta-beam charge wears off before this can happen, Adam must devise another defense. Hostile alien race: The warlike Sfarri of the planet Sfar, in Rann’s solar system. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: Adam’s first attempt to catch the beam is intercepted by Zaradak, due to the erratic orbit of the beast’s planet (the titular “runaway world”). Commentary: Zaradak is excellently drawn by Infantino, at times menacing, at times cuddly and charming.

“The Menace of the Super-Atom!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: GK (p), JG (i). MIS #56, 12/59. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i).

“Like the ancient Sirens, the planet Rann calls out to Earthman Adam Strange, summoning him to meet its dangers… its exciting threats… its most beautiful woman, Alanna, who has been Adam’s companion-in-arms on his previous visits! And so Adam eagerly answers that Siren call, flashing across 25 trillion miles of space to the third planet of the star-sun Alpha Centauri, always prepared to meet every threat fate can hurl against him — even such an uncanny challenge as… The Menace of the Super-Atom!” Synopsis: Adam arrives on Rann to find it taken over by Nimar: “Know that I am immortal and indestructible.” But Nimar is weary of his easy victories and, having been told of Adam’s status as Champion of Rann by Alanna, challenges Adam to fight him for the fates of both Rann and Earth: “I win so easily all the time! I hope you can give me some real competition!” That’s gonna come back to bite him in the neutrons! Hostile alien: Nimar, “the wanderer of the stars, an energi-being of superintelligence who has come to Rann to add it to the list of planets which call me master!” Oddly, Nimar is depicted as nearly identical to Zakkad from “The Mystery of the Mental Menace,” though there is no connection stated between the two. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: A waterspout that threatens to blow Adam off of the spot where the beam will strike. (“A waterspout has the awesome power of a tornado!”) Strange Facts: Though in “Secret of the Eternal City!” Rann was described as being “equally distant” from its sun as Earth is from its, this is the first time Rann has been described as “the third planet of the star-sun Alpha Centauri.” Commentary: This is the story where it all comes together. Murphy Anderson’s inks give Infantino’s pencils a fluid texture and emphasize the gorgeous sweep of Infantino’s designs, making Alanna indeed the “most beautiful woman” on Rann.

“Mystery of the Giant Footprints!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: GK (p), JG (i). MIS #57, 2/60. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “The footprints were stamped deep

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into the soil of Rann — gigantic, ominous! “To Adam Strange — an Earthman who rides a telepor tational beam across 25 trillion miles of space to the planet Rann — they represented a challenge to combat! “For the giants who made the prints were engaged on a diabolical plan to destroy nearly half the planet!” Synopsis: Visiting a “sinking island” on Rann, Adam and Alanna encounter the Rhollians, a race of giant aliens who are seeking the mineral orichalkum: “the unknown metal supposedly found on Earth only on the island of Atlantis.” Their scheme to mine Rann’s orichalkum will devastate half the planet. Hostile alien race: The Rhollians. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: A “sinking island,” whose submersion threatens to dislodge Adam from the spot where the beam will strike. Strange Facts: Adam’s rocket pack is described as “an atomic rocket.” Too Smart to Be a Blond… ?: Adam’s hair is colored brown throughout this adventure, rather than its customary yellow. This error would occasionally reoccur throughout the series. Uma, Meet Oprah… : The mineral sought by the Rhollians, orichalkum, seems to bear no relation to the mineral orichalk, from “Menace of the Robot Raiders.”

“The Chariot In the Sky!” — 9 pages (first story).

“Adam Strange”

Cover: GK (p), MA (i). MIS #58, 3/60. GF (w), CI (p), BS (i). “They came from outer space — and also from the mists of time! Remembered on Earth only as mythological characters, they became terribly real and dangerous to the people of Rann — these alien beings who called themselves Jupiter… Apollo… Hercules! “Then Adam Strange came flashing across the 25 trillion miles between Earth and Rann — borne on the wings of a teleportational beam — to pit his wits and courage against the eerie threat of the… Chariot In the Sky!” Synopsis: Ranagar is trashed by three individuals claiming to be Jupiter, Apollo and Hercules, gods of Roman mythology from Earth, who believe Ranagar to be their homeworld, Olympia. Adam challenges them to separate duels, claiming he will use only “nothing,” “a thin steel rod” and “bare hands” against them. The gods laugh… but Adam laughs last. Hostile aliens: Hercules, Jupiter and Apollo of the planet Olympia. There is no stated connection between these aliens and a similar alien race of “Olimpus,” which was seen in “The Man Who Claimed the Earth!” in Flash #113, 6-7/60, by Broome, Infantino and Giella. Strange Facts: Adam’s ray gun shoots a “vacuum beam,” which causes a vacuum around the object it is aimed at. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: An ICBM

(Intercontinental Ballistic Missile). Adam realizes he must be “smack on the south Atlantic training range!”

“Duel of the Two Adam Stranges!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: GK (p), MA (i). MIS #59, 5/60. GF (w), CI (p), JG (i). “Across 25 trillion miles of space, the planet Rann of the star-sun Alpha Centauri reaches out for Adam Strange, Earthman… teleporting him in the wink of an eye to its alien seas and cities! On Rann, Adam has fallen in love with beautiful Alanna of Ranagar! Here also he has faced terrible dangers — but no danger as deadly as the one that led to… The Duel of the Two Adam Stranges!” Synopsis: Ranagar is approached by what seems to be their hero, Adam Strange, grown to 70 feet tall: “I realize now I can never return to Earth so I’ve decided to make myself master of your planet!” Deposed tyrant Avanar Bar tells Ranagar he can defeat the marauder “if you make me your ruler again!” The Ranagarians, at their wits’ end (a trip it doesn’t take a zeta-beam to travel), agree. When the true Adam appears on Rann, he must defeat his giant double and restore the rule of law. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: A meteor shower.

“Attack of the Tentacle World!” — 9 pages (first story).

Cover: GK (p), JG (i). MIS #60, 6/60. GF (w), CI (p), BS (i). “The menacing tentacles came probing down out of the sky in a fantastic quest for the secret of life! “In answer to that threat, Earthman Adam Strange — who has traveled 25 trillion miles on a teleportational zeta-beam to the planet Rann — jets spaceward to battle a living — and seemingly indestructible —planet!” Synopsis: As Adam watches Alanna participate in the annual Rann Games, this year held in his honor, Rann is invaded by a living, tentacled planet. Hostile alien introduced: The sentient world (though it actually seems to be the size of a small moon) of Yggardis, “born in the cosmic explosion which originally spawned the planets!” Yggardis has existed for eons, but, being unable to support life, is lonely. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: Boat-riding merchants of the floating market in Bangkok, Thailand. Science Says You’re Wrong…: Bangkok is also north of the Equator, and therefore cannot be struck by the zeta-beam. It is unlike Schwartz and Fox to make this kind of mistake twice. Commentary: The lonely plight of Yggardis makes it the most sympathetic of all Adam’s opponents thus far; the Champion of Rann’s solution to its problem is one of the most heartwarming of the entire series. Who Got It?: In MIS #73, lettercol contributor Frederick Norwood of Cambridge, Mass., won the original

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cover art to “Attack From [sic] the Tentacle World!”

“Threat of the Tornado Tyrant!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #61, 8/60. GF (w), CI (p), BS (i). “25 trillion miles from Earth the planet Rann circles the star-sun Alpha Centauri! To one man of Earth — Adam Strange — has been given the wondrous ability to be transported instantly across that gulf of space on a teleportational beam! “There he has shared many dangers and adventures with his interplanetary sweetheart Alanna — but never have they encountered anything as menacing as the invulnerable invader who single-handedly battled the armed might of the entire planet!” First appearance: The Tornado Tyrant (Ulthoon of Xalthor). Synopsis: Adam is struck by a teleportation beam he mistakes for the zeta-beam while over New York City, which whisks him to the planet Xalthor, where Ulthoon will leave him trapped while Xalthor explodes: “Since I intend to take over Rann for my new home — I’m doing away with any possibility of your stopping me!” (Where have we heard that before?) Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Can’t Keep a Good Bad Guy Down: The Tornado Tyrant next appears in “Triumph of the Tornado Tyrant!” in JLA

#17 (2/63). The flashback scenes in this issue mark the first time JLA penciler Mike Sekowsky has drawn “Adam Strange” since SH #19, Fashion Note: The holster of Adam’s belt is “leather,” though the planet of origin of this leather is not specified. When On Earth… : On Earth, Adam has a penthouse apartment in New York City. This is the most detail we have learned about his Terran life thus far. Strange Facts: The zeta-beam “isn’t due to strike in twelve hours … over Capetown, South Africa. I can rocket there at my leisure.” According to Adam, “Rann has never had a tornado before!” Ulthoon says: “Rann’s climate is mild, enjoyable — far better than Earth with its hurricanes, tornadoes and its extremes in temperature!”

“Beast With the Sizzling Blue Eyes!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), JG (i). MIS #62, 9/60. GF (w), CI (p), BS (i). “The world of Rann lies 25 trillion miles from Earth, orbiting around the star-sun Alpha Centauri! “One Earthman alone — Adam Strange — has the power to travel instantly to that other planet — where he shares adventures with his Rann sweetheart, Alanna! “Now as he makes his teleportational journey, Adam Strange hurtles across the gulfs of space to keep a

deadly rendezvous with… The Beast With the Sizzling Blue Eyes!” First appearance: Mortan, a Rannian evil scientist. Synopsis: Rann is attacked by Mortan, who has usurped a scientific device that creates beasts, then encases them in a force-field so the creatures may be studied without harm to students. Fox sci-fi device introduced: See Synopsis. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: The beam is due to strike in broad daylight on the island of Ceylon, India. Science Says You’re Still Wrong…: The island of Ceylon — today known as Sri Lanka — is also north of the Equator, and therefore cannot be struck by the zeta-beam. To make this kind of error in easily demonstrable fact a third time is almost unknown for Schwartz and Fox. Commentary: The solution to Adam’s problem is a variation on that used the month before in “Secret of the Cosmic Bullet!” in SA #119, 8/60, also written and edited by Fox and Schwartz. (See “Author! Author!” series.)

“The Weapon That Swallowed Men!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: GK (p), JG (i). MIS #63, 11/60. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “For once Adam Strange — the Earthman who is regularly teleported across 25 trillion miles of space to the planet Rann on the wings of a zeta-

“Adam Strange” Doug Storer of Butte, Missouri, won the cover to this story.

beam — knows the sharp bite of failure! “Never before has a menace to his adopted planet defeated him! Yet now — confronted by a weapon which threatens the life of his interplanetary sweetheart — as well as that of Rann — Adam finds himself doomed by… The Weapon That Swallowed Men!” Synopsis: When an invading alien army demands to meet a delegation of Rann’s people, a council chooses Adam and Alanna to hear the aliens’ plan. (“What do we want? We want you to surrender, of course!”) The entire forces of the planet are powerless against the Vacuumizer, until Adam deduces its one weakness, and defeats the invaders on his second trip of the issue to Rann — the first threat it took him two trips to beat. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The Vacuumizer, which turns substances to gas and captures them. Hostile alien race introduced: The Vantor (unnamed here, christened in MIS #78). Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: Adam must intercept the zeta-beam before it strikes an Incan temple. If that happens, “… one of the most famous landmarks of South America will be teleported off Earth… to the planet Rann.” This is the first time we are told that the zeta-beam can teleport an entire structure. Who Got It?: MIS #76 announced that the original art to this story had been won by David Bruns of Madison, Wisconsin. In MIS #77 it was announced that

“The Radioactive Menace!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: GK (p), JG (i). MIS #64, 12/60. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Trillions of miles from Earth, the planet Rann swings in its orbit about the star-sun, Alpha Centauri! Like a gigantic lodestone it tugs at Adam Strange of Earth, drawing him instantly through space to Rann — and to his sweetheart, Alanna! By now he has been conditioned to expect to be confronted by some unusual danger as soon as he sets foot on Rann soil! Nor is he disappointed this time, as he finds himself confronted by… The Radioactive Menace!” Synopsis: When evil Rannian scientist Carlon Zan, sentenced to eternal banishment “for [his] attempts to become world dictator,” returns via a time warp to Rann one billion years later, the warp has also enabled him to radiate radioactivity. Adam arrives to find the citizens of Ranagar huddling in lead-lined bomb shelters, and must devise a plan to defeat Zan, who picks up in his plan to become world dictator where he left off. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The mineral Malybium, which “hastens the decomposition process of the radioactive element!” Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: A huge albatross flying straight for the target spot of the zeta-beam. Adam, Meet Ellery: Page six contains a panel in which the reader is asked: “What has Adam Strange seen in the motion pictures that might be of help to him?… Match your wits with those of the star-traveling Earthman before reading on…” This “Challenge To the Reader” technique was introduced in the 1929 novel The Roman Hat Myster y by Manfred B. Lee Manfred B. Lee & and Frederic Frederic Dannay Dannay, published under the pseudonym of “Ellery Queen,” and which soon became a virtual Queen trademark. Gardner Fox, a devotee of mystery writer John Dickson Carr, was probably familiar with at least

this aspect of Queen’s work, since it was also a staple of the “Adventures of Ellery Queen” radio show, broadcast throughout the 1930s and ’40s. Commentary: It is not stated whether the life-forms represented by Carlon Zan — which most resemble blue versions of the Golden Age character “The Heap,” which Infantino also drew — evolved into the human beings of 20th century Rann, or whether they are a different species. Given that Adam and Alanna are together capable of reproduction (see “Rescue By Moonlight!” from SA #157 in the “Space Museum” section) — indicating that the people of Rann are not just humanoid, but fully human — probably the latter.

“The Mechanical Masters of Rann!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), JG (i). MIS #65, 2/61. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “When the Mechanimen came out of the vast gulfs of space to the planet Rann, they proclaimed themselves as protectors of the human race! “No longer would Rann suffer wars, invasions from other worlds, natural catastrophes! Then, when Earthman Adam Strange again is teleported to Rann, he finds himself free at last to enjoy a peaceful visit — until something entirely unexpected happens to… The Mechanical Masters of Rann!” Synopsis: Adam materializes on Rann to find the planet benignly conquered by the Mechanimen, robot

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION And as long as the lesson was couched in such a toothsome package, what reader would care?

guardians of humanity from another planet. The Mechanimen try to make good on their promise to protect all humanity… but there’s a complication that requires Adam Strange’s quick thinking. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The Mechanimen. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: A giant man-eating plant that threatens to devour Adam as he waits for the beam to strike. Continuity Corner: Though the boots and gloves of Adam’s uniform had been colored yellow, rather than their usual orange, on the covers of MIS #55 and often from #57 on, this story is their first instance of their occasionally being colored yellow on the interior pages. The orange looks better, less garish, more subdued, and lessens his already considerable resemblance to The Flash. And I Quote… : “People ought to be allowed to work out their own destinies! Being protected like children isn’t good for a race! It destroys courage, initiative, resourcefulness!” — Adam Strange, page 6, panel 2 Commentary: With this story, the “Adam Strange” series becomes more than just adventure fiction. However obvious the threat the mission of the Mechanimen presents to free will, in 1961 such philosophizing was by no means a staple of comic book sciencefiction. But Fox and Schwartz liked the occasional morality tale, and didn’t mind requiring their readers to think.

“Challenge of the Giant Fireflies!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), JG (i). MIS #67, 5/61. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Across a 25 trillion-mile gulf of space is the closest star-sun neighbor to Earth — Alpha Centauri! Yet one man on Earth can instantly cross that mighty void to the planet Rann revolving around Alpha Centauri — Adam Strange! “Here he shares adventures with his interplanetary sweetheart, Alanna — but never has he faced a menace so terrifying — so awesome — as the one

“Space-Island of Peril!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), JG (i). MIS #66, 3/61. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “The Corytrix was a fantastic lifeform which never died, except by accident or violence! And since no weapon could harm it, there seemed no hope at all for Adam Strange — the one man on Earth who could travel across 25 trillion miles of space to the planet Rann — to save the world of his sweethear t, Alanna! And yet he was forced to enter into a personal duel with this invincible beast — knowing that if he failed, a world died with him!” Synopsis: The Corytrix first saves the lives of Adam and Alanna, then announces its intention to destroy the planet Rann. “We have conquered many planets, many races! Wherever we go we bring ruin and defeat to all who stand in our way — and we enjoy doing so!” Adam manages to isolate himself and the Corytrix, but eventually wonders if he’s made the right decision. Hostile alien race introduced: The Corytrix, a beast which hatches from eggs. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: An experiment conducted by Adam, whose duration threatens his contact with the beam. Strange Facts: Anthorann is further from Alpha Centauri than is Rann. Financial Note: The cover carries the price tag “Still 10¢,” a sure sign that a price hike waits in the wings.

which threatened to turn the entire planet of Rann to a cinder before an answer could be found to the… Challenge of the Giant Fireflies!” Synopsis: Adam travels to Rann to find the natives have already defeated the threat of a strain of giant fireflies: “Well, that’s a switch! For the first time you Rann people have solved a menace without my help!” Adam needn’t feel neglected, though, as Rann is soon under siege from a race of “sun-beings.” Hostile alien race introduced: A race of sentient “sun-beings.” Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: The beam is again interrupted by another object which is brought to Rann to wreak havoc. Does Not Compute… : The scientific information regarding fireflies directly contradicts that which will be disclosed in the “Atomic Knights” story “When the Earth Blacked Out!” in SA #144, 9/62.

“The Fadeaway Doom!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #68, 6/61. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “The nearest star neighbor of our solar system is Alpha Centauri, about 25 trillion miles away! Yet Adam Strange, an archeologist of Earth, has the power to journey instantly to the planet Rann of that distant star-sun, there to share adventures with his interplanetary sweetheart, Alanna! Yet no danger he has so far faced was as

“Adam Strange”

deadly as the one confronting him when he set foot on Rann — only to be caught in the awesome grip of — The Fadeaway Doom!” First appearance: The Dust Devil. Synopsis: No sooner does Adam set foot on Rann than he and Alanna are teleported to the hostile world of Rhynthar. Adam figures out how to defeat the indigent dust devils, “if they touch us — we die!” but must defeat the tyrant who has conquered Rann and turned the zeta-beam into his own personal weapon. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Strange Facts: The zeta-beam is revealed to be a “radio-wave,” the first and only time it is referred to as such. This is inconsistent with past and future referrals.

“Menace of the Aqua-Ray Weapon!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #69, 8/61. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Earth-archaeologist Adam Strange has discovered the amazing teleportational power of the zeta-beam, sent to Earth from the planet Rann of the starsun Alpha Centauri — and rides it across 25 trillion miles of space every so often — to share dangers and adventures on the home planet of the girl he loves, Alanna! Every time he arrives there, trouble waits for him! Nor is this time an exception, as he himself falls victim to the… Menace of the Aqua-Ray Weapon!”

First appearance: The Kirri. Synopsis: The savage Kirri, a blueskinned race native to Rann, thought wiped out “many thousands of years ago,” have emerged from hiding, wielding the Aqua-Ray weapon, which turns living tissue to water. Adam and Alanna fall victim to this weapon before Adam can devise a method to defeat them. Fox sci-fi devices introduced: The aqua-ray weapon, and the magnetimotor, a kind of tractor beam. Strange Facts: Adam’s spacesuit contains “thermo-units,” the temperature of which he can control. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: Adam’s rescue of a dog he finds wandering the Antarctic wastes almost causes him to miss the beam.

“Vengeance of the Dust Devil!” — 9 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #70, 9/61. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “For once, Adam Strange — the Earthman privileged to travel instantly across 25 trillion miles of space to planet Rann of the star-sun Alpha Centauri — was to arrive on Rann and find everything peaceful! There was no menace waiting for him! But unknown to Adam, he had unwittingly brought a menace with him — a deadly doom that would soon threaten the peace and safety of two worlds!” Synopsis: A single Dust Devil — Jakarta — has survived the purge of all others of its kind in MIS #68 and

intends to conquer both Rann and Earth to have its revenge. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Commentary: This is the first menace that Adam defeats on Earth, rather than on Rann. Strange Facts: Adam maintains a secret hideaway “in a remote corner of the Australian continent,” where he keeps gear, supplies and a radio. According to “The Deadly Shadows of Adam Strange!” Adam has secret caches of clothing and supplies secreted all over the southern hemisphere.

“Challenge of the Crystal Conquerors!” — 17 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #71, 11/61. GF (w), CI (p), JG (i). “Overpowered by the crystal creatures of Karalyx, Adam Strange learns to his dismay that he is to be changed to one of them — while his own body is taken over by a member of this strange race! Without weapons — barely able to do more than walk about — this Earthman who has traveled 25 trillion miles through space on the wings of a teleportational zeta-beam is doomed to an eternal prison of crystal — unless he can find the one weapon necessary to overcome… The Challenge of the Crystal Conquerors!” Synopsis: Rann is invaded by crystal marauders who intend to turn themselves into inhabitants of Rann and transform inhabitants of Rann into them, so the latter will be captured and

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION MIS #72, Editor Schwartz announced: “We’ve been thinking for some time of presenting the “Adam Strange” artwork to readers whose letters catch our fancy for one reason or another — so henceforth some lucky reader whose letter appears in this department will be awarded with Infantino’s original art pages… starting with you, Ken Gentry!” Gentry, of Nashville, Tennessee, won the original art to “Challenge of the Crystal Conquerors,” the first of many such fans to be thus rewarded.

imprisoned by the authorities of Karalyx in their places. Fox sci-fi device introduced: Akabubu, a “globe-headed elf” who accomplishes the transformation of human into crystal creature and vice versa. Hostile alien race introduced: The Crystal Creatures of Karalyx. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: A whale whose rush for air nearly knocks Adam from the path of the beam. Commentary: With this issue the “Adam Strange” stories became 17 pages an issue, but if this tale wasn’t quite a “double-length Adam Strange thriller,” as billed on the cover, no reader was complaining. In the “Wonders of Space” lettercol editor Schwartz wrote: “Starting this issue… we hope to present a series of expanded — not padded — stories of Earth’s first spaceman.” He was as good as his word; the added six to eight pages (generally six) are used to provide a more complex plot and emphasize the gravity of the threat facing Rann. Every cover of MIS through #79 will bear the copy “A double-length Adam Strange thriller,” with the exception of #75, which was a book-length “novel.” With this issue, its 25th story and its “silver anniversary,” “Adam Strange,” arguably the best comic book series of the Silver Age, enters its golden age. This story is one of the best of the series, expertly-paced with a threat facing Adam and Alanna nearly too grim to bear. Who Got It?: In the lettercol for

“The Multiple Menace Weapon!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #72, 12/61. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Only one modern-day Earthman — Adam Strange — has ever made the 25 trillion-mile trip through space to the planet Rann of the neighboring star-sun Alpha Centauri! He has been snatched more than a score of times by a telepor tational zeta-beam — to share adventures and perils with his interplanetary sweetheart, Alanna! “And then — through the misty eons of time and the cold darkness of space — comes another beam, drawing the young Earthman 100,000 years into future-Rann to save his adopted planet from the deadly danger of… the Multiple Menace Weapon!” First appearance: A New York traffic cop before whose eyes Adam vanishes. Synopsis: Adam is brought to the planet Rann of the year A.D. 101,961 to defeat the invading Klannf. “Meanwhile,” Rann of 1961 has been invaded by whirling cones of energy that threaten Alanna. Can Adam defeat both menaces? Fox sci-fi device introduced: “Spatial rifles,” which “reach out into space — lifting strange life-forms from their own worlds — bringing them here before you, to do our bidding!” Hostile alien races introduced: 1) The Klannf. 2) “Whirling cones of energy” that drain their victims’ life-forces, “leaving the people empty husks.” Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Or one thousand centuries, depending on your point of view. Commentary: This is possibly the finest story in the “Adam Strange” series, with a complex, multi-layered

plot and some warm character touches, such as the people of future-Rann believing that “Adam Strange — is only a legendary hero! He never existed!” and a boy who hero-worships Adam Strange (filling in nicely for most of the audience) while wearing a kid-sized Adam Strange uniform. I wanted one! The Infantino/Anderson art shows us not only the Rann of 1961, but the floating cities of future-Rann as well as New York City of 101,961. To their credit, each of these cities is unique. Business note: This is the first issue of MIS to cost 12¢, reflecting a raise in cover price that would sweep the industry (with the exception of Dell Comics, which would continue to charge 15¢). Who Got It?: In MIS #73, Lettercol writer Jack Harris of Wilmington, Delaware, was awarded the original artwork of “The Multiple Menace Weapon!” (Jack would later become a comics editor.) Lawrence Kopf, Jr., of Northumberland, Pennsylvania, was given the cover to “The Multiple Menace Weapon!”

“The Invisible Raiders of Rann!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #73, 2/62. GF (w), CI (p), JG (i). “Many times in the past, young Earth-archeologist Adam Strange has proven himself to be a champion of Rann, that planet of the star-sun Alpha

“Adam Strange”

Centauri to which he is instantly teleported on the wings of a zeta-beam! This time when he arrives on the planet of his sweetheart Alanna, he finds himself confronted by an invulnerable creature of pure energy, the commander of… The Invisible Raiders of Rann!” Synopsis: Adam finds that not only have Alanna and all inhabitants of Rann become invisible, Rann is under attack by invisible beings (who nonetheless conveniently wear uniforms). But this proves to be misdirection for the villain’s true goal. Hostile alien introduced: Ziathrion of Karthal, “a planet of the star-sun Orgala.” Adam notes: “We call that particular star — Zeta Cancri.” Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: The beam is due to strike “right over the richest diamond mine in South Africa,” whose guards assume Adam to be a high-tech thief. Commentary: The fact that Alpha Centauri is actually a triple star was detailed by The Schwartz in a text column in SH #17 (“The Three-In-One Star”), then ignored until now, its first mention in the body of the “Adam Strange” series, where it becomes a major factor in the plot. (Turns out that the third star of the Alpha Centauri system, Proxima Centauri, is actually closer to Earth, but it’s a red dwarf star, and therefore could not be the star of planets inhabited by a humanoid race.) Who Got It?: In MIS #74, the original art to “The Invisible Raiders of Rann!” was given to Tom Earl Brown of Salada, Texas.

“The

Planet

That

Came

“The Spaceman Who Fought Himself!” — 14 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #74, 3/62. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Adam Strange — that traveler from Earth to the planet Rann of the star-sun Alpha Centauri by means of a teleportational zeta-beam — is called upon to face the oddest battle of his life! He must fight a duel — to prove his own identity! Yet if he wins this duel — he will unwittingly aid an alien race to conquer his adopted planet!” Synopsis: Adam materializes on Rann to find Alanna has taken in an exact double of himself, thinking him to be the real Adam Strange. The resulting duel of doubles uses most of the clichés of this sub-genre of heroic fiction, yet still manages to deliver many surprises, including a scheme which deceives even the seemingly-omniscient Adam. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The dimensi-por ter, a device to travel between dimensions. Hostile alien race introduced: “… A group of professional warriors traveling through space, looting planets.” No homeworld given. Wish I Had One of Those: The rays fired by Adam’s sidearm are referred to as “explosi-rays.” It also fires “lethal blue radi-rings,” concentric rings of energy. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: Adam must save a Polynesian girl whose outrigger is caught in a Pacific typhoon. Commentary: It must have been an unwritten law — in the Silver Age, every DC hero eventually had to fight his evil twin. Schwartz loved such standard plot devices, and he also loved ringing new changes on them, making this example of the sub-genre better than most. Who Got It?: The lettercol for MIS #75 announced Buddy Saunders of Arlington, Texas, as the recipient of the original art to “The Spaceman Who Fought Himself!” Buddy was a fanzine writer and would later open a comic book shop. MIS #76 announced that Earl Dill, Jr., of Baltimore, Maryland, got the Gardner Fox manuscript to “Spaceman.”

Standstill!” — 25 pages, book-length story. Cover: CI (p), MA (i) MIS #75, 5/62. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “In his first encounter with the Justice League of America, the arch-villain Kanjar Ro came within an ace of defeating the great team of superheroes! Now — having devised a way of making himself more powerful than the combined might of the Justice League — “Kanjar Ro takes on his super-foes again! Can the added presence of Adam Strange be enough to tip the scale in the Justice League’s favor?” Guest-stars: The Justice League of America (Aquaman, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern, J’onn J’onzz, Wonder Woman, Snapper Carr) Synopsis: Alien scientist Kanjar Ro, imprisoned with other foes of the Justice League, escapes and devises a method to give himself greater superpowers than even Superman. His attempt to use the planet Rann as base for his plan involves Adam Strange who in turn meets the Justice League of America, who are also on Ro’s trail, and they join forces to stop him. Commentary: … Or maybe this is the single best story in the “Adam Strange” series. It’s hard not to be impressed by a guy with no super-powers who nonetheless does a job the entire JLA can’t. Backstory: In Justice League of America #4 (4-5/61) The Flash nominated Adam Strange for JLA member-

ship. Nearly a year later, in MIS #74’s “Via Rocket Mail” lettercol, Editor Julius Schwartz wrote: “… [A] number of readers have pointed out that when the Justice League of America was considering the admission of new members (in the May, 1961 issue of JLA), The Flash nominated Adam Strange — when presumably he couldn’t have known of his existence! The answer to this paradox is revealed in the very next issue of Mystery In Space when Adam Strange teams up with the Justice League in a full-length novel, ‘The Planet that Came to a Standstill!’” MIS #75 more than told the story of how Adam and the JLA met, it told one of the best and most fondly-remembered stories in the entire “Adam Strange” canon. And I Quote… : As the JLA attack the super-powered Kanjar Ro and are defeated, Adam Strange stands and watches, seemingly doing nothing. After he defeats Ro, Wonder Woman comments: “To think I felt sorry for you, seeing you standing there — so helpless.” Adam replies with what has become his credo: “I had no super-powers to fight with so I had to take time out and — think!” The Flash is doing some thinking of his own: “Terrific! I’m going to propose Adam Strange for membership in the Justice League at our next meeting!” Chronological note: Dialogue states that this story takes place “a year” after the JLA first imprisoned Kanjar Ro. Therefore, a year has passed between JLA #s 3 and 4, though no

mention or use is ever made of this continuity point. Story points: Adam Strange is no longer able to remain on Rann for periods longer than a year. But if Adam uses one of Kanjar Ro’s devices to paralyze everyone on Rann, including Green Lantern, for “days,” why hasn’t GL’s power ring exhausted its 24-hour charge? Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. The story opens with Adam being able to remain on Rann indefinitely, though this has changed by story’s end. Strange Facts: When subjected to 5Gs — five times the force of gravity — Adam weighs “approximately half a ton.” Adam therefore weighs about 200 pounds. And the Award Goes To… : The lettercol for MIS #90 announced that the Academy of Comic-Book Arts and Sciences awarded its Alley Award for “Best Book-Length Story” to this story. Fox, Infantino and Anderson were awarded “Golden Alleys” as best script writer, best pencil artist and best inker, respectively. Who Got It?: MIS #78 announced that Keith Wichman of Costa Mesa, California, won the cover to this story, while the art for Chapter 1 was awarded to Gerald Berkowitz of Chicago, Illinois. Chapters 2 and 3 went to Pell Osborn of Merion Sta., Pennsylvania, and John Santino, Jr. of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, respectively.

