Strange Adventures #9

Strange Adventures #9 refocuses the reader on the main themes as the final leg of the series begins in the final three issues. While there are still lots of questions that remain unanswered, King, Gerads and Shaner have developed an intensity and immediacy to the series that is nearly unparalleled. Even if you haven't read the first eight chapters, this issue is enough to get a new reader on board. Read Full Review

When all is said and done, Strange Adventures #9 continues to slowly unravel the narrative with skill, grace, and precision. It has been a long journey, and there is still a bit more to go, but if King and company can continue to deliver like this it will be worth every page. Read Full Review

This has been a great journey thus far. It has been one of the better mini-series DC has put out in recent years as well. Read Full Review

This issue pretty much sees the fallout from Batman's investigation into Adam Strange and it with brilliant how writer Tom King handles the talking heads on the news. The whole comic is pretty much a clever comment on public opinion and how it can be manipulated by the media. Alanna's speech on the news shows that she appears on felt rather Trumpian in its approach to acknowledging that there was truth in the allegations made toward Adam Strange. Indeed, she absolutely goes all out in selling Adam Strange's actions as those of a war hero. Rhetorically asking the audience if they want someone that will win by punishing the enemy. Or if they want the JLA who will fight by the rules. It's a reminder that war is not civilized. Read Full Review

This is probably going to be the most divisive issue of Strange Adventures, and I think that's entirely by design. Tom King has never been one to shy away from tricky concepts, but this issue feels personal in a way none has since The Sheriff of Babylon. Read Full Review

With a handful of issues left, Im hoping King devotes enough time for the payoff and the repercussions of this big reveal. I feel a lot better about Kings ability to stick the landing after this issue. Read Full Review

If you are like me and want to see amazing artwork and really good writing, you certainly can’t go wrong with this book by Tom King, Mitch Gerads, Doc Shaner and the rest of the crew. Get ready for a feast of the eyes! Read Full Review

Gerads and Shaner deliver some beautiful visuals to both parts of this story. I continue to be impressed with the styles and how they compliment each other. Read Full Review

DC Comics' STRANGE ADVENTURES might have answered lots of questions, but it hasn't sacrificed any of its mystery. It continues to be a title full of intrigue and action. This creative team are still doing some of the best work in the industry. Read Full Review

Strange Adventures continues to be a fascinating series to ponder and read over as we attempt to understand the characters and what they have done. It's unclear if there will ever be answers, but that's kind of the point. When it comes to war and retaliation, King, Gerads, and Shaner have shown it's all very complicated, and in the face of the perfect heroic model, downright horrifying. For that, Strange Adventures holds up a mirror to ourselves in a way superhero comics rarely do. Read Full Review

Strange Adventures continues to be the kind of project where you can definitely pull in from a lot of different things and have wildly different views because it's the rare book that's presenting real and concrete positions, actions, and complex situations to work from. It's not just a standard superhero comic in the traditional sense, which I thoroughly enjoy, but one that has a lot of layers to it that you can have conflicting opinions about. This installment hit a lot of things that stand out from the last few years in regards to how investigations are done and how information is withheld for a variety of reasons while still making damning claims about people. It's applied in interesting ways here that definitely makes you feel ambivalent at best about almost everyone while still feeling like there's a significant secret being withheld until the very end of the run. Read Full Review

Strange Adventures #9 is a reminder that even heroes can do horrible things and that reality is dirty. It shows us some of the horrible acts committed by Strange in his battle against the Pykkt. It also teases that there's so much more to it all. Strange Adventures #9 shows that even just wars can be fought unjustly. There's a debate left for the reader as to what lines can and should be crossed in battle. There's still a lot to go in the series and where it takes us from here should be an emotional ride. Read Full Review

Strange Adventures #9 is a tragedy. The art is great, as it has been the whole series, but the overall tone is just depressing. So, so depressing. Read Full Review

Strange Adventures #9 is another issue that feels like its just playing for time in a comic book that could have easily told its story in half the issues. Read Full Review

Strange Adventures #9 is a revolting and misguided defense of disgusting acts lacking all of the nuance required to grapple with the worst aspects of war. Read Full Review

As this issue stands, it is incredibly problematic (but has amazing art). It is possible, and hopeful, that these elements are addressed and refocused but the end of the series. Read Full Review

Avanvolk

Feb 23, 2024

Dang...this is heavy stuff.

