Mystery in Space #69 is an issue of the series Mystery in Space (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1961.
Synopsis for Adam Strange: "Menace of the Aqua-Ray Weapon!"
While flying to meet up with the next Zeta-Beam in Antarctica, Adam Strange spots a dog -- which he surmises belongs to a US Meteorological expedition -- in danger of being buried alive in an avalanche. By saving the dog, both are struck by the Zeta-Beam and transported to the planet Rann.
There Adam finds that Alanna has been transformed into a sentient puddle of water. Alanna explains that thousands of years ago there were two species that were fighting over dominance over the planet Rann: The humanoids that became the rulers of Rann today, and a blue skinned race of savages known as the Kirri. The humans of Rann manages to defeat the Kirri and it was believed that they were extinct, until a few days ago a number of them resurfaced from vast ice caverns with a new "Aqua-Ray" weapon that would turn the people of Ranagar into sentient puddles of water.
As Alanna finishes her story, a member of the Kirri appears and uses the Aqua-Ray in Adam converting him into a puddle. The Kirri then collect all the liquefied people and bring them to an ice cavern, little knowing that the dog that Adam transported to Rann has stowed aboard their vessel. Upon arrival the Kirri's cavern, the people are restored to normal, and encased in ice as a monument to Kirri supremacy.
While the Kirri are fetching another load of liquified humans, the dog arrives and frees Adam from his icy entombment, and Adam prepares a trap for the aliens by making a ice statue shaped like himself and shooting it out of the cave. While the returning Kirri are distracted, Adam steals the Aqua-Ray and uses it to turn the surviving Kirri into sentient puddles. After freeing the people of Rann, the Zeta-Beam wears off and Adam and the dog are returned to Earth.
Adam returns the dog to a US meteor-logical research base, where he learns the dog's name is Chunky and is thanked for rescuing him.
Appearing in Adam Strange: "Menace of the Aqua-Ray Weapon!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Alanna Strange
- Chunky (dog)
Antagonists:
- The Kirri (First appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Duel of the Star Gladiators"
During a interplanetary hand-to-hand tournament fight, a scientist of Kayador mind-switches the rival warrior and a Earthling.
Appearing in "Duel of the Star Gladiators"
Featured Characters:
- Dave Parker
- Dojar Gann
Supporting Characters:
- Alice Murray
Antagonists:
- Ulvor Wromm
- Morg
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Kayador
- Betelgeuse
- Syallis
Items:
- Psychi-displacer
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Star Rovers: "What Happened on Sirius-4?"
Appearing in Star Rovers: "What Happened on Sirius-4?"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- Star Rover space vessels
Notes
- Adam Strange: "Menace of the Aqua-Ray Weapon!" was reprinted in The Adam Strange Archives Vol. 2, and in Strange Adventures #229 (1971)
See Also