robotswithpersonality's review against another edition
Incredible. Up there with Mister Miracle as a peak example of what the superhero graphic novel is capable of. Parts feel like a political thriller, parts like a scifi epic, parts like a military/veteran story, and there's also these classic adventure tales vibes working as a foil against the darker subject matter. The medium allows for exploration of the age old question, what does it mean to be a super hero, to try to set an example, to feel the need to save everyone, to have great power and still not be guaranteed to save everyone, while struggling with the ethics inherent in heroism, the things a hero shouldn't, wouldn't do when trying to save people. Then there's the nature and trauma of war, the decisions of a few that guide the fates of thousands, the idea of being a POW, tortured, only to be asked to join the fight again, a veteran living with violence committed for a cause.
From what little I knew going in, I thought I'd see Mister Terrific more, but even given this was my introduction to his abilities: how do you effectively include a person who knows almost everything in a story with a central mystery, except as a catalyst for starting an investigation and then revealing all? He's handy to have around because it means looking at the role the truth plays, in politics, in war, in families, in your own identity. I think I'll seek out books more focused on his character, see if I can get a different angle on him, especially considering the change for him presented by this ending.
Alanna feels like a subject matter all her own - being 'the woman behind powerful men', her father, her husband, being the one orchestrating a campaign or the one being manipulated, being a strategist, a victor, a mother, a person in love.
And hey, Batman cameos! 🦇
Will now read anything this team (Tom King and Mitch Gerads also did Mister Miracle) puts out.
From what little I knew going in, I thought I'd see Mister Terrific more, but even given this was my introduction to his abilities: how do you effectively include a person who knows almost everything in a story with a central mystery, except as a catalyst for starting an investigation and then revealing all? He's handy to have around because it means looking at the role the truth plays, in politics, in war, in families, in your own identity. I think I'll seek out books more focused on his character, see if I can get a different angle on him, especially considering the change for him presented by this ending.
Alanna feels like a subject matter all her own - being 'the woman behind powerful men', her father, her husband, being the one orchestrating a campaign or the one being manipulated, being a strategist, a victor, a mother, a person in love.
And hey, Batman cameos! 🦇
Will now read anything this team (Tom King and Mitch Gerads also did Mister Miracle) puts out.
laissezfarrell's review against another edition
2.0
If it’s a Black Label title why are all the swears bleeped out?
jekutree's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely a sequel of sorts to Sheriff of Babylon and Omega Men, both books dealing with war and the ethics of it all. I really love Tom King so I’m for sure biased, but this is one of my favorite of his works. Def his cleanest looking work. Mitch Gerads and Doc Shaner must’ve some sort of competitive spirit here because it seems like they’re trying to out do each other which makes for some compelling art.
I love the looser panel structure of this one. More or less copies the New Frontier 3 panel structure with occasional divides in the wide screen panels. Of course, you’ve gotta have the 9 panel grids.
Not a really a fan of the last issue honestly, but I loved issues 1-11.
9/10
I love the looser panel structure of this one. More or less copies the New Frontier 3 panel structure with occasional divides in the wide screen panels. Of course, you’ve gotta have the 9 panel grids.
Not a really a fan of the last issue honestly, but I loved issues 1-11.
9/10
misterjt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
amck's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
joshgauthier's review against another edition
5.0
Ow. Whenever I think I'm braced for what Tom King will do to me, he delivers another surprise.
As with King's run of Mister Miracle, this was my first encounter with this character--and as with that miniseries, Strange Adventures is a whole lot more than a superhero adventure. Hero of a war the home planet of his wife and child, Adam Strange has returned to Earth, joined the Justice League, and settled into his role as protector. But beginning with a single murder, questions begin to arise. Is Adam Strange a hero or a war criminal? What really happened during the war in Adam's past? What do those secrets mean for the future?
King's complex storytelling is not diminished in this 12-issue run. With nuanced characters, morally gray situations, and a sweeping scope of events, King's writing is epic and complicated, but ultimately is the story of two people, their family, and the traumas visited on them from without and within. Strange Adventures nestles comfortably within the DC Universe while also charting its own course. With cameos from familiar characters--as well as a key role given to the less-familiar Mr. Terrific (in one of his best incarnations that I've read)--this DC world feels even larger as humans, heroes, and others find their lives caught up in the fate of these Strange Adventures.
Bringing King's story to life, the incomparable Mitch Gerads and Doc Shaner each tell the past and present stories of Adam Strange's life. The two art styles help clearly separate the timelines, and both artists bring their full talent to the the action, the intrigue, and the joy and heartbreak of the comic.