“Challenge of the Rival Starman!” — 14 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #76, 6/62. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Four and a fraction light years from Ear th lies the star-sun Alpha Centauri. To the third planet of that star — riding the teleportational wings of a zeta-beam — goes a young Earth-archeologist, Adam Strange! “On Rann he meets his sweetheart, Alanna of Ranagar — and with her faces the grim dangers and deadly perils of her world! And it is because he has been victorious over all these menaces that he is now called upon to meet the… Challenge of the Rival Starman!” Synopsis: Xanthos, the “co-champion” of his home planet tosses three challenges at Adam in an attempt “to learn something which will enable me to

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION

defeat my rival [co-champion].” Hostile alien introduced: Xanthos of Zarala, of the star-sun Mizar. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Commentary: In a clever variation, Xanthos doesn’t want to conquer Rann, he simply wants to learn from Adam — though he does threaten to kill Adam if he loses any of the challenges. Who Got It?: The proud recipients of the art and script to this story were Barry Braitman of Chester, Pennsylvania (Chapter 1), Frank Stodolka of Hopkins, Minnesota (Chapter 2), and Richard West of Milton, Massachusetts (script).

“Ray-Gun In the Sky!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #77, 8/62. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “One thousand years ago, a great civilization on the planet Rann had built a mighty weapon to safeguard it against alien invasion! Now — ten centuries later — the present-day people of Rann are menaced by alien warriors — armed with the very weapon that was designed to protect them! And who was responsible for such a perilous predicament? None other than Rann’s heroic champion — Adam Strange!” Synopsis: When a mysterious giant ray-gun appears in the skies of Rann, an experimental technique is used to bring Adam to Rann to defeat this threat. But the ray-gun is only the first step in a complex stratagem by the alien Arvese to find an even more pow-

“Adam Strange”

erful weapon. Hostile alien race introduced: The Arvese. Beneficent alien introduced: Sorkhan Vuh, “an incredibly ancient and intelligent being.” Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: The cop Adam vanished in front of in “The Multiple Menace Weapon!” Commentary: In this story we are shown, for the first time in the series, the mechanism that creates and transmits the zeta-beam. Not even Fox and Schwartz scored a homer every time at bat. This story is perhaps a little too complex for its own good, and Adam’s deductions concerning the ray-gun border on the preposterous. Still, any visit to Rann by the team of Fox, Infantino and Anderson, is better than none. Who Got It?: The lettercol for MIS #80 awarded Chapter 1 of this story to Bill Sarill of Mattapan, Mississippi; Chapter 2 went to Rita E. Owen of Tampa, Florida, and Chapter 3 went to

Marvel Comics introduced The Mighty Thor, by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, this month in Journey Into Mystery #83.

Fred Bronson of Culver City, California. Buddy Saunders won the cover and Randy Jones of Council Bluffs, Iowa, won the script.

“Shadow People of the Eclipse!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #78, 9/62. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “To Adam Strange of all Earth’s teeming millions is given the unique ability to travel by a teleportational beam to another world — 25 trillion miles distant from Earth! “On this planet Rann, he has a sweetheart — Alanna of Ranagar — and more menaces than any person has dreamed of fighting in a score of lifetimes! “On Adam’s latest visit to Rann, a mysterious menace turns everyone into helpless shadows figures, which are doomed to become the prey of Llyrr, the Cyclops of Space!” Synopsis: The Vantors (from “The Weapon That Swallowed Men!”), to avoid becoming the victims of Llyrr, agree to supply other races to the alien giant. Adam must defeat not only Llyrr, but the Vantors — for the second time. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The black disc, which transports alien lifeforms to Llyrr’s planet by turning them into shadows when star-sun light is filtered through it. Hostile alien introduced: Llyrr, “the last of his kind — a lonely creature unable to travel in space, who seeks by

sharing the life-experiences of the creatures drawn to this world to enrich his knowledge of the universe!” Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: A native tribe of the Matto Grosso in Brazil, who shoot flaming arrows at Adam. Commentary: Infantino’s skill at designing imaginative alien races gets the spotlight here; at least ten discrete alien species are seen. Who Got It?: The lettercol for MIS #81 awarded the original art for this story to Richard Kaufman of Elmont, New York. Robert Jennings of Nashville, Tennessee, won the cover, and Harold Smith of New Orleans, Louisiana, won the script. Paul Gambaccini of Westport, Connecticut, won the art to #78’s backup story, “Gateway to the Stars!” by Sid Greene (the first such instance of Schwartz awarding the art to a back-up story). Strange Facts: Adam’s favorite dish is roast Ranagarian quail, prepared by Alanna, “the best cook on two worlds!” We are shown the written language of Rann for the first time.

“Metal Conqueror of Rann!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #79, 11/62. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Adam Strange alone of all Earthmen now living on our planet has been given the power of traveling across 25 trillion miles of space to a planet of the star-sun Alpha Centauri!

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION MIS #80, 12/62. GF (w), CI (p), MA

“He accomplishes this seeming miracle by a teleportational ray called a zeta-beam. On this planet of Rann lives his sweetheart, Alanna of the city of Ranagar… “On his current trip across space Adam is beset by the problem of finding Alanna turned into a petrified statue — and his adopted planet under the ruthless domination of… The Metal Conqueror of Rann!” Synopsis: Rann is invaded by Ikhar, who kidnaps Alanna, scans her mind, transforms her into a statue, and invades Rann. He then captures Adam and subjects him to the same fate. If Adam doesn’t defeat Ikhar when he next returns to Rann, he’ll lose his life and Alanna will remain a lifeless statue forever. Fox sci-fi device introduced: Ikhar’s petrifying electolonis beam. Hostile alien introduced: Ikhar the Undying — “Master of the mineral world,” a bodiless intellect who lives in inanimate matter. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Who Got It?: The lettercol for MIS #82 announced Albert M. Crooke of Pensacola, Florida, as the winner of the art to Chapter 1 of this story, Bob Harner, 3rd of Mays Landing, New Jersey, as winner of the art to Chapter 2, and the prolific Buddy Saunders as the winner of the script.

“The Deadly Shadows of Adam Strange!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i).

“All through the ages, a man’s shadow has been thought to be an extension of himself. How amazing then for Adam Strange to find that on a world 25 trillion miles from Earth his own shadows have turned against him — seeking to destroy him!” Synopsis: Sardath, Alanna’s father, is captured by Mortan (see MIS #62), to lure Adam into a trap where he will be attacked by animated shadows of himself. Fox sci-fi device introduced: Piradiation, which enables Mortan to animate shadows. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: A case of “a contagious tropical disease” that nearly prevents him from intercepting the beam. Who Got It?: The lettercol for MIS #83 awarded the cover for this story to Peter Phillips of Lancashire, United Kingdom,; the art for Chapter 1 to fan Paul Seydor of Imperial, Pennsylvania; for Chapter 2 to John Yee of Marysville, California. Wish I Had One of Those: Adam’s ray-gun fires a “stun-ray” which paralyzes Mortan, rather than just knocking him out. Commentary: This is the first story in which Sardath plays an important role. Despite some clever touches, this story is almost too complex, depending on plot twists that do not proceed logically from the story’s premise. A Tip o’ the Helmet To… : While in the hospital, Adam is watched over by a “Nurse Calkins.” This is probably a tribute to Richard Calkins, the first artist of the Buck Rogers comic strip.

“The Cloud-Creature That Menaced Two Worlds!” — 25 pages (book-length story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #81, 2/63. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Adam Strange is the only Earthman who has ever made the 25 trillion mile journey to the planet Rann of the star-sun Alpha Centauri! “On this distant world he has fallen in love with pretty Alanna of the citystate Ranagar — and with her has shared many adventures and dangers. “Now Alanna comes to Earth to

(i).

see the sights of Adam’s home world — but while Adam is showing her around, unknown to both of them, a deadly danger menaces Rann itself! And because of this menace to Rann — all life on Earth may end!” Synopsis: Dictator Alva Xar, another holdover from Rann’s nuclear war of 1000 years ago, emerges from a hibernation chamber and launches an elaborate plan to defeat Adam and conquer Rann. Fox sci-fi devices introduced: The cyberay, which gives its bearer mindover-matter powers, and the memorysorber (also called the mentisorber), which enables its wielder to duplicate the memories and experiences of one person in the mind of another. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: Believing that Alanna has been transported to Earth, Adam fails to contact the zetabeam: “There’s no need for us ever to go back to Rann — except perhaps for an occasional visit.” Commentary: Like other “Adam Strange” stories from this period of the strip, this tale is too overloaded with complications and illogical plot twists for its own good. And some of the facets of the plot are not tremendously original: at different points, the entire populations of the Earth and Rann are paralyzed. Rendering an entire planet’s populace immobile is a great idea, or at least it was six issues ago, in MIS #75. But then… who can maintain an attitude in the presence of a 25-page Fox/Infantino/Anderson epic? Even their worst (which this isn’t) is better

than most any other team’s best. Note that the cloud-creature in this story bears no relation to a similar — okay, identical — being in “Invasion of the Cloud Creatures!” in Flash #111, 23/60, by Broome, Infantino and Anderson. Strange Facts: The NYC traffic cop Adam has confounded twice before appears again; his name is revealed to be Tom Boyle. Who Got It?: The lettercol for MIS #84 awarded the art to Chapters 1 through 4 of this story to George Fergus of Cleveland, Ohio; Ronn Foss of Suisun, California (a noted fanzine artist who co-created the character “The Eclipse” in the pages of Alter Ego); Julian Kowalski of Rochester, New York, and Lucinda Briggs of Port Alsworth, Arkansas, respectively. James Morehead of Metairie, Louisiana, won the cover and Sidney Costello of Burbank, California, won the script.

“World War On Earth and Rann!” — 16 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #82, 3/63. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “The son of two worlds, Adam Strange battles against two awesome menaces — an indestructible flying lens on his adopted planet of Rann and invulnerable war planes on his native Earth! “How can Adam possibly overcome them both as he fights a… World War on Earth and Rann!” First appearance: Evil Rannian sci-

entist Thanas Pral (unnamed here, christened in MIS #88). Synopsis: Adam is returned to Earth before he can defeat the threat of a giant mobile, indestructible magnifying glass on Rann. Then the Earth is menaced by its own “science wizard, Manlo Tallifa,” who is able to pluck weapons from future wars and bring them to the present day. Adam is torn between aiding his home planet or his adopted planet. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Though when Adam does arrive on Rann, he is greeted by protesters “from the backward city-states of Rann who feel that every time [Adam] land[s] here, [he] bring[s] trouble!” Commentary: This is one of the better “Adam Strange” stories, not only for its clever variations on the recipe, but for the emotion of its characters. Adam, drawn back to Earth before the threat to Rann can be defeated, is “… worried, distracted, close to the edge of despair… “ thinking of the possible fate of Alanna. Who Got It?: The lettercol for MIS #85 awarded the cover for this story to Marvin Wolfman of Flushing, New York. (Marvin would later become a comics scribe.) Chapter 1 went to Kevin C. Ryan of Houston, Texas, and Chapter 2 to Pete Marzano of Cicero, Illinois.

“The Emotion-Master of Space!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #83, 5/63. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Young Earth archaeologist Adam Strange has been the champion of Rann ever since that momentous day, years before, when a teleportational beam snatched him off the Earth and deposited him on the planet which circles the star-sun Alpha Centauri. “But now Adam Strange encounters a menace on Rann that he has no desire to fight! The terrible threat to his adopted planet leaves him unmoved as he falls victim to… The Emotion-Master of Space!” Synopsis: Alien scientist Lo Pau shifts in space the positions of his planet, Lorane, and Rann, so the inhabitants of Rann, rather than his own people, will be slain by the return of a marauding space-bird. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The

“Adam Strange”

coilodyne, a transportation module; the emotionizer, a ray which manipulates emotions. Hostile alien introduced: Lo Pau of Lorane, of the star-sun Shanadar: “I’m one enemy against whom all your cleverness is of no use!” Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: An island created by a volcano which thrusts from beneath the ocean. Who Got It?: The lettercol for MIS #86 announced Karen Kantor of Lathrup Village, Michigan, as winner of the art to this story, while George Inzer of Charlotte, North Carolina, won the cover. Don Dante of Santa Monica, California, won the script.

“The Powerless Weapons of Adam Strange!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #84, 6/63. GF (w), CI (p), JG (i). “No weapon could defeat Jakarta of Rhynthar — the Dust Devil who has been Adam Strange’s mortal enemy — for every weapon Adam turned against it, the Dust Devil destroyed! “Without a weapon, how could the champion of two worlds save both Rann and Earth for the terrible fate in store for them?” Synopsis: The Dust Devil returns, with a plot to conquer both Earth and Rann. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: The Dust Devil prevents Adam from contacting the beam, teleporting itself to Rann in his stead.

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Who Got It?: The lettercol for MIS #87 announced Mike Reed of Honolulu, Hawaii, as the winner of the art to this story. Royce Brier of San Anselmo, California, won the cover.

“Riddle of the Runaway Rockets!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #85, 8/63. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “From the ancient tomb where it has been buried so long that men have almost forgotten it, rises the brazen giant Borg! “Once again it strides across the world of Rann — flashing out its eyebeam that paralyzes all who are caught in its glare! “And to make matters even worse for Earthman Adam Strange and his Rann sweetheart — their jets start running wild, with the helpless duo being unable to make a move to save themselves!” Synopsis: The giant robot Borg returns after thousands of years, projecting a ray which “is making all the machines in Ranagar run amok!” Adam must not only devise a way to defeat Borg, but must determine what revived it. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The Borg, a gigantic robot from Rann’s past. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: Adam’s rocket runs out of fuel while he is en route to catch the beam. (This is the first time that fueling the rockets is mentioned.)

Commentary: Rann’s fecund history — “thousands of years back” — is again mined for a threat to its modernday populace. Paralysis is again used as a plot device. The former of these wears better than the latter. Strange Facts: In the middle of the support which connects Adam’s rocket jets is a small wheel which controls their activation. Who Got It?: The lettercol for MIS #88 congratulated Fred Romanek of Encino, California, for winning the art to this story. Joe Finley of Sparta, Texas, won the cover.

“Attack of the Underworld Giants!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #86, 9/63. GF (w), CI (p), JGi (i). “Adam Strange is the only Earthman ever to travel across the interstellar void between Earth and the planet Rann of the star-sun Alpha Centauri on the wings of a teleportational zetabeam. “And awaiting him on the adventure are the giants of the ice-bound city of Kwarx, whose sinister scheme for survival will bring an awful doom to the people of Ranagar!” Synopsis: Adam finds the people of Ranagar teleported to the ice city of Kwarx, transplanted from its native planet to a great ice cavern on Rann. There the inhabitants of the city (“… a criminal haven from which we preyed on the rest of the solar system… “) plan to let

the innocent citizens of Ranagar be trapped there eternally in their stead by the solar police. Hostile alien race introduced: The Norgans of the city of Kwarx from the planet Norakwan. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: Adam must avoid being struck by a Polaris missile, fired by a nuclear sub in the Antarctic ice pack. Commentary: This is arguably the most disappointing of all the “Adam Strange” series. The threat is a rehash of “Challenge of the Crystal Conquerors!” and the story’s payoff is a severe letdown. But if we can’t have Murphy Anderson (who was warming up for next issue’s debut of Hawkman) inking Infantino, John Giunta, a long-time illustrator for science-fiction magazines, makes an able substitute, his fluid line reminding the reader very much of Sid

“Earth’s Mightiest Super-Heroes” — at least in the universe of Marvel Comics — assembled for the first time in the pages of The Avengers #1, courtesy of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Greene. Who Got It?: The lettercol for MIS #89 announced Joseph Farrell of Wolcott, Connecticut, as the recipient of the cover to this story. T. Gleeson of Scotia, New York, won the art and Gerald Kreiemkamp of St. Louis, Missouri, won the art for “When Did Earth Vanish?”

“The Super-Brain of Adam Strange!” — 12 pages (first story). Cover: MA (p&i) [featuring Hawkman, with Adam Strange headshot] MIS #87, 11/63. GF (w), CI (p), SG (i). “To one man alone on Earth is given the power to travel — by a teleportational ray called the zeta-beam — to the planet Rann of the star-sun Alpha Centauri. Here this young Earth-archeologist, Adam Strange, shares adventures with his sweetheart Alanna of Ranagar. “Never before, however, has Adam turned away from the girl he loves! Never has he scorned her as a mere woman — ugly and repulsive to his sight! There was nothing about Alanna that was of the least concern for — The Super-Brain of Adam Strange!” Synopsis: Another of Sardath’s experiments with the zeta-beam backfires, turning Adam into a “future-man.” Though he has mental powers and knowledge far beyond those of normal Adam, he is smug and condescending, but he is able to use his superior knowl-

edge to construct a super-weapon to defeat the menace of the issue. Normal Adam has no such resources. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The null-zeta projector, which “holds the zeta-beam radiation in suspension,” enabling Adam to remain on Rann until the radiation is restored to his body. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Adam is already on Rann when the story opens. Commentary: This is the most offbeat “Adam Strange” story of the series, and one of the best. Evolved Adam — called “Super-Adam” — is snide and belittling, leading to an increased role for Alanna. And when Super-Adam turns his back on Alanna: “I have no love for you — you mean nothing to me!” it’s genuinely disturbing. And Alanna’s reliance on her hero: “Here’s where we see the real Adam Strange show his mettle” is equally heartwarming. Strange Facts: This is the first MIS cover since #52 that does not feature Adam Strange. Sardath, Alanna’s father, is described as a “nuclear scientist.” (Maybe that explains why his zeta-beam experiments always go wrong.) With the addition of Hawkman to MIS, Murphy Anderson was unable to continue as Adam Strange’s inker.

“Amazing Thefts of the I.Q. Gang!” [Hawkman] — 14 pages (second story). MIS #87, 11/63. GF (w), MA (p&i). “The fantastic crime-schemes of petty crook Ira (“I.Q.”) Quimby were a joke in the underworld circles in which he moved. But I.Q.’s rating suddenly soared when he proved his ideas would work — despite the desperate schemes of the crime-battling Hawkman and Hawkgirl to stop them!” First appearance: Ira “I.Q.” Quimby, who would become a reoccurring villain for Hawkman. Synopsis: Petty thief Ira Quimby suddenly becomes a formidable supercriminal when his brainpower is increased by mysterious means. Hawkman and Hawkgirl must determine the source of his newly-acquired wits and stop him… with a little help from a certain archeologist whom the Hawks view with more than a little suspicion. Fox sci-fi device introduced: I.Q.’s “liftin’ rod,” which enables him to levitate objects, and which also projects

“Adam Strange”

flame; I.Q.’s “aeroshoes,” which permit him and his gang to fly. Commentary: Trust Schwartz to produce all the excitement he can when Hawkman is installed as the new co-feature of MIS by assigning Fox to craft two separate-but-equal stories that tie into each other, but stand independently. Cameo: By Adam Strange, in his Earth occupation as an archeologist, apparently giving a museum tour to Carter and Shiera Hall, in their civilian occupations as museum curators. Later he will consult with Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Strange Facts: Adam Strange is described as “an archeologist attached to the Metropolitan Museum.” Not only was it unusual for Silver Age DC to reference an actual institution, but this is more than we have ever learned about Adam’s earth occupation in the entire “Adam Strange” series. And I Quote: Hawkman: “I think this Adam Strange will bear watching in the future!” Yeah, for about four more issues.

“Decoy Missions of the Justice League!” — 25 pages (book-length story). Cover: MA (p&i) [featuring the Justice League]. JLA #24, 12/63. GF (w), MS (p), BS (i). “Taking advantage of an extraordinary phenomenon in his prison on the planet Rann, the multi-powered Kanjar Ro sets out steal the planet Earth from

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the Justice League without their even being aware of it! To succeed in his nefarious scheme he must first set the stage for the… Decoy Missions of the Justice League!” Synopsis: Imprisoned on the planet Rann since MIS #75, Kanjar Ro finds himself able to escape when his “mental powers are… increased tremendously” by mysterious radiations in the sky. Ro travels to Earth and puts into motion a plot to have the JLAers defeated by facets of their own personalities. Only the intervention of Adam Strange — and a corresponding facet of his personality — puts the JLAers wise to the scheme. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The auralikron, which can separate a person’s aura from his physical body. Quoth Fox: “It is believed that this aura is a manifestation of the life-force in every living thing… “ Commentary: This story also ties into the events of MIS #87. It is uncertain whether The Schwartz was trying to boost sales of MIS or just squeeze all the juice possible from a ripe idea. Kanjar Ro’s plot is more metaphysics than super-science (showing the influence of Fox, no doubt), but as long as the results are this splendid, who can object? Publishing note: Adam Strange’s guest-appearance is not noted on the cover; he is listed in the JLA roll call on page one as “Special Guest Star… Adam Strange.”

“The Robot-Wraith of Rann!” — 13

pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #88, 12/63. GF (w), CI (p), SG (i). “Between Earth and the planet Rann, of the star-sun Alpha Centauri lie 25 trillion miles of space, bathed with deadly cosmic radiations! “This is of no concern to a young Ear th-archeologist named Adam Strange, for he is protected by a zetabeam that teleports him from Earth to Rann! “But any object not so shielded by the zeta-beam can suffer odd and unusual hazards — as Adam learns to his dismay when he encounters… The Robot-Wraith of Rann!” Synopsis: Thanas Pral, the unnamed Rann villain of MIS #82, tries to reform, but his attempts to join Adam to “fight the menaces that endanger our planet from time to time” go awry. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The deltos-glasses, a series of lenses capable of “dehydrating [the human] body, eliminating the 75% water of which it is composed, into its remaining chemicals… “ (This is cleverly thematically resonant with Pral’s use of a flying magnifying glass in MIS #82.) Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Commentary: The joining of robotics and wraiths as a threat is counterintuitive but, perhaps for that very reason, makes the “Robot Wraith” one of Adam’s more memorable nemeses. Rann’s penal system must be exemplary; in MIS #82, Pral was willing to destroy all of Rann, in this tale he has

sincerely reformed. Despite the cleverness of the story, the method by which Adam takes Alanna’s new outfit to Rann doesn’t really make a lot of sense, given the established parameters of the zeta-beam. Strange Facts: At least some of Adam’s captured enemies are held at “the great prison at Bruul.” Adam brings Alanna a new outfit, a gorgeous ensemble of pale blue leggings, black torso and gloves and yellow jacket, “designed by one of Earth’s foremost couturiers!” In 1963, no DC fan would have disagreed with this description of Carmine Infantino. Alanna, thinking Adam’s gift will return to Earth with him when the zetabeam wears off, calls him a “baran-bearer”: “It’s a Rann expression signifying a gift that fades with sunlight.” Replies Adam, in those more innocent days: “On Earth we call that an Indian giver!”

“Siren of the Space Ark!” [part 2 titled “Siren From the Space Ark!] — 13 pages (second story). Cover: MA (p&i) [featuring Hawkman, with Adam Strange headshot] MIS #89, 2/64. GF (w), CI (p), SG (i). “The deeps of space are filled with many wonders, and none so unusual as the space ark that brings a beautiful woman across thousands of light years to the planet Rann. “There she has arranged a rendezvous with Adam Strange — the

“Adam Strange” Strange Facts: The blasts from Adam’s ray-gun are said to be nuclear in nature. Publishing note: This is the only appearance in MIS of the “Adam Strange” series in which the series takes second position.

young Earth archeologist who travels to this planet on a teleportation beam — in which he must prove his professed love for her — or die!” Synopsis: Brittis, a beautiful woman (well, female) sees the conquering of Rann as only a step to her ultimate goal — winning the love of Adam Strange. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The Electroinbrains, supercomputers that maintain Brittis’ space ark, and can also can scan minds, teleport objects and change the form of organic matter. Hostile alien introduced: The lovely (when in human form) Brittis, “the last human left on this space ark.” Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Commentary: This is one of the best of the series, due to the unique motivation of Brittis, a rather spoiled intergalactic princess who just wants to be loved. By the end of this story, Adam and Alanna are officially engaged. (“… [O]n Rann, a girl gives an engagement ring to the boy.”) This story contains a little more humor than most “Adam Strange” installments. Brittis, mirror-gazing at her gorgeous transformed self, sighs: “So this is what an Earthman considers beauty! Oh, well — I’ll bear it if it makes Adam Strange fall in love with me!” (We are not shown what her original form is.) Later, after Brittis is defeated, Adam tells Alanna: “You can rehabilitate Brittis now, honey — maybe even find her a husband!” Replies Alanna: “I will — as fast as possible!”

“Planets In Peril!” — 25 pages (booklength story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #90, 3/64. GF (w) [entire story], CI (p), MA (i) [chapters 1 and 3], MA (p&i) [chapter 2]. “For the first time… “Adam Strange joins forces with Hawkman and Hawkgirl, as his adopted planet Rann faces death and destruction from his native world of Earth! “For when Earth is teleported from its orbit about the sun to an orbit about the star-sun Alpha Centauri, titanic disasters are unleashed that bring both… Planets In Peril!” Synopsis: Renegade scientist Oran Dargg of Rann seeks to conquer his native planet by teleporting the planet Earth into Rann’s orbit. When the two planets reach Roche’s Limit (for Earth and Rann, a distance of ten thousand miles), both planets will be shattered by gravitational forces, unless Rann surrenders to Dargg. With the Justice League apparently off-planet, it falls to Hawkman and Hawkgirl to aid Adam Strange and Alanna to save the day. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Commentary: … Or maybe this is the best “Adam Strange” story. It’s certainly one of them, anyway. Probably the only person who had more fun than a kid reading this story was Gardner Fox, who always counted both protagonists among his most favorite creations. Usually, a book-length crossover of Adam Strange and Hawkman would be used to introduce the latter’s co-feature to MIS. This time, it’s a farewell tribute; the bottom third of the story’s last page carried an ad for Hawkman #1. The Winged Wonder had finally “won his wings,” after an unprecedented two Brave & the Bold trial runs. Maybe piggybacking on the “Adam Strange” feature for a scant four issues was just the ticket. Alanna finally reaches Earth, but doesn’t stay there long. Roche’s Limit is an actual scientific law. According to Wikipedia: “The Roche

limit is the distance within which a celestial body held together only by its own gravity will disintegrate due to a second celestial body’s tidal forces exceeding the first body’s gravitational self-attraction. The term is named after Édouard Roche, the French astronomer who first calculated this theoretical limit in 1848.” Apparently the living planet Yggardis, from MIS #60, was of insufficient mass to break this law.

“Puzzle of the Perilous Prisons!” — 15 pages (first story). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). MIS #91, 5/64. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Never to hold Alanna in his arms again — never to kiss her! — under penalty of instant death for Adam Strange and the girl he loves! This is the terrible fate that awaits the Earthman

While Adam Strange and Hawkman joined forces, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby revived Timely Comics’ most popular Golden Age character, Captain America, in the pages of Avengers #4.

on the planet Rann — a fate of which he is totally unaware as he tries to solve the… Puzzle of the Perilous Prisons!” Synopsis: Mortan, the evil scientist from MIS #62 and 80, makes one last bid to revenge himself on Adam Strange by filling Alanna with a “negative zetabeam radiation” which will cause her and Adam to explode the instant they embrace. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Commentary: Nothing like going out on a high note. Murphy Anderson returns as inker on what will be the last installment of Adam Strange’s regular series edited by Julius Schwartz. All members of the creative team are at the peak of their powers here; the only possible sticking point is a perhaps toofamiliar Schwartz/Fox plot device.

“World That Vanished!” — 23 pages (book-length story). Cover: MA (p&i) [featuring Hawkman and Adam Strange]. HM #18, 2-3/67. GF (w), MA (p&i). “The SOS came from a thousand light years away — luring Hawkman off Earth and into space — to save the life of the woman he loved and the very planet of his birth! “But an eerie surprise awaited the Winged Wonder when he arrived at his destination — a surprise that reached its climax on the planet Rann — where Hawkman joined Adam Strange in fierce combat against the Manhawks responsible for the — Planet That Vanished!” Synopsis: Just as Carter

(Hawkman) Hall receives a frantic, truncated message from his wife Shayera [the Thanagarian version of her name] (Hawkgirl) that the evil Manhawks have escaped, on the planet Rann, Sardath has devised a seemingly foolproof method for Adam Strange to remain on Rann as long as he wishes. But when the Manhawks appear on Rann — interrupting the wedding of Adam and Alanna before the ceremony can be completed — Adam and Hawkman join forces to defeat them… though at issue’s end the fates of Hawkgirl and Hawkman’s native planet, Ranagar, are unknown. Fox sci-fi device introduced: A subneucleonetic machine which “will have to be kept running at all times to prevent the zeta-beam radiation from wearing off [Adam Strange’s] body and automatically returning [him] to Earth!” Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: N/A. Commentary: Damn, it’s good to see Adam Strange back in the hands of his creator! By this time, almost three years after the “Adam Strange” series had been taken from Schwartz, Fox and Infantino, Mystery In Space had been cancelled and the character of Adam Strange was in editorial limbo. According to The Schwartz in this issue’s lettercol, “Hawkman’s Roost,” a repeat of the Hawkman-Adam Strange team-up was “long-awaited” and “much asked-for.” And though that was true, to contrast these issues of Hawkman with Adam’s MIS run reveals how much the DC approach to storytelling had changed in less than three years: the stories were more reliant on action, in a perhaps misguided attempt to determine why Stan Lee’s books at Marvel were gaining in sales. And the covers to both issues carry the checkerboard “GoGo Checks” atop the issues’ logos, in a definitely misguided attempt to make the books look — somehow — “cooler.” No wonder one fan referred to them as “Goo-Goo Checks.” Strange Facts: The primary colors in Alanna’s garb — yellow and blue — are transposed in this issue and the next.

“Parasite Planet Peril!” — 23 pages (book-length story). Cover: MA (p&i) [featuring Hawkman and Hawkgirl].

