Strange Adventures #2

Hot take here, but DC has what seems like a guaranteed critical and fan hit that will be referenced and acclaimed for years. Its only two issues in and it feels like the must-read non-event title of 2020. Read Full Review

Strange Adventures #2 may be even stronger than issue #1. By bringing Mister Terrific in with a significant character focus, King, Gerads and Shaner make this book about two heroes instead of one! Gerads and Shaner do exemplary work in the art and color department in this issue and really enhance King's script. This is great comics! But, only the complete story will deliver a verdict on King's motivation, treatise on morality in war or the destruction of a classic hero? Read Full Review

There isn't anything out there like STRANGE ADVENTURES. This is a story with philosophical complexity, and the same moral anguish of one of its lead characters, Mr. Terrific. It's a story that's deeply concerned with a story's place in the world. All I know, is this particular story's place is on my shelf. Read Full Review

After issue #1 was released, word spread very quick about how incredible it was and many people were on edge waiting for this second issue and we were not let down. This issue lived up to everything we would have wanted and even though we had to wait a little this issue was well worth the wait! Strange Adventures #2 is available right now so head to your local comic shop and pick it up or you can also read it via digital download. If you are one of the few who missed out on issue #1, be sure to pick it up today if you can and get into this story on the ground floor. Make sure you hit the comments section below and let me know your thoughts on the issue. Read Full Review

Strange Adventures is back. Luckily this issue tells the other half of what went on during issue #1 so the gap does not hurt the series at all. Tom King is one of the best at creating 12 issue maxi-series and there is no question that this will be another fantastic one to add to your collection. Mr. Terrific in particular is going to be a stand out character going forward. Read Full Review

The two art styles shouldn't work together in any storyline but, alas, it does. I look forward to seeing what this creative team has in store for this comic coming up. Read Full Review

Gerads and Shaner execute the art perfectly in this issue. Gerads gritty, detailed Mr. Terrific pages are the perfect film noir style of realism. Shaner perfectly balances that with a comic book style that is both beautiful and colorful. Both parts create a beautiful whole that is fun to experience. Read Full Review

With ten issues to go, I have little doubt there's many more twists and turns in this superhero detective drama ahead of us. Read Full Review

Strange Adventures #2 manages to one-up the first without even pushing the present timeline forward. It deepens its mystery by muddying the waters of the truth even further while doing some terrific character building underneath. The artists play off of each other incredibly well, exemplifying King's tight scripting. Books like this don't often come from the Big Two, and it thrills me to see chances being taken. Read Full Review

Overall. Not a bad issue. But a bit more action would have been nice. Read Full Review

Excellent art combines here with a thought provoking, extremely timely story. It's well worth picking up. Read Full Review

If you like sad heroes with a personal conflict, but more importantly, Black super genius detectives, then Strange Adventures #2 is out here to tell you that you should be reading this series. Read Full Review

This is a fascinating series thanks to the duo artistic team, the meditative approach to its characters, and the deeper meaning underlining everything. King is incredible at writing subversive stories that surprise and intrigue you later, when you think hard on what you've read. It's a reading experience that is very rewarding. Read Full Review

I expect Strange Adventures to be a slow build in a lot of ways for obvious reasons and the whole pandemic and three-month delay doesn't help things. That said, it was easier getting back into this than I expected and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next in this story now that Michael Holt is on the case and things are ramping up well in the flashback side. I really just want a beautifully illustrated Adam and Alanna series, however, that shows off Rann and just lets them have some domestic bliss for a while. Is that too much to ask? Regardless, Gerards and Shaner put in a fantastic work here that delivers a lot of engaging material and has me wanting to see a lot more of what's going to come. Read Full Review

Gerads' grounded storytelling is well juxtaposed against the jaunty stylings of Shaner " both have collaborated with King previously, and that existing bond is likely what causes the book's formal gambit to succeed. Read Full Review

The issue is interesting in that it feels a bit like a distraction from the story set forth in the first issue. But, it's a really intelligent issue as it sets up the qualifications of the person who will be "trying" Strange. It lays out the case as to why this is the right person with the issue acting like a resume and defending the choice for the story. Read Full Review