Strange Adventures is a superhero story, a war epic, a noir, a family drama. It packs an emotional punch and a wealth of emotional complexity. When the secrets are revealed, will Adam Strange be a hero, a villain--or is he, like many people, something more complicated than either of those titles convey?
As with King's run of Mister Miracle, this was my first encounter with this character--and as with that miniseries, Strange Adventures is a whole lot more than a superhero adventure. Hero of a war the home planet of his wife and child, Adam Strange has returned to Earth, joined the Justice League, and settled into his role as protector. But beginning with a single murder, questions begin to arise. Is Adam Strange a hero or a war criminal? What really happened during the war in Adam's past? What do those secrets mean for the future?
King's complex storytelling is not diminished in this 12-issue run. With nuanced characters, morally gray situations, and a sweeping scope of events, King's writing is epic and complicated, but ultimately is the story of two people, their family, and the traumas visited on them from without and within. Strange Adventures nestles comfortably within the DC Universe while also charting its own course. With cameos from familiar characters--as well as a key role given to the less-familiar Mr. Terrific (in one of his best incarnations that I've read)--this DC world feels even larger as humans, heroes, and others find their lives caught up in the fate of these Strange Adventures.
Bringing King's story to life, the incomparable Mitch Gerads and Doc Shaner each tell the past and present stories of Adam Strange's life. The two art styles help clearly separate the timelines, and both artists bring their full talent to the the action, the intrigue, and the joy and heartbreak of the comic.
Strange Adventures is a superhero story, a war epic, a noir, a family drama. It packs an emotional punch and a wealth of emotional complexity. When the secrets are revealed, will Adam Strange be a hero, a villain--or is he, like many people, something more complicated than either of those titles convey?
haddocks_eyes's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
connerzeuli's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bill_borowski's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
I really enjoyed it for the most part, not a huge fan of the ending but it might grow on me. The artwork is gorgeous though and is worth a read for that alone.
crookedtreehouse's review against another edition
4.0
By far, one of the best books DC has put out in ages. But that's a pretty low bar in 2023.
Tom King books are always a wonderful, devoted nod to past continuity while staying just outside the current messes. Here, Adam Strange is regarded as a war hero on Raan, but when a major threat to Raan's existence shows interest in conquering Earth, his actions in the Rannian war come into question, and Batman and Mr. Terrific have to puzzle together the truth behind what happened on Rann.
This was my favorite use of Mr. Terrific, and makes me want to go back and read more of his history.
There were some slight annoyances, the ending was oddly paced an unsatisfying, and it seemed like the "pew pew" laser effects were overused. I'm not sure they were. I think ifthe effect had been anything else, it wouldn't have been as noticeable, but every time I saw "pew", I cringed a bit.
If you're a fan of Adam Strange, or the silver agey sci-fi space comics, Tom King's work on [b:The Vision|35838422|The Vision (The Vision, #1-2)|Tom King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1517387406l/35838422._SY75_.jpg|57347085], [b:Mister Miracle|39208001|Mister Miracle|Tom King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1548140055l/39208001._SY75_.jpg|57475638], or [b:The Omega Men: The End is Here|25790655|The Omega Men The End is Here|Tom King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470552239l/25790655._SY75_.jpg|45641527], then this is probably going to be a four or five star book for you.
Tom King books are always a wonderful, devoted nod to past continuity while staying just outside the current messes. Here, Adam Strange is regarded as a war hero on Raan, but when a major threat to Raan's existence shows interest in conquering Earth, his actions in the Rannian war come into question, and Batman and Mr. Terrific have to puzzle together the truth behind what happened on Rann.
This was my favorite use of Mr. Terrific, and makes me want to go back and read more of his history.
There were some slight annoyances, the ending was oddly paced an unsatisfying, and it seemed like the "pew pew" laser effects were overused. I'm not sure they were. I think ifthe effect had been anything else, it wouldn't have been as noticeable, but every time I saw "pew", I cringed a bit.
If you're a fan of Adam Strange, or the silver agey sci-fi space comics, Tom King's work on [b:The Vision|35838422|The Vision (The Vision, #1-2)|Tom King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1517387406l/35838422._SY75_.jpg|57347085], [b:Mister Miracle|39208001|Mister Miracle|Tom King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1548140055l/39208001._SY75_.jpg|57475638], or [b:The Omega Men: The End is Here|25790655|The Omega Men The End is Here|Tom King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470552239l/25790655._SY75_.jpg|45641527], then this is probably going to be a four or five star book for you.