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Strange Adventures 117

STRANGE ADVENTURES #117

Cover Date: June 1960
Cover Price: $.10
Publication Date: 1960-04-26

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Cover Credits:
Pencils: Gil Kane
Inks: Murphy Anderson


Story: "Challenge of the Gorilla Genius!" (9 Pages)

Credits:

StoryGardner Fox
PencilsCarmine Infantino
InksJoe Giella
EditingJulius Schwartz

Comment(s):

As this story is not part of DC Universe continuity, it will not be fully indexed.


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Second Story: "The Rise of the Atomic Knights!" (8 Pages)
The Atomic Knights

Credits:

StoryJohn Broome
ArtMurphy Anderson
LetteringGaspar Saladino
EditingJulius Schwartz

Feature Character(s):

The Atomic Knights (first appearance of team; see Comments)
Gardner Grayle (first appearance; a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, and considered "an exactly average soldier;" next in issue #120/3)
Marene Herald (first appearance; sister of Douglas; next in issue #120/3)
Douglas Herald (first appearance; a school teacher and brother of Marene; next in issue #120/3)
Hollis Hobard (first appearance; former soldier and brother of Wayne; next in issue #120/3)
Wayne Hobard (first appearance; former soldier and brother of Hollis; next in issue #120/3)
Bryndon Smith (first appearance; a scientist; next in issue #120/3)

Villain(s):

The Black Baron (first appearance; a warlord hoarding needed supplies)
the Black Baron's personal army (first appearance for all)

Other Character(s):

citizens of Durvale (first appearance of all)
Grayle's fellow soldiers (in flashback; presumably all die)

Location(s):

Durvale (first appearance; not named)

Comment(s):

This story takes place in late 1986 or early 1987, as presumed from the existence of a newspaper. World War III had lasted 20 days, as per the newspaper's date of October 29, 1986. Earth had suffered a devastating atomic war in which "...all plants and animals were killed! Food can't be grown anymore!..." and the remaining food stores are either scarce of hoarded. Many are recovering from temporary amnesia following the destruction. The Atomic Knights are formed when Grayle discovers six suits of medieval armor in a museum can fend off nuclear radiation. They decide to become a force for justice in the remains of civilization.
It is revealed (retconned) in DC Comics Presents #57 that the entire environment of the Atomic Knights is dream of Gardner Grayle's.

Story Reprinted in:

Strange Adventures Vol. 1 #217 (March-April 1969)
Strange Adventures Vol. 1 #218 (May-June 1969)
DC Super-Stars #2 (April 1976)
Mysteries in Space: The Best of DC Science Fiction Comics (Simon and Schuster) (October 1980)
The Atomic Knights ([May] 2010)
Showcase Presents: The Great Disaster Featuring the Atomic Knights (2014)


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