Michael Holt and Adam Strange are on a collision course to determine what is really true about the spacefaring superhero. Read Full Review

So, while there are some strong moments in Strange Adventures #2, I cant help but feel like it spent a little too much time meandering. I appreciate wanting to build character, and I expect this character work will help payoff once the finale comes around. But, as I am reviewing this issue, and not the story as a whole, it does fall a little flat. Hopefully next issue will better utilize those extra pages that come with the Black Label imprint. Read Full Review

Slowly and methodically, King and his art team are starting to build something that could become really special in the long run. Read Full Review

While this issue is hard to rate as it's own isolated thing, I found it a mixed bag between good and boring.  I love both Gerads and Shaner's art, and I hope that this will be a book I can recommend by the end. Read Full Review

Where the book does not disappoint is the art. Mitch Gerads and Doc Shaner are two of the best artists in DC's stable, and they back that reputation up here. Read Full Review

It's unreliable narrative is far more intriguing, but spread out across an issue with so little to offer becomes a forgettable afterthought as Strange Adventures already struggles to justify the "12-issue maxi-series" label touted on its cover. Read Full Review

Watchtower022

Jun 29, 2020

Giving this an extra .5 for Terrifics 🍑

Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln

Jun 17, 2020

A lot of buildup showing newcomers what kind of character Mister Terrific is. Constantly quizzing himself, with the help of his T-Sphere. This was probably the most Tom King portion of the book. He loves to use dry and casual scenes of characters doing what they do. Building up expectations for the reader. "Sometimes it appears you're in 3rd, but you're actually lapping the ones ahead of you" The scenes of Doc Shaner are all beautiful. The writing seems to be setting up some deeper themes of racism or colonialism. Mitch Gerads' art is perhaps on par and sometimes better in my opinion than on Mister Miracle, but they have completely different styles. My only concern is how this read as a second issue. It definitely leaves you wanting more t han what was given, an issue that will be completely solved without the delays and being placed inside a trade. more

allenquanobi

Jun 16, 2020

I liked this issue a decent amount, even if it doesn't really progress the plot forward. The entire issue is basically a dual flashback for Mister Terrific and Adam Strange both, and pencilled by Gerads and Shaner respectively. And it's really cool to see the duality of both the main players in the boook, how one has had success throughout most of his career, while the other barely gets any recognition despite his many accomplishments. It provides a lot of great character depth to both of these characters who I haven't really read before. The art is amazing, Gerads and Shaner knock it out of the park, and hopefully can continue hitting. The dialogue also flows very well, it reads like a noir book, even though no mystery has happened ye t or has been brought up. And there's the main gripe for me so far, is that I'm not sure what the plot is supposed to be. I know it's about the murder in issue 1, but this issue doesn't forward that plot at all, so I'm not sure if it's supposed to be important. Then there's the issue with his daughter, who may or may not be alive. I trust King enough with maxi-series to be able to finish it out satisfyingly, but patience does wear thin for most people, and I can only take the parallel dialogue and thoughtful word bubbles for so long. Recommend, but contingent on if the next few issues can continue to hook me. more

Nickweiser

Jun 21, 2020

I really enjoy how Mister Terrific is being portrayed!

Ryan

May 24, 2025

Really good comic but they really couldve cut down on all the scenes of Mr Terrific trivia 😭😭shit was like 50% of the whole issue

Quirky Genin

Jun 16, 2020

Doc Shaner’s stuff here outshines all else, seems King and Gerard’s just wanted to flex Mr. Terrific (hardly clothed throughout answering all of life’s most pointlessly complicated questions). Hoping for a bounce back in 3.

