We begin with Adam Strange in "The Mechanical Masters of Rann" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #65. Rann is visited by the Mechanimen, a group of robots built on another planet designed to protect the human race and protect them from all weapons. The robots destroy all weapons on Rann in an attempt to end all warfare. When Adam Strange arrives, he suspects trouble so he hides his ray-gun. Adam then convinces the Ranagarans that the Mechanimen are treating humans as children, and he believes they should stand up and fight. Adam retrieves his gun and a secret cache of weapons, but the Mechanimen destroy them as well.
When an alien attack force arrives, the Mechanimen defend Rann and force the aliens to surrender. However, the robots run out of power at the last moment. Adam was able to gain control of some alien weapons and chase off the remaining invaders, before his return trip to Earth via the Zeta Beam.
Next is "Glory Ride to Pluto" by John Broome and Sid Greene and reprinted from Mystery in Space #59.
That is followed by "The Counterfeit Earth" by Otto Binder and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Mystery in Space #35.
We next have "A Letter from the Future" by Sid Gerson and Frank Giacoia and reprinted from Strange Adventures #30.
Next is "Earth's Unlucky Day" by John Broome and Sy Barry and reprinted from Strange Adventures #40.
This is followed by Adam Strange in the new illustrated prose story "The Magic-Maker of Rann" by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson. Adam Strange returns to Rann where he is greeted by Alanna. Instead of a warm greeting, she slaps him, then storms away. Adam finds that all the people of Rann seem to be acting contrary to their usual nature. To get some answers, Adam knocks a guard unconscious. When he begins waking up, Adam questions him. Adam learns that a magic rainbow appeared in the sky. It granted everyone magical powers. The more the people used the powers, the more contrary they behaved.
Adam traces the rainbow to a small laboratory. Inside is a scientist who has recently died. From his notes, Adam learns that the scientist created the rainbow and the magic, but a meteorite corrupted it. Adam seeks out the meteorite which has transformed into an energy-being impervious to normal weapons. Adam, now possessing the magic from the rainbow, uses that to combat it. This tactic also fails, and Adam fears that he will soon be affected by the contrarian side-effect. Eventually, Adam encases the creature inside a lead sheath which prevents its unique radiation from escaping. With the creature defeating, everyone on Rann returns to normal. This has been reprinted in 52: The Companion TPB and Adam Strange: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC.
We end with our cover-story, the Atomic Knights in "When the Earth Blacked Out" by John Broome and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Strange Adventures #144. Bryndon returns to Durvale injured in an encounter with strange mole men. The other Atomic Knights ride out to meet the mole men. They discover the invaders from underground are using plants called Ki-Moli, to envelop the Earth in darkness.
The Knights are turned back in their initial encounter with the mole men, but they take a prisoner with them. By questioning the prisoner, the Knights learn the mole men are weakened by light, so they gather fireflies to use as weapons. The Knights then place the fireflies inside pumpkins and use them as light bombs against the mole men, chasing them back underground.
After destroying the Ki-Moli, the dark cloud above the Earth dissipates. The Knights also learn that it was the mole men who triggered World War III.
Edited by Julius Schwartz.
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