Captain Comet (Adam Blake) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, created by editor Julius Schwartz, writer John Broome, and artist Carmine Infantino.
Once a minor character in the DC Comics canon, he occupies a unique position in DC Comics history as being created between the Golden Age and Silver Age. His early stories fall into a no-man's land, sometimes referred to as "The Atomic Age" because of the recurrent science-fiction themes of most comics of the period, when very few superheroes comics were published and fewer than 12 short-lived superhero characters were introduced.
Adam Blake appeared in live-action The CW's TV series Naomi, portrayed by Chase Anderson.
Publication history The character of Captain Comet first appeared in a 10-page tale, "The Origin of Captain Comet", in the flagship science-fiction title Strange Adventures #9 (June 1951) published by National Comics (now known as DC Comics). He was created by Strange Adventures editor Julius Schwartz,"In an interview, Paul Kupperberg has explained that the inspiration for Captain Comet was Edmond Hamilton's Captain Future (a slight error—the Captain Future pulp stories were mainly written by Hamilton but the character was created by Mort Weisinger). At that time Hamilton was represented by Julius Schwartz, then a literary agent, later a DC Comics Editor—including editor of Strange Adventures". Interview with Paul Kupperberg by Michael Eury, p200 of The Krypton Companion ed. Eury, Michael (TwoMorrows Publications 2006) . John Broome, and artist Carmine Infantino, and the story was written by John Broome (under the alias Edgar Ray Merritt), drawn by Carmine Infantino, and inked by Bernard Sachs. The character was based on the pulp fiction character Captain Future.
His first appearance was actually a two-part story, continued in "The Air Bandits from Space" in Strange Adventures #10 (July 1951). From issue #12 (September 1951) Murphy Anderson took over as artist, and he drew all Captain Comet's further appearances in Strange Adventures until #46 (July 1954); Sy Barry and Gil Kane drew the last two stories. John Broome wrote every issue.
Captain Comet appeared in 38 issues of Strange Adventures (missing only issues #45, 47, and 48) and ending in Strange Adventures #49 (October 1954). From the beginning, Captain Comet appeared on most of the covers, mainly drawn by Murphy Anderson or Gil Kane. Stories ranged in length from six to 10 pages, dropping from 10 pages in 1951 to eight pages in 1952 and finally six pages from May 1953. He next appeared in 1976, when writer Gerry Conway and co-writer David Anthony Kraft reintroduced him as a supporting character in Secret Society of Super Villains, starting with "No Man Shall Call Me Master" (Secret Society of Super Villains #2 (July/August 1976)). He appeared in most issues of that title, together with the associated Secret Society of Super Villains Special #1 (October 1977), until it was cancelled with issue #15 (June/July 1978). During this run, he also appeared in Super-Team Family Giant #13 (September 1977), a story directly linked to the Secret Society of Super Villains series, and as lead character for the first time since 1954 in an extended story, "Danger: Dinosaurs at Large!" in DC Special #27, April/May 1977, by Bob Rozakis and artist Rich Buckler. Secret Society of Super Villains was cancelled as part of the DC Implosion. Captain Comet was a popular character at the time—he came second in a poll for potential Justice League membership, and writer Bob Rozakis presented DC Comics with a proposal for Captain Comet's first self-titled series."Here comes Captain Comet pt 1" – Bob Rozakis Answer Man website —http://www.comicsbulletin.com/bobro/99588498838532.htm'Here comes Captain Comet pt 2' – Bob Rozakis 'Answer Man' website – http://www.comicsbulletin.com/bobro/99649653780073.htm
After the cancellation of Secret Society of Super Villains, Captain Comet entered another hiatus, his appearances limited to guest spots in other DC titles during the 1980s. Four of these were cameo appearances—Crisis on Infinite Earths #5 (August 1985), #10 (January 1986) and #12 (March 1986), and All-Star Squadron #53 (January 1986). Two were team-ups with Superman—DC Comics Presents #22 (June 1980) and 91 (March 1986); the fourth was a retelling of his origin by Roy Thomas in Secret Origins vol. 2 Annual #1 (1987). He also appeared in the non-canonical series DC Challenge (1986).
He then became a supporting character in the L.E.G.I.O.N. series from issue #16 (June 1990). Captain Comet was a late replacement for fellow 1950s space traveler Adam Strange, who was planned as a regular character until potential continuity problems with the contemporary Adam Strange limited series became a concern.Editorial on letters page in L.E.G.I.O.N. ’90 #16 (June 1990). He was then part of the R.E.B.E.L.S. series which continued from L.E.G.I.O.N. That series was cancelled with R.E.B.E.L.S. '96 #17 (March 1996), and he had a solo story in Showcase '96 #10 (November 1996), after which another hiatus followed.
In 2005, under the writer Jim Starlin, Captain Comet had his highest profile in DC Comics publications since the 1950s, featuring in the Rann–Thanagar War miniseries (2005), starring in the eight-issue miniseries Mystery in Space vol. 2 (2006), and co-starring in Rann-Thanagar Holy War (2008) and Strange Adventures vol. 3 (2009), as well as appearing briefly in the 52 (2006) and Final Crisis (2008) events. Following that, he became a regular character in the ongoing R.E.B.E.L.S. series (2009).
In 2011, a revamped version of Captain Comet, renamed simply "Comet", featured in Grant Morrison's run on Action Comics.
Fictional character biography
1950s – Strange Adventures Captain Comet, the "first man of the future", is a metahuman "born a hundred thousand years before his time", in 1931 to John and Martha Blake, a farming couple from the American Midwest. His "metagene" was triggered by a comet passing overhead at birth.