Comics instrucciones de uso

Mar 30, 2021

Good, but still confusing.

TSMack

Jul 09, 2021

Something has happened to Aleea since the last issue. The Stranges say she is dead, but Terrific doesn't think so. He hasn't told us why yet. The JLA release their preliminary report publicly to distance themselves from Strange for PR reasons. Did Terrific ever get the Pykkt files to complete his report? Terrific is angered at Alanna's defense of what was done to the Pykkts. Does he really understand what the Rannians suffered? Strange leads his forces to remove the entrenched Pykkts from the city, but the JLA doesn't approve of the tactics he employed? Remember the scene where the Pykkt airships were bombarding the city? What is so 'honorable' about that? I just hope King can satisfactorily wrap up this series in the next three is sues. more

Brion Salazar

Mar 31, 2021

King shows us the complexities of war and the justifications people make to inflict horror on another peoples. This book, like much of King's work is confusing when taken a chapter at a time. He slowly peels back the layers of his thesis, only revealing enough to keep us entertained and yet, still guessing. I am intrigued watching him show more and more of Alanna's character (or lack thereof) and how she has gone from what once appeared to be an overprotective wife to a manipulative and ruthless politician who has influenced Adam to commit atrocities for her people. What was once a simple story based on the classic white savior trope, King and company are examining both the inherent flaws in the underlying plot device, and the dangers that come with fervent patriotism. Dehumanization of one's enemy is a tactic used by most armed forces and King is showing us that simple tales of good vs. evil are never that simple. As usual the art is beautiful and befitting the nature of the story. The unique usage of Gerards and Shaner in the two different timelines works so well it almost registers that there are two different artists working here. more

Psycamorean

Apr 05, 2021

I like the ideas here, I just wish it weren't so stretched out.

Spacey Medicine

Sep 15, 2021

A little fragment-y again, very Tom King in style.

Merlyn

Mar 30, 2021

I'm really tired of this COVID mask motif we see in a lot of comics today. Don't get me wrong, wear a mask, it's good for you, I just see enough of that in the real world, could I please escape from this nightmare at least in my comics or do I have to get tortured there too? King continues with his classic boring deconstruction: the pykkts are actually not that bad, they supposedly fought with honor even though we haven't seen a shred of honor from them so far but we have to take King's word for it. That's just bad writing. Alanna continues to play Adam like a fool and he's not the hero we all thought he was. Cool, we get that, but can we progress a little and get some answers? For 9 issues we got teases that the girl's not actually dead, h ow much more decompression do we need? more

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DVE - Apr 14, 2021

He was wearing a mask because he was doing a stealth mission.

TSMack - Jul 9, 2021

And to protect him from the poison gas he released.

DVE - Jul 14, 2021

That too

Merlyn - Jul 14, 2021

Regardless of the reason inside the book for which he was doing the mission, the parallel to COVID is pretty obvious, they could have chosen other types of masks, but no, they specifically chose this type of mask for "awareness" probably.

TheKize

Apr 01, 2021

At this point it's clear that while this is a decent story about the gray areas of morality in wartime, it's also something of a cynical deconstruction of a longtime DC hero. I'm not saying there are droves of Adam Strange fans out there or that I'm personally invested in him, but I wish King, Gerads, and Shaner could have found a way to make their point without executing a takedown of an established character.

C.V.R. The Bard

Apr 06, 2021

Overrated. Still. The paints are amazing but I stopped caring about the mystery surrounding this title long ago. Every time I pick this up is a chore. The Justice League lame as ever, and the only aryan heroes I show love are Super Saiyans - so sorry Strange, but you get no love here. Every month I wait for this title to end. Where is the fucking payoff? The only good scenes are with Mr.Terrific. King should have just wrote a story about Terrific. Why did he decide to write about this bum ? - Audiomack.com/cvrthebard