Cross-pollination within the DC universe continues, as a villain from the Justice League of America #3 (Mar 1962), Kanjar Ro escapes from his imprisonment and surfaces on Rann, plaguing Adam Strange and his sweetheart Alanna. It turns out that Kanjar Ro has figured out a way to give himself triple super-powers thanks to the triple-sun of Rann.
Adam makes haste back to Earth by stealing Kanjar Ro’s ship, just in time to leave some evidence behind for the JLA and high-tail it back to Rann using a Zeta-beam. I don’t get why he couldn’t just explain to the JLA members in person what was going and then row back, or hitch a ride with the JLA but *shrug* he zeta-beams back to Rann while the JLA learn that Kanjar Ro has escaped.
Adam paralyzes everyone on Rann using Kanjar’s “Gamma Gong”, relying on the zeta-beam wearing off to send him _back to Earth again_ where he’s no longer paralyzed, and he finally catches up with members of the JLA. I like how the editors explain why this is the first meeting between characters, even though Flash suggested Adam Strange become a member of the JLA back in Feb 1961!
Anyway, the JLA and Adam finally converge on Rann once again to finally confront Kanjar Ro. Adam defeats him by deducing that if Kanjar got his powers like Superman, then metal from his home planet might act like kryptonite for him. Finally we see the Flash getting the idea to propose Adam Strange for membership… One mystery in space solved!