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HM #19, 4-5/67. GF (w), MA (p&i). “For those who missed out (or who have short memories) on last issue’s ‘World That Vanished!’ [There follows an elaborate summary of HM #18, ending with the tease:] “Now that you’ve been brought up to date, continue on with the stor y of Hawkman’s quest for the woman he loves, in… Parasite Planet Peril!” Synopsis: Hawkman and Adam Strange both arrive at a method by which Hawkman can find the planet Thanagar, which has been removed from its proper position in space (and with it, Hawkman’s wife, Hawkgirl). Hawkman, traveling solo, finds Thanagar and Shayera, but runs into a complex plot that threatens to be their undoing. Fox sci-fi device introduced: The power belt — “that feeds life to [hibernating Lizarkons].” Hostile alien race introduced: The hostile Lizarkons, of the planet Aptilia — bitter enemies of the marauding Manhawks. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: N/A. Commentary: This issue has only a small role for Adam Strange, and is devoted primarily to Hawkman’s quest for his wife and his planet. There is no good reason given for Adam not to accompany Hawkman, but perhaps Julie’s editorial instincts told him that to feature Adam in a second issue of Hawkman would take the spotlight too far off the magazine’s star, a risk he might not have wanted to take, given how long it took to get Hawkman his own title.

Nomenclatural Note: The title to this issue may have been inspired by “The Parasite Planet,” a 1931 story by Stanley G. Weinbaum. Julie, as an agent, sold many of Weinbaum’s stories, including the classic “A Martian Odyssey.” Wrote The Schwartz in the lettercol of Hawkman #20 (J-J/67), “Even now, more than 30 years later [after Weinbaum’s death], his stories stand up. He was a pioneer; he would have been the greatest!”

“Beyond the Wall of Death!” — 10 pages (first story). Cover: GK (p), MA (i). SA #222, 1-2/70. DO (w), GK (p), MA (i). “From the unpublished annals of the star-roving soldier-of-fortune and unofficial ambassador of humanity — a peril-fraught episode that takes Adam Strange… Beyond the Wall of Death!” Synopsis: Adam materializes on Rann in the middle of an attack upon Ranagar by the Reekans, “brutal barbarians from a city past the mountains north of Ranagar.” Alanna is captured during the battle, compelling Adam to devise a shrewd strategy to free her. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: The zetabeam will strike right in the middle of a carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Commentary: This tale is billed as “an untold tale of Adam Strange.” Alanna wears her original garb, telling us the story takes place between MIS #53 and #91. Though this story has taken a lot of

“The Magic-Maker of Rann!” — 8 pages (sixth story). SA #226, 9-10/70. GF (w), MA (p&i). Format: A “Picture-Story,” a format utilizing text interspersed with illustrations. Synopsis: Adam finds that the plan of a scientist to turn Rann into a paradise is corrupted by an alien into a plan of conquest. Fox sci-fi device introduced: A radiation, developed by scientist Thortan Ov of Rann, that “gives the mind super-scientific powers in the extrasensory perception range.” Hostile alien introduced: An unnamed amorphous alien energy-being from the heart of a meteorite. Obstacle to Zeta-Beam: None. Commentary: At eight pages, this is the shortest “Adam Strange” story ever produced, though comparing a “picture-story” of illustrated prose to a comics story is like comparing apples and oranges. “The Magic-Maker of Rann!” is only eight pages in length, but

severe reviews over the years, it is an enjoyable and respectful pastiche of an early Fox “Adam Strange” tale. The only false note — which editor Schwartz should have caught — is Adam’s uncharacteristic statement, concerning Alanna’s captors: “Nuts! Let’s wipe ’em out!” In the letter column The Schwartz says writer Denny O’Neil had “a life-long ambition to write [an “Adam Strange” story].” O’Neil said, years later, that statement was a bit of hyperbole on Julie’s part. As if to confirm this, in the lettercol of SA #225 (7-8/70), O’Neil, under his pseudonym of Sergius O’Shaugnessy, wrote: “… I would never write stories like those currently being reprinted in (Adam) Strange Adventures… But I certainly enjoy reading them… And when we who currently produce comics get cocky, we need but look at them to see that there are still some predecessors we have yet to beat.” Though artist Gil Kane “… created — illustratively speaking — Adam Strange on the first Showcase cover in which he made his debut… “ and drew many other “Adam Strange” covers, this is the first and only time Kane drew an “Adam Strange” story.

to detail every scene of its prose in comics form would probably require a much longer story. This farewell to one of his favorite creations by Gardner Fox is, though perhaps not one of the best of the Adam Strange stories, certainly an enjoyable tale and a fond farewell from Fox as well as from Murphy Anderson, one of Adam’s greatest boosters. The circumstances behind how this story came to be written by Fox, who had left DC by that time, are unknown. But no matter what they are, we’re certainly glad they transpired.

“Adam Strange”

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After the sudden cancellation of the groundbreaking “Deadman” series in Strange Adventures (#216, 1-2/69), Julius Schwartz again took over the book’s editorial helm, this time filling the title with science-fiction reprints. Giving SA the unofficial moniker “Adam Strange Adventures,” Schwartz showcased some of the best “Adam Strange” stories, with “The Atomic Knights” featured as back-up. What follows is a cross-referenced listing of the “Adam Strange” reprints (with a few new tales) found in those Strange Adventures. Strange Adventures #217, 3-4/69, “Secret of the Eternal City,” r: Showcase #17. [Note: Includes “The Three-In-One Star” text page referenced in the story.] Strange Adventures #218, 5-6/69, “The Planet and the Pendulum,” r: Showcase #17. Strange Adventures #219, 7-8/69, “Menace of the Robot Raiders,” r: Mystery in Space #53. Strange Adventures #220, 9-10/69, “The Beast From the Runaway World,” r: Mystery in Space #55. Strange Adventures #221, 11-12/69, “The Duel of the Two Adam Stranges,” r: Mystery in Space #59. Strange Adventures #222, 1-2/70, “Beyond the Wall of Death,” [Note: This is a new 10-page Adam Strange tale, written by Denny O’Neil, with art by penciler Gil Kane and inker Murphy Anderson.] Strange Adventures #223, 3-4/70, “The Beast With the Sizzling Blue Eyes,” r: Mystery in Space #62. Strange Adventures #224, 5-6/70, “The Weapon That Swallowed Men,” r: Mystery

in Space #63. Strange Adventures #225, 7-8/70, “The Radioactive Peril,” r: Mystery in Space #64. [Note: The story is retitled from the original, “The Radioactive Menace,” perhaps because the title of the “Atomic Knights” tale in the same issue uses the word “menace.” Also, letter column includes “filler” missives from DC freelancers Denny O’Neil (under a pseudonym, Sergius O’Shaugnessy) and Marv Wolfman.] Strange Adventures #226, 9-10/70, “The Mechanical Masters of Rann,” r: Mystery in Space #65; “The Magic Maker of Rann” [Note: The latter tale is actually a new Gardner Foxscribed eightpage text story profusely illustrated by Murphy Anderson.] Strange Adventures #227, 11-12/70, “Challenge of the Giant Fireflies,” r: Mystery in Space #67. Strange Adventures #228, 1-2/71, “The Fadeaway Doom,” r: Mystery in Space #68. Strange Adventures #229, 3-4/71, “Menace of the Aqua-Ray Weapon,” r: Mystery in Space #69. Strange Adventures #230, 5-6/71, “Vengeance of the Dust Devil,” r: Mystery in Space #70. Strange Adventures #231,

7-8/71, “The Challenge of the Crystal Conquerors,” r: Mystery in Space #71. Strange Adventures #232, 9-10/71, “The Multiple Menace Weapon,” r: Mystery in Space #72. Strange Adventures #233, 11-12/71, “The Invisible Invaders of Rann,” r: Mystery in Space #73. Strange Adventures #234, 1-2/72, “The Spaceman Who Fought Himself,” r: Mystery in Space #74. Strange Adventures #235, 3-4/72, “The Planet That Came To a Standstill,” r: Mystery in Space #75. Strange Adventures #236, 5-6/72, “Challenge of the Rival Starman,” r: Mystery in Space #76. Strange Adventures #237, 7-8/72, “Ray-Gun In the Sky,” r: Mystery in Space #77. Strange Adventures #238, 9-10/72, “Shadow People of the Eclipse,” r: Mystery in Space #78. Strange Adventures #239, 11-12/72, “The Metal Conqueror of Rann,” r: Mystery in Space #79. Strange Adventures #240, 1-2/73, “The Deadly Shadows of Adam Strange,” r: Mystery in Space #80. Strange Adventures #241, 3-4/73, “The Cloud-Creature That Menaced Two Worlds,” r: Mystery in Space #81. Strange Adventures #242, 5-6/73, “World War on Earth and Rann,” r: Mystery in Space #82. Strange Adventures #243, 8-9/73, “The EmotionMaster of Space,” r: Mystery in Space #83. Strange Adventures #244, 10-11/73, “The Powerless Weapons of Adam Strange,” r: Mystery in Space #84. Next, here’s a list of other “Adam Strange” reprints appearing in comic books, listed chronologically: Secret Origins #1, 8-10/61, “Secret

All images © DC Comics

“ADAM STRANGE ADVENTURES” REDUX FILE

“Adam Strange”

Frequently reprinted Adam Strange story “The Planet That Came To A Stand-still” (MIS #75) is reinterpreted on the covers of Strange Adventures #235 (left, with art by Dick Giordano) and 1999’s JLA Super Spectacular #1 (right, by Mike Collins and John Stokes

ics

Mysteries in Space: The Best of DC Science Fiction Comics, 1980, “Secret of the Eternal City,” r: Showcase #17; “The Planet That Came to a Standstill,” r: Mystery in Space #75.

DC Com

And, finally, “Adam Strange” reprints appearing in book collections, listed by date of publication:

[Note: Includes MIS #75 cover reprint.] The Greatest Team-Up Stories Ever Told, 1989, “Planets In Peril,” r: Mystery in Space #90. The Essential Showcase: 1956-1959, 1992, “Secret of the Eternal City,” “The Planet and the Pendulum,” r: Showcase #17. [Note: Includes reprints of Showcase #18 & 19 covers.] Pulp Fiction Library: Mystery In Space, 1998, “The Weapon That Swallowed Men,” r: Mystery in Space #63. The Adam Strange Archives, Vol. 1, 2003, r: Showcase #17-19, and “Adam Strange” stories in Mystery In Space #53-65. [Note: Reprints covers.] The Adam Strange Archives, Vol. 2, 2006, r: Mystery in Space #6680. [Note: Reprints covers.] — Jon B. Cooke

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DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #14, 10/81, “Mechanical Masters of Rann,” r: Mystery in Space #65. Justice League of America Super Spectacular #1 [1975 issue], 1999, “The Planet That Came to a Standstill,” r: Mystery in Space #75.

All ima

of the Eternal City,” r: Showcase #17 DC Special #1, 10-12/68, “Mystery of the Giant Footprints, r: Mystery in Space #57. Action Comics #437, 7/74, “Riddle of the Runaway Rockets,” r: Mystery in Space #85. Action Comics #443, 1/75, “The Super-Brain of Adam Strange,” r: Mystery in Space #87. DC Super-Stars #2, 4/76, “Planets In Peril,” r: Mystery in Space #90. DC Super-Stars #4, 6/76, “Puzzle of the Perilous Prisons,” r: Mystery in Space #91. DC Super-Stars #6, 8/76, “The RobotWraith of Rann,” r: Mystery in Space #88. DC Super-Stars #8, 10/76, “Siren of the Space Ark,” r: Mystery in Space #89.

Gil Kane’s cover for Showcase #17, and Neal Adams’ Strange Adventures covers (which reprinted the above).

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Gil Kane and Jack Adler’s wash cover for MIS #55 is re-interpreted by Joe Kubert for SA #220’s cover.

Far left is Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella’s cover of MIS #63. Near left is Murphy Anderson’s version (SA #224).

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Comics

MIS #81 cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson. SA #241 cover by Nick Cardy.

MIS #83 cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson. SA #243 cover by Nick Cardy.

Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson’s iconic MIS #82 cover as re-imagined by Alex Ross.

up with the series (quoted from a transcript printed in Alter Ego v.3, #60; 7/06): SCHWARTZ: I think we anticipated what would happen after the next world war, World War III… And then we dealt with the radiation, and one of us came up with the idea — maybe wearing armor would shield them. John [or I] had the wonderful idea of them going from city to city trying to find survivors and having a different adventure… BROOME: I remember, in the beginning, we both got the feeling that it had something to do with King Arthur and Knights of the Round Table… So we worked out a Third World War where everything was destroyed, where life was almost destroyed and crime was dangerous and rife all over. And The Atomic Knights stand for justice and faith and all that. ANDERSON: [asked about drawing the series] Yes, that is something I really enjoyed doing. Except it was a backbreaker, and I was thankful it only appeared every three months. Earlier, in a 1992 interview with Steve Ringgenberg in Hero Illustrated, Murphy spoke about the creation of the series: “‘The Atomic Knights’ was formed basically because I bellyached so much about not being able to pencil and Julie finally came up with that.” One of the most amazing

Where were you on October 9, 1986? On that day, I placed a phone call to Murphy Anderson and, after exchanging pleasantries, asked: “Murphy, what day is today?” After a moment’s silence, Murphy chuckled. He has a wonderful chuckle, deep and rich, like the sound of oil gurgling through a pipeline. “Well,” he said, “since you’re calling me today, this must be the day that World War III began in the ‘Atomic Knights’ series.” Right the first time. We discussed the series for a few minutes, then parted company, me hoping his day had been enriched by the conversation as much as mine had. For “The Atomic Knights” had been responsible for a major amount of enjoyment on the part of comics fans, and remains one of the best comics series introduced in the 1960s — no mean feat. Series editor Julius Schwartz, writer/co-creator John Broome and artist/co-creator Murphy Anderson were asked, at the San Diego Comic-Con in 1998, how they came

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION aspects of the series is not that it was so good — usually were less plot-driven and given its pedigree, there was a good chance of that — his characters more prone to show but that readers didn’t close their emotions. (Broome also realStrange Adventures every ized their differences and apprecithird month with a compulsion ated them, christening the leader to slit their wrists. That such posof the Knights Gardner Grayle, sibly depressing subject matter after Fox.) When Marene Herald, could be handled in an inspiring, the sole distaff member of the upbeat way shows the skills of Knights, collapses into Grayle’s Broome and Anderson. arms after seeing the world Nonetheless, some critics, devastated in SA #129’s “World who can type faster than they Out of Time!” (“Everywhere death can think, have berated the and emptiness — ! Nothing green series for depicting a post— no plant-life left on Earth! nuclear war world that was not Gardner, sometimes I can’t stand “realistic” enough. And it is true it — !”), it’s a genuinely telling that, as the Atomic Knights moment, far more so than any of traveled the country, they found the frequent whine-fests Peter no heaps of decaying bodies nor Parker would soon be indulging people coughing up blood due to in across the street because radiation poisoning. nobuddy wiked him. It’s not that But such criticisms, written the Atomic Knights didn’t have from a modern perspective, their own problems, it’s that the © DC Comics reflect neither the viewpoints nor problem they deemed most the science available to creators nearly fifty years ago. important was their mission. Like many visionaries, the As recently as the days of the first atomic bomb tests, Atomic Knights are fighting to create — or recreate — some scientists thought such an explosion would a world in which they will no longer be needed. ignite the entire atmosphere, setting the world aflame. “The Atomic Knights” Even by the late 1950s, very little reliable science was quickly became a favorite available about the environment of a post-nuclear war with fans; Schwartz had a Earth; certainly the “Knights” series gave the reader a hunch it would. more realistic picture of such a world than had any With #120, comic series to that date. And if the ecology of the suronly the viving world was deliberately distorted for dramatic purposes — some plants are found in later adventures, but in a world with no insect life, how would they have been pollinated? — editor Schwartz would be the first to admit that the series was science-fiction, produced ultimately for entertainment purposes. And what entertainment “The Atomic Knights” © DC Comics was! Broome’s skills as a writer contrasted with those of his colleague Gardner Fox in that Broome’s stories This spread: Various “Atomic Knights” panel details by Murphy Anderson.

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION series’ second appearance, the cover carried a blurb, over the logo: “Extra! A new ‘Atomic Knights’ story!” Since comic book stories are produced several months before they are printed, such a cover blurb could not have reflected readers’ reviews, as #117 would not even have been on sale yet. All subsequent AK stories would be announced thusly, save for the covers of #141 and #144, the latter of which cover-featured the Knights. Many of those fans would become tomorrow’s comics pros. Long after the series was cancelled, the Knights were brought into the series Hercules Unbound in the 1970s. Then, when it was “revealed” in the 1980s that the AK series had been a computer simulation, Gardner Grayle would be brought into the mainstream DC universe as a super-hero by writer Dan Mishkin, christened “The Atomic Knight.” I used the character in a comic book I wrote, The Outsiders, where he fell in love with a female character of my creation. (Freudians, make of this what you will.) Anderson’s stint on the series was arguably the best, most concentrated effort he would produce during his entire career. Each of the Knights were not only readily recognizable as characters, but each of their

suits of armor was also of a different design. Sometimes Murphy signed the story with his full name, sometimes he would also slyly sneak his initials into the art for the reader to spot. (See, for example, the splash page of “Danger In Detroit.” Look just ahead of and below the villain’s left knee, at the cracks in the pavement.) The ordinary citizens the Knights encountered in their travels, including their fellow citizens in their home base of Durvale, were often petty, greedy, small-minded and suspicious not only of strangers, but of science itself. After all, wasn’t science evil, hadn’t science caused the war that devastated the world? Well, no. Perhaps the most crucial mission of the Atomic Knights was to teach the people they encountered — as, by extension, the series taught its readers, tomorrow’s adults — that science is neither good nor evil, it’s only a process, a method of discovering how the world works. It’s the use to which those discoveries are put by people — and the people themselves — that are good or evil. That’s a lesson, the lesson John Broome and Murphy Anderson tried to teach us, that many of us could still stand to learn.

“THE ATOMIC KNIGHTS” IN STRANGE ADVENTURES • THE ATOMIC KNIGHTS SERIES Strange Adventures #117, 6/60: “The Rise of the Atomic Knights!” Strange Adventures #120, 9/60: “The Menace of the WaterRaider!” Strange Adventures #123, 12/60: “The Cavemen of New York!” Strange Adventures #126, 3/61: “The Lost City of Los Angeles!” Strange Adventures #129, 6/61: “World Out of Time!”

Strange Adventures #132, 9/61: “Thanksgiving Day — 1990!” Strange Adventures #135, 12/61: “War In Washington!” Strange Adventures #138, 3/62: “The Attack of the Giant Dogs!” Strange Adventures #141, 6/62: “Menace of the Metal-Looters!” Strange Adventures #144, 9/62:

“When the Earth Blacked Out!” Strange Adventures #147, 12/62: “The King of New Orleans!” Strange Adventures #150, 3/63: “The Plant That Hated Humans!” Strange Adventures #153, 6/63: “Danger In Detroit” Strange Adventures #156, 9/63: “Threat of the Witch-Woman” Strange Adventures #160, 1/64: “Here Come the Wild Ones!”

This page: More “Atomic Knights” panel details by Murphy Anderson. © DC Comics

“The Atomic Knights”

The Stories “The Rise of the Atomic Knights!” — 16 pages, second (last) story SA #117, 6/60. JB (w), MA (p, i). “World War III — the great atomic war — is over… and in its wake lies an Earth in ruins! “Of plant life there is none! “Of animal life, only a small number of humans lingers on! There is no government, and the prevailing law is might makes right! “In this critical time of Earth’s history arises an organization determined to represent law and order and the forces of justice — to help right wrong and prevent evil! The proud name this group chooses for itself is — The Atomic Knights! “They make their exciting debut in… “The Rise of the Atomic Knights!” First appearance: Sgt. Gardner Grayle, Douglas Herald, Marene Herald, Bryndon, Wayne and Hollis Hobard. Synopsis: In the post-World War III town of Durvale, Gardner Grayle organizes the team of The Atomic Knights who don radiation-proof armor to join forces against The Black Baron, a tyrant who is hoarding food. Chronological note: Grayle finds a newspaper dated October 29, 1986: “Then the war lasted only twenty days!?” Weird science: Grayle: “What saved us must have been the metal in these ancient suits of armor! They — stopped — neutralized — the deadly

rays!” Douglas: “It could be that through the centuries this metal has hardened into a peculiar molecular structure… capable of acting as a shield against nuclear radiation!” Vox populi: At this time, Strange Adventures carried no regular letter column of readers’ comments. Editor Schwartz broke rank to print, in SA #123, a special column entitled “Atomic Knights Mail,” which printed 12 letters of comment about the new series, all positive, replying: “This favorable response has prompted us to continue this series at regular intervals.” The series would appear every three months for over three years, until thrown one month out of its rotation when “The Star Rovers” joined SA with issue #159, pushing “The Atomic Knights” back a month.

“The Menace of the Water-Raider!” — 8 pages, third story SA #120, 9/60. JB (w), MA (p, i). “When the Atomic Knights received a mysterious summons for help in their isolated little community, they little suspected that they would have to face a creature that no power could halt — not even their deadly, nuclear ragun left over from the holocaust of World War III!” Synopsis: Answering a plea for help flown in on an errant kite from “A Band of Humans,” the Atomic Knights battle a mutant creature that steals water.

First usage: In a caption on page 2, panel 1, the town name of “Durvale” to designate the community where The Atomic Knights reside is used for the first time. Continuity conundrum: The character introduced in “The Rise of the Atomic Knights” as scientist Bryndon is here referred to as “Bryndam” throughout. (Editor Schwartz had many skills, but proofreading was not among them.) Commentary: The series and its creators are still feeling their way along. The water-raider creature is not only conceptually improbable, even for this series, but rather silly-looking. But the method by which it is defeated, rooted in solid science, is classic Schwartz.

“The Cavemen of New York!” — 9 pages, third story SA #123, 12/60. JB (w), MA (p, i). “After World War III, New York City was completely deserted because no one could live in the deadly radiation there! But when the fearless Atomic Knights penetrated to the heart of the former metropolis they found to their astonishment a band of prehistoric humans lurking in the great shelter-area under the city!” Synopsis: Traveling on foot to New York City in a search for food, the Knights find a devastated city and a savage band of cro-magnon men inhabiting an air raid shelter. Format note: This issue is the first to carry a series of head shots of the Atomic Knights, which appear to be

newly-drawn with each story, with capsule descriptions of their relationships: “Gardner Grayle: Leader of the Atomic Knights. “Wayne and Hollis Hobard: brothers, ex-soldiers and loyal Atomic Knights. “Bryndon: One of the last scientists left alive on Earth. “Douglas Herald: school-teacher. “Marene: Herald’s sister.”

“The Lost City of Los Angeles!” — 9 pages, third story SA #126, 3/61. JB (w), MA (p, i). “It was Gardner Grayle’s plan to journey by glider across the continent — for the first time since the end of the devastating radiation war of 1986! But not even the keen-minded captain of the Atomic Knights could have imagined the fantastic reception awaiting him in… The Lost City of Los Angeles!” Synopsis: Wishing to set up a communications system from city to city to warn of upcoming storms, the Atomic Knights fly gliders to Los Angeles, only to encounter a fierce band of giant mutant creatures preventing the surviving Angelenos from obtaining desperately-needed food. Continuity conundrum: World War III is here described as having lasted eighteen days, rather than twenty as in previous stories. Chronological note: “The time — 1987 A.D. — or 1 A.W. (one year after World War III)…”

“World Out of Time!” — 9 pages, third story SA #129, 6/61. JB (w), MA (p, i). “It lay in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean — but no one knew how it had gotten there! A green vista of flourishing trees and plants on an otherwise blighted Earth! How had the island escaped the radiation plague of the terrible War of 1986? What was its secret? Not even the intrepid Atomic Knights could guess when they reached the place that they were confronted with a… World Out of Time!” First appearance: The Great Khagan of Atlantis; Bhymer, High Scientist of Atlantis; the island of Atlantis. Synopsis: Tapping into the broadcast of a “scanner satellite,” “shot into orbit March, 1978” and unaffected by the radiation resulting from World War III, Bryndon finds nuclear devastation everywhere around the world, save in a mysterious green island in the Atlantic. Traveling there by glider, the Knights are captured, then escape, just before the island sinks. Geographical note: Viewing Paris via the scanner satellite, Bryndon comments that Durvale time “is six hours later” than Paris time. Durvale is therefore located somewhere in the American midwest.

“Thanksgiving Day — 1990!” — 9 pages, third story

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SA #132, 9/61. JB (w), MA (p, i). “Where did the strangers come from? And what evil mentality had fashioned the deadly sun-weapons with which they threatened the Atomic Knights? “It was a crisis made all the more startling by the fact that it took place on the one day when violence would be least expected… Thanksgiving Day — 1990!” Synopsis: During a Thanksgiving celebration for members of other colonies, feasting on the first fresh fruits and vegetables grown since World War III, the Knights are attacked by the troops of The Great Khagan of Atlantis, who wield weapons that reflect and amplify natural sunlight. Chronological note: The most recent previous reference to the year occurred in “The Lost City of Los Angeles,” when it was said to be 1987. Whatever other adventures the Knights may have had in the interval remain unrecorded.

“War In Washington!” — 9 pages, third story SA #135, 12/61. JB (w), MA (p, i). “The Story Up To Now: In the midst of a Thanksgiving feast at Durvale celebrating the first plant-life grown on Earth since the devastating Radiation War of 1986, the Atomic Knights and their guests were set upon by assailants wielding deadly sun weapons! “After a grim struggle the dauntless Knights vanquished their attack-

“The Atomic Knights”

ers, but were unable to discover where their foes had come from or who they were! In order to find the answer to this crucial question, two of the Knights — the Brothers Hobard — have been sent out on a reconnaisance [sic] mission!” Synopsis: In their headquarters in Durvale, the Atomic Knights receive an emergency radio message from Wayne and Hollis Hobard. Answering it leads them to the ruined city of Washington, D.C., and another encounter with the forces of the evil Khagan of Atlantis.

“The Attack of the Giant Dogs!” — 9 pages, third story SA #138, 3/62. JB (w), MA (p, i). “In the period after World War III — which destroyed civilization — the mere possession of a weapon could provide a decisive advantage for whichever side had it! Struggling against the wicked Khagan, who was out to destroy them, the valiant Atomic Knights suffered a setback from crossbows! But fortunately, they came up with a secret weapon of their own, in… The Attack of the Giant Dogs!” First appearance: The horse-sized giant Dalmatians (one male, one female) that become pets of the Knights. Synopsis: Finding a pre-war space probe that has fallen to Earth, the Knights encounter a pair of giant dogs and are again attacked by the forces of the Khagan of Atlantis, this time bearing crossbows. Continuity conundrum: The Third

World War is again referred to as having lasted “only eighteen days.” Gardner Grayle refers to Marene Herald as “Marlene.” Weird Science: Explaining the dogs’ growth, scientist Bryndon opines: “…That strange radiation I told you about over the North Pole… it may have affected the growth glands of the two dogs… turned them into giants!” Backstory: Bryndon says the space probe was built by “…the Farlin Company where I was head of Research up to the war….” How Bryndon got to Durvale is unrecorded.

“The Menace of the Metal-Looters!” — 9 pages, third story SA #141, 6/62. JB (w), MA (p, i). “Gardner Grayle, leader of the Atomic Knights — vigilant guardians of peace in the near-lifeless era after World War III — knew that the armor of the Knights was valuable because, by a mysterious chemical process, it protected against deadly radiation! But Gardner never realized how important the armor was until denizens from another world chose Earth for a strange search!” Synopsis: Representatives of an unnamed race from an unnamed planet come to Earth to collect the armor of the Atomic Knights as its original structure has been converted to zaxion. “…It is our possession of zaxion that makes us the most-feared race in the galaxy!” First use: A “signal rocket… designed by scientist Bryndon after the

adventure of ‘War In Washington’ — to make sure that scouting parties of the Atomic Knights could always summon aid in an emergency!” Commentary: It was perhaps inevitable that, since the “Atomic Knights” series was edited by Julius Schwartz, that they would meet space aliens, but their appearance somehow makes the series more routine than it had been before this issue.

“When the Earth Blacked Out!” — 15 pages, first story. SA #144, 9/62. JB (w), MA (p, i). Cover: MA (p, i) “Wherever the strange figures appeared, the sun vanished and an eerie darkness spread over the Earth like a blight! Who were the dread apparitions? Where did they come from? These were some of the questions the Atomic Knights had to answer… When the Earth Blacked Out!” Synopsis: The Earth’s surface is invaded by a super-intelligent race of humanoid “mole-creatures” living beneath the surface of the Earth who, having started World War III to soften up the human race, now intend to take over the surface world: “We need room for our race to expand!” Continuity conundrum: Though the second caption of the story states that World War III began on October 9, 1986, a later caption states the war began “five years ago on October 20, 1986.” Commentary: This, one of the best “Atomic Knights” stories, is the second-

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“The King of New Orleans!” — 16 pages, second (last) story SA #147, 12/62. JB (w), MA (p, i). “On a mission of utmost urgency, the Atomic Knights — guardians of law and order in the era after World War III — came all the way down the mighty Mississippi river — only to meet headon the cruel minions of a ruthless monarch, under orders to destroy the ‘armored invaders’!” Synopsis: Traveling to New Orleans “…[A]ccording to our esteemed colleague [Bryndon], the city which suffered the least damage from the terrible radiation…” to start a medical school to educate desperately-needed physicians, the Knights navigate the Mississippi River on a flatboat built by the Hobard brothers and encounter another low-rent Hitler, King Touro, the self-appointed “king” of New Orleans and his goons. Commentary: This story is full of jazz lore, most of it coming from the Brothers Hobard, who characterize themselves as “rabid jazz fans.” This information was doubtless supplied by editor Schwartz, a lifelong jazz fan, who,

in issue #3 of the DC house fanzine The Amazing World of DC Comics, described himself as “a moldy fig” — a jazz fan of the first water. Where Is It Now?: According to the letter column in SA #151, “Spotlight On Strange Adventures,” the original art for “The King of New Orleans” was requested by and displayed at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. On May 8, 2007, Greg Lambousy, Director of Collections, Louisiana State Museum, wrote: “Yes, we still have the comic book artwork for the Atomic Knights. Unfortunately the New Orleans Mint building where the artifacts were stored had major damage to its roof in hurricane Katrina. All of the artifacts have since been moved to a temporary storage facility outside of Baton Rouge. We have received grants to move the collection back to the Mint and will begin the process when repairs to the building are completed sometime this Summer… Once the collections have been returned to the Mint — irrespective of whether the artifacts are on display or not — visitors can request to see the artifacts in storage.” Is anyone surprised? If The Atomic Knights could survive World War III, they can certainly survive hurricane Katrina.

“The Plant That Hated Humans!” — 16 pages, second (last) story SA #150, 3/63. JB (w), MA (p, i). “How long will the terrible effects of the Atomic War of 1986 return to terrorize the Earth? Even five years later,

the remaining human — and the astounding little band of heroes known as the Atomic Knights — are confronted with a malevolent radiation by-product — an evil legacy of the terrible war — in the form of a giant mutant plant of vaulting intelligence — and a truly stunning ambition!” First appearance: Inventor Henderson (no first name given), “in the ruined city of Bedford”; the giant Bird’sFoot Trefoils. Synopsis: Scientist Bryndon brings to Durvale news of an intelligent, telepathic strain of giant plants that challenge humans for superiority in the post-war world.

