One of the most hyped comic book launches going into the year is Strange Adventures, a new maxi-series by the award-winning team of Tom King, Mitch Gerads and Evan "Doc" Shaner. Published on DC Comics' mature readers-oriented publishing imprint DC Black Label, the upcoming series stars Silver Age cosmic hero Adam Strange and his wife Alanna. As the couple retires to Earth, Strange is haunted by the actions he committed during a war to save Alanna's home planet of Rann while a new threat arises, endangering the entire DC Universe. After previously previously pitting Mister Miracle and Big Barda against each other in a war for the fate of the Fourth World, anticipation is running high for the creative team's new story...but who exactly is Adam Strange?
Created by longtime DC editor Julius Schwartz and Murphy Anderson and first appearing in 1958's Showcase #17, Strange was a man from Earth who regularly traveled between his planet and the faraway world of Rann in the Alpha Centauri system. Strange frequently teleported between Earth and Rann using a special type of ray called the Zeta-Beam.
After a successful three-issue run on Showcase, Strange starred in the series Mystery in Space for nearly 50 issues, including a fan-favorite team-up with the Justice League of America. After his solo stories was discontinued, Strange remained a recurring character throughout the DCU before receiving his on back-up feature running the pages of Green Lantern.
An archaeologist exploring ancient ruins in Peru, Strange stumbled across Rannian technology and was transported to Rann by the Zeta-Beam. Rescued from the planet's feral creatures by a woman named Alanna, Strange learned the Zeta-Beam was developed by her father Sardath to teleport intelligent life to Rann to help them defend the planet from extraterrestrial threats. Agreeing to help him, Strange would outfit and arm himself with Rannian technology; he fell in love with Alanna as he faced interplanetary threats. After the Zeta-Beam's radiation wore off, Strange would be teleported back to Earth, but he devised a formula to determine when and where the Zeta-Beam would strike next to return to Rann and Alanna, eventually marrying and raising a daughter with her.
As a humble archaeologist, Strange lacks superpowers of his own but possesses keen intellect from his studies and travel. Strange is quietly among the most advanced scientific minds in the DCU, having reverse-engineered Rannian technology by himself after extensive study of the planet. He is also a master tactician, leading the planet's defenses and commanding its armies in more than one interplanetary conflict. Strange's spacesuit allows him to undergo interstellar travel, with a powerful jetpack and a bodysuit and helmet that protect him from harsh conditions. Strange's main weapon of choice is a Rannian laser pistol, but he has employed Holo-Blasters to create hard light projections for even more powerful weaponry and shielding.
Later, Strange modified the Zeta-Beam technology into his suit to use offensively and allow him to travel between worlds at will. However, a freak Zeta-Beam accident robbed him of his sight, leading to ocular implants that allow him to see the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
After the secret actions of Superboy-Prime in the events leading up to Infinite Crisis, Hawkman's home world of Thanagar was moved from its normal position in outer space, causing massive environmental damage. An influx of Thanagarian refugees led to them going to war against Rann, with Strange stopping the conflict from escalating after discovering Superboy-Prime's handprints on Thanagar and revealing his role in instigating the war. Strange later founded New Rann following a holy war, before joining Vril Dox to join the latest incarnation of R.E.B.E.L.S.
Adam Strange has reappeared sporadically throughout the DC Rebirth era, most notably present at the founding of the United Planets and Rebirth debut of the Legion of Super-Heroes. With Strange Adventures published as a DC Black Label title, it is unclear how much -- if any -- of the upcoming story takes place in the main DCU and how much of his classic comics history will carry over. The new series may be a totally fresh twist on the character.
What we do know is that Strange is still very much a soldier defending Rann and he is still in love with Alanna. With the fate of the DCU under fire, this Strange Adventurer will be the one man most likely to save the day one last time.
Written by Tom King and illustrated by Mitch Gerads and Evan "Doc" Shaner, Strange Adventures #1 goes on sale March 4 from DC Comics.