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"Starman: "The Invaders from the Future"": A scientist invents a time travel sphere, but a mastermind calling himself The Unknown and his hirelings steal it for their own use. Flaming thunderbolts suddenly start to fall on fuel depots and refineries, prompting Woodley Allen to call Starman away

Adventure Comics #71 is an issue of the series Adventure Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1942.

Synopsis for Starman: "The Invaders from the Future"

A scientist invents a time travel sphere, but a mastermind calling himself The Unknown and his hirelings steal it for their own use. Flaming thunderbolts suddenly start to fall on fuel depots and refineries, prompting Woodley Allen to call Starman away from a resort visit in Florida for some off-the-books help with this perplexing case. After managing to use his Gravity Rod to harmlessly absorb another bombardment, Starman follows it back to its source, a fortress concealing a massive electrical cannon. When Starman starts to overpower his flunkies, Unknown escapes in the time machine, only to return shortly thereafter with the mastermind and a gang of metal-suited giants. Their stamina is greater than Starman's musculature, and by the time he decides the situation's desperate enough to warrant turning his Gravity Rod on his opponents, he realizes he's exhausted his weapon's power.

The Unknown reveals himself as Starman's old enemy, The Light, and prepares to execute him before nightfall. Fortunately, an eclipse occurs, creating starlight that the hero uses to recharge his Gravity Rod in the nick of time. When he fights the metal giants again, he knocks off the helmet of one, causing the man inside to choke to death because they can't breath the 20th century's polluted air. The giants disappear back to their own time, taking the time sphere with them.

Appearing in Starman: "The Invaders from the Future"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Light
  • Slugger (Single appearance)
  • Futurites (Helmeted man-monsters in bulky padded suits)

Other Characters:

  • Professor Juniper Grimm (Single appearance)
  • Captain Ryan

Locations:

Items:


Synopsis for Shining Knight: "The Stronghold of Savarr"


Appearing in Shining Knight: "The Stronghold of Savarr"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Savaar (Single appearance)
  • Beefy (Single appearance)
  • Buzz (Single appearance)
  • Monk (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Drew Frayne (Single appearance)
  • Mae Van Gelder (Single appearance)
  • Murphy (Single appearance)

Animals:

Synopsis for Steve Conrad: "Jungle Search"


Appearing in Steve Conrad: "Jungle Search"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Chang

Antagonists:

  • Savage Natives

Other Characters:

  • Ronald Wesley (Single appearance)

Locations:

Synopsis for Hourman: "The Stars Look Down on Murder"


Appearing in Hourman: "The Stars Look Down on Murder"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Mr. Stone (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Henry Marshall (Single appearance; dies)
  • Darius Carter (Single appearance)
  • Dr. Destiny (Single appearance)

Locations:

Items:

Synopsis for Manhunter: "Crime Strikes at Home"


Appearing in Manhunter: "Crime Strikes at Home"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Mr. Kirk (Paul's Dad) (First appearance)

Antagonists:

  • W. Wentworth Vandle

Synopsis for Sandman: "Adventure of the Road of No Return"


Appearing in Sandman: "Adventure of the Road of No Return"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Satan (Single appearance; dies)

Notes

Trivia

  • Starman story:
    • The cover imagery implies Starman fights enemies from ancient Egypt, instead of the far future.
    • Light steals the time machine in 1941, perhaps in the last months. He returns from 2000 years in the future in 1942. Why he had not attacked in 1941 (or any other year at his choice) is a mystery.
    • Since Grimm knows the secrets of time-travel, it is unknown why he was not part of Time Trust.
    • The story shows that the Gravity Rod can only be recharged by the starlight at night. Why our Sol can't recharge it, even being a star, is unknown.


See Also


Links and References

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