Also published with the cover date of March, 1963 was the first issue of The Amazing Spider-Man, by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Two more different examples of a heroic fantasy series can scarce be imagined.

“Danger In Detroit” — 15 pages, second (last) story SA #153, 6/63. JB (w), MA (p, i).

longest of the series thus far (a hefty 15 pages), receives the lead position in the issue, is the Knights’ first and only cover appearance, and the first series to be cover-featured since the debut of the “Space Museum” series on SA #104. (No other Schwartz back-up series would ever be cover-featured.) Each future installment of the series would be at least 15 pages in length.

“‘Organizer’ Kadey — as he styled himself — just about had the entire Detroit area under his personal control when something happened to threaten his regime! “That something was the arrival in the city of the Atomic Knights on a visit to their friend, inventor Henderson, who had his own special reason for inviting them — a reason that, as it happened, had nothing to do with the — Danger In Detroit” First appearance: “Organizer” Kadey, self-styled tyrant, and his “Blue Belts.” Synopsis: Inventor Henderson has moved to Detroit where he has put to work a new strain of giant Trefoil — one that no longer hates humans — to work in starting up an auto assembly line. “Organizer” Kadey wishes to buy the first car to come off the line “the first auto made in the U.S.A. since the war!” and won’t take no for an answer. Continuity conundrum: Marene Herald, “the smallest Knight,” is referred to throughout as “Marlene.” Commentary: “Organizer” Kadey is the best of the line of little tin Hitlers writer Broome introduced in the series. Allegedly a freedom-loving man who respects private property — he is the first comic book character to advocate eminent domain — Kadey is a tyrant who tries to pay for goods he confiscates with his own worthless “K-dollars” (which probably have his picture on them). The Knights must eventually storm Kadey’s impregnable fortress and bring him to justice.

“Threat of the Witch-Woman” — 16 pages, second (last) story SA #156, 9/63. JB (w), MA (p, i). “Demons are traditionally associated with sorcery and witches — with the long-gone past! But in the year 1992, the terrible Third World War — which had nearly totally destroyed humanity — was only six years behind! Here and there little pockets of civilization were left however; and in Harlow, not far from the town of Durvale, civilization had taken an odd turn!” Synopsis: Investigating the absence of a student from his newlyorganized school, Douglas Herald brings to the attention of the Knights the village of Harlow which “doesn’t believe in schools or science… or any progress! They fear progress — because they

Atomic radiation gave the Atomic Knights their share of headaches, but it also gave the Marvel Comics Group what would eventually become one of their biggest hits. X-Men #1, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, premiered this month. © Marvel Characters, Inc.

“The Atomic Knights”

claim it led to the war!” The Knights find a woman about to be executed for witchcraft, and must solve the strange mystery of the “demon-shapes” she seems to conjure.

“Here Come the Wild Ones!” — 15 pages, first story SA #160, 1/64. JB (w), MA (p, i). “Of all the tragedies caused by the Hydrogen War of 1986, one of the most heart-rendering [sic] was the band of homeless, hungry boys who charged into isolated villages, terrorizing the inhabitants! “And to make matters worse, when the Atomic Knights set out to redeem the youthful band, they ran smack into their old foes, the vicious gang of Blue Belts!” Synopsis: When a band of homeless boys threatens to terrorize Durvale, Marene Herald, “the smallest Knight,” masquerades as a boy, “Mark,” to infiltrate their ranks. Commentary: This, the final adventure of the Atomic Knights, is one of the most off-beat. The plot wouldn’t work with most comic book heroines, but the petite build artist Anderson gave Marene enables her to bring it off. Since Marene has remained in Durvale throughout most of the series, this story gives her a chance to take center stage. Gardner Grayle is well aware of the role reversal: “This is a switch! It’s usually Marene waving goodbye to me as I go off — !” And the look on Gardner Grayle’s face as he prepares to cut

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“THE ATOMIC KNIGHTS” REDUX FILE

Marene’s hair for her disguise is a rare note of humor in the series. The denouement of the story, in which the Wild Ones are absorbed into Durvale society, can be taken as the epitome of the entire “Atomic Knights” series: disparate elements, driven apart by the War, are reunited under the umbrella of a reconstructed society. Like many fictional crusaders, The Atomic Knights are fighting to create — or recreate — a world in which they will no longer be needed.

Historical note: This issue of Strange Adventures carries the last story of the title’s most recent series, “The Atomic Knights,” and the last story of the title’s first series, “Darwin Jones.” There’s a certain symmetry there. Publishing note: Astute readers will note that this “AK” story appeared four months after their most recent exploit,

Strange Adventures #229, 3-4/71, “Danger in Detroit,” r: SA #153. Strange Adventures #230, 5-6/71, “Threat of the Witch Woman,” r: SA #156. Strange Adventures #231, 7-8/71, “Here Come the Wild Ones,” r: SA #160. Here’s the only other “Atomic Knights” reprint in comic book form: DC Super-Stars #22, 4/76, “The Rise of the Atomic Knights,” r: SA #117. [Note: Story retitled “The Origin of the Atomic Knights.”] Lastly, the team’s appearances in book form are listed: Mysteries in Space: The Best of DC Science Fiction Comics, 1980, “The Rise of the Atomic Knights,” r: SA #117. Pulp Fiction Library: Mystery In Space, 1998, “The Lost City of Los Angeles,” r: SA #126. — JBC

rather than the usual three. This was due to the appearance in SA #159 of “The Star Rovers,” relocated from their old home in Mystery In Space, which had recently come under the editorial aegis of Jack Schiff. Murphy Anderson has said that, when drawing this story, he knew it would be the last of the series. Nonetheless, the final caption of the story reads: “Watch for another exciting Atomic Knights adventure in a forthcoming issue of Strange Adventures!” That may have been wishful thinking on the parts of Schwartz, Broome and Anderson. It was certainly the sincere desire of the series’ many fans.

All images © DC Comics

“The Cavemen of New York,” r: SA #123. Strange Adventures #220, 9-10/69, “The Lost City of Los Angeles,” r: SA #126. Strange Adventures #221, 11-12/69, “World Out of Time,” r: SA #129. Strange Adventures #222, 1-2/70, “Thanksgiving Day — 1990,” r: SA #132. Strange Adventures #223, 3-4/70, “War in Washington,” r: SA #135. Strange Adventures #224, 5-6/70, “The Attack of the Giant Dogs,” r: SA #138. Strange Adventures #225, 7-8/70, Strange Adventures #217, 3-4/69, “Menace of the Metal “The Rise of the Atomic Knights,” r: Looters,” r: SA #141. SA #117. [Note: Reprints first eight Strange Adventures #226, pages of the story.] 9-10/70, “When the Earth Strange Adventures #218, 5-6/69, “After World War III… Came the Atomic Blacked Out,” r: SA #144. Strange Adventures #227, Knights,” r: SA #117. [Note: Reprints 11-12/70, “The King of final eight pages of “The Rise of the New Orleans,” r: SA #147. Atomic Knights,” but with new splash page by Gil Kane (pencils) and Murphy Strange Adventures #228, 1-2/71, “The Plant That Anderson (inks) and slightly altered Hated Humans,” r: SA page following.] #150. Strange Adventures #219, 7-8/69,

The return of Julius Schwartz as editor of Strange Adventures in 1969 not only heralded the revival of “Adam Strange,” but also the reemergence of “The Atomic Knights” (albeit in reprint form). All but one of the exploits of the post-apocalyptic crime fighters were reprised in the pages of SA. What follows is a cross-referenced listing of “The Atomic Knights” reprints found in those Strange Adventures.

read in the same sentence, unless the former refers to temperature. To hear the media tell it, kids dread museums like the Plague, unless they’re interactive and full of whistles and flashing lights. But how could any kid not think the Space Museum was cool? It’s chock-full of alien artifacts, weapons (hopefully deactivated) and, in a few cases, actual aliens! Even Bart Simpson would think the Space Museum was cool — though I wouldn’t let him walk around it unescorted. Though what editor Julius Schwartz and writer Gardner Fox had created was the perfect format for an anthology series, perhaps they can also be credited with having created the first interactive museum. Certainly there was plenty to do there. The format of the series, which was sometimes forsaken, was for Howard Parker to tell the story behind some exhibit to Tommy, then sometimes — though not always — to ask Tommy, at a crucial point in the narrative, how the characters knew what action to take, how they had solved their dilemma, just as readers are “Once a month Howard Parker takes his son Tommy to the Space Museum, one of the wonders of the 25th century… “Behind every object in the Space Museum, there’s a story of heroism, daring, self-sacrifice….” — “World of Doomed Spacemen!”, SA #104

All images © DC Comics

As a kid, the “Space Museum” series pressed a lot of buttons for me. My father died before I was born, so the idea of a monthly father-son jaunt sounded pretty good, especially to a place that was as cool as the Space Museum. “Cool” and “museum” are words you don’t often This spread: Various “Space Museum” panel details by Carmine Infantino.

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION series, Star Trek, quality is no indication of commercial success. Despite the success of the series at achieving what it set out to do, “Space Museum” was never the readers’ favorite. In SA #149, The Schwartz wrote: “Of our three running series, ‘Atomic Knights’ ranks highest with our readers, followed by ‘Space Museum’ next, then ‘Star Hawkins.’” Well, coming in second to “The Atomic Knights” is nothing to be ashamed of, even in a three-way race. A cover blurb above the logo

All images © DC Comics

challenged to solve the mystery in the stories of Ellery Queen. Usually Tommy, who wanted to be a spaceman himself, found the solution, other times Dad had to help. Nonetheless, it was a family affair all the way with Mom sometimes stepping in on the monthly visits. Tommy not only learned about alien artifacts, but about his parents, as well — and your parents should only be so cool. Unfortunately, like another classic science-fiction

“THE SPACE MUSEUM” IN STRANGE ADVENTURES • “THE SPACE MUSEUM” SERIES Strange Adventures #104, 5/59: “World of Doomed Spacemen” Strange Adventures #106, 7/59: “The Secret of the SpaceJewel!” Strange Adventures #109, 10/59: “Secret of the Tick-Tock World!” Strange Adventures #112, 1/60: “Revolt of the Spaceships!” Strange Adventures #115, 4/60: “The Gem Invasion of Earth!” Strange Adventures #118, 7/60: “Threat of the Planet-Wreckers!” Strange Adventures #121, 10/60: “The Billion-Year-Old Spaceship!” Strange Adventures #124, 1/61: “Earth Victory — By a Hair!” Strange Adventures #127, 4/61: “Son of Two Worlds!”

Strange Adventures #130, 7/61: “The Toy Soldier War!” Strange Adventures #133, 10/61: “The Immortal Spaceman!” Strange Adventures #136, 1/62: “Second-Best Spaceman!” Strange Adventures #139, 4/62: “Secret of the Energy Weapon!” Strange Adventures #142, 7/62: “Prisoners of the SpaceFlowers!” Strange Adventures #145, 10/62: “The Mass-Energy Robbers of Space!” Strange Adventures

#148, 1/63: “The Evolutionary Ensign of Space!” Strange Adventures #151, 4/63: “The Tree of 1000 Colors!” Strange Adventures #154, 7/63: “Escape-Artist of Space!” Strange Adventures #157, 10/63: “Rescue By Moonlight!” Strange Adventures #161, 1/64: “Space Museum of the Dead World!”

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION reading: “Extra! A New ‘Space Museum’ Story!” wasn’t used until issue #127, and didn’t reappear until #157, perhaps indicating that though the series wasn’t driving any potential readers away, it also wasn’t attracting many, despite the fact that more installments of it were produced than of any other Schwartz-edited back-up feature covered in this book. Nonetheless, the series deserves a favorable judgment in the eyes of history, not only for the quality of its stories, but for its underlying philosophy. For though the “Space Museum” stories were intended first and foremost as entertainment, the underlying

credo of each one is that of man as a rational being, the universe as a place subject to physical laws which can be deciphered by man, and that the denizens of such a universe have the obligation to comport themselves honorably and peaceably. As Tommy Parker leaves the Museum for the last time in SA #161, he states: “…Hate and violence destroy in the end the ones who employ them! It’s a lesson I’ll never forget!” Spending quality time with the kids pays off. — MWB

This page: More “Space Museum” panel details by Carmine Infantino. © DC Comics

“Space Museum”

The Stories “World of Doomed Spacemen!” — 9 pages, first story Cover: GK (p), MA (i). SA #104, 5/59. GF (w), MS (p), BS (i). “A deserted Earth spaceship with no sign of its crew — a fantastic giant who was the only living thing on a far distant planet — ! “Had the giant destroyed the Earthmen? “Or was there a stranger menace waiting to doom the crew of the rescue ships from Earth?” First appearance: Howard Parker; his son, Tommy Parker; The Space Museum. Synopsis: On their first recorded visit to the Space Museum, Howard Parker tells his son Tommy how “a mighty robot of indestructible metal” nearly doomed the Earth. Museum exhibit viewed: A pair of contact lenses. Commentary: This first installment in the “Space Museum” series sets up the basic structure that will be adhered to — with occasional modifications — in all future installments. On their monthly visit to the Space Museum of the 25th century, Tommy Parker asks about a seemingly-innocuous exhibit, and Howard Parker relates a thrilling story about its history. The only variants from what would become the formula — or recipe — for the series is the art team, and the story’s length. (All future SM install-

ments would be eight pages.) Publishing notes: This is the only Space Museum story to be cover-featured. Editor Schwartz didn’t bother to wait for reader reaction; the story ends with the announcement: “Watch for another Space Museum story in a forthcoming issue of Strange Adventures.”

“The Secret of the Space-Jewel!” — 8 pages, second story SA #106, 7/59. GF (w), CI (p), BS (i). “To the people of Thalar, Earthman Ron Madden was the greatest of heroes — the savior of their world! Yet there was something about Madden that made the Thalarians hate him intensely! There could be no explanation to this paradox until Ron Madden solved… The Secret of the Space-Jewel!” Synopsis: Captain Ron Madden of the space-police, comes to the planet Thalar, “a planet of the star-sun Procyon,” to find a criminal named Gorlon, and winds up saving the planet from invaders. Despite this, when he returns two years later as Thalar’s ambassador, he is treated with scorn and contempt. Museum exhibit viewed: The museum exhibit appears to be “an aqualine jewel.” Publishing notes: The splash page contains the logo “A Space Museum story,” contained in a comet motif, as will all subsequent installments of the series.

This story is the series debut of penciler Carmine Infantino who would pencil all subsequent installments of the series.

“Secret of the Tick-Tock World!” — 8 pages, third story SA #109, 10/59. GF (w), CI (p, i). “Spaceman Harvey Drake was desperately seeking a clue to save a world from imminent destruction! And ironically enough the clue was very close to him all the time — if only he realized it!” Synopsis: Space-pilot Harvey Drake discovers a system of planets, each evolved to an era most advanced than the one before it. But when he finds the last planet a dead world, he must figure out how the Earth survived a similar fate centuries before… or the next planet in the system will be devastated. Museum exhibit viewed: A common wrist-watch. Publishing note: With this issue, the “Space Museum” series takes what will become its regular place in the SA series lineup — every third month, in the third story slot. This is the first installment of the series to feature full art by Carmine Infantino, who would supply similar chores for most of the rest of the series. Infantino signed the story “Cinfa” on the splash page, as he would with other installments.

“Revolt of the Spaceships!” — 8 pages, third story

SA #112, 1/60. GF (w), CI (p, i). “When Barney Gordon built his little spaceship, he never realized that someday its sleek metal hull would come to life! Nor could he have foreseen the incredible menace that was to confront him, and all humans in the form of intelligent, living spaceships! Barney Gordon alone of all Earth’s spacemen knew how to fight the eerie menace — but to do so he had to have the help of his own, handmade spaceship!” Synopsis: Spaceman Barney Gordon builds his spaceship, “Ike,” with his own hands, then must find out how to save Earth from the menace of a glowing green planet. Museum exhibit viewed: A gold medal, “won… long before the adventure of which the medal is a memento!”

“The Gem Invasion of Earth!” — 8 pages, third story SA #115, 4/60. GF (w), CI (p, i). “Across trillions of miles of interstellar void came the strangest threat to Earth ever spawned in the outer reaches of space! “As the ‘invisible’ invasion began, only a trio of Earthmen knew the identity of the invaders — but it was impossible for them to reveal it!” Synopsis: What appear to be a group of gems are actually sentient beings, bent on conquering the Earth. Museum exhibit viewed: A stuffed magpie. Trivia: This story marks Tommy Parker’s fourteenth birthday.

“Threat of the Planet-Wreckers!” — 8 pages, second story SA #118, 7/60. GF (w), CI (p, i). “Three Earthmen stood between the solar system and utter defeat by a trio of ruthless aliens from the planet Pegana! “But the Earthmen were unarmed — and the Peganans commanded a super-destructive weapon! Could the men from Earth possibly overcome such overwhelming odds?” Synopsis: Evil aliens, whose planet was composed of the debris in the Asteroid Belt, reconstruct their planet and threaten to conquer the solar system. Museum exhibit viewed: A strange weapon “created 10,000 years ago — on a planet of our solar system which mysteriously disappeared!” Publishing note: For no known reason, this Space Museum story occupies the middle position in this issue, rather than the third. Weird science: All of the nine solar planets are inhabited, inhabitants of Mars and Jupiter are seen.

“The Billion-Year-Old Spaceship!” — 8 pages, third story SA #121, 10/60. GF (w), CI (p, i). “For one billion years the spaceship had been drifting through space — defying anyone to board it! “Was anyone inside the mystery ship still alive? Two Earthmen get the

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surprise of their lives when they solve the secret of… The Billion-Year-Old Spaceship!” Synopsis: Two members of the Space Patrol must find how to commandeer a mile-long spaceship to rescue one hundred scientists from a doomed asteroid. Museum exhibit viewed: A seemingly empty display case.

“Earth Victory — By a Hair!” — 8 pages, third story SA #124, 1/61. GF (w), CI (p, i). “The Wrecker was the toughest battle officer in the entire corps of Space-Marines! He had fought his way across the stars in the livery of Earth’s finest regiments! “Now he was ordered to the starsun Procyon — to throw back an alien invasion of Earth’s galactic empire! Only one weapon could defeat the invaders — but to the general’s dismay, he couldn’t fire it!” First appearance: Tommy Parker’s mother; the warlike alien race from the planet Alvoris (later christened the Zuran, in SA #142). Synopsis: Tommy Parker learns about his family’s past during this story of intergalactic warfare and the liberation of a city captured from Earthcolonists. This involves overcoming a strange “mind machine” that enslaves the human will. Museum exhibit viewed: A strand of human hair. Commentary: Macho Marine “The

Wrecker” lives in the 25th century, but his heart seems to be in the 18th. He objects to serving with Admiral Ann “Blondy” Gordon: “A woman! By all the stars in Andromeda — I’m serving with a woman!” Continuity note: Though The Wrecker’s mission leads him to the planet Alvoris, of the star-sun Procyon,” no mention is made of the planet Thalar, from #106’s “Secret of the Space-Jewel!” Trivia: Tommy uses the exclamation “Gollywobbles!” for the first time in this story. Fortunately, it doesn’t catch on.

“Son of Two Worlds!” — 8 pages, third story SA #127, 4/61. GF (w), CI (p, i). “For as long as he could remember, Bran Gannon wondered about two odd things — one, why were his eyes different from those of other men, and secondly, how did he know about the existence of a planet named Yssa — before it was discovered!” Synopsis: Adopted son Bran Gannon finds his true nature and place in the cosmos, despite the efforts of those who wish him ill. Museum exhibit viewed: A scroll, commemorating the events of the story. Commentary: This story reads almost like a condensed version of one of science-fiction author Robert A. Heinlein’s juvenile SF novels like The Rolling Stones, or Have Space Suit — Will Travel.

“The Toy Soldier War!” — 8 pages, third story SA #130, 7/61. GF (w), CI (p, i). “Every few years Steve Vance traveled hundreds of light-years into space to the star-sun Antares’ smallest planet, Jorga — to buy toys! Children all over the solar system spent many happy hours with these tiny masterpieces, for the Jorgans hand-crafted the most wonderful toys ever made! But this time when he visited the toy-making planet, Steve discovered that the Jorgans had switched from creating toys to manufacturing — deadly weapons!” Synopsis: Steve Vance must foment resistance against the Kriil, invaders of the planet Jorga, hoping the warlike race will not discover the one flaw in his plan. Museum exhibit viewed: A toy soldier. Commentary: This story is narrated not by Howard Parker, but by a guide at the Space Museum. This serves no particular purpose in the story. Steve Vance’s occupation as a toy salesman is a nice change from the usual retinue of space policemen, military men and explorers.

“The Immortal Spaceman!” — 8 pages, third story SA #133, 10/61. GF (w), CI (p, i). “For twenty years space-explorer Karl Hagstrom searched the stars to find the living legend of a fountain of

“Space Museum”

eternal youth! One sip of those waters would make him immortal! Then he found the fountain — and a deadly danger to himself and Earth at the same time!” Synopsis: Karl Hagstrom must warn Earth of an attack by the vengeful Lomarians. “Earth defeated Lomaria recently in a bitter space-war!” But the Lomarians’ weapon, powered by the mineral ageron, can “age whatever it touches by billions of years in a few moments!” Museum exhibit viewed: A goblet of water. Weird science: “Anything man can make is always duplicated in nature.”

“Second-Best Spaceman!” — 8 pages, third story SA #136, 1/62. GF (w), CI (p, i). “Mike Dillon was the most-decorated officer in the Star Patrol of the 25th century, but everyone of the medals was of silver! Always he had come in second-best, always someone else had beaten him in completing an assigned mission! Then his superiors sent him into deep space to find the lost planet of a race that had died out a million years ago — where he learned that unless he finished first in a race against time — his universe was doomed to perish!” Synopsis: Lieutenant-Colonel Dillon (“…he wasn’t a full space-colonel, being second-best again, you see…”) must figure out how to seal a dimensional portal before the evil aliens from Thraxl

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make it through and invade the universe. Museum exhibit viewed: A Star Patrol silver space medal. Commentary: This is one of the series’ best stories, containing not only a clever plot, but a poignant human interest angle as well.

“Secret of the Energy-Weapon!” — 8 pages, third story SA #139, 4/62. GF (w), CI (p, i). “Ordinary objects like a chunk of rock or a branch ripped from a tree became strange and terrible weapons of war in the hands of Captain Stanley Gordon! “But he discovered he could use this fantastic power only after he himself had been turned into a man of solid metal!” Synopsis: Seeking the base of “a band of malcontents [who] sought to get power over the Earth,” Captain Stanley Gordon is first subjected to, then overcomes, the effect of the renegades’ super-weapon, which transmutes whatever it strikes to solid gold. But when Gordon’s memory fails him, he must again subject himself to the weapon to recall how to defeat it. Museum exhibit viewed: “[A] plain wooden tree branch — but it’s also the weapon which once saved the Earth!”

“Prisoners of the Space-Flowers!” — 8 pages, third story SA #142, 7/62. GF (w), CI (p, i).

“Already a legend in their own lifetimes, General Howard Parker and his lovely wife, Ann “Blondy” Gordon (who had been admiral of the space-fleet), find themselves pursued by the very aliens they had previously helped Earth defeat — and then caught and frozen motionless — as if nature herself had joined the enemy forces — by the strange flowers of an uncharted planet!” Synopsis: Taken to the Space Museum by both his father and mother for his fifteenth birthday, Tommy Parker learns he was a participant in the defeat of Zuran forces who wish to pull a sneak-attack on the Earth. Museum exhibit viewed: A picture of Tommy Parker, at three years old. Commentary: Since the entire Parker clan is involved in this adventure, the story is also narrated not by Howard Parker, but by a guide at the Space Museum. Trivia: “To prevent popular acclaim from influencing its decision to add a new display to the Space Museum, the board demands a twelve-year silence while they weigh the merits of an heroic deed… to see if it has stood the test of time….” Chronological note: If the Parkers’ visit to the Space Museum in SA #115 marked Tommy’s fourteenth birthday, then, given one visit a month, by the time of his fifteenth birthday, twelve visits should have elapsed. Since “Prisoners of the Space-Flowers” is only the ninth recorded visit since #115’s “Gem Invasion of Earth,” three visits

seem to have gone unrecorded.

“The Mass-Energy Robbers of Space!” — 8 pages, third story SA #145, 10/62. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Every man and woman on Earth stood motionless, helpless to prevent the destruction of their planet! Only the children could move — but what could mere youngsters do against a hostile spaceship filled with super-scientific aliens? “Tommy Parker and his spacescout friends from Mars and Venus had five minutes to figure out a way to save their world! Could they manage it — in so short a time?” Synopsis: Transpiring in the present day (of the 25th century), Tommy Parker and his fellow Interplanetary Boy Scouts, Val Nord of Mars and Sven Allis of Venus witness the disappearance of the entire Space Museum, then must devise a method to defeat aliens who want to drain the “mass-energy” of the Earth to power their own spaceship — which will destroy the planet. Museum exhibit viewed: None. Commentary: The title is a little clumsy, but the story is quite good, ringing another change on what could threaten to become a restrictive formula. At the end of the story the valor of Tommy, Val and Sven is commemorated in “a new display case hurriedly set up just for them….” One assumes that the “twelve-year silence” rule has been tem-

“Space Museum”

porarily overruled. Continuity conundrum: Val Nord, the Martian scout, bears no resemblance to the Martian in SA #118’s “Threat of the Planet-Wreckers!” But perhaps Mars is home to several races, as is Earth.

“The Evolutionary Ensign of Space!” — 8 pages, third story SA #148, 1/63. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Ensign ‘Blondy’ Gordon was given the important assignment of flying a radical new weapon to outlying Earthforces engaged in a desperate spacewar! “But when the critical moment came for ‘Blondy’ to sneak past the enemy lines, she was no longer ‘herself’ — but an energy-creature without the power to fire a weapon to defend herself!” Synopsis: While spring cleaning, Tommy Parker finds a “solar cluster” medal awarded to his mother when she was an ensign. The resulting tale requires an unscheduled trip to the Space Museum to tell the tale of how a lone ensign, nearly destroyed by “the Llore,” manages to defeat the aliens’ entire occupation force. Museum exhibit viewed: A sewing needle.

“The Tree of 1000 Colors!” — 8 pages, third story SA #151, 4/63. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i).

“Far out among the star-planets, mankind had found — by the 25th century — many odd life-forms. Some of them were friendly, some deadly. But surely the oddest and deadliest was the copper colossus called Karg — who had the amazing power to absorb every human being of Earth into its mighty metal body!” Synopsis: “Exploro-scientist” Jim Phelps encounters a strange metallic giant who intends “…to travel to Earth and convert all human life to metal and make it a part of me!” Phelps uses the Triadon tree, whose leaves change with the rapid seasonal changes on the planet Karox to defeat Karg. Museum exhibit viewed: “[T]he Triadon tree of the planet Karox.”

“Escape-Artist of Space!” — 8 pages, third story SA #154, 7/63. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “Queen Santhu of Baloran wanted peace between her world and Earth — but her Triumvirate of Warlords wanted war! And so the trio captured her and blamed Earth for the cruel deed! The only way Earth could avoid the oncoming war was to rescue her and reveal the truth! But the Warlords had imprisoned Santhu in a citadel of no escape!” Synopsis: Ensign Bill Dahl, of the Space-Marines, is given the mission of freeing the imprisoned Queen Santhu due to his hobby of practicing trickescapes. “Ensign Dahl had studied and mastered the trick-escapes of such

20th century artists as Houdini and others….” He and the Queen are herded through succeeding chambers, each of which contains a deadly death-trap. Museum exhibit viewed: “[A]n ordinary rope.” Commentary: Even Schwartz and Fox had their off-days. The stories told in the “Space Museum” series were in one sense detective stories, often challenging the reader to find the solution to the problem before the hero. This required the story to be plotted “backward,” coming up with the solution, then plotting a situation to fit it. Usually the “skin” of the narrative fit the “bones” of the plot well, but sometimes the bones were visible through the skin as in this story, where at least two of the four escapes are so contrived as to be nearly laughable.

While Howard and Tommy Parker were visiting the Space Museum in July of 1963, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, as a back-up in Strange Tales #110, introduced a character by the name of Strange — Stephen Strange, who would become Marvel’s Master of the Mystic Arts. © Marvel Characters, Inc.

All images © DC Comics

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Fortunately, the Infantino/ Anderson art is typically gorgeous. Note that this is at least the second use of a sci-fi escape artist character by Schwartz. An earlier version of same appeared in “Prisoner of the Electric Eye!” by John Broome, Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia in MIS #53 (8/59).

“Rescue By Moonlight!” — 8 pages, third story SA #157, 10/63. GF (w), CI (p), JGi (i). “When Alan Strange, an Eartharchaeologist on the distant planet Uralone, saved a race of beings who lived in the time-flow of another dimension, he didn’t know that he was at the same time dooming the life of his own brother!” Synopsis: Alan Strange devises a method to defeat the “vibragun” weapon of a group of counterfeiters, but when he expends it to save the race of Chronovars “who live in the fourth dimension — time,” he must then come up with another plan, or his brother will be killed. Museum exhibit viewed: Another seemingly empty display case. Continuity note: “Editor’s note: Alan Strange is a descendant of 20th century archaeologist Adam Strange of Earth and his wife Alanna of the planet Rann, whose adventures currently appear in Mystery In Space.” With this story the “Space Museum” series is linked to the continuity of the thenextant DC Universe.

This answered for curious fans the question of whether or not Adam and Alanna will ever be married. Continuity buffs may argue that this linkage creates more problems than it solves, since all of the “future history” of the “Space Museum” series must therefore be incorporated into the history of the DCU (as it “existed” in those days), but Schwartz always played a little fast and loose with such matters, and certainly the delight of knowing that Adam and Alanna will someday be married is worth any continuity problems it may create. Weird science: Alan Strange uses a device which “can accurately tell the age of [these] ruins by… vibrations,” cleverly christened the chronilogikron by Fox.

Nomenclatural note: Giving the name Uralone to the deserted planet this story is set on must have given a grin to the inveterate punster Schwartz. Say the name slowly and it becomes “Ur-alone.”

“Space Museum of the Dead World!” — 8 pages, third story SA #161, 2/64. GF (w), CI (p, i). “The alien Krakkar — lizard-warriors of space — had one mission in life… to destroy all the human beings in the universe! “When they rejected an Earthman’s offer of peace and friendship, he had no recourse but to use against them an

array of amazing weapons he had discovered in the... Space Museum of the Dead World!” Synopsis: Eric Horstman, whose job as a “star-splorer was to find new worlds where men might live,” must find a weapon in a space museum on the planet Vipsania to defeat the bloodthirsty Krakkar. M u s e u m exhibit viewed: One half of an alien weapon. “The other half is on another Space Museum — 10,000 light-years from Earth!” Commentary: Despite the Krakkars’ expressions of hatred for all human beings, Horstman offers them every chance to cease hostilities before unleashing the weapon now on exhibit in the dual Museums. This philosophy of extending the olive branch while preparing for defense is consonant with the outlook of the overwhelming majority of Schwartz science-fiction. Continuity note: Horstman is described as having “been a captain in the Earth-Zuran war.”