AdmiralWhiskers

Jun 16, 2020

I enjoyed this book and apparently am blessed in that I don't know a ton about either Strange or Terrific. I gather there are some continuity consistencies that are maddening. Pacing is fine, character development is a slow burn (which is fine in a miniseries where there's a definite end in sight). Art by Gerads and Shaner is very professional. I'm enjoying the 3-panel "cinematic storyboard" style of the book as a changeup to pretty much everything else out there. I have heard speculation that this entire title is a larger rumination by author Tom King over having been rejected by the masses post-HiC and Batman after being so successful prior (Mister Miracle, Vision, etc.). If true (and the "war hero/fraud" positioning makes me th ink the former CIA guy is speaking from experience), King is a tortured soul who's working through some stuff. I get the juxtaposition of the two Strange stories with different artists, but I wish that the Shaner role was performed by someone even MORE "comic-y", with a stylized approach that made his self-recalled stories more fantastic and fictional. A Darwyn Cooke style, or a stylized Jack Kirby, would have been perfect. But overall, a very good story with very good art. King appears to do his best when nobody's paying attention. more

Sky788

Jun 17, 2020

I think this issue will be better once read within the whole of the series. I believe sprinkled within the conversations between Terrific and his T-Spheres we will find the answer to the point of the whole series. That's the only reason I rated so highly. What this issue WILL mean later on. For now, I do enjoy the characterization of Mr. Terrific and the Rann stuff is neat albeit intentionally confusing. Either way I cant wait to read this in full come a year.

Señor Smokey

Aug 06, 2020

-Some have problems with the trivia, but i see it as one of the smartest characters using a tool to keep his mind from pacing plus i enjoy seeing him navigate his daily life.(rather than dwell on his family) -I believe the green knight dialogue is metaphorical to strange -The art on raan is beautiful -Kind of a filler issue, but still enjoyable

JHugh

Sep 08, 2020

This issue is getting it warmed up a bit better than the first. Headed in the right direction.

TSMack

Jun 12, 2021

The artwork is good. King's pacing is slow in this issue. I'm sure this is to stretch this out to 12 issues. The amount of trivia is annoying and may be considered as taking shortcuts in the writing. Since Terrific knows all the answers, why not use the T spheres' audio to learn something NEW? How does Terrific know that Aleea is still alive? Tell us! Strange might want to bone up on how to survive in the desert before his next trip there. He didn't know that heat fouls up the jetpacks beforehand?

Jacks Comics

Jun 18, 2020

Did not really see the point of all the trivia

Spacey Medicine

Jun 19, 2020

I’m a little wary of the idea that being a smart person means that you’re just able to regurgitate a bunch of facts. But I’m still interested in the mystery so I’m not letting my annoyance at having to read a bunch of random facts get to me.

+ Like • Comments (1)

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• Psycamorean
• Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln

Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln - Jun 20, 2020

What if you're the *3rd*(*cough*1st*cough*) smartest person in a fictional superhero universe?

Liem Duong

Jun 20, 2020

I actually liked how King handled this issue. At face value, this seems like a filler issue with King wasting people's money on stuff that doesn't matter. The thing is that this issue is critical to understand where this story goes. In the first issue, we learned a multi-view scenario of Strange. With this issue, we learn about Strange's past through the eyes of Mr. Terrific, in turn also learning more about him and how he is going to approach investigating Strange. It may seem slow to many and even useless to the story given all the trivia in this issue, but I think this foreshadows how Holt thinks, discovers and approaches his investigation moving forward. Evident by Holt's realization about Strange's concern of his daughter. This issue also implies why Batman wanted Mr. Terrific to investigate Strange. How King handles subtly building up an approach to this mystery of Strange's acts of crime is done with the his classic dialogue and tropes found in his past works, but still evolving his style with the use of Mr. Terrific's T-spheres. The art styles between Shaner and Gerads really reflect the two stories and two styles of story-telling in this issue. Going from page to page down to panel to panel, it really contrasts hammers down the contrasts of such genres, a critique of the sci-fi genre handled side by side with a modern flare, but flows together in unison. King is also handling the characterization very well. King always had a knack for using C-list characters and making something truly innovative and new out of them given creative control. He did it with Vision, MM, Omega Men, and Strange Adventures is just another addition into his collection. more

Michaelbn

Jun 20, 2020

Tom King somehow is doing decent with C-listers.

REYNARD

Jun 16, 2020

Oh my god guys! The issue titles are quotes by creators from the industry! They may or may not have anything to do with Adam Strange whatsoever, but it's so pretentio...I mean creative! Tom King is a visionary! GIVE HIM ALL OF THE EISNERS!!!

