Paul Zuckerman just posted elsewhere: What I am reading now: Vol 1 of the DC Adam Strange Archives. Although I have most of the original issues, including the Showcase issues, and have the 70s reprints of those issues that I dont have, I am reading the archive this time. The 70s reprints omitted all of the Mike Sekowsky-drawn Showcase issues except for those in the first issue, which, coincidentally, was the only issue that I read as a kid (borrowed it from my friends brother.) I came in during the Mystery in Space run sometime after the first year or so, probably around or after I read the origin reprinted in the first giant Secret Origins in 1961. What a classic strip! Easily the best SF book of the era. Gardner Fox always gave Adam a seemingly unbeatable menace to defeat- and Adam, using just his brain, always puzzled out the way to do so, just before he would fade out and return to Earth from Rann. The early Sekowsky stories show a somewhat primitive Rann but Carmine Infantino infused the planet with his usual sleek futuristic skylines. It was a beauty to read, especially when Murphy Anderson joined the artistic team. And how can one forget editor Julie Schwartz in the mix? Adam was never the same after Schwartz and his crew departed in 1964 for battier pastures. But, in this first volume, the early Adam takes shape, in mostly shorter stories, not the double or full length stories of the later years. Still, its a pleasure to see Adam and Alanna again. Great reminiscence, Paul! My spread on AS in the Infantino chapter of my Silver Age book (all art by Infantino/Anderson, the Ditko of Adams Strange!)
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 17:32:07 +0000
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