“Space Museum”

Publishing notes: The penciler of all but the first installment of the “Space Museum” series both pencils and inks this, the series’ final story, signing the splash page with the pseudonym “Rouge Enfant,” or “Red Baby,” a clever paraphrase of the name… Carmine Infantino. Astute readers will note that this “Space Museum” story appeared four

months after the most recent installment, rather than the usual three. This was due to the appearance in SA #159 of “The Star Rovers,” relocated from their old home in Mystery In Space, which had recently come under the editorial aegis of Jack Schiff.

“SPACE MUSEUM” REDUX FILE Alas, only a small handful of “Space Museum” tales have been reprinted, but it’s possible editor Julius Schwartz had hoped to re-run the series more extensively had his reprint title From Beyond the Unknown not been cancelled (given the final three issues include “SM” stories) — JBC

Strange Adventures #211, 4/68, “Earth’s Victory — By A Hair,” r: SA #124. From Beyond The Unknown #23, 89/73, “World of Doomed Spacemen,” r: SA #104. From Beyond The Unknown #24, 1011/73, “The Secret of the Space Jewel,” r: SA #106.

From Beyond The Unknown #25, 12/74-1/75, “Secret of the Tick-Tock World,” r: SA #109. “Space Museum” episodes were featured in this book collection: Mysteries in Space: The Best of DC Science Fiction Comics, 1980, “Revolt of the Spaceships,” r: SA #112.

Above: Tommy learns another valuable lesson in these panels by Carmine Infantino from Strange Adventures #109.

private eye down on his luck,” could be a composite of Craig Stevens and Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. but, this being a Schwartz series, the reader is never allowed to forget that it’s also a science-fiction series, an effect which is usually achieved by prefixing any noun with the word “space” (“Shortly after, at the Space-Terminal…”). Hawkins sometimes goes to other planets on his cases, and has a long-suffering robot secretary, Ilda. Most fictional private eyes have adoring secretaries, and since “Star Hawkins” was a science-fiction series, well… why not make his secretary a robot? Cocreator John Broome obviously loved putting Ilda into messes orchestrated by her underappreciative boss; no less than ten of the titles of the 17 “Star Hawkins” stories contain the word “Robot,” a sure clue that Ilda will play a major role. In fact, a case could be made that Ilda is actually the star of the series; many was the time she saved her employer from being worked over or killed by criminals (or, as they call them in the 21st century, “zips”). One fan, in the “Spotlight On Strange Adventures” column in SA #162 (3/64), asked: “Instead of calling [the series] the ‘Star Hawkins’ series, it ought to be renamed the ‘Ilda the Robot’ series. After all, isn’t she the real ‘Star’?” If “The Atomic Knights,” to debut three months later, was as realistic as a comic book series could be in 1960 and still be approved by the Comics Code Authority, “Star Hawkins” took the opposite tack. While

All images © DC Comics

By 1960, private eyes were the guys. In September, 1958, Peter Gunn premiered, starring Craig Stevens, who played the smooth, jazz-loving P.I. for three seasons. One month later, 77 Sunset Strip, created by Roy Huggins, the first hour-long detective show on TV, debuted, and was a ratings smash, starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., as Stu Bailey, and Roger Smith as Jeff Spencer. With them was Edd Byrnes as “Kookie” (Gerald Lloyd Kookson III), the hip-talking eye candy for the kids. 77 is of interest to Silver Age comic book fans for two reasons: The character of “Kookie” was the inspiration for the character of Snapper Carr, sidekick to the Justice League of America, and the success of 77 probably led to the generation of the third of the four major series covered in these pages to originate in Strange Adventures, “Star Hawkins.” In his first recorded exploit “[I]n 2079 Star Hawkins, a

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION it wasn’t exactly a comedy to the degree that, say, the late “Space Cabby” series had been, “Star Hawkins” certainly had its share of humor, more than any other Schwartz sci-fi series running concurrently. As fashioned by Broome, who had also stretched his humor muscles on another tongue-in-cheek strip, “Detective Chimp,” Star Hawkins was always a day late and a space credit short. A reoccurring gag was his frequent pawning of Ilda to pay the rent or his creditors. It was a calculated risk, putting a less-than-serious private eye in a magazine whose readers generally liked their sci-fi straight, but it seems to have worked. In the letter column of SA #144 (9/62), The Schwartz points out: “… [W]e believe the ‘Star Hawkins’ stories offer a much-needed comic relief from serious sciencefiction.” “Star Hawkins,” though never the most popular of the Schwartz sci-fi series, it was popular enough to appear regularly until the next-tolast issue of Schwartz’ SA, and was

continued by new editor Jack Schiff, who presumably was more at home with the concept of a private eye, even a sci-fi eye, than he had been with the Rubik’s Cube complexity of “The Star Rovers.” Penciler Mike Sekowsky was the ideal choice to keep the mood light. There was something in Sekowsky’s unique rendition of the world — let alone the other eight planets — that was difficult to take seriously anyway. This quirkiness was generally kept under rein when illustrating the complicated scripts of Gardner Fox on JLA (Sekowsky’s other major DC assignment), but on “Star Hawkins” it was given free rein, as best exemplified in such wild rides as SA #134’s “Case of the Interplanetary Imps,” in which seven miniature alien terrors run riot in Star’s office, their faces alight with manic glee. It’s a shame Sekowsky never got a chance to really let loose drawing Batman’s nemesis, The Joker. Bernard Sachs fluid inks admirably served Sekowsky’s pencils as they would on so many issues of JLA.

This spread: Mike Sekowsky panel details from various “Star Hawkins” episodes. © DC Comics

“STAR HAWKINS” IN STRANGE ADVENTURES • STAR HAWKINS SERIES Strange Adventures #114, 3/60: “The Case of the Martian Witness!” Strange Adventures #116, 5/60: “TCOT Robot-Spy!” Strange Adventures #119, 8/60: “TCOT Counterfeit Credits!” Strange Adventures #122, 11/60: “TCOT Red-Hot Robot!” Strange Adventures #125, 2/61: “TCOT Vanishing Robots”

Strange Adventures #128, 5/61: “TCOT Robot Detective!” Strange Adventures #131, 8/61: “TCOT 3-Eyed Invaders!” Strange Adventures #134, 11/62: “TCOT Interplanetary Imps!” Strange Adventures #137, 2/62: “TCOT Robot Brother!” Strange Adventures #140, 5/62: “TCOT Worn-Out Robot!” Strange Adventures #143, 8/62: “COT Unwanted Robot!”

Strange Adventures #146, 11/62: “TCOT Robot Counter-Spy!” Strange Adventures #149, 2/63: “COT Rebellious Space-Crew!” Strange Adventures #152, 5/63: “TCOT Body-Switching Robot!” Strange Adventures #155, 8/63: “TCOT Red Diamond Smugglers!” Strange Adventures #158, 11/63: “TCOT Romantic Robot!” Strange Adventures #162, 3/64: “TCOT 14 Clueless Crimes!”

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION has become a recent entry in our series sweepstakes, there may soon be a shuffling of positions which currently shows ‘The Atomic Knights’ leading the pack, with the runners-up — ‘Space Museum’ and ‘Star Hawkins’ — running about neck and neck.”) Issue #122’s cover first carried a blurb above the logo reading: “Extra! A New ‘Star Hawkins’ Story!” The blurb also appeared on issue #s 125, 128 and 131, then was discontinued until it reappeared one last time on #155, indicating that perhaps the series wasn’t much of a sales booster. Those looking for serious noir crime fiction about world-weary private eyes should please apply elsewhere. But if you’re looking for a good space-time, hire Star Hawkins. — MWB

All images © DC Comics

Despite the success of the series at achieving what it set out to do, “Star Hawkins” was never the readers’ favorite. It had a few very avid fans, but editor Schwartz reported that the series always seemed to place third, after the secondplace “Space Museum” series, with “The Atomic Knights” way out in front. (In the “Spotlight On Strange Adventures” lettercol in SA #160 (1/64), Julie wrote: “Now that ‘The Star Rovers’

This page: More great Mike Sekowsky art from “Star Hawkins.” 82

“Star Hawkins”

The Stories “The Case of the Martian Witness!” — 8 pages, third story SA #114, 3/60. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “Deep into the sinister Red Jungle of Vesta ventures private investigator Star Hawkins on a manhunt… searching for a missing Martian! “Ordinarily a search of this kind was out of Star’s line, but when you’re down on your luck, you take any job… no matter how dangerous!” First appearance: Star Hawkins, 21st century private investigator; his robot-secretary, Ilda. Synopsis: Star Hawkins, needing money to buy Ilda out of hock, takes a job tracking a recalcitrant witness on the Martian satellite of Vesta. Publishing note: Editor Schwartz had high hopes for this character; the story ends with the announcement: “Watch for another startling story of future-detective Star Hawkins and robotgal ‘Friday’ in a forthcoming issue of Strange Adventures.”

“The Case of the Robot-Spy!” — 8 pages, third story SA #116, 5/60. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “To help private eye Star Hawkins solve a mysterious jewel robbery, Ilda… Hawkins’ amazing robot-secretar y… disguises ‘herself’ as one of the suspected gang of thieves and plays a dangerous game… with the robot’s life as

forfeit if the game is lost!” Synopsis: Ilda, to aid Star Hawkins on a case, gets the bright idea to disguise herself and go undercover to find gems stolen by the suspected thieves (“My own mother wouldn’t know me now… If I had a mother!”), placing herself in grave danger. Good Girl, Ilda!: Ilda has a “telepathic spool” which can “receive and send mental messages over a distance of a few feet…” Or sometimes over greater distances. Format note: The splash page contains the logo “A Star Hawkins story,” with the word “Star” contained in a star shape, as will all subsequent installments of the series. Commentary: This story, along with “The Case of the 14 Clueless Crimes,” contain the only actual detection Star will perform throughout the entire series. The people Ilda infiltrates are called the Gaddos. Thinks Ilda: “In the newspic story on them it says they are like the ‘gypsies’ of old… whoever they were!” The default position of the story is that the Gaddos, who “travel about the solar system in their battered old rusty spaceships… nobody trusts or likes them” are, as a people, thieving and untrustworthy. This is a somewhat different viewpoint than we would have expected from the editorial team of Schwartz and Broome who, in the pages of Flash #127’s “The Mystery of the Troubled Boy,” in 1962, would tell a tale of the costs of discrimination. But here it was only 1960; all of America had

some growing up to do.

“The Case of the Counterfeit Credits!” — 8 pages, third story SA #119, 8/60. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “Ilda, the amazing robot secretary, never dreamed that she would one day wind up in a desperate fight for life in the confines of her office! “But that’s what happened when her boss Star Hawkins started out on the trail of a counterfeit [sic] gang… that led back to his own office!” Synopsis: Star Hawkins leaves for the racetrack to try to track down a group of counterfeiters, but Ilda provides the lead that cracks the case. Publishing note: With this story the “Star Hawkins” series begins appearing every three months, in rotation with the “Space Museum” and “Atomic Knights” series, a position it will occupy until #162, when it will be moved back one month by the addition of “The Star Rovers” series to SA with #159.

“The Case of the Red-Hot Robot!” — 8 pages, third story SA #122, 11/60. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “Ilda, the amazing robot-secretary, was hired by Star Hawkins, ace private detective of the 21st century, for her many guaranteed qualities as an allaround ‘girl-Friday’! But Star never suspected that Ilda’s most valuable trait would be her ability to turn on the heat

when he was about to be cooled off by a couple of gunmen!” Synopsis: Ilda’s “dream-spool” (“I don’t have to sleep, you know! But I like to pretend to be as nearly human as possible!”) seems to be malfunctioning, picking up on crimes as they are committed. Star devises a way to turn this into profit, but it endangers both their lives.

“The Case of the Vanishing Robots” — 8 pages, third story SA #125, 2/61. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “Star Hawkins, 21st century private eye, complimented himself on having the best private secretary on Earth! “The fact that Ilda was a robot had a special advantage… whenever Star ran short of funds (which he often did), he’d deposit Ilda in a pawnshop and redeem her when fortune smiled his way! “The arrangement worked fine — until the time came when Ilda vanished from the pawnshop… and became another item in… The Case of the Vanishing Robots.” Synopsis: Ilda and Star become involved in a stolen robot racket. Continuity note: For the first time, the city in which Star Hawkins and Ilda live and work is given a name — New City. Format note: The cover to this issue first carries a blurb above the logo reading: “Extra! A New ‘Star Hawkins’ Story!”

“The Case of the Robot Detective!” — 8 pages, third story SA #128, 5/61. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “When Star Hawkins was temporarily disabled… due to a fierce encounter with the metal men of Andromeda… his all-purpose robot-secretary Ilda had to step into the breach and take Star’s place on a strange assignment to recover a missing toy rocket! “But the complications that followed turned out to be far from child’s play!” Synopsis: To capitalize on the job offers flooding in following Star Hawkins’ incapacitation following his otherwise successful completion of a case, he sends Ilda to fill his shoes, which of course leads to unforeseen hilarity and peril.

“The Case of the 3-Eyed Invaders!” — 8 pages, third story SA #131, 8/61. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “The very fate of the Earth hung in the balance on the day Ilda the robot, the very model of a perfect super-secretary, went to clean the apartment of her boss — 21st century private eye Star Hawkins — and found herself eavesdropping on a fantastic alien plot to take over the world!” Synopsis: Long-suffering Ilda, pressed into service as a maid, mistakenly enters the apartment above Star

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION

Hawkins’, and stumbles across an alien invasion plot which she must recruit Star to stop. Trivia: The phone number of Star Hawkins’ apartment is 814-8J7. Continuity conundrum: In all previous “Star Hawkins” stories, the open areas of Hawkins’ hair was colored blue, indicating that his hair was to be considered black. With this issue and all subsequent issues, his hair is colored brown.

“The Case of the Interplanetary Imps!” — 8 pages, third story SA #134, 11/61. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “When seven tiny Neptunian acrobats came to share office space with private eye Star Hawkins and his robotsecretary Ilda, it seemed to be a disaster of nerve-wracking proportions! But that was before the miniature troupe from space proved its unique worth against a deadly, human-sized antagonist in — The Case of the Interplanetary Imps!” Synopsis: To split the rent on his office, Star Hawkins has sublet some space to “an old friend of mine, Sam Sjabi, a theatrical booking agent!” This leads to a revenge plot, poor Ilda being frozen solid and Star again landing on someone else’s feet. Commentary: Spacer Thompson, a “zip” Star sent to a “scientific rehabilitation center” at least five years ago, says until the rehab treatments wore off “I couldn’t even think a crooked

“Star Hawkins”

thought!” This, though perhaps lifted from the Doc Savage stories of Lester Dent, is one of the only actual sciencefiction concepts in the series, save for the required use of generic devices such as space ships, ray guns, etc.

Competing for rack space with SA #134 was what would come to be regarded as the flagship title of the soon-to-bechristened “Marvel Comics,” an upstart magazine called The Fantastic Four.

“The Case of the Robot Brother!” — 8 pages, third story SA #137, 2/62. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “Ilda, the latest model robot secretary, and sterling right-hand of private eye Star Hawkins, found herself in the thick of a melee with her celebrated boss — because she had been trailing something new — a thieving automaton — a mechanized bandit who, lining up with a gang of human crooks, had become, she felt, a disgrace to robots everywhere!”

Synopsis: When Ilda decides, unknown to Star Hawkins, to track down a robot, M2324, from the same series as her, her path coincidentally crosses Star’s as he tries to track down a stolen ruby necklace. Trivia: Ilda’s serial number is F2324. Good Girl, Ilda!: Ilda is seen sewing up the sole of one of Hawkins’ shoes. “Gal-Friday,” indeed! Ilda also has a collapsible antenna that extends from her forehead, which she uses to trace the “brain-circuit” of the rebellious robot. Commentary: Star Hawkins is called, by gangster “Meteor” Morgan, “the one man we crooks hate most.” In a shoot-out with the “Meteor” Morgan gang, Star is at a decided disadvantage “because their pistols are firing bullets while mine is a ray-gun! And they can bounce their bullets off [that] wall at me while my ray-shots can’t be ricocheted!” This is contrary to the viewpoint of most science-fiction stories, where ray guns are usually considered superior to primitive ballistic weapons.

“The Case of the Worn-Out Robot!” — 9 pages, third story SA #140, 5/62. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “Assigned to the most important job of his career, Star Hawkins — crack 21st century private eye — might have failed utterly in his mission if not for one thing! Unknown to him, his automatonsecretary Ilda had just been notified

that she was obsolete and ready for the junk heap! How these two separate threads weaved a single skein of intrigue and daring action is thrillingly revealed in… The Case of the Worn-Out Robot!” Synopsis: Star Hawkins, hired by the “Earth government” to track down a kidnapped envoy from the Mercurian galaxy, has no idea that meanwhile poor Ilda has been ordered to report for disposal because her term of service has expired: “…You were made ten years ago! You are now considered worn-out — obsolete!” When Ilda uncovers a lead in the case, she summons Star Hawkins to the scene. Commentary: At 9 pages, this is the single longest “Star Hawkins” story. Despite the fact that this series is usually played for laughs, Ilda’s attitude

While poor Ilda was marching to her doom, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were introducing The Incredible Hulk in the first issue of his short-lived magazine. But Bruce Banner’s savage alter ego would return and become one of Marvel Comics’ most popular characters. © Marvel Characters, Inc.

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION

as she enters Junkyard 18: “>sigh< This is my last look at the sky… the flowers… how beautiful they are! I — I’d probably cry… if I had tear ducts!” is surprisingly poignant. Trivia: If, as stated by Hawkins in “The Case of the Martian Witness,” Ilda “came to me fresh from the super-secretary robot factory…” then Hawkins has been in business as a private detective for at least ten years as of this story. On page 2, panel 2, Hawkins is seen holding a box with the logo “Handy Dandy Detection Kit” — a gag probably added by penciler Sekowsky.

“Case of the Unwanted Robot!” — 8 pages, third story SA #143, 8/62. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “Due to the fact that there were certain rules against robots in the resort hotels of the asteroid belt, Star Hawkins’ ace automaton-secretary Ilda has to stay outside the hostelry where the two had come for a vacation! “But this was the very fact which, as it happened, gave Star his one slim wedge toward breaking the incredible… Case of the Unwanted Robot!” Synopsis: Hired to determine why “mysterious explosions” have occurred in the asteroid belt, Star captures the zips responsible — after being pointed in the right direction by Ilda, who has been recruited as an innocent pawn in the criminals’ scheme. Weird science: Ilda, boning up on

her asteroid lore, reads: “It appears that Xanthu in the drinking water on asteroids is good for the health of humans… Xanthu, of course, is just about the most precious metal in the solar system!”

“The Case of the Robot Counter-Spy!” — 8 pages, third story SA #146, 11/62. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “Unknown to Ilda, robot-secretary par excellence — of private eye Star Hawkins in the 21st century — she had blundered into a veritable nest of spies, agents of the baleful anti-Earth League of Five Planets! But with the aid of her beloved “boss,” the intrepid sheautomaton was able to give a good account of herself in… The Case of the Robot Counter-Spy!” Synopsis: Watching television on her “inno-screen” to pass the time while again in the pawn shop, Ilda intercepts “a transmission of actual military television from the League of Five Planets.” Her course of action again intercepts that of Hawkins’, and both are placed in peril. Commentary: It is not stated which planets constitute the League of Five Planets.

“Case of the Rebellious Space-Crew!” — 8 pages, third story SA #149, 2/63. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “Taken for a ‘relaxing’ week-end

cruise on a rocket-yacht, Star Hawkins — 21st century private eye — and his robot secretary Ilda — find themselves with nothing less than a full-fledged mutiny on their hands in the not-sobriney deeps of the great stellar void!” Synopsis: Star Hawkins loses Ilda to Dirk Danton, “the wealthy rocket-fuel heir,” in a game of Bjerr, described as “the 21st century version of the card game called Poker.” He intends to turn Ilda over to Danton during a weekend cruise on Danton’s “space-yacht,” but the actions of the yacht’s mutinous crew interfere. Good girl, Ilda!: Ilda is equipped with “[a] built-in attachment for decoding and translating any language!” Terminology note: The ray guns the mutineers carry are referred to as “rayvolvers.”

“The Case of the Body-Switching Robot!” — 8 pages, third story SA #152, 5/63. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “Things were pretty hectic on the island where a super-secret scientific project was under way in the 21st century! Summoned to investigate mysterious burglaries on the isle, ace privateeye Star Hawkins and his inimitable assistant Ilda, the robot-secretar y extraordinary, find themselves involved in deadly peril — and unexpected hilarity — in — The Case of the BodySwitching Robot!” Synopsis: Investigating break-ins on a research island, Star Hawkins,

“Star Hawkins”

Stan Lee proved that his new take on super-heroes could also be used to sell war comics with Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1, in collaboration with Jack Kirby. Also this month, the company that would become DC Comics’ greatest competition officially proclaimed itself the “Marvel Comics Group,” and introduced a picture of the lead character(s) in the upper left-hand corner of each cover, an identification gimmick devised by Steve Ditko.

“Unable to solve a case involving an interplanetary network of jewel counterfeiters, Star Hawkins — famed twenty-first century private detective — went rocket-riding to a far-off astral vacation spot! “But, oddly enough, though Star had given up on the counterfeit jewel case, it refused to give him up!” Synopsis: Traveling to “Xophia, ‘pleasure-planet’ of the star Alpha Lyrae,” Star Hawkins again backs into the solution to a case he couldn’t solve on Earth. Good girl, Ilda!: Ilda breaks Star Hawkins out of jail using her “blow-torch attachment.”

“The Case of the Romantic Robot!” — 8 pages, third story SA #158, 11/63. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “Ilda, the automaton-secretary of 21st century private eye Star Hawkins, fancied that her fellow-robot’s actions were due mainly to an over-abundance of robot-type affection! “But Ilda’s dream of romance was cruelly shattered when the ‘wolf in metal clothing’ turned out to be a menace to her and the planet Earth!” Synopsis: “With the outbreak of hostilities against the Trobad Empire,” Star Hawkins is hired by the government to ascertain if any members of a prominent family, caught in the war zone, were brain-washed [sic]. This leads to a

“The Case of the Red Diamond Smugglers!” — 8 pages, third story SA #155, 8/63. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i).

retained by the National Science Center, finds himself up to his neck — and someone else’s neck — in danger.

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION romantic encounter for Ilda and medals of valor for Ilda and Star.

“The Case of the 14 Clueless Crimes!” — 8 pages, third story SA #162, 3/64. JB (w), MS (p), BS (i). “As far as it concerned Ilda, the automaton-secretary of private eye Star Hawkins, there wasn’t a man in the 21st century who could out-think an electronic mind! “And as far as Star himself was concerned, no machine could apprehend criminals like the human mind!

We’ll see who’s right in… The Case of the 14 Clueless Crimes!” Synopsis: Star Hawkins, “invited to lecture in Metro-Town before a distinguished group of law-enforcement officers,” floats the balloon that “modern police methods depend entirely too much upon electronic crime-devices.” Challenged to solve a series of 14 clueless robberies, Star goes undercover as a gem salesman to crack the case, which nearly cracks him. Commentary: This story, along with “The Case of the Robot-Spy,” contain the only actual detection Star will perform throughout the entire series.

Perhaps fittingly, this story is one of the best of the series. Publishing note: This “Star Hawkins” story appeared four months after his most recent exploit, rather than the usual three. This was due to the appearance in SA #159 of “The Star Rovers,” relocated from their old home in Mystery In Space, which had recently come under the editorial aegis of Jack Schiff. By the Numbers: The preceding two stories in this issue are entitled “Mystery of the 12 O’clock Man!” and “The 13Day Wonder!”

“STAR HAWKINS” REDUX FILE ing of those comics. — JBC Detective Comics #444, 12/74-1/75, “The Case of the Martian Witness,” r: SA #114. Detective Comics #445, 2-3/75, “The Case of the Robot Spy,” r: SA #116. A “Star Hawkins” case was featured in

these respective book collections: Mysteries in Space: The Best of DC Science Fiction Comics, 1980, “The Case of the Vanishing Robots,” r: SA #125. Pulp Fiction Library: Mystery In Space, 1998, “The Case of the Counterfeit Credits,” r: SA #119.

Unfortunately, very few “Star Hawkins” stories have been reprinted, though perhaps editor Julius Schwartz intended a more extensive “re-running,” as it was in the last pair of his 100-page Detective Comics where the gumshoe’s exploits appeared, just before the title was reduced to the standard 32-pages. What follows is a cross-referenced list-

Above: Julie Schwartz’s sci-fi comics were promoted alongside his super-hero line, as evidenced in this early ’60s house ad.

ner. tive ow respec ges ©

DC’s main competitor, Marvel Comics, has used the name: In 1990’s Harvey Kurtzman’s Strange Adventures (under the Epic Comics imprint) and in a recent British trade paperback collection, Spider-Man: Strange Adventures.

IT’S NOT THEFT, IT’S A “HOMAGE” According to the Galactic Central Publications website (www.philsp.com), two issues of a same-titled British pulp magazine were published in 1946 and ’47. Both covers are reproduced here. And on occasion even

As seen in this cover of (ahem) Strange Sports Stories #1 by an “independent” comics company from 1992, plagiarism is the sincerest form of imitation.

All ima

It’s curious to note that the phrase “Strange Adventures” hasn’t necessarily been exclusive to the DC sci-fi title over the years. One instance even predates the debut of the American comic book:

The series’ title — but nothing else — may have come from the 1915 novel The Star Rover, a tale of past-life and out-of-the-body adventures of real-life convict Ed Morrell from one of the last authors readers would have expected — Jack London, the high priest of the wilderness, as exemplified in such tales as The Call of the Wild and White Fang. Either Fox, a voluminous reader, or Schwartz, a former sciencefiction agent who loved tipping his hat to those who had gone before, may have known of London’s book.

Amazing Heroes #113 (March 15, 1987) contained an interview in which veteran comics writer Gardner Fox was quizzed by Richard Morrissey, Ken Gale, Mark Gruenwald and Ken Turniansky about his many contributions to comics. Of course some of his most popular series came up, and he described how he worked with editor Julius Schwartz. FOX: But we always plotted the stories very closely — I remember one series we did in the science-fiction books whose name I forget. There were three characters, each of whom would come up with his own solution to a problem, until they discovered the real one… MORRISSEY: “The Star Rovers”? FOX: Yes, that was it. When Jack Schiff came along and took over the book from Julie, he took one look and said, “I’m not going to continue this! I can’t understand it myself!” Rather than being criticized for his narrowness of editorial vision, perhaps Schiff should be credited for knowing his limitations. After all, his efforts to continue such Schwartz’ series as “Adam Strange” and “Star Hawkins” were less than stellar. (Schiff was a talented editor, but his talents did not lay in continuing series begun by an editor whose personality left as strong a stamp as Julius Schwartz’.)

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION There is nothing in “Who Caught the Loborilla?” (Mystery in Space #66) to indicate that it was the first of a series. Perhaps neither Schwartz nor Fox saw it as series material. But certainly, on reconsideration, the basic gimmick is rich with potential which, to the restless, fertile mind of a Schwartz, must have been the equivalent of catnip. No matter how it became a series, Schwartz and Fox took the basic premise and played with it through nine stories, turning, twisting, bending it the same way they played with readers’ minds. In 1961, MIS was published eight times yearly, so it is just possible that The Schwartz had time to receive positive mail on “Who Caught the Loborilla?” to produce the sequel “What Happened on Sirius-4?” for MIS #69, three issues but five months later. After a five-issue delay before the Rovers’ third exploit in MIS #74, the series appeared in every third issue of MIS for the next year-and-a-half, after which it was transplanted to Strange Adventures

for the last two stories of its run, beginning with issue #159. Cover copy for MIS #77 proclaims: “Plus a new ‘Star Rovers’ story!” This is the first time that the series has been mentioned on the cover. All subsequent appearances of the series, both in MIS and in SA would be heralded similarly, with the exception of the cover of MIS #86. With MIS #92 and SA #164, their editorial reins were transferred to Jack Schiff so Schwartz’ stable could lend their talents to the flagging Batman franchise in Batman and Detective Comics. This meant no less work for scripter Gardner Fox, but Sid Greene became primarily an inker, though he would occasionally pencil and ink a story. In the letter column of Alter Ego #7 (Fall, 1964), Greene wrote: “Frankly, I would like to get back to penciling. But I like working for that taskmaster Schwartz!” Indeed he did; it became Greene’s trademark to include a caricature of Schwartz in every story

This spread: The artistry of Sid Greene is evident in these “Star Rovers” panel details from Strange Adventures.

“THE STAR ROVERS” IN MYSTERY IN SPACE & SA • “THE STAR ROVERS” SERIES Mystery in Space #66, 3/61: “Who Caught the Loborilla?” Mystery in Space #69, 8/61: “What Happened on Sirius-4? Mystery in Space #74, 3/62: “Where is the Paradise of Space?” Mystery in Space #77 8/62: “Where Was

I Born — Venus? Mars? Jupiter?” Mystery in Space #80, 12/62: “Who Saved the Earth?” Mystery in Space #83, 5/63:

“Who Went Where — and Why?” Mystery in Space #86, 9/63: “When Did Earth Vanish?” Strange Adventures #159, 12/63: “Will the Star Rovers Abandon Earth?” Strange Adventures #163, 4/64: “How Can Time Be Stopped?”

All images © DC Comics

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he drew for his favorite “taskmaster.” As Schwartz wrote in MIS #72’s “Via Rocket Mail” lettercol: “[Sidney Greene] is one of our favorite artists — maybe because he always manages to draw a likeness of ye editor in every one of his stories.” These cameos will be disclosed in the section after each story synopsis entitled “Where’s Julie?” Reviving “The Star Rovers” has been occasionally proposed, but never made it past editors whose remarks about the series were not much more complimentary than Schiff’s. And a series in which the protagonists spend most of their time sitting around thinking does seem almost quaint in today’s comics market of double-page explosions; chromium,

die-cut, variant cover editions and characters created for the purpose of being killed. Perhaps it’s all for the good. “The Star Rovers” series exists as nine wonderfully-crafted, beautifullydrawn stories whose roots, purpose and pleasures lay in a different age. Rereading them is like rereading a letter from a lost love; you know you can’t go back, but it was wonderful to have been there and then. — MWB

All images © DC Comics

This page: More Sid Greene panel details from the “Star Rovers” series.