Psycamorean

Jun 17, 2020

Well, this was fine, I guess.

Ulf

Jun 17, 2020

It's hard for me to review this without knowing about King's previous works, specifically Vision, Mister Miracle and Heroes in Crisis Among his other work. But this just seems like same old, same old. And trying to 'show' Mr. Terrific's genius by simply having him answer a series of trivia questions? That's so reductive it hurts. I love the characters of Strange and Terrific, hope the series does something with them other than make them the same as characters already seen in King's other works. And the Doc Shaner art is nice.

ohhaimark

Jun 17, 2020

This comic: 90% pointless trivia 10% actual story Loved the art, though.

Doctor Clu

Jun 22, 2020

Wow, what a story so far. As a long time Adam Strange fan I realize he is mostly forgotten in DC lore. And then DC does one of three things with him. 1) have him cameo in a shot 2) He makes a good team up appearance 3) DC decides to use the "too good to be true", or "The Awlful Truth" trope in a solo appearance. We saw this in 1992 in the "Adam Strange" mini series with Richard Bruning, Andy Kubert, and Adam Kubert. None of those are on this project it seems, so this is a new group saying "Disposable jetpack hero, let's write a suspense story." Not liking where this current series is going. Strange is on top. He has a book, he's getting the key to the city. Everyone loves him, but there is some doubt. And then a cr itic comes up dead? When you start at the top in a story, there is only one way to go. Then we bring in Mister Terrific. Wasn't a fan of all the trivia either, however, did show to me how cold and calculating, in the vein of "fair play”, Mister Terrific could be. And yet to paraphrase, "Everyone likes Strange but they didn't put me on a lunch box when I won medals" has me wondering if Mister Terrific is yet another disposable hero in this project that is also heading for disaster in this story? So you have a man who is too good to be true, and a man who is already biased in finding negative in this man. Is the point to find guilt, establish innocence, or find fact? I doubt in his bias and obvious jealousy Mr. Terrific will be able to find fact. Add to this Strange playing the victim to be the hero (again paraphrasing) "If you've read my book you've seen we've been through a lot...". Oh man... this is not going to be good. Hey Strange has been through some scrapes before, many many times. Been through the Hero’s Journey, redemtion, then was allowed to be the jet pack hero for a while in the last two decades. And now this story. In this age of social media facts, morals, and ideas have become twisted. What was right yesterday is not right today... according to those that are more socially popular. DC owns this character, writers naturally influenced by current events, so they are the more “popular” ones in this case. And in current trends we see that tides change, and heroes are disposed of in the pursuit of ratings, likes, and laughs. I see a lot of that in this story already. A product of the current times. Looks like Strange will be a throw away character for a few sales. I hope I’m wrong. However, if I’m right, just like after 1992, writers will rebuild Strange, sweeping a one time sensational story under the rug, and let Strange be who he is: a quick thinking hero with a jet pack and a ray gun. Sometimes we just need a fun escape. I do enjoy a good “heros are not so heroic” story. I love Watchmen, glad they made new characters for that story. Maybe they should have made new characters for this story too rather than throw a beloved character of 60 years under the bus. more

Nihilist

Jun 17, 2020

Yes, this issue most definitely is filler. And now think - it's merely #2, and it already is exactly that. What a Tom King thing to do, isn't it? I gave the series a blank credit of trust when the debut issue came out - it did not make me interested, but nonetheless I refused to criticize it due to my lack of knowledge regarding the titular character and his lore. With this comic, in comparison, I ask myself is there even any lore to expect in the series? Feel free to bash me for being so harsh, but try not to be when half of the book shows Mr. Terrific answering random trivia questions to show how smart he supposedly is and then he concludes Adam Strange's lying about somthing. I'm sorry, but I can't give this issue a poitive score. It felt like an utter waste of time and even great art can't save it. It neither progresses the story any further nor offers insight in the main characters' psyche, show what motivates them, really. And even if you liked the series so far, and/o a fan of King's work, I think you'll agree with me on how empty this issue is. more