HBO Max will be bringing new takes on the DC Universe to streaming subscribers over the next few years. Most notably with the newly announced series Strange Adventures. But while the show will have one core character in the form of Adam Strange, it will apparently be at least somewhat of an anthology.
The DC series should commit fully to the idea, giving its creators the chance to expand more and more into the DC Universe. This could be the perfect vehicle to introduce new characters to audiences, just like the comic that the show shares a name with.
STRANGE TIMES
HBO Max's Strange Adventures will focus on Adam Strange's various exploits across both Earth and Raan. Adam Strange is a human archeologist on Earth who finds himself suddenly transported to the far off planet of Rann thanks to a Zeta-Beam. There, he becomes a protector of the people, utilizing Rann's futuristic technology to save the day.
He also fell in love with Alanna, the daughter of a scientist who was able to help Strange discover the exact circumstances of the Zeta-Beams. The effects on the beam were always temporary, so he returned to Earth after a period of time.
The new series will reportedly be an anthology, giving the character the ability to travel around the entire DC Universe and interact with a host of different characters and settings. In a way, it's the DC answer to something like the upcoming Star Wars series, The Mandalorian, which has a similar structure, which allows the titular bounty hunter to interact with a wide array of elements from across his galaxy.
This conceit gives the show's creators a great deal of freedom in designing the series. It gives Strange an easy excuse to come across any of the various aliens or monsters that make up the larger DC cosmos. The series should take that opportunity for all it's worth. This could be the perfect way for the streaming service to test out new characters. In fact, that was part of the original intent behind the title.
THE BENEFITS OF AN ANTHOLOGY
The original Silver-Age comic series Strange Adventures was where various characters appeared for the first time, including the Atomic Knights, Animal Man and the Enchantress. Each of these characters would later be introduced to the greater DC Universe, helping flesh out certain elements of the developing world that would later be picked up and expanded on by future creators. That could be what this series does for the televised version of the DC Universe.
The series will be produced by Greg Berlant who helped develop the Arrowverse into the massive franchise it is today. Strange Adventures could be an opportunity to shepherd in ideas that were too ridiculous or obscure even for that universe, giving audiences a taste of something truly new before they have to commit to a whole series. The show could even be a good place to introduce backdoor pilots for other potential series. It could even build its own version of the DC Universe, allowing it to tie into other DC properties including the DC Universe streaming shows or even the Arrowverse.
Having an anthology where new characters and concepts can be tested out for the audience has always benefited superheroes. It's a chance to see what story elements connect with fans, both old and new. HBO Max and DC Universe seem willing to expand the number of superhero shows they produce, so this might be the best way to find new pieces of the comics to bring to the small screen. If audiences don't embrace certain elements, then they could be left behind. Yet, considering the upcoming Green Lantern series will be willing to explore the full galaxy as well, there's apparently plenty of willingness to go big and play with more absurd concepts.
Executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and showrunner/writer John Stephens, Strange Adventures currently does not have a release date.