Mystery in Space #71
Mystery in Space #71
Cover Credits
Penciller: Carmine Infantino
Inker: Murphy Anderson

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Title: "The Challenge of the Crystal Conquerors"
Pages: 17

Feature(s):
Adam Strange (of Earth-1)

Writer: Gardner F. Fox
Penciller: Carmine Infantino
Inker: Joe Giella

Reprinted In:
Strange Adventures #231 (1971)
Adam Strange Archives Vol. 2 HC (2007)
Showcase Presents:Adam Strange Vol. 1 TPB (2007)
Adam Strange:The Silver Age Omnibus HC (2017)

Feature Character(s)

Supporting Character(s)

Villain(s)

  • Kathifran, Tragdol, and renegade crystal people from Karalyx (no further appearances)
  • Akabubu (an electro-nuclear brain; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

  • Several Ranagarans and the Karalyx police (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Adam Strange is welcomed back to Rann by his lover, Alanna. She makes a plea to Adam to help against the crystal creatures of Karalyx who are invading the planet. Adam develops a sound weapon with which he thinks can be used against them. When the weapon fails, Alanna reveals that she is Kathifran, one of the crystal creatures in Alanna’s body.

The creatures have switched bodies with the Ranagarans to avoid being destroyed when the Karalyx police arrive. Adam’s mind is exchanged with that of Tragdol, another crystal creature, then he and the real Alanna are tossed into a lake.

Using the water intake passage, Adam, Alanna, and other displaced Ranagarans secretly reenter the city. Inside the water conduit, Adam notices that the chlorine in the water weakens the crystal bodies. Adam sneaks into a supply room and gathers concentrated chlorine, distributing it to the others. Adam then makes contact with the being responsible for exchanging bodies. He orders it to change everyone back to normal, then uses the chlorine against the invaders.

The police of Karalyx soon arrive and take Akabubu, the brain responsible for the body-swapping with them. All the other renegades were killed by the chlorine. Adam is rewarded with a kiss from Alanna before being sent back to Earth by the Zeta-Beam.


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