Mystery in Space #67 is an issue of the series Mystery in Space (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1961.
Synopsis for Adam Strange: "Challenge of the Giant Fireflies"
On the planet Rann, Alanna arrives in near Lake Abonadda to await Adam's arrival on via the Zeta-Beam, however instead of Adam materializing there is instead a flame-creature that quickly makes an escape. On Earth, Adam realizes that the Zeta-Beam has not struck, and wonders if another creature intercepted it again (Much like in Mystery in Space #55) 6.5 days later, Adam intercepts the next scheduled Zeta-Beam in the Antarctic and soon finds himself transported in an area on Rann that is on fire. Alanna arrives and tells Adam that the fire was caused by their own doing. She explains that in order to solve a food shortage, the people of Ranagar had found a way to grow large vegetables, the only problem was that when a species of firefly ate the vegetables they themselves grew to enormous size. These giant fireflies would generate enough heat from their bodies to cause everything in the area to set on fire. Learning that ray guns have no effect on the giant bugs, the scientists of Ranagar created Oxyspray guns to spray the fireflies with a chemical that would kill them.
With her story finished, Adam helps Alanna kill the last of the giant fireflies. Returning to the lab, Adam explains what happened when the last Zeta-Beam attempted to strike the Earth, explaining that it must have struck a nearby sun the was flaring out, explaining the arrival of the flame creature that Alanna encountered.
Realizing that the room is getting hotter, Adam and Alanna go out to investigate what's causing the temperature to rise and soon find more than one flame creature jumping about Rann. The overhear that the flame creature was amazed by being transported to a world which has properties unlike it's home, and when it was returned when the Zeta-Beam wore off he returned to show some of his colleges this strange new world.
With the temperature climbing and none of their weapons working against the flame creatures, Adam begins devising a new plan of attack. Using a vinegar and baking soda mixture, Adam shows the scientists of Rann a method of fire extinguishing. Finding that some of the fireflies are still alive, Adam has them rounded up and he, Alanna, and a number of other people from Ranagar to ride the bugs with large payloads of the fire retardant. They kill the first two creatures, however Adam allows the last to leave warning it that if it or any others from his sun come to Rann they will be destroyed.
To celebrate their victory, Alanna and Adam visit the polar region of Rann to do some skiing, however as they are enjoying the sport, the Zeta-Beam wears off and Adam is sent back home to Earth.
Appearing in Adam Strange: "Challenge of the Giant Fireflies"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Giant fireflies (Flashback and main story) (Single appearance)
- Sun-beings (Flashback and main story)
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Earth's Sun
- Alpha Centauri
- Rann (Flashback and main story)
Items:
- Adam Strange's Ray Gun
- Oxispray Gun (Flashback and main story)
- Rannian Jet Pack
- Zeta-Beam
Synopsis for "Language-Master of Space"
Appearing in "Language-Master of Space"
Featured Characters:
- Gideon Karr (Flashback and main story) (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Klyarans (Flashback only) (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Sfarrans (Flashback only) (Single appearance)
- Skrann (Flashback only) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Callistan (Flashback only) (Single appearance)
- Dhu Ghar (Mentioned only)
- Kleevan Kat (Flashback only) (Single appearance)
- Sporrans (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Arcturus-4 (Single appearance)
- Balmorak (Flashback only) (Single appearance)
- Balmorak Spaceport
- Dellagro (Single appearance)
- Gran (Single appearance)
- Klyara (Flashback only) (Single appearance)
- Proganus (Single appearance)
- Slistilyssa (Single appearance)
- Solonar (Flashback only) (Single appearance)
Items:
- Delayogas bomb (Mentioned only)
- Fire Gem (Single appearance)
Synopsis for "Mystery Message from Fort Nova"
Appearing in "Mystery Message from Fort Nova"
Featured Characters:
- Major David Manders (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Solar Legion of Space (Single appearance)
- Kym Habor (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Karangarians (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Fourth Dimension
- Rigel
- Zssa (Single appearance)
- Fort Nova (Single appearance)
- Zssa (Single appearance)
- Solar System
- Karangaria (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Ozonicer (Destroyed) (Single appearance)
Vehicles:
- Flammarion (Single appearance)
Notes
- Adam Strange: "Challenge of the Giant Fireflies" is reprinted in Adam Strange Archives, Volume 2.
- "Language-Master of Space" is reprinted in From Beyond the Unknown #23
See Also