“The Star Rovers”

The Stories “Who Caught the Loborilla?” — 8 pages, third story MIS #66, 3/61. GF (w), SG (p, i). “The space-zoo of 22nd century Earth had put up a $10,000 prize for the hunter who succeeded in capturing a strange animal of the star-worlds known as the loborilla! Three hunters went out after it! Each one claimed to have captured it! The only one who could settle the argument was — the loborilla itself!” First appearance: Karel Sorensen, “former Miss Solar System;” Rick Purvis, “playboy;” Homer Glint, “novelist and sportsman.” Synopsis: In the year 2160, Karel Sorensen, returns to Earth from the planet Zaddara, to tell a waiting throng and a reporter how she has captured the alien creature the Loborilla (“Socalled because it has the features of both a lobster and a gorilla!”), only to be interrupted by Rick Purvis and Homer Glint, each of whom claims he has caught the creature! The resulting tale sets the pattern for the entire “Star Rovers” series, with the three friendly enemies each trying to outdo one another, only to find that a fourth solution to the problem is the true one. Commentary: Though they all seem to know each other, it is not stated if this is the first meeting between the three protagonists. The term “Star Rovers” is used nowhere in the story. Where’s Julie?: Artist Sid Greene’s homage to editor Julius Schwartz can be

found on page 2, panel 5, a spectator to the landings of the Star Rovers’ starships.

“What Happened on Sirius-4?” — 8 pages, third story MIS #69, 8/61. GF (w), SG (p, i). “Once again those three rovers of the starways — playboy Rick Purvis — glamorous Karel Sorensen — and novelist Homer Glint — combine to produce a comedy of errors on another world! Hot on the trail of a mysterious call for help from interstellar space, they vie with each other to solve the riddle of — What Happened On Sirius-4?” Synopsis: When an emergency summons from the planet Kalmoral (“fourth planet of [the star] Sirius”), is received by Earth, our three protagonists are first on the scene. They are not surprised to find the planet devastated, since the message was sent “9 years ago,” but they are surprised by the circumstances they do find. Rick theorizes an alien invasion, Karel a mass exodus, and Homer a deliberate hibernation. As in the first story, each one has uncovered only part of a larger truth that they cannot share. Commentary: The term “Star Rovers” is used nowhere in the story, though the introductory copy comes close. Real science: The first panel of the story references an actual radio telescope, the 85-foot parabolic radio telescope called “Project Ozma,” erected in 1960. The Schwartz loved to spin sto-

ries off of existing science when possible, probably feeling it gave the stories authenticity. Weird science: A reporter interviewing a scientist remarks: “I’ve got the story down on my nuclear jot-pad,” a kind of forerunner of the laptop computer. The Star Rovers are able to travel interstellar space due to “dimensicraft,” which travel along “magni-warp waves,” enabling them “to travel 9 light years in a week.” Where’s Julie?: Editor Schwartz is moonlighting as an interstellar astronomer on page 2, panels 3 and 4.

“Where is the Paradise of Space?” — 11 pages, second story MIS #74, 3/62. GF (w), SG (p, i). “Known throughout the galaxy worlds for their great feats of exploration — the three Star Rovers meet once again on a mysterious island of space which fulfills their wildest dreams! What is the secret of this island with its strange allure? Can Rick Pur vis, playboy — Karel Sorensen, glamor girl adventuress — and novelistsportsman Homer Glint — solve the mystery? And if they do so — will they be right — or wrong?” Synopsis: When Karel and Rick each receive a “spacegram” from Homer, they are drawn to the puzzle of a floating island in space that presents each of them with a unique problem. It falls to Karel to think of a solution to prevent them from being stranded in

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION

“Where Was I Born — Venus? Mars? Jupiter?” — 10 pages, second story MIS #77, 8/62. GF (w), SG (p, i). “Which of our old friends — Rick Purvis, Karel Sorensen or Homer Glint — is right? We know, of course, that the Star Rovers come from Mother Earth! Why then does each insist that the plan-

et of his birth is some other planet of the solar system? And what part does the fabled Sword of Starhedron play in their strange predicament?” Synopsis: The Rovers find the legendary Sword of Starhedron, the fabled weapon of the ancient star warrior, Takkan Dor (“made of the rare element X7”), only to find that, when they seek to return it to their home world, that each of them believes they were born on a different planet. Format notes: The story is properly subtitled: “A Star Rovers Story…” with an accompanying banner showing head shots of the protagonists. All future “SR” stories will carry a similar logo and banner, though they all appear to be drawn anew by Sid Greene; none are photostats from previous issues. The Rovers are now publically regarded as adventurers, and are known as “The Star Rovers.” Trivia: Rick Purvis will have nothing to do with green-eyed girls: “Ever since a cute girl with green eyes jilted me years ago, I’ve never dated any others!” Karel Sorensen not only has a sister named “Betti,” but her birth name is revealed to be “Mary Smith.” “Karel Sorensen is only a name I took when I became a beauty queen!” Homer Glint is married; the Glints have at least two children. Artist Sid Greene’s signature is found on the lower right corner of the splash page, the first time he has signed a story. Where’s Julie?: Julie has his largest guest role thus far, as an official

of Cloud City, Venus, on pages 4 and 5. What Happened To It?: In the lettercol to MIS #80, Editor Schwartz announced that the original art to “Where Was I Born — Venus? Mars? Jupiter?” was awarded to Bill Herbert of Elyria, Ohio. This is the first “Star Rovers” story to have been thus awarded.

As the Star Rovers tried to figure out where they were born, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko introduced “Spider-Man,” in the pages of Amazing Fantasy #15. Despite publisher Martin Goodman’s feeling that: “People hate spiders,” Peter Parker’s costumed self would come to personify Marvel Comics.

“Who Saved the Earth?” — 10 pages, second story MIS #80, 12/62. GF (w), SG (p, i). “All space knows them as the Star Rovers — those friendly rivals whose daring deeds and fantastic feats have set them against one another time and time again! This time they work alone — yet each unwittingly cooperates with one another to save the Earth from an

paradise. Commentary: The story is subtitled “A Star Rover [sic] Story…” with a banner containing head shots of the heroes. The three additional pages are fully used by Fox and Greene to make this the best story in the series thus far. Karel Sorensen is revealed to be a crack target shot. Where’s Julie?: This issue Julie is in the background of panel 2, page 2, accompanied by a lovely woman who may be Greene’s rendition of Schwartz’s wife Jean. Great moments: When the three Rovers each agree that the space-island is “a paradise,” they are brought up short: “Hey, wait up!” says Homer, “We’ve never agreed on anything before!” Since this is only their third recorded adventure, they may have shared earlier exploits. Publishing note: With MIS #71 (11/61), the “Adam Strange” series expanded to become “double-length” in each issue (save for those rare occasions when the feature went booklength), so each issue of MIS carried only two stories.

“The Star Rovers”

awesome doom!” Synopsis: Each of the Rovers, on a planet far distant from Earth, receives a “spacegram” telling him that he has saved the Earth and is to be awarded the “Space-Hero Medal.” Each calls his fellows — perhaps to gloat a little — and finds that none of them has any idea what he or she has done to save the Earth! Where’s Julie?: Editor Schwartz seems to have been demoted to an alien bellhop who delivers Rick his “spacegram” on page 2, panel 1. Additionally, his initials are found on a “solar sailboat” later in the story. Artist Sid Greene’s “signature” is also found in the initials of another “solar sailboat” in the same panel — one considerably larger than those bearing the initials of his editor! Who Got It?: In the lettercol to MIS #83, Editor Schwartz announced that the original art to “Who Saved the Earth?” was awarded to Brett Newman of The Bronx, New York.

“Who Went Where — and Why?” — 11 pages, second story MIS #83, 5/63. GF (w), SG (p, i). “For untold ages the thinking machine lay amid the ruins of an ancient planet — waiting and hoping for a chance to go into action! When at last its opportunity came, the lives of millions of unsuspecting Earthmen were at stake! Only the Star Rovers knew of the threat — but before they could find and destroy the machine, they had to solve

the riddle of… Who Went Where — and Why?” Synopsis: When they return to Earth the Star Rovers confront exact duplicates of themselves, only to find themselves instantly teleported to hostile, unknown alien worlds the instant they set foot on their home planet. Where’s Julie?: Editor Schwartz can be seen on page 2, panel 3, in “the Aerial Gardens,” a floating restaurant “above the heart of New York City,” enjoying a beverage and the company of a dark-haired woman. Nomenclatural note: The term “thinking machine” may have been taken by Schwartz or Fox from the nickname given to author Jacques Futrelle’s fictional sleuth, Prof. Augustus S.F.X. Van Dusen, “Ph.D, LL.D, F.R.S., M.D., etc.” who first appeared in the 1906 novel The Chase of the Golden Plate, and later in short story collections such as The Thinking Machine and The Thinking Machine On the Case. Futrelle, quite popular in the years before World War I, perished in the sinking of the Titanic.

“When Did Earth Vanish?” — 10 pages, second story MIS #86, 9/63. GF (w), SG (p, i). “War had been declared between the planet Ankol and Earth! To answer that call to duty, the Star Rovers rush

home from their far-flung adventures along the spaceways — only to see Earth disappear before their very eyes! Each one thinks he or she has caused the cataclysm! The only way they will know for sure is to determine… When Did Earth Vanish?” Synopsis: When they determine why and how the Earth has vanished, the Rovers encounter and vanquish the responsible party, finding their home planet in the bargain. Where’s Julie?: Julie is a greenskinned alien seen on page 7, panel 1, watching Rick Purvis receive an award. Who Got It?: In the lettercol to MIS #89, Editor Schwartz announced that the original art to “When Did Earth Vanish?” was awarded to Gerald Kreiemkamp of St. Louis, Missouri. Publishing note: This issue’s “Via Rocket Mail” letter column carries the “Bombshell Announcement” that “[S]tarting with the next issue — and appearing regularly thereafter — will be a new series of stories starring Hawkman, the Winged Wonder!” This was confirmed by a farewell announcement in SA #158 (11/63), in which Schwartz wrote: “…[N]ext issue… we announce a ‘new’ series to these pages — the Star Rovers! Up to now, the Star Rovers stories have been running in Myster y In Space — but since Hawkman has crowded the series out of that magazine, we’ve decided to keep it going in Strange Adventures.” With no more room for roving in MIS, the Rovers shifted to Strange Adventures without missing their quarterly appointment.

As the prior double-page spread will attest, artist Sid Greene’s caricatures of editor Julius Schwartz were all over the sci-fi comics titles. And while on occasion these comic-book Julies would have a “speaking role,” they were rarely main characters in the respective stories. One notable exception was Strange Adventures #113’s “Menace of the Shrinking Bomb,” which featured (ahem) “editor Julian Sloane”! See the “Author! Author!” section for more information. © DC Comics

Who Got It?: The lettercol for MIS #89 announced that Gerald Kreiemkamp of St. Louis, MO won the art for this story.

“Will the Star Rovers Abandon Earth?” — 11 pages, third story SA #159, 12/63. GF (w), SG (p, i). “On the far-flung planets that circle silently about the stars of space, lurk strange and terrible dangers. When each of the Star Rovers encounters such a menace — it dooms them never to set foot on Earth again!” Synopsis: In separate adventures, each of the Star Rovers has been stricken with a medical condition that will kill him if he returns to the planet Earth. Publishing note: “The Star Rovers” shift to SA caused a one-month delay in the appearance of the next exploit of

“In answer to an avalanche of requests,” Stan Lee and Steve Ditko presented the origin of Doctor Strange in Strange Tales #115.

“The Atomic Knights,” which had appeared regularly every three months. Where’s Julie?: In this story Julie is a doctor who, on page 8, panel 5, gives Karel Sorensen medical advice. (His mother would be so proud!)

“How Can Time Be Stopped?” — 13 pages, third story SA #163, 4/64. GF (w), SG (p, i). “Armed with a double-edged timeweapon, a race of lizard creatures was all set to pull a sneak attack on Earth! Already, that weapon had turned Homer Glint into an old man — and Karel Sorensen into a young girl! “Rick Purvis could destroy either the aging machine or the rejuvenation machine — but not both! If he guessed wrong — he would not only fail to save the lives of his fellow Star Rovers — but the lives of every human being on Earth as well!” Synopsis: Karel Sorensen and Homer Glint are captured by hostile aliens from the planet Akkradd and subjected to separate weapons, which makes one younger and one older. Rick Purvis must decide which weapon is the one that will prove effective against Earth, and determine how to save his friends’ lives. Commentary: This last adventure of the Star Rovers is the longest and arguably the best, slightly varying the formula.

While Julie and Gardner bid the readers of Strange Adventures a fond farewell, Marvel Comics welcomed the last great character of its first age, Daredevil, by Stan Lee and Bill Everett.

Some panels of this story show a pronounced Carmine Infantino influence. Did he lend artist Greene a hand in laying out or penciling the story? Where’s Julie?: Since the Rovers are the only human beings in the story, Editor Schwartz’s cameo is in the form of an entire race! — the “lizard-like creatures” of the planet Akkradd, whose plan the Rovers foil. Trivia: Homer Glint is about 50 years old. (“I’ve been here five days and I’m almost 100 years old. I’m aging ten years a day!”) Publishing note: MIS #91 (May, 1964) carried no series back-up, giving “The Star Rovers” the honor of being the last Schwartz-edited, Fox-written sci-fi back-up series to be published.

“THE STAR ROVERS” REDUX FILE Along with the Strange Adventures reprinting of “Adam Strange” and “The Atomic Knights” in the late ’60s and early ’70s, editor Julie Schwartz also re-presented the entire “The Star Rovers” series in issues of SA and From Beyond the Unknown. Here’s a listing of those appearances. Strange Adventures #232, 9-10/71, “Who Caught the Loborilla?” r: MIS #66 Strange Adventures #233, 11-12/71, “What Happened on Sirius-4?” r: MIS #69 Strange Adventures #234, 1-2/72, “Where Is the Paradise of Space?”

r: MIS #74 Strange Adventures #236, 5-6/72, “Where Was I Born — Venus? Mars? Jupiter?” r: MIS #77 From Beyond the Unknown #18, 8-9/72, “Who Saved the Earth?” r: MIS #80 From Beyond the Unknown #19, 10-11/72, “Who Went Where — and Why?” r: MIS #83 From Beyond the Unknown #20, 12/72-1/73, “When Did Earth Vanish?” r: MIS #86 From Beyond the Unknown #21, 2-3/73, “Will the Star Rovers Abandon Earth?” r: SA #159 From Beyond the Unknown #22, 4-5/73, “How Can Time Be Stopped?”

r: SA #163 The argumentative trio also had an exploit reprinted in the following. DC Super-Stars #8, 10/76, “Who Saved the Earth?” r: MIS #80 A Star Rovers adventure was featured in these respective book collections: Mysteries in Space: The Best of DC Science Fiction Comics, 1980, “Where Is the Paradise of Space?” r: MIS #74. Pulp Fiction Library: Mystery In Space, 1998, “What Happened on Sirius-4?” r: MIS #69. — JBC

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION

By almost any standard, Darwin Jones is the least remarkable of the series characters to debut in Strange Adventures. His stories took place on modernday Earth, he had no special equipment or outfit, and the only “power” he possessed was that of his fine analytical mind, which he used in his position as Director of the Department of Scientific Investigation. Still, something about “Darwin Jones” clicked. Maybe it was the fact that his series told SA’s readers, few of whom were probably football heroes, that it was possible for brains and quick thinking, not a strong back, to carry the day. His stories often involved him thwarting the schemes of evil aliens, sometimes not quite sure what effect his actions would have,

knowing only that his actions, dictated by science and logic, were the only course open to him. More than one story ended with Jones realizing he had been right because something — an alien invasion, a peril threatening Earth — had not occurred. “Darwin Jones” is also of interest in that he and Strange Adventures go ‘way back. Jones was the magazine’s first series character, debuting in SA #1 (89/50), right next to an adaptation of the film Destination Moon, in a story that has been attributed to David V. Reed and Paul Norris, and he was around 14 years later, in #160, to make his final bow. Only Julie Schwartz and Gardner Fox had a longer association with the magazine. Editor Schwartz obviously had fond feelings for the scientific sleuth. In the lettercol for SA #149 (2/63), he wrote: “…We’d like to get your reaction to ‘Darwin Jones,’ who makes a long-overdue reappearance in ‘Would-Be King of Earth’ in this issue. Actually, ‘Darwin Jones’ was Strange Adventures’ first series character, and though he’s been absent for some time, we’ll be glad to bring him back on a more regular basis should enough of you readers encourage us to do so.” Some readers thought bringing back ‘Jones’ was a great idea; others, perhaps used to glitzier protagonists, not so much. Jones made only one more appearance, in SA #160, three issues before the end of the Schwartz era. But, like seeing an old firehorse responding to one last alarm, it was good to see our old friend in action one last time.

-- MWB

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION tions (“an error of one ten-millionth of an inch”) causes the beam to be aimed at the planet Earth. The aliens send the knowledge necessary to correct their error to one Earthman, as well as the gift of immortality, “to make sure he remains alive to do this.” But when the petty gangster who receives this gift intends to rule the Earth, it falls to Darwin Jones to show him the error of his ways. Auctorial note: Any dispute that Gardner Fox wrote this tale is dispelled by the name given the alien gizmo — the superbly-named transikronicon.

“The Would-Be King of Earth!” — 9 pages, second story SA #149, 2/63. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “To one man of all Earth’s teeming billions was given the fantastic power of saving the people of his planet from a certain doom! But Harry Walters saw an opportunity to use his strange gift — for his own selfish gain!” Synopsis: When benevolent but error-prone “flame beings” from the far end of the galaxy send out a beam of radiant energy to dull the intellects of a planet of warlike aliens, their calcula-

“Captives of the Eclipse!” — 10 pages, second (last) story SA #160, 1/64. FH (w), SG (p, i); Cover: MA (p, i) “As if from out of nowhere, it came — the sinister satellite that blotted out the sun, afflicting people with an eerie coronal glow! “It was to Darwin Jones — of the Department of Scientific Investigation — that the doomed people turned for help! Yet, it was also Darwin Jones they tried to stop when he found the solution to save them!” Synopsis: A brilliant scientist finds a way to cure physical ills by causing an eclipse that casts a glow around those who witness it. Yet when it is found that the glow’s effects will ultimately prove

fatal, Darwin Jones must find a way to thwart the will of a mob and save them all — including himself. Where’s Julie?: Editor Schwartz appears on page 5, panel 7 of this story, as a patient whose aching back is cured by the eerie coronal glow. Historical note: This issue of Strange Adventures carries the last story of the title’s first series, “Darwin Jones,” and the last story of the title’s most recent series, “The Atomic Knights.” There’s a certain symmetry there.

“DARWIN JONES” IN STRANGE ADVENTURES #100-163 Strange Adventures #160, 1/64: “Captives of the Eclipse!” [this story was reprinted in From Beyond the Unknown #16, 5-6/72]

All images © DC Comics

• DARWIN JONES SERIES (SA #s 100-163): Strange Adventures #149, 2/63: “The Would-Be King of Earth!”

Above: Sid Greene-drawn panel from the “Darwin Jones” entry in Strange Adventures #160.

Mini-Series More intriguing, in some ways, than the long, ongoseries was created when The Schwartz realized a cover ing series created for Strange Adventures are the minihe had bought bore significant similarities to an earlier series which sprang into being during the title’s run. commission. For example, both of the “Butterfly The de facto intent of an ongoing series is, of course, Giants” covers, from SA #s 119 and 157, depict giants to sell stories about characters which reoccur capturing humans in nets on a regular basis. But the or by spinning cocoons. mini-series seem to have had no The second story may such motivation behind them. For have been declared a example, the sequel to keep readers sequel to from complaining that the “Raiders from the covers were repetitive, or Giant World!” from because Julie, Fox or SA #119, did not artist Murphy Anderson appear until SA noticed a similarity. #157, over three Or maybe Julie and years later. Gardner were just Perhaps the answer is trying to keep themthat Schwartz and Fox selves interested. No designated a story a sequel matter the reason, when a story springboard the Schwartz/Fox contained thematic material with mini-series somesufficient resonance to merit times allowed them such a designation. Both of to break the usual the Jim and Rhoda format and get a little Trent stories, gathmore creative. And ered in the “Ragin’ when The Schwartz Reptiles” section, and The Fox got dealt with hostile creative, look out! Panel detail from Strange Adventures #119. Art by green life-forms. — MWB Murphy Anderson. © DC Comics Or perhaps a

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Author! Author! THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION

Previously Anthony Boucher’s novel Rocket To the Morgue was cited for its use of Julius Schwartz as inspiration for one of its characters. Later in that book, Boucher writes: “Another man’s shop talk, if the man is intelligent, is the most interesting listening to be found.” Though by now much of the writer’s life and the creative process of editing a magazine has become transparent, devoid of all intrigue, such was not the case to comics readers of the early 1960s. To them, the method by which an idea became a published story seemed an arcane process, more mystic ritual than a means of quotidian employment. It’s uncertain if the stories in this mini-series did anything to clarify the process, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. People like nothing better than to talk about their jobs, love them or hate them, and for Julius Schwartz and Gardner Fox, chained to desks for every day of their working lives, to craft stories which combined their jobs with world-saving plots must have been sublime fun. One can envision Schwartz rewarding Fox for a job well done by commissioning another “writer” story, or Fox crafting a springboard starring a clever science-fiction writer — and his resourceful editor, © DC Comics of course — that

was too tantalizing for The Schwartz to resist. Julius Schwartz began his career as a science-fiction agent, and was thus quite familiar with the editorial end of the creative process, introducing Gardner Fox to the world of prose, eventually culminating in Fox selling sci-fi novelets to such pulps of the 1940s and 1950s as Planet Stories, as well as writing at least dozens of novels, many of them sciencefiction. This mini-series is unique to this book in that it was a designated a series not by The Schwartz, but by the author, due to its reoccurring theme. So let’s eavesdrop on some shoptalk by two of the men who, as seen in the last story in this series, also walked the walk. ective

owner.

— MWB

This page: Panel details from Strange Adventures #140. Art by Sid Greene.

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The Stories “Peril of the Planet-Eater!” — 8 pages, third story. SA #107, 8/59. GF (s), SG (p & i). “Listen, Earthmen! This creature out of the depths of space is a Goryfon! Its food is the molten hearts of planets! Its next prey is — your Earth! No weapon known to us can harm the Goryfon, yet one of your people must

find a way to destroy it — or you shall lose your planet… and your lives!” Protagonist: Science-fiction writer Mark Younger. Synopsis: Spacemen from “…the distant world of Shaladar… [who] had been trailing the planet-eater across the galaxy, trying to find a way to destroy it…” inform the population of the small town of Greenville that “our instruments indicate the presence in this area of a person with the necessary zeta-trianon type brain to operate this helmet! The helmet powers a weapon we’ve devised which theoretically can destroy the Goryfon!” The only Earthman who can activate it is writer Mark Younger, who has been “…holed up at the old Chadwick place, working on a sciencefiction novel…” But can even the imagination of a science-fiction writer defeat a real-life threat to his planet? Notes: The Goryfon’s method of destroying planets — essentially shelling them and feeding upon their molten cores — is basically the same plan used by classic Marvel villain Galactus in Fantastic Four #48-50 (35/66) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Obviously each team, working independently, seized upon the most logical way to destroy a planet and ran — or flew — with it. © Marvel Characters, Inc.

A Note on Nomenclatur e: In this same month, Adam Strange began his series run in Myster y In Space. But Adam’s method of interstellar travel, the zetabeam, bears no relation to the zeta-trianon type

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brain of this story. Where’s Julie?: Oddly, no caricature of editor Schwartz is to be found in this story; perhaps artist Greene had not yet begun his whimsical plan of including Julie in the visuals of any story he drew for him.

“Menace of the Shrinking Bomb!” — 8 pages, second story SA #113, 2/60. GF (w), SG (p & i). “The science-fiction editor asked his writer to dream up a new menace-toEarth story! That’s exactly what Greg Farmer did — and then discovered to his astonishment that his dream was coming true!” Protagonists: Science-fiction writer Greg Farmer and editor Julian Sloan. Synopsis: Challenged by editor Julian Sloan “[i]n the plush offices of Union Publications” to come up with “a totally different kind of Earth menace,” author Gregory Farmer “in some mysterious way… mentally attuned to a wavelength of the sub-atomic creatures he speaks of” comes up with a menace that is soon reflected in real life. Commentary: Writer Fox would later, in Flash #123 (9/61), “Flash of Two Worlds!” cite becoming “mentally attuned” to Earth-Two as the springboard for writing the Flash’s adventures (he did claim that ideas for stories came to him in his dreams). This story may be considered a kind of “test run” of that concept. A Note On Nomenclature: Julie and Gardner are having fun with this

one. “Union Publications” is obviously a stand-in for “National Comics Publications” (though it is unclear if “Union” is a comic book publisher or a prose magazine publisher). And not only does writer Greg Farmer bear the same initials as author Gardner Fox, a “farmer” is nothing but a large-scale “gardener”. Where’s Julie?: Editor Schwartz is, of course, the model for editor “Julian Sloan,” though writer Greg Farmer seems to bear not much physical resemblance to writer Fox.

“Secret of the Cosmic Bullet!” — 8 pages, second story. SA #119, 8/60. GF (w), SG (p & i). “Some authors are for tunate enough to see the fictional characters they have created come ‘alive’ in the movies or television! But science-fiction writer Lucius Trent was the only one to see his imaginary characters spring to life before his very eyes — and then share an adventure with them stranger than any he had written!” Protagonist: Writer Lucius Trent. Synopsis: Nobel prize-winning novelist Lucius Trent, recalling his early days as a science-fiction writer (“ >sigh< What world-saving plots I used to think up!”) is astonished when “…his fictional creations seemingly come to life right before his eyes!” Humanoid aliens from the planet Duarda of the star-sun Rigel, bored from centuries of perfect lives with no goals and no obstacles to surmount, have imitated Trent’s

science-fiction stories and his heroes of the Space Legion, The Golden Gladiator and The Star Amazon, to give their lives some spice. But when a true menace imperils Duarda, Trent is pressed into service to conceive a solution. But Trent refuses to disclose his solution to his new friends! Commentary: This is auctorial wish-fulfillment at its finest. Not only does an author inspire an entire civilization, he gets to participate in a thrilling adventure, see his creations come to life, and hear from them the words every writer knows is true. (“We know all your stories by heart! We’ve always looked up to you as a genius!”) The same idea — a series inspiring (or intersecting with) another reality in which it is considered fiction — was also used in the short story “Visit to a Weird Planet Revisited” by Ruth Berman in Star Trek: The New Voyages (edited by Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath), Bantam Books, 1976 and in the 1999 film Galaxy Quest (screenplay by David Howard and Robert Gordon). The names of The Golden Gladiator and The Star Amazon may have been derived from The Golden Amazon, a science-fiction series created by John Russell Fearn. Note that the structure of this story varies from “Menace of the Shrinking Bomb,” in that in “Bomb,” author Greg Farmer tunes in on an existing alien civilization, while in this story, Lucius Trent’s stories inspire the existence of an entire civilization. A variation on the solution to Lucius Trent’s problem will be used next month in “Beast With the Sizzling Blue Eyes!” in MIS #62, 9/60, also written and edited by Fox and Schwartz. (See “Adam Strange” series.) Where’s Julie?: Editor Schwartz makes his cameo early, on page two, panel one, as the awarder of the Nobel prize to Trent.

“The Jigsaw Weapon World!” — 8 pages, second story. SA #135, 12/61. GF (w), SG (p & i). “From several planets in deep space — from Earth — from Polaris-47, from Ys of Deneb and from Karistoran of Arcturus — a section of each world is borrowed — to form a planetar y weapon — to be used against a mighty

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race of conquerors! “One by one the jigsaw weapon world is overcome — until only the segment of Earth remains!” Protagonist: Science-fiction writer Edgar Ray Merritt, “… the greatest science-fiction writer in the galaxy!” Synopsis: The diminutive Crucians, from the star system Alpha Crucis, in an attempt to defeat the Klendars, “a race of star-conquerors against whose single weapon — nothing can stand” create a “jigsaw weapon world,” patched together from existing planets. It is hoped that the Klendars’ space-ship which “…is fitted with an electronic brain which creates weapons almost instantly” will meet its match in the varying alien landscapes facing it. When Merritt rightly asks: “How will my farm serve as a natural weapon?” he is told: “…Your imaginative, creative brain will be our weapon, should all else fail!” And, of course, it does. It falls to writer Merritt to defeat the Klendars and save the galaxy. Commentary: You can practically smell old pulp magazines while reading this story. It’s in the perfect Golden Age of SF tradition, a complex, imaginative story with almost no characterization, and the grisliest fate ever to befall a cadre of alien invaders. This last would seem odd for a Schwartz book, but sadism was never the style for Schwartz or Fox. The fate of the aliens is described in coolly clinical detail and, given the premise of the story, is the only outcome possible. Where’s Julie?: Editor Schwartz is

seen witnessing the conquering aliens on page 5, panel 3. A Note On Nomenclature: Though the pseudonym “Edgar Ray Merritt,” itself jigsawed together from the names of science-fiction greats Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury and A.A. Merritt (the last two former clients of Schwartz), was used by John Broome for his scripts on the “Captain Comet” series, everything about this story — including the meager characterization — screams Gardner Fox. Perhaps using the Merritt nom de plume for its protagonist was Fox’s way of paying Broome back for naming Gardner Grayle after him.

“The Strange Adventure That Really Happened!” — 8 pages, second story. SA #140, 5/62. GF (w), SG (p & i). “My name is Gardner Fox. I’m a writer for National Periodical Publications, publishers of Strange Adventures. Recently I wrote a story about an invasion of Earth from outer space. In my story I figured out a way to defeat the aliens, but then — when my story came to life and the alien invaders appeared — I couldn’t remember how I defeated them!” Protagonists: Writer Gardner Fox and Editor Julius Schwartz. Synopsis: Editor Schwartz is dismayed to find that the new science-fiction script presented to him by writer Fox is nothing but a sheaf of blank pages, as is Fox’s carbon copy of the script. Nor can Fox remember anything about the story. (“Uh huh!” comments The Schwartz. “Must’ve been a real exciting story, all right!”) When an alien spaceship from the planet Arleon of the star-sun Spica demands Earth’s surren-

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der, Fox realizes these events exactly parallel those he wrote. Reusing a plot point from “Menace of the Shrinking Bomb,” Schwartz realizes that Fox has somehow “mentally tuned in on these invaders, learned what they were up to — but since you were writing a story, you thought you’d had a creative inspiration!” (Flash #123 (9/61), “The [sic] Flash of Two Worlds!” is cited as an example of Fox’s ability to psychically eavesdrop.) But since Fox can recall no further details about the story, he can’t remember how the aliens were defeated — until he comes up with a unique device to jolt his memory. Commentary: This was the last scifi writer-protagonist story to appear in the Schwartz run of SA, and the absolute last word on the subject. This story gives the faithful reader of SA a glimpse into the working of National Comics — including cameos by artist Greene (“Why did I ever become a sci-

ence-fiction artist?”), Fox’s wife, Lynda, and Ed Eisenberg, from National’s production department — without crossing the line and becoming coyly self-referential, in the manner of Marvel’s “Assistant Editor’s Month” of January, 1984, and every other story in which a comic’s creative team has written itself into the tale. The delight of seeing our favorite editor-writer team defeating an “actual” invading alien race more than makes up for the rather contrived plot. Additionally, a Pentagon official is introduced as “General Frederick Herron,” his Christian name probably an amalgam of the proper names of France Edward Herron, another of Schwartz’ hard-working writers. Narrative note: Author Fox narrates this story in the first person, past tense. Where’s Julie?: Where isn’t he? Accept no caricatures, the genuine article is present on almost every page of this story.