Adam discovers his abilities while growing up. After leaving school, he becomes a librarian in Midwest City and learns of his mutant nature from physicist Emery Zackro. Zackro proposes that Adam is the reverse of an evolutionary throwback, "an accidental specimen of future man".Strange Adventures #9 (June 1951). DC Comics. After Adam prevents criminals from stealing Zackro's device, Zackro convinces him to become a superhero. His first public appearance as Captain Comet has him battle terraforming alien robots. During this time, Adam builds a spaceship based on Zackro's design named The Cometeer.
Over the next three years, Comet saves Earth from multiple alien invasions and explores space in The Cometeer, saving other civilizations and meeting alien damsels. During this period, he largely uses intelligence and his mind-reading skills to help solve problems, seldom resorting to physical solutions. Among his weirder adventures, Captain Comet battled alien Greek gods,"Secret of the Twelve Eternals", Strange Adventures #19 (April 1952). DC Comics. dinosaurs, and an evil super-powered ape."Challenge of Man-Ape the Mighty", Strange Adventures #32 (May 1953). DC Comics."The Guilty Gorilla", Strange Adventures #39 (December 1953). DC Comics. In 1954, Comet disappears during a space expedition.
1970s–1980s In 1976 Captain Comet returned to Earth, having not aged, with a new protective costume instead of a spacesuit, and enhanced skills—controlling his appearance mentally (although dressing in 1950s style)—and with a powerful physical punch as well as a mental force, super-speed, and an ability to manipulate objects. He also had an explanation for his absence—having always felt alienated from normal humans because of his abilities, he has been over 20 years in space."No Man Shall I Call Master", Secret Society of Super Villains #2 (July/August 1976). DC Comics. After misreading a battle between Green Lantern and Gorilla Grodd, and some trickery by Grodd, he ended up joining the Secret Society of Super Villains and battled Darkseid and the forces of Apokolips with them.Secret Society of Super Villains #2–5. DC Comics. Later he turned down full membership in the Justice League, but became an honorary member and took up residence in their satellite headquarters.Secret Society of Super Villains #5 (January/February 1977) After fighting Chronos and dinosaurs in Gotham City,"Danger: Dinosaurs at Large", DC Special #27 (April 1977). DC Comics. the Captain continued his crusade against the Secret Society of Super Villains despite a number of setbacks orchestrated by Gorilla Grodd.Secret Society of Super Villains #15 (June/July 1978). DC Comics.
Although present at the marriage of Ray Palmer and Jean Loring several months later,Justice League of America #157 (August 1978). DC Comics. Captain Comet remained off-radar for nearly two years, eventually contacting Superman when the effect of the comet that mutated him wore off, turning him into a human comet whose powers fluctuated wildly."Plight of the Human Comet", DC Comics Presents #22 (June 1980). DC Comics. With Superman's help he tracked down the comet and stabilized his powers. Superman's help was needed again six years later when the villain Brain Storm attempted to augment his waning powers by stealing Captain Comet's power, which accidentally evolved him to a more advanced form temporarily."The Brains That Stormed Metropolis", DC Comics Presents #91 (March 1986). DC Comics.
1990s – L.E.G.I.O.N. / R.E.B.E.L.S. He spent the next few years roaming space,L.E.G.I.O.N. 90 #18 (August 1990). DC Comics. before being captured by the space outlaw Dagon-RaL.E.G.I.O.N. 90 #16 (June 1990). DC Comics. despite his new powers including near invulnerability, telekinesis and increased strength. Rescued by L.E.G.I.O.N., he recuperated in their headquarters hospital and was invited to join them soon after,L.E.G.I.O.N. 90 #19 (September 1990). DC Comics. and did so a year later.L.E.G.I.O.N. 91 #29 (July 1991). DC Comics.
His involvement with L.E.G.I.O.N. was in a supporting role. He fell in love with fellow member scientist Marij'n Bek, who nursed him back to health and studied the massive headaches he frequently suffered. These were the result of his possession by a psi-creature in space before meeting L.E.G.I.O.N.; it was eventually purged by Vril Dox, leaving the Captain once again hospitalised for months.L.E.G.I.O.N. 92 #46 (November 1992). DC Comics. Soon after he was apparently killed by Lady Quark—who had been possessed by the same parasite. Buried under a mountain on Ith'kaa,L.E.G.I.O.N. 94 #63 (February 1994). DC Comics. he eventually dug himself outL.E.G.I.O.N. 94 #67 (June 1994). DC Comics. and used his knowledge to manipulate the savage indigenous population to achieve the technological level to build him a spaceship (explaining later, without irony, that it took six months to industrialize the tribal society because "they were slow learners").R.E.B.E.L.S. #11 (September 1995). DC Comics. Returning to R.E.B.E.L.S. homeworld of Cairn, he learned that Vril Dox's son Lyrl had brainwashed most of the L.E.G.I.O.N., made the key L.E.G.I.O.N. members fugitives, and taken control of Cairn; he and Maryj'n formed a resistance movement to free the population and overthrow Lyrl, and were key in successfully defeating him. As a result, Captain Comet became leader of the new, reformed L.E.G.I.O.N.R.E.B.E.L.S. 96 #16 (February 1996). DC Comics.
During this period, Captain Comet took up residence (with Tyrone, an artificially created telepathic clone bulldog) in The Zelazny Building on "Hardcore Station", a corrupt commercial satellite station with a population of several million in a free space zone between a number of trading civilisations.Mystery in Space vol. 2 #1 (November 2006). DC Comics.
Post 1990s Rann–Thanagar War