While Julie and Gardner saved the world, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were introducing one of Timely Comics’ most popular Golden Age characters, Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, to the modernday Marvel universe in the pages of Fantastic Four #4. First two rows may get wet. © Marvel Characters, Inc.

“AUTHOR! AUTHOR!” SERIES IN STRANGE ADVENTURES • AUTHOR! AUTHOR! SERIES (SA #100-163): Strange Adventures #107, 8/59: “Peril of the Planet-Eater!” Strange Adventures #113, 2/60: “Menace of the Shrinking Bomb!” Strange Adventures #119, 8/60: “Secret of the Cosmic Bullet!”

Strange Adventures #135, 12/61: “The Jigsaw Weapon World!” Strange Adventures #140, 5/62: “The Strange Adventure That Really Happened!” [NOTE: As best as can be ascertained, not one story in the “Author! Author!” series has been reprinted.]

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All images © DC Comics

I was fortunate to obtain, from columnist Craig A. Shutt (“Mr. Silver Age”), a copy of the script to one of my favorite stories covered in this volume, “The Strange Adventure That Really Happened!” (Strange Adventures #140, 5/62). (Craig does not remember where he got it, but it shows evidence of frequent recopying and of the original having been, at one time, placed in a three-ring binder.) A synopsis of this story with commentary can be found in the “Author! Author!” section of this book, beginning on page 102; we’ll confine ourselves here to a brief analysis of the splash page. Unfortunately, one thing an analysis of the script can’t tell us is who came up with the delightful idea of Editor Schwartz and Writer Fox disrupting an alien inva-

sion. Reader commentary on the story —- unanimously favorable — appeared in the lettercol of SA #145 (9/62), but none of The Schwartz’ replies dealt with the genesis of the tale, though he did, with a straight face, refer to it as “…[a] …realistic story.” (Oh, to live in a world where that was true!) Even a cursory examination of the script shows some heavy editing on the part of The Schwartz. Though this is often taken as a sign that a script was substandard and needed revision, as I commented in an analysis of the Fox script to Justice League of America #16, 12/62 (“The Cavern of Deadly Spheres!”) published in 2005’s Justice League Companion, “[T]he fact that the script… was heavily edited carries little weight. Any writer can point to changes that do not necessarily enhance the story, but were made solely because

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“The Strange Adventure That Really Happened!” they reflect the editor’s favored phrasing or personal preferences... As is written in the Tao Te Ching, ‘A great tailor cuts little.’”

The reference Fox indicates to be used for his likeness, to be taken from “...ATOM book...,” is not an issue of that magazine — The Atom’s first issue, dated 6-7/62, would not be published for another month or so — but refers to the Tiny Titan’s second “tryout” issue in Showcase #35 (1112/61). Its text pages carried illustrations of creators Fox, Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson by Kane; the Fox illo appears on page 20 of this book. (Sid Greene’s version of Fox differs a little from Kane’s; Kane may have worked from a photo, while Greene may have drawn Fox “from life,”

PAGE ONE: Fox’s original title title to the story seems to have been “Riddle of the [Indecipherable] Story.” Given the mutual affection of Fox and Schwartz for alliteration, the lost word in the title may have begun with either “R” or “S.” It is clear only that, whatever they agreed the original title would be, Schwartz preferred his own title and changed it in the editing process. The phrase “the Golden Skyscraper” is used in both caption and later scene description to refer to Manhattan’s 575 Lexington Avenue, in those days the location of the DC offices. I tried to ascertain if the building was locally referred to by that name, but had no success.

having seen him in the office.) Virtually every page of this script yields “behind the scenes” secrets on how Schwartz and Fox produced stories; some day perhaps a more thorough analysis of the entire script can be published. — MWB

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“The Strange Adventure That Really Happened!”

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“Raiders from the Giant World!” — 9 pages (cover story) SA #119, 8/60. GF (w), MA (p, i); Cover: MA (p, i) “To the incredible giants from space, Earthmen appeared as small as insects do to us! And there was as much chance of the giants communicating with us as we have of making ourselves understood to insects! “Nonetheless, the gigantic aliens had to find a way of telling us about the deadly danger threatening Earth!” First appearance: the giant aliens from the planet Arloran; Earth astronaut Colonel Jim Rankin.

Synopsis: The giant aliens from the planet Arloran come to Earth to seek to warn the natives about a metal-eating creature, Nath, that will destroy their world, as it destroyed Arloran. But first they must determine a way to communicate with the Earthlings, for the Arlorans’ “thought-waves are too powerful for [the humans’] tiny brains!” Fox sci-fi device introduced: The device used by the Arlorans to communicate with the Earthlings bears the splendid name of the mentogiter.

“Plight of the Human Cocoons!” — 8 pages (cover story) SA #157, 10/63. GF (w), GK (p), JG (i); Cover: MA (p, i) “Ever since the butterfly-like giants first appeared on Earth and helped stave off a cosmic disaster to our world, we have regarded them as friendly aliens. Why, 110 110

then, on their current visit to Earth do they act as enemies — by capturing four Earthmen and taking them as cocoon-wrapped prisoners to their own world?” Synopsis: The giant aliens from Arloran find that something about the planet they have settled on is causing their bodies to shrink. They take four Earthmen, including Colonel Jim Rankin, to Arloran II to find what is causing their dilemma and reverse it — before it’s too late. Trivia: The aliens from Arloran have “radar-type eyes” that allow them to trap an Earthman working in a cavern in West Virginia. Real science: “Editor’s note: This [the matter that forms dwarf stars] is called degenerate matter. So dense does it become that — as an example — a cubic inch of the companion dwarf star Procyon would weigh 15 tons at the surface of the Earth!” The Earthman working in a cavern is called a speleologist — a person who engages in the scientific study or exploration of caves. From the root of this word is derived the word “spelunker.” REPRINT ALERT: Strange Adventures #235, 4-5/72, “Raiders from the Giant World” r: SA #119

Strange Adventures Mini-Series

How can the two lawmen hope to save Ear th and Klaramar — when they can’t even save themselves!” Synopsis: In a kind of sci-fi crypt on the planet Saturn, evil genius Chun Yull, who faked his death in “The Face-Hunter from Saturn,” awakens to find, to his dismay, that his native planet of Klaramar is still extant and thriving. He travels to Earth to obtain materials for a bomb and to wreak vengeance on Jim Boone and Bob Colby, the Highway Patrol officers who helped foil his earlier plan. Notes: Though the term “faceless creature” in “The Face-Hunter from Saturn” referred to benign alien Klee Pan, the term is used in this story to refer to villainous Chun Yull. It is revealed that Jim Boone and Bob Colby, as a reward for aiding Klee Pan in the earlier story, have been given the power of telepathic communication with each other. Continuity Conundrum: The evil faceless creature, in SA #124 called Chan Yull or Chen Yull, is now refereed to as Chun Yull. Miscellany: A purple tunic has been added to the outfit which both Klee Pan and Chun Yull wear in this story, and which Chun Yull wore in the first story. But careful examination of the art of “The FaceHunter from Saturn” suggests that the tunic was drawn in that first story, but simply colored as though it were Chun Yull’s flesh, explaining why the alien conqueror looks a little paunchy.

“The Face-Hunter from Saturn!” — 9 pages lead (cover) story. Cover: MA (p, i). SA #124, 1/1961. GF (w), MS (p), MA (i). “The faceless creature came from Saturn… desperately seeking a certain face that would save his atomic world from destruction! But though he scoured every square mile of the Earth, the face was nowhere to be found! Where on Earth was it?” First appearance: The “Faceless Creatures” from Saturn (actually the sub-atomic world of Klaramar); Highway Patrolmen Jim Boone and Bob Colby. Synopsis: All across the Earth, giant representations of faces, like the granite sculptures of Mount Rushmore and the stone faces on Easter Island, are being stolen by an alien spacecraft. Two Highway Patrol officers, Jim Boone and Bob Colby, investigate and meet a giant humanoid faceless creature with orange body hair, pointed ears and fourfingered hands. He tells them, telepathically, that his name is Klee Pan, from Klaramar, a subatomic world revolving within an atom on the planet Saturn. If he doesn’t find the proper stone face, his world will explode from a bomb planted by villain Chen Yull. But nowhere on Earth can it be found. Continuity Conundrum: The evil faceless creature is refereed to both as Chan Yull and Chen Yull.

“Return of the Faceless Creature!” — 9 pages lead (cover) story. Cover: MA (p, i). SA #142, 7/62. GF (w), CI (p), MA (i). “The faceless creature had come to Earth from a sub-atomic world on the planet Saturn — seeking vengeance not only on his own world of Klaramar but also on two police officers of Earth! “And when he has won his revenge, he will gain complete control of Earth!

“Threat of the Faceless Creature!”— 10 pages lead (cover) story. Cover: MA (p, i). SA #153 (6/63). GF (w), GK (p), SG

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second step? To have himself declared “Earth Citizen Number One.” Chronological Note: The events of “Return of the Faceless Creature,” from SA #142 are referred to as having happened “almost a year ago.” Continuity Conundrum: The evil faceless creature, in previous stories referred to as Chun Yull, Chan Yull or Chen Yull, is referred to again as Chan Yull, as he was in SA #124. Where’s Julie?: Inker Sid Greene — perhaps aided and abetted by penciler Gil Kane — snuck editor Schwartz into this story on page 6, panel 3. Weird science: To demonstrate his powers to the puny Earthlings, Chan Yull creates “a harmless nuclear explosion.”

(i). “The faceless creature came from the sub-atomic world of Klaramar on the planet Saturn. “His warped pride drove him like a goad, demanding that he get vengeance on his native world and on Earth, both of which had defeated him in the past! “He put his plan into action — confident that nothing on Earth or Klaramar could stop him!” Synopsis: Evil Chun Yull compels Jim Boone and Bob Colby to build a device to teleport him to Earth, the first step in the execution of his master plan to destroy both Earth and Klaramar. His

Meanwhile, over at the Marvel Comics Group, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced another kind of faceless creature in the pages of Fantastic Four #5 (7/62): Doctor Doom, who considers his own face so hideous he can’t stand the sight of it.

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Fox sci-fi device introduced: A device of Chan Yull’s creation to bring Klaramar to Earth is given a wonderful Fox name, the spacontakron. (Despite its homonymous nature, it is is doubtful that the name of this device was created as an homage to the E.C. phrase “spa fon.”) Miscellany: In later years editor Schwartz berated the term “mental telepathy,” claiming it a redundancy, and that he never used it. But on page 4, panel 3, Jim Boone refers to his mode of thought communication with Bob Colby as “mental telepathy.”

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“Prisoner of the Undersea World!” — 9 pages (cover story) SA #155, 8/63. GF (w), SG (p, i); Cover: GK (p), MA (i) “The sea broods eternally across the face of the Earth, a world in itself. Only in the past few years has it been

studied very carefully. Now man knows there are strange, unfamiliar life-forms beneath its surface — such as the fantastic frogmen who captured Commander John Marvin of the United Stares Navy Air Force, making him a — Prisoner of the Undersea World!” First appearance: Commander John Marvin, Colonel James Marvin

(son of John Marvin), Tarkal (a “frogman” — a giant frog with a human’s intelligence). Synopsis: Commander John Marvin, “on routine duty over the South Atlantic,” is captured by a giant intelligent frog whom Marvin refers to as Tarkal. Marvin is taken to Tarkal’s undersea world where he is forced to fight various undersea creatures. But Marvin’s captors don’t realize he needs food and water, so he is slowly starving to death. Where’s Julie?: Despite what would seem an enormous temptation on the part of artist Greene to caricature Editor Schwartz as a giant frog, Julie shows up on page 9, panel 1, as a human background observer. Real science: “Editor’s note: The zebra fish is armed with poisonous needle-spines hidden among its fins. Skin divers are often stung when they reach out to touch the zebra fish; their poisoned spines cause pain, and sometimes paralysis and death.” Commentary: Once Schwartz found a format that worked he stuck with it. It is of interest, therefore, to

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note that “Prisoner of the Undersea World” is narrated by Commander Marvin entirely in captions, save for the last page, where it is revealed that Marvin is telling the story to his son, James. Julie liked his formulas, but he also liked to innovate. A regular reader of SA could be forgiven for thinking that “Prisoner of the Undersea World” was a sequel to #130’s “War With the Giant Frogs” (see Ragin’ Reptiles). But it wasn’t, despite many similarities between the frog societies. Artist Sid Greene, having gotten his feet wet with the concept of giant frogs on #130’s “War of the Giant Frogs,” seems more comfortable with the concept. The frogs look more intelligent and menacing, not so absurdly cute as the frogs in #130.

“Prisoner of the Green Planet! — A sequel to Prisoner of the Undersea World!” — 8 pages (second story) SA #155, 8/63. GF (w), MA (p, i) Synopsis: Set years after “Prisoner of the Undersea World,” this story tells the tale of Commander Marvin’s son, Colonel James Marvin, Aero-SpaceForce “astronavigator” of Mariner XXI, the first manned spaceship to Mars. While on Mars, specimens of the Martian lichens and minerals are taken and brought back to Earth. But is one of the specimens actually an intelligent being? Chronological note: The Mariner XXI lifts off on January 1, 1971, making “Prisoner of the Green Planet” one of the few Schwartz sci-fi stories to bear an exact date — and, given that man had not yet even set foot on the moon, an optimistic one. Continuity Conundrum: Colonel Marvin’s father is referred to as “Admiral Jim Marvin, U.S. Navy,” where in “Prisoner of the Undersea World” he was referred to as John. Weird science: The Mariner XXI is described as “[T]he success of Project Sherwood — harnessing a thermo-

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approaches 90 degrees below centigrade.” Miscellany: The panel from page 4, panel 3 was used in some DC subscription ads of the middle 1960s to repre-

nuclear reactor as a rocket-energy source….” Hey, what could go wrong with that? Real science: “Editor’s note: The temperature of Mars in the night-time

sent Strange Adventures. Commentary: Despite this story’s designation as a sequel to the previous tale, it could stand alone, as the parallel experiences in both stories are sketchy at best. Yet “Prisoner of the Green Planet,” despite its return to traditional narration, is a very different story than the overwhelming majority of Schwartz/Fox tales, lacking an obvious threat that must be overcome by the ingenious wits of the hero. Colonel Marvin is virtually an observer in the story; though he explains the tale’s climactic actions, he takes no part in bringing them to pass. But it is these very differences — and Murphy Anderson’s superb art — that make it one of the best and most mature stories in all SA’s 163 Schwartz-edited issues. In the “Spotlight On Strange Adventures” column in SA #159 (12/63), The Schwartz wrote: “The parallel adventures experienced by father and son… were the brainstorm of Gardner Fox.”

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“War of the Giant Frogs!” — 9 pages (first story) SA #130, 7/61: GF (w), SG (p, i); Cover: SG (p, i) “Life on Earth was born in the warm waters of the prehistoric oceans. But it was always thought to have developed its most intelligent form of life on land! But now the surface-living people of Earth learn another highly developed civilization exists on Earth — deep on the ocean bottoms! This is a race of gigantic frog beings — who having become rulers of the sea, now seek to gain master y of the land!”

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“The Invasion of the Flying Reptiles!” — 9 pages (first story) SA #121, 10/60: GF (w), MA (p, i); Cover: MA (p, i) “Out of the forgotten eons of the past, through a hole in time ripped apart by cosmic forces, came the pteranadons! Giant flying reptiles, they soon began menacing all life on Earth! But to the world’s amazement, there was no way of destroying the winged creatures of one hundred million years ago!” First appearance: Scientists Jim and Rhoda Trent. Synopsis: Simultaneous with the discovery of a dinosaur frozen under the Arctic, the Earth is invaded by pteranadons who fly through a time warp. Commentary: The use of a husband and wife team of heroes is a nice variation on the formula, one which Schwartz and Fox should have used more often. Weird science: “Just as our threedimensional world can be struck by an earthquake, causing rifts in the surface — so the fourth dimension of time can have a time-quake, resulting in rifts in time!”

Synopsis: Jim and Rhoda Trent join the fight against a race of giant, intelligent frogs from the undersea city of Sthill, who are bent on conquering the surface lands. Where’s Julie?: Editor Schwartz is seen moonlighting as one of “the finest scientific minds from all over the planet” on pages 3, 7 and 8. In 1961, no reader of SA would have disagreed. Commentary: Perhaps the use of Jim and Rhoda Trent to combat “The Invasion of the Flying Reptiles” in SA #121 gave Schwartz and Fox the idea to bring them back to combat the threat of giant frogs. Their reappearance nine months after we first met them is a SA Mini-Series record. Artist Sid Greene doesn’t seem to be entirely comfortable with the concept of giant frogs; quite often they look kind of cuddly and cute, rather than menacing.

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hold the reader. Searching about for this device, we hit upon the idea that science-fiction could well serve this purpose!” This is about as startling an idea, coming from The Schwartz, as the idea of selling hamburgers would be coming from Ray Kroc; like any good coach, Schwartz played to his strengths. Concerning the visual element: “Next, we grappled with the artistic problem of how to portray our stories in a way that the continuous action element of sports could be maintained… After throwing a number of ideas back and forth, we latched onto an ingenious solution. The story captions — instead of being lettered in the standard, time-honored position above the illustrated panel — would be placed in front of the picture panel and enhanced with a silhouette. In this manner, the eye would perceive the caption and panel in a continuous flow of action, much like seeing a motion picture film unreel before one’s eyes!” Of this device Carmine Infantino wrote in DC Special #1 (10-12/68, “An All-Infantino Issue,” which reprinted stories from five of Infantino’s series): “I attempted here a new technique in comics — by using illustrated captions to accompany the picture-panels, the reader gets the impression of a motion picture film!” Later, in the

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You can almost hear the wheels turning in the minds of the DC execs: kids love comics… and kids love sports… so kids will really love comics about sports! Thus — “Strange Sports Stories”! Each of the DC editors had his strengths, but Schwartz was DC’s most resourceful editor, and therefore the one they turned to when they wanted a new take on something, as they would with Batman and Superman. A company’s faith doesn’t get any stronger than that. In an editorial, “The Sports Arena,” in The Brave and the Bold #45, Coach Schwartz explained: “Tackling the problem [of a sportsrelated comic book] first from a literary angle, it occurred to us that a gimmick was needed to turn a straight sports story from an ordinary yarn into one that would grip and

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eighth issue of The Amazing World of DC Comics (910/75), Infantino said: “I enjoyed those ‘Strange Sports Stories’ I did with Julie. They were tough, but they were fun. Julie said come up with something different — those silhouettes were done to perpetuate the action… In one story [“Saga of the Secret Sportsmen,”], I had an old couple eating dinner and the fork comes out of the table and feeds them!” (Unfortunately, this detail is nearly lost in the printing process.) Well, give them credit for trying something new, at least. Absolutely pervasive in the early issues, later issues of “SSS” would tone down the silhouettes; the stories would be the better for it. As good as many of the stories were, sales weren’t strong enough to win the concept its own book. Perhaps it was the lack of a reoccurring character; “SSS” was the only designated series in a Schwartz book without one. The nature of the series came not from a common character, but from a common theme.

Still, DC had high hopes for the experiment. “SSS” was given an unprecedented five-issue tryout (Hawkman and Suicide Squad had been given six tryout issues each, but in two three-issue batches, not six consecutively), but even this wasn’t enough to bring the team across the finish line. “Strange Sports Stories” ultimately lost the game, but not from lack of talent, effort or heart. Still, if we’d known then what we know now, I’d rather have had the talent spend their time stockpiling five more issues of Mystery In Space or Strange Adventures. But history, like sports reporting, is written with 20/20 hindsight. Strange Sports Stories was revived as a solo title in 1973, but it lasted only six issues. With only Coach Schwartz returning from the original lineup, it was like the Brooklyn Dodgers moving to Los Angeles — the name was the same, but everything else was different. — MWB

“STRANGE SPORTS STORIES” IN THE BRAVE & THE BOLD • Strange Sports Stories series (BB #s 45-49): The Brave and the Bold #45, 12/61-1/63: “Challenge of the Headless Baseball Team!” “Goliath of the Gridiron!” The Brave and the Bold #46, 2-3/63: “The Hot-Shot Hoopsters” “Danger On the Martian Links!” The Brave and the Bold #47, 4-5/63:

“The Phantom Prizefighter!” “Saga of the Secret Sportsmen!” The Brave and the Bold #48, 6-7/63: “The Man Who Drove Through Time!” “Duel of the Star-Champions!” The Brave and the Bold #49, 8-9/63: “Gorilla Wonders of the Diamond!” “Warrior of the Weightless World!”

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The Stories “Challenge of the Headless Baseball Team!” — 14 pages, lead (cover) story. Cover: CI (p), JG (i). BB #45, 12/62-1/63. GF (w), CI (p), JG (i). “Who was the baseball team that defiantly challenged the world’s champion Jets to a Worlds’ Series game? No man on Earth knew — for the mystery ‘nine’ wouldn’t even be seen!” Synopsis: The celebration of the New York Jets as winners of the World Series is interrupted by a spaceship which materializes a force-field over the stadium, preventing anyone from leaving. From the ship emerges a baseball team, consisting of invisible players, which challenges the world champion Jets. All they want, should they win, is the championship flag the Jets have won. Commentary: This story tends to drag a little, the progress of its extraordinarily complex (even for Schwartz and Fox) plot hampered by a five-page expository flashback in its middle. Plus, not even Carmine Infantino, the Silver Age’s master of composition, can make baseball interesting. “Goliath of the Gridiron!” — 12 pages, second (last) story, GF (w), CI (p), JG (i). “Gangly Jim Spencer was better able to find his way about a laboratory than a football field. Then — thanks to an amazing scientific experiment — he turned into the football sensation of the year!”

Synopsis: Jim Spencer is a selfloathing “brain, high honors man for my class, the son of the football coach,” because he can neither help his father’s team nor win the heart of pretty Betty Craig, discovers a formula that will make him the best football player of the Hartnell University “Aggies,” only to find it may fail him at a crucial moment. Commentary: Though it’s Jim Spencer’s wits that enable him to effect his transformation, it still feels like he — and, by extension, Schwartz and Fox — are selling out, admitting that brawn has it over brains, after all. Plus, the art, though typically good for Infantino and Giella, illustrates only the mundane, things the reader could see by looking out his window. Though Schwartz deplored giving the reader “an ordinary yarn,” this is about as close to it as “SSS” would come. But don’t give up on the team yet, this is only the second inning of “Strange Sports Stories,” and they’re still getting a feel for the court. Or something.

“The Hot-Shot Hoopsters!” — 14 pages, lead (cover) story BB #46, 2-3/63. GF (w), CI (p), JG (i). Cover: CI (p), MA (i). “When Calford’s bantam basketball team squared off against the mighty six-footers of Alvania University, none of the spectators gave the youngsters a chance of winning the game! “Up to that moment, the kids had never even played a game of basketball in their lives! But they had studied the

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fundamental principles of the game — and were confident that by applying science and higher mathematics to basketball, they could beat Alvania!” Synopsis: When the championship basketball team of Calford University is quarantined, the “Baby Eggheads,” of the Calford “young education program,” all from twelve to fourteen years in age, volunteer to step in. “Basketball is merely the field of application of basic physical laws, sir. It’s very simple, in reality.” But they’ve never even set foot on a basketball court! Commentary: Now this is more like it! The “Baby Eggheads” take on their opponents on their own terms, rather than trying to become like them. Weird science: The “Baby Eggheads” have applied the science of bionics, which is defined as: “…the study of living creatures to make man more perfect than he is by giving him some of the attributes of animals….” “Danger On the Martian Links!” — 11 pages, second (last) story JB (w), GI (p), JG (i). “Golfer Wale Marner had played courses all over the solar system — and thus was an expert in facing the extraordinary hazards of twenty-fourth century golf! “But it took the championship AllPlanet Tournament on Mars to provide Wale with the toughest obstacle of his colorful career!” Synopsis: 24th Century pro golfer Wade Marner, while zooming above the poisonous soil of Mars in a jekar (jet

“Strange Sports Stories”

cart), single-handedly fights an invading force of “extra-galactics.” Commentary: Not even Tiger Woods ever faced a course like this! John Broome’s first contribution to “SSS” is a thrilling story, at once deadly serious and tongue-in-cheek. Format note: With this issue, “Strange Sports Stories” finds its niche; a lead story taking place in modern day, and a back-up set in the far future, thus guaranteeing at least one story per issue with sci-fi visuals. Format note: This issue of BB contains only 25 story pages, where the issue before contained 26, as will the next three. Publishing note: The Statement of Ownership reports that the average number of copies of this publication sold during the preceding 12 months was 210,000. Since many of those issues contained Hawkman tryout stories, Schwartz can be held largely

Also carrying a cover date of March, 1963 was Marvel Comics’ Tales of Suspense #39, telling the origin of Iron Man, by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Don Heck.

responsible for the sales figures.

“The Phantom Prizefighter!” — 14 pages, lead (cover) story. Cover: CI (p), JG (i). BB #47, 4-5/63. GF (w), CI (p), JG (i). “He was the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time! Greater even than John L. Sullivan — Jack Dempsey — Joe Louis — Rocky Marciano! His name was Socko Chase! Oh, yes, we know — you’ve never heard of him! But you’ll see what we mean when you read this exclusive story of… The Phantom Prizefighter!” Synopsis: Farmer Paul “Socko” Chase is given his dream to become heavyweight champion of the world by an alien, but finds there’s more to the bargain than meets the eye. Publishing note: The idea for the cover to this issue was previously used nine years earlier on the cover of Strange Adventures #43, 4/54, illustrated by Murphy Anderson, to depict the issue’s “Captain Comet” story, “The Phantom Prize Fighter!” Julie believed in recycling! And of © DC Comics course, the two stories, aside from the single shared visual, otherwise have no relation to each other.

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“Saga of the Secret Sportsmen!” — 12 pages, second (last) story JB (w), CI (p), MA (i). “In the 30th century, sporting activities had been banished from the face of the Earth! “But an underground organization — a band of determined athletes called the Secret Sportsmen — sparked a resistance movement which was to terminate in the greatest victory of Earth’s history!” Synopsis: Athletes, practicing their skills in secrecy under penalty of law, lead a rebellion against the invading Uranians. Commentary: It may have warmed the hearts of many of “SSS”’s readers, who were often made fun of by jocks for reading comics, to read this tale of a world in which sport is outlawed. Art note: The much-ballyhooed silhouette technique, used so often in earlier stories of the series, is utilized less frequently beginning with this story. Schwartz and his stable of talent are still making adjustments, all of them to the good.

“The Man Who Drove Through Time!” — 11 pages, lead (cover) story. Cover: CI (p), MA (i). BB #48, 6-7/63. GF (w), CI (p), SG (i). “Back in the gay ’90s — when an automobile was termed a ‘horseless carriage’ and had to be started by handcranking — young Bill Slade built his

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION

own car. “He built it so well that with it he was able to crack the space-time continuum and drive out of 1896 into 1964! “His problem then was to get back to his own time and to the girl he loved. There was only one way to do that — win the Indianapolis “500” — with an 1896 car!” Synopsis: 19th century auto enthusiast Bill Slade, challenged to a race by his would-be father-in-law for the hand of the girl he loves, goes farther and faster than he ever thought he could. Commentary: This story of a man trying to return to his own era to win the heart of a girl is a nice change from the usual diet of save-the-world sagas.

planet Cereban of the star-sun Altair.” Auctorial note: Even without Schwartz’ credit list in BB #49, Gardner Fox’s authorship of this story could be John Dickson Carr determined not only by the coining of the term “panmedikron,” but by the fact that he favored character surnames of four letters ending in “-arr” — as any fan of hipster Snapper Carr could attest. This may have been due to Fox’s fondness for the stories of British mystery author John Dickson Carr.

“Duel of the Star-Champions!” — 15 pages, second (last) story GF (w), CI (p), JG (i). “It was the year of the Planethalon — and the galaxy’s greatest athletes were on their way to Athletica, to compete against each other in the greatest sports event of all space! “But the lone representative of Earth found himself sidetracked — his “will to win” stolen by a rival competitor — leaving him hopelessly handicapped in a contest all Earth was counting on him to win!” Synopsis: Eric Marr’s quest to win the fabled Panmedikron “the ultimate invention of an unknown race of humanoids, for its rays would heal every known type of sickness” is sabotaged by “athlete-scientist Okkan Dol of the

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“Gorilla Wonders of the Diamond!” — 13 pages, lead (cover) story. Cover: CI (p), MA (i). BB #49, 8-9/63. GF (w), CI (p), JG (i). “They came out of the wild African jungles, nine gorillas with mental and physical abilities greater than those of any human! Yet their prime interest seemed to be — playing baseball! “And so they went barnstorming across the United States, beating the greatest baseball teams in the land! “Were these victories a forecast of the gorillas’ triumph over the human race itself?” Synopsis: Scientist John Emerson has sped up the allegedly dormant mental development of gorillas, enabling them to reason and speak. But his achievement carries its own peril. Weird science: “…Millions of years ago… a vast nuclear explosion took place on our sun. Until that time… the gorillas were destined by nature to be the dominant race on Earth! But the nuclear ‘fallout’ made dormant certain genes of the gorillas — and cut short their evolutionary development… As a result, gorillas remained only — gorillas!… Now — by feeding my solution to adult gorillas it should activate those dormant genes — enabling succeeding generations of gorillas to resume their evolutionary progress!” Anthropoid note: Despite the reputation of Julie Schwartz for being addicted to gorilla stories, he actually used apes far more sparingly than hearsay would lead one to believe. This is one of

“Strange Sports Stories”

“Warrior of the Weightless World!” — 12 pages, second (last) story JB (w), CI (p), JG (i). “Cray Duncan was the greatest spaceball player of his generation! Yet he hated the game! But that was before Zuuni and the war against the Creon empire! “A war changes a lot of things… it changed Cray Duncan! Afterward — following a hectic ray-blasted hour on that far-off planetoid behind the enemy lines — he was never the same again!” Synopsis: Cray Duncan, realizing an important enemy base is located on the weightless world of Zunni, stages a raid on the base by his team of spaceball players, who have been assigned to “entertain the troops.” Commentary: Of all ten “Strange Sports Stories,” “Warrior of the

Eager to give the concept another go, in the early 1970s DC Comics reprinted all of the sciencefiction series (along with some athletically-inclined sci-fi tales from other Julie Schwartz-edited comics), this time slightly renamed as “Strangest Sports Stories Ever Told.” Apparently the three-issue reprise in the pages of DC Special bore fruit, as by 1973, Strange Sports Stories was finally awarded its own title (albeit lasting only six bi-monthly issues, though boasting all-new stories). What follows is a cross-referenced listing of the contents of those DC Specials. DC Special #7, 4-6/70 “Gorilla Wonders of the Diamond,” r: BB #49

the few stories covered in this book to utilize gorillas as the protagonists.

Weightless World!” is the only one to feature a totally fabricated sport, “spaceball,” though it is basically basketball played in anti-gravity conditions, with elements of billiards. This is one of the best “SSS,” due to Broome’s typically sharp character

“The Hot-Shot Hoopsters,” r: BB #46 “The Man Who Drove Through Time,” r: BB #48 “Goliath of the Gridiron,” r: BB #45 “Solar Olympics of 3000 A.D.” [not “SSS”] Issue includes a text page, “The Sports Arena,” apparently written by editor Schwartz, asking for reader opinions. DC Special #9, 10-12/70 “Challenge of the Headless Baseball Team,” r: BB #45 “Danger on the

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work. Weird science: “Our scientists say [Zunni’s weightlessness] may be caused by a core of anti-matter at the center of the planetoid — exactly balancing out the ordinary matter of the rest of it!”

Martian Links,” r: BB #46 “The Phantom Prize-Fighter,” r: BB #47 “Duel of the Star Champions,” r: BB #48 Ish includes two-page letters column. DC Special #13, 7-8/71 “Warrior of the Weightless World,” r: BB #49 “Super-Athlete From Earth” [not “SSS”] “The Fishermen of Space” [not “SSS”] “The Martian Horse” [not “SSS”] “The World Where Dreams Come True” [not “SSS”] “Saga of the Secret Sportsmen,” r: BB #47 — JBC

Editor Julie Schwartz commissioned these three Carmine Infantino covers (and one by artist Nick Cardy, at right, for the shortlived series). © DC Comics

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unpleasant surprise to lots of JSA fans. The title AllStar Western was revived in 1970, first as a reprint title, then with new stories, before being rechristened Weird Western Tales in 1972.) Still, if “Super-Chief” wasn’t worth trading the JSA for, it’s good reading if evaluated on its own merits. Set in the old, old West, years before Europeans ever set foot on American soil, Super-Chief benefited from the fertile plots and tireless research of Fox which gave the scripts authenticity, while the basic decency of Fox and Schwartz demanded that the characters and their beliefs be handled, not as ethnic stereotypes, just as types, as was being done over in the pages of The Flash or Green Lantern. (Years later, Fox would write the Indian super-hero strip “Red Wolf” over at Marvel. He was comics’ go-to guy for tasteful handling of native Americans.) In fact, the only stereotyping being done in the series was in the romantic interaction of the characters. Flying Stag’s dismay that the squaw whom he loves, White Fawn, is now mooning over his secret identity is straight out of the playbook for Superman. But even at DC in the

Some years back a nationwide restaurant chain referred to one of its signature dishes as “the great breakfast with the embarrassing name.” Every time I hear that slogan, I think of Super-Chief. For “Super-Chief”, despite its short life and its embarrassing title, was a great series. And why not, it had good bloodlines. Not just in its creative team of Editor Julius Schwartz, scripted Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino — and if you think it was presumptuous for three white guys; one Jewish, one Roman Catholic and one Italian, to create a series about native Americans, console yourself with the thought that, in the 1960s, if white guys hadn’t created such series, there would be very, very few comics series of any kind — but in the fact that “Super-Chief”, debuting in All-Star Western #117 (Feb.-March 1961), was the last super-hero series to come from the magazine that had, in the Golden Age, given us the first super-hero team of all time, The Justice Society of America. (All-Star Comics was renamed All-Star Western with issue #58 in 1951, when the super-hero trend was fading, which must have been an

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THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION 1960s, an Indian super-hero may have been considered a somewhat risky commingling of two genres, so maybe the powers that be dictated a more… shall we say… time-tested approach to such matters. It’s too bad, because a less traditional approach may have given sales the extra boost needed to keep the book from being canceled, which is probably why the series was created in the first place. Though the series was never cover-featured, each issue of ASW in which it appeared carried a cover blurb reading alternately: “Amazing New Series — SUPER-CHIEF — Wonder Warrior of the Woodlands!” or “Extra! A Startling SUPER-CHIEF Story!” (Julie never could be broken of the habit of referring to back-up stories as “Extra[s],” as though the reader would settle for less than a full issue’s worth of material.) At any rate, it didn’t last long. “Super-Chief” ran only three installments before both it and host venue

All-Star Western went to be with Manitou. Though it lasted only three issues, “Super-Chief”’s last installment places it firmly within the purview of Julie Schwartz sci-fi back-ups. The character, and sometimes his amulet, have occasionally popped up again, but a series revival seems nowhere in the cards, which is probably best. Wherever SuperChief is, whether in the Valhalla reserved for super-heroes or the Happy Hunting Ground, more than one hour of power to him. — MWB

“SUPER-CHIEF” IN ALL-STAR WESTERN

The Stories

All-Star Western #118, 4-5/61: “The Invasion of the Indian Giants!” All-Star Western #119, 6-7/61: “The Sky People!”

Indian tribes, to war, and so plan to fix the trials to select the next Royaneh —

“The Crowning of Super-Chief!” — 12 pages, second (last) story ASW #117, 2-3/61. GF (w), CI (p, i). “In the years before white man set foot on this continent, he was the greatest warrior and mightiest hunter of the Wolf Clan of The Nations! His name, Flying Stag, was honored and revered by his people! And then… “Manitou — the Great Spirit — selected him to combat evil and lawlessness among the Indian tribes! He would have super-physical powers — beyond those of any other man! “But — to secure these powers he had to give up his name — his personal glory — and the girl he loved!” First appearance: Super-Chief; Flying Stag; White Fawn; The Wolf Clan. Synopsis: Three rival clan chiefs wish to lead The Nations, a group of

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the supreme chief — of all The Nations, so one of their own will win the competition. The competitor of the Wolf Clan, Flying Stag, is waylaid but, praying to Manitou to save his people, is answered by a falling meteor which “…pulses strongly, hurling its radiations through his body…” A seeming vision from Manitou informs Flying Stag that he has been granted, for one hour out of twenty-four, “the time in which a man can run 20,000 paces,” strength “a thousand times that of the bear… speed greater than the swiftest deer [and] leaping prowess beyond that of the wolf!” Flying Stag competes for the post of Royaneh under the guise of Saganowahna — Super-Chief, despite the expiration of his powers while combatting perils created by his competitors. Commentary: The limitations placed upon Super-Chief’s powers are

• Super-Chief series All-Star Western #117, 2-3/61: “The Crowning of Super-Chief!” [reprinted in Superman #245, 12/71-1/72]

one of the attractions of the series, reminding one of the early adventures of Superman. Though Super-Chief’s origin is framed in supernatural terms, the series is firmly rooted in science-fiction — as the third installment will reveal.

“The Invasion of the Indian Giants!” — 12 pages, second story ASW #118, 4-5/61. GF (w), CI (p, i). “For one hour of every twenty-four, Flying Stag of the Wolf Clan is granted super-powers by the Great Spirit — Manitou! In that time he has the strength of 1,000 bears — the speed of 1,000 deer — the leaping prowess of 1,000 wolves! Having vowed never to reveal his other identity, not even White Fawn is aware that the man she loves is Super-Chief! “Get set for a super-adventure as the Wonder Warrior of the Woodlands fights a one-man battle to repel… The Invasion of Indian Giants!” First appearance: Lightfoot, mischievous little brother of White Fawn. Synopsis: Marauding Indian giants attack The Nations, causing the Clan medicine men to plead for the intervention of Super-Chief, interrupting a fishing trip for Flying Stag, White Fawn and her “bratty brother,” Lightfoot. SuperChief begins to fight the giants, despite the fact that he has exhausted his onehour dose of super-powers. Weird science: The size of the Indian giants, drawn to be about 10-12 feet tall, is not explained. Their normal

habitat is apparently to the south: “This is the first time they have come so far north!” Trivia: Flying Stag conceals his Super-Chief accouterments “[d]eep in the forest glades [where] close behind a lightning-blasted tree, a flat stone covers a secret cairn.” (This seems to be an improper use of the word “cairn,” described as a heap of stones piled up as a memorial or a landmark. Such imprecision was rare in Fox scripts.) Flying Stag is sometimes availed of the Super-Chief abilities even when not wearing the meteor amulet. He hears the plea of the medicine men through an involuntary use of “super-hearing,” and he is easily able to lift the heavy flat stone which conceals his Super-Chief gear. Art note: Carmine Infantino signed the splash page of the story as “CInfantino.”

“The Sky People!” — 12 pages, last story ASW #119, 6-7/61. GF (w), CI (p, i). “Though there is no record of their coming to Earth in the history books — a race of alien beings landed on Earth, in North America in the years before Columbus! With their mighty scientific weapons, it would seem that they could easily take whatever they wanted here! “Yet one man was able to stand between them and victory! Super-Chief alone refused to bow before the dread challenge of… The Sky People!” Synopsis: Super-Chief fights a space ship full of aliens who have come to Earth to catalogue the flora and fauna, as well as search for the element carasote, which we know as aluminum. Lightfoot, White Fawn’s brother, is inadvertently captured by the aliens. Commentary: Any doubt that “Super-Chief” is a science-fiction series is dispelled by this story. The use of aliens also casts more doubt on the supernatural origin of Super-Chief’s powers. Like the use of space aliens in “The Menace of the Metal-Looters” (see “Atomic Knights”), their use here makes the series a little more routine than it had been beforehand. But in the 1960s, it would have been difficult to find a DC series that didn’t use space aliens — save for

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THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION

maybe the romance series and the annual Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer specials. Trivia: The next-to-last panel of this, the last “Super-Chief” story, gives us the name of his village: Dayodanadaga. (I don’t know what it means, either, but you can bet that Fox knew, and that it was an authentic Indian term.)

The RIDDLE of the RECYCLED COVERS! book editor was the ability to conceive cover ideas. This was not as foreign a skill as it might seem; Julie had already, as a nearly lifelong science-fiction fan, realized how a strong cover to a pulp magazine could seize not only the reader’s attention, but also the coins from his pocket. And Julie was not a man to let a good idea lie fallow. When he got a good idea for a cover he often reused it. This in itself is not remarkable, what is of most interest about The Schwartz’ “recycled” covers is the variety in the manner with which he reused a similar layout, changing emphasis and telling an entirely different story a second time than

omics

For a guy who never read a comic book until he was on the way to his job interview at National Periodical Publications in 1944, Julius Schwartz learned the ropes pretty quickly. His rapport with writers was already a skill developed from his years as a science-fiction agent, and though he was not an artist and never claimed to be one, a large majority of the pencillers, inkers and — occasionally — painters he worked with over the years expressed admiration and affection for him both professionally and personally, and worked with him as often as possible. One of the many other abilities he needed to develop to be an effective comic

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THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION grew such fare went on to allegedly more mature pursuits, to be replaced by their younger brothers and sisters (usually brothers) who had never seen the covers’ earlier incarnations. Examples of the first method can be found in the covers of Mystery In Space #9 (8-9/52, by Murphy Anderson). The idea of this cover, showing the hero and heroine trying to break out of a giant diamond, was reused for the cover of Justice League of America #4 (“Doom of the Star Diamond!” 4-5/61, by Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs, or possibly Anderson), though from a different, more effective angle. Suspense is also heightened by showing additional, but possibly futile, help from nominee Green Arrow, from the diamond’s exterior. Some ideas were just too thematically perfect to pass up; for example, the conversion of the cover to Mystery In Space #5 (1-2/52, “The Outcast of Lost World!” possibly penciled by Infantino) to the cover of JLA #17 (“Triumph of the Tornado Tyrant!” by

he had the first. Such a method is nearly unknown today, and would often be impractical. The vast majority of The Schwartz’ covers were what might be called “situational;” showing an interesting plot point from the story to intrigue the reader. Virtually every DC cover generated in the Silver Age was just such a situational cover; covers emphasizing action or shots of the protagonists poised for poster-style action had been a staple of comics since the medium’s inception, but had largely fallen by the wayside due to DC’s dominance of the industry until resurrected by Stan Lee with the advent of Marvel Comics in the 1960s. Julie reused cover ideas in generally two ways: by using the idea of an earlier cover again, or — more frequently — by reusing the layout of an earlier cover again. He doubtless had no fear of a reader complaining about such double use; in the 1950s and ’60s, the readership of comic books was thought to turn over entirely every three or four years, as readers who out-

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“The Riddle of the Recycled Covers” Anderson, 2/63). Some of the many recycled covers also revisit similar themes. The cover of Mystery In Space #18 (23/54, by Anderson and Joe Giella), “The Chain Gang of Space!” was reused for the historic cover of Justice League of America #22 (9/63, by Anderson), “Crisis On Earth-Two!” showing the Green Lanterns of Earths 1 and -2, respectively, trying to free their other JLA/JSA counterparts from similar cells floating in space. But many of the covers reusing similar layouts are perhaps more interesting as examples of previously utilized designs used to serve the needs of entirely different stories. Take, for example, MIS #17 (12-1/54). Anderson’s cover for “The Last Mile of Space!” shows a number of interestingly-designed aliens marching to seeming intergalactic imprisonment — or worse. The recycled cover, also by Anderson, for JLA #19 (5/63), “The Super-Exiles of Earth!” similarly shows the JLA being herded aboard a rocket ship… but the dramatic

effect of the cover is far heightened by the fact that the added spectators gawking at the JLA are the alter egos of the JLAers, a complication not possible with the original. Julie engaged in masterful restrain by not calling attention to this story twist with a caption, an exhibition of editorial will power that few modern-day editors (myself included) would have the discipline to

exercise. Or there’s the cover to Sensation Comics #109 (56/52, possibly by Carmine Infantino and Anderson). Once a magazine most famous as the vehicle for a monthly dose of Wonder Woman, just as Superman and Batman appeared monthly in the pages of Action Comics and Detective Comics, respectively, the Amazing Amazon’s feature had recently been expelled as the tide turned against super-heroes, turning the book over to stories of suspense and spookiness. The cover to this issue — the series’ last — shows a man staring in fear at his left hand, the fingers of which have sprouted menacing minute heads 131

THE SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION

and torsos. But when this cover was reused for JLA #10 (“The Fantastic Fingers of Felix Faust!” 5/63, by Anderson), the fingers of Felix Faust now exhibit the tiny torsos and heads of the Justice League members! Though the layout of both covers is the same (though reversed), the expression of Faust’s face and clever use of copy make the reader aware that it is now Faust who is master of the situation, rather than the victim. But no matter which version you see, this remains one of the creepiest covers ever to come out of the Schwartz office. Sometimes a plot may have had to be stretched to accommo-

date the cover The Schwartz designated for it. It is difficult to believe that Julie woke up thinking that the cover to Strange Adventures #106 (“Genie In the Flying Saucer!” by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia, 7/59) would make the perfect recycled cover for Green Lantern #13 (“Duel of the Super-Heroes!” 6/62, by Kane and Giella), but the skillful inclusion of that specific scene in the script by writer John Broome makes it seem as though the two were a perfect match. And who knows, perhaps the method used by Green Lantern to immobilize his temporary foe, The Flash, inspired the reuse of the cover idea. For those interested in

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“The Riddle of the Recycled Covers” statistics, the reuse of the cover of SA #106 as that of GL #13 was the shortest interval between the original use of a cover cited here and its recycling, two years and eleven months. The longest was exactly 13 years, gauged by the cover dates of All Star Comics #42 (8-9/48, by Irwin Hasen) and its reuse as JLA #6 (8-9/61, by Sekowsky and Anderson). Since Julie Schwartz is as famous to his readers as a reviver of Golden Age concepts as he is for his science-fiction books, it seems fitting that a Justice Society cover should later serve as the inspiration to a cover of their Silver Age counterparts, the Justice League.

His tradition continues to this day. As of this writing, a recent title from DC has recycled the layout of the cover to The Brave and the Bold #28 (2-3/60, by Sekowsky and Anderson), the first adventure of the Justice League of America. Julie would have been flattered but, since he also liked to keep the younger guys on their toes, would probably have demanded that the next cover be a total original. He didn’t call himself “B.O.” (Be Original) Schwartz for nothing.

— MWB

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Three takes on one concept, including Gil Kane’s (rejected) cover above, Murphy Anderson’s (left) and the Neal Adams version (right). © DC Comics

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The aid and enabling of the following individuals and institutions is gratefully appreciated: • MURPHY ANDERSON, for his time and memories, and years of quality work; • DENNIS EARLENBAUGH, for loaning me the only two stories cited in this book I did not own; • DAVE BILLMAN, for the creation of the majority of scans used in this book; • GREG LAMBOUSY, Director of Collections, Louisiana State Museum; • KEN LEMONS of the Grand Comic Database; • PAUL LEVITZ, President and Publisher of DC Comics; • JOHN BUNTIN, JR. of Kenmore Komics and Games; • ROY THOMAS and MICHAEL EURY, fellow TwoMorrows editors, as much for their examples of sterling professionalism as for the specific help they gave, and for permission to print photos and illustrations that previously appeared in Alter Ego and the Justice League Companion; • CRAIG SHUTT, “Mr. Silver Age”, for providing a copy of the script for “The Strange Adventure That Really Happened!” • The staff of The Amazing World of DC Comics (whether they knew it or not); • JERRY K. BOYD, for supplying the sketch of Adam Strange by Neal Adams; • HUGH SURRATT for invaluable (and generous) assistance to his friend, the book’s designer; • And, of course, ALAN DAVIS and PAUL NEARY for the swell cover.

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Celebrate JACK KIRBY’s 100th birthday!

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KIRBY100

TWOMORROWS and the JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR magazine celebrate JACK KIRBY’S 100th BIRTHDAY in style with the release of KIRBY100, a full-color visual holiday for the King of comics! It features an all-star line-up of 100 COMICS PROS who critique key images from Kirby’s 50-year career, admiring his page layouts, dramatics, and storytelling skills, and lovingly reminiscing about their favorite characters and stories. Featured are BRUCE TIMM, ALEX ROSS, WALTER SIMONSON, JOHN BYRNE, JOE SINNOTT, STEVE RUDE, ADAM HUGHES, WENDY PINI, JOHN ROMITA SR., DAVE GIBBONS, P. CRAIG RUSSELL, and dozens more of the top names in comics. Their essays serve to honor Jack’s place in comics history, and prove (as if there’s any doubt) that KIRBY IS KING! This double-length book is edited by JOHN MORROW and JON B. COOKE, with a Kirby cover inked by MIKE ROYER. (The Limited Hardcover Edition includes 16 bonus color pages of Kirby’s 1960s Deities concept drawings) All characters TM & © their respective owners.

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Showcases GIL KANE, with an incisive and free-wheeling interview conducted in the 1990s by DANIEL HERMAN for his 2001 book Gil Kane: The Art of the Comics— plus other surprise features centered around the artistic co-creator of the Silver Age Green Lantern and The Atom! Also: FCA (Fawcett Collectors of America), MICHAEL T. GILBERT, and BILL SCHELLY! Green Lantern cover by KANE and GIELLA!

STAN LEE’s 95th birthday! Rare 1980s LEE interview by WILL MURRAY—GER APELDOORN on Stan’s non-Marvel writing in the 1950s—STAN LEE/ROY THOMAS e-mails of the 21st century—and more special features than you could shake Irving Forbush at! Also FCA (Fawcett Collectors of America), BILL SCHELLY, and MICHAEL T. GILBERT! Colorful Marvel multi-hero cover by Big JOHN BUSCEMA!

Golden Age artist FRANK THOMAS (The Owl! The Eye! Dr. Hypno!) celebrated by Mr. Monster’s Comic Crypt’s MICHAEL T. GILBERT! Plus the scintillating (and often offbeat) Golden & Silver Age super-heroes of Western Publishing’s DELL & GOLD KEY comics! Art by MANNING, DITKO, KANE, MARSH, GILL, SPIEGLE, SPRINGER, NORRIS, SANTOS, THORNE, et al.! Plus FCA, BILL SCHELLY, and more!

Unsung artist/writer LARRY IVIE conceived (and named!) the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, helped develop T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS, brought EC art greats to the world of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and more! SANDY PLUNKETT chronicles his career, with art by FRAZETTA, CRANDALL, WOOD, KRENKEL, DOOLIN, and others! Plus FCA, MICHAEL T. GILBERT, BILL SCHELLY, and more!

(100-page FULL-COLOR magazine) $9.95 (Digital Edition) $4.95 • Ships Oct. 2017

(100-page FULL-COLOR magazine) $9.95 (Digital Edition) $4.95 • Ships Dec. 2017

(100-page FULL-COLOR magazine) $9.95 (Digital Edition) $4.95 • Ships Feb. 2018

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BACK ISSUE #100

BACK ISSUE #101

BACK ISSUE #102

BACK ISSUE #103

BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES’ 25th ANNIVERSARY! Looks back at the influential cartoon series. Plus: episode guide, Harley Quinn history, DC’s Batman Adventures and Animated Universe comic books, and tribute to artist MIKE PAROBECK. Featuring KEVIN ALTIERI, RICK BURCHETT, PAUL DINI, GERARD JONES, MARTIN PASKO, DAN RIBA, TY TEMPLETON, BRUCE TIMM, and others! BRUCE TIMM cover!

100-PAGE SPECIAL featuring Bronze Age Fanzines and Fandom! Buyer’s Guide, Comic Book Price Guide, DC’s Comicmobile, Super DC Con ’76, Comic Reader, FOOM, Amazing World of DC, Charlton Bullseye, Squa Tront, & more! Featuring ALAN LIGHT, BOB OVERSTREET, SCOTT EDELMAN, BOB GREENBERGER, JACK C. HARRIS, TONY ISABELLA, DAVID ANTHONY KRAFT, BOB LAYTON, PAUL LEVITZ, MICHAEL USLAN, and others!

ROCK ’N’ ROLL COMICS! Flash Gordon star SAM J. JONES interview, KISS in comics, Marvel’s ALICE COOPER, T. Rex’s MARC BOLAN interviews STAN LEE, PAUL McCARTNEY, Charlton’s Partridge Family, David Cassidy, and Bobby Sherman comics, Marvel’s Steeltown Rockers, Monkees comics, & Comic-Con band Seduction of the Innocent. With MAX ALLAN COLLINS, JACK KIRBY, BILL MUMY, ALAN WEISS, and others!

MERCS AND ANTIHEROES! Deadpool’s ROB LIEFELD and FABIAN NICIEZA interviewed! Histories of Cable, Taskmaster, Deathstroke the Terminator, the Vigilante, and Wild Dog, plus… Archie meets the Punisher?? Featuring TERRY BEATTY, MAX ALLAN COLLINS, PAUL KUPPERBERG, BATTON LASH, JEPH LOEB, DAVID MICHELINIE, MARV WOLFMAN, KEITH POLLARD, and others! Deadpool vs. Cable cover by LIEFELD!

ALL-STAR EDITORS ISSUE! Past and present editors reveal “How I Beat the Dreaded Deadline Doom”! Plus: ARCHIE GOODWIN and MARK GRUENWALD retrospectives, E. NELSON BRIDWELL interview, DIANA SCHUTZ interview, ALLAN ASHERMAN revisits DC’s ’70s editorial department, Marvel Assistant Editors’ Month, and a history of PERRY WHITE! With an unpublished 1981 Captain America cover by MIKE ZECK!

(84 FULL-COLOR pages) $8.95 (Digital Edition) $3.95 • Ships Aug. 2017

(100 FULL-COLOR pages) $9.95 (Digital Edition) $4.95 • Ships Sept. 2017

(84 FULL-COLOR pages) $8.95 (Digital Edition) $3.95 • Ships Nov. 2017

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BRICKJOURNAL #48

COMIC BOOK CREATOR #17

KIRBY COLLECTOR #71

KIRBY COLLECTOR #72

KIRBY COLLECTOR #73

THE WORLD OF LEGO MECHA! Learn the secrets and tricks of building mechs with some of the best mecha builders in the world! Interviews with BENJAMIN CHEH, KELVIN LOW, LU SIM, FREDDY TAM, DAVID LIU, and SAM CHEUNG! Plus: Minifigure customizing from JARED K. BURKS, step-by-step “You Can Build It” instructions by CHRISTOPHER DECK, BrickNerd’s DIY Fan Art, & more!

The legacy and influence of WALLACE WOOD, with a comprehensive essay about Woody’s career, extended interview with Wood assistant RALPH REESE (artist for Marvel’s horror comics, National Lampoon, and undergrounds), a long chat with cover artist HILARY BARTA (Marvel inker, Plastic Man and America’s Best artist with ALAN MOORE), plus our usual columns, features, and the humor of HEMBECK!

KIRBY: OMEGA! Looks at endings, deaths, and Anti-Life in the Kirbyverse, including poignant losses and passings from such series as NEW GODS, KAMANDI, FANTASTIC FOUR, LOSERS, THOR, DEMON and others! Plus: The 2016 Silicon Valley Comic-Con Kirby Panel, MARK EVANIER, STEVE SHERMAN & MIKE ROYER panel, WALTER SIMONSON interview, & unseen pencil art galleries! SIMONSON cover inks!

FIGHT CLUB! Jack’s most powerful fights and in-your-face action: Real-life WAR EXPERIENCES, Marvel’s KID COWBOYS, the Madbomb saga and all those negative 1970s Marvel fan letters, interview with SCOTT McCLOUD on his Kirby-inspired punchfest DESTROY!!, rare Kirby interview, 2017 WonderCon Kirby Panel, MARK EVANIER, unpublished pencil art galleries, and more! Cover inked by DEAN HASPIEL!

ONE-SHOTS! We cover Kirby’s best (and worst) short spurts on his wildest concepts: ANIMATION IDEAS, DINGBATS, JUSTICE INC., MANHUNTER, ATLAS, PRISONER, and more! Plus MARK EVANIER and our other regular panelists, rare Kirby interview, panels from the 2017 Kirby Centennial celebration, pencil art galleries, and some one-shot surprises! BIG BARDA #1 cover finishes by MIKE ROYER!

(84-page FULL-COLOR magazine) $8.95 (Digital Edition) $3.95 • Ships Oct. 2017

(100-page FULL-COLOR magazine) $9.95 (Digital Edition) $4.95 • Ships Winter 2018

(100-page FULL-COLOR mag) $10.95 (Digital Edition) $4.95 • Now shipping!

(100-page FULL-COLOR mag) $10.95 (Digital Edition) $4.95 • Summer 2017

(100-page FULL-COLOR mag) $10.95 (Digital Edition) $4.95 • Ships Fall 2017

REED CRANDALL Illustrator of the Comics

From the 1940s to the ’70s, REED CRANDALL brought a unique and masterful style to American comic art. Using an illustrator’s approach on everything he touched, Crandall gained a reputation as the “artist’s artist” through his skillful interpretations of Golden Age super-heroes DOLL MAN, THE RAY, and BLACKHAWK (his signature character); horror and sci-fi for the legendary EC COMICS line; Warren Publishing’s CREEPY, EERIE, and BLAZING COMBAT; the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS and EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS characters; and even FLASH GORDON for King Features. Comic art historian ROGER HILL has compiled a complete and extensive history of Crandall’s life and career, from his early years and major successes, through his tragic decline and passing in 1982. This FULL-COLOR HARDCOVER includes NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN PHOTOS, a wealth of RARE AND UNPUBLISHED ARTWORK, and over EIGHTY THOUSAND WORDS of insight into one of the true illustrators of the comics.

(256-page FULL-COLOR HARDCOVER) $49.95 • (Digital Edition) $19.95 ISBN: 978-1-60549-077-9 • SHIPS JULY 2017

It’s

GROOVY, baby!

Follow-up to Mark Voger’s smash hit MONSTER MASH!

From WOODSTOCK to THE BANANA SPLITS, from SGT. PEPPER to H.R. PUFNSTUF, from ALTAMONT to THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY, GROOVY is a far-out trip to the era of lava lamps and love beads. This profusely illustrated HARDCOVER BOOK, in PSYCHEDELIC COLOR, features interviews with icons of grooviness such as PETER MAX, BRIAN WILSON, PETER FONDA, MELANIE, DAVID CASSIDY, members of the JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, CREAM, THE DOORS, THE COWSILLS and VANILLA FUDGE; and cast members of groovy TV shows like THE MONKEES, LAUGH-IN and THE BRADY BUNCH. GROOVY revisits the era’s ROCK FESTIVALS, MOVIES, ART—even COMICS and CARTOONS, from the 1968 ‘mod’ WONDER WOMAN to R. CRUMB. A color-saturated pop-culture history written and designed by MARK VOGER (author of the acclaimed book MONSTER MASH), GROOVY is one trip that doesn’t require dangerous chemicals!

(192-page FULL-COLOR HARDCOVER) $39.95 • ISBN: 978-1-60549-080-9 • DIGITAL EDITION: $15.95

SHIPS OCTOBER 2017 • Free preview online now!

TwoMorrows. The Future of Pop History. TwoMorrows Publishing • 10407 Bedfordtown Drive • Raleigh, NC 27614 USA

Phone: 919-449-0344 E-mail: store@twomorrows.com Web: www.twomorrows.com

THE FUTURE SHOULD ONLY BE THIS COOL! In the Silver Age of Comics, space was the place! The Silver Age Sci-Fi Companion summarizes, critiques and lovingly recalls the classic DC Comics science-fiction series edited by Julius Schwartz and written by Gardner Fox and John Broome! The pages of DC’s science-fiction magazines of the 1960s, Strange Adventures and Mystery In Space, are opened for you, including story-by-story reviews of complete series such as Adam Strange, Atomic Knights, Space Museum, Star Rovers, Star Hawkins and many others! Writer/editor Mike W. Barr tells you which series crossed over with each other, behind-the-scenes secrets, and more, including writer and artist credits for every story! This tome also features a new interview with artist great Murphy Anderson and tons of classic art by Anderson, Carmine Infantino, Gil Kane, Sid Greene, Mike Sekowsky and others!

$ 19 95 In The US ISBN

978-1-893905-81-8