One of my first major projects on this website was to create a page for the Wonder Women of History about the backup feature in golden age Wonder Woman comics which chronicled some of the achievements of famous women throughout history.  As I was recently looking for the first appearance of Space Cabbie in "Mystery in Space" (yes, I have a weird obsession with the character) I ran across a similar backup feature called Giants of the Telescope.  This one detailed the accomplishments of famous astronomers (though none were women but there were some female astronomers in Wonder Women of History).  For those that know me, you know that I like science and so with near compulsiveness I set off to document these feature as much as possible.  At the same time this gave me a sort of crash course in Mystery in Space, a series which has been sitting in my father's comic book collection but one which I never looked at.  As opposed to the hard science of the famous astronomers instead there were series within the series featuring such names as the Knights of the Galaxy and Space Ranger in completely soft science settings.  One of the longer running characters in the series was Adam Strange.  
    

I think it's some sort of kitsch idea of aerodynamics. As if in the 50's there was the idea that moving the head-fin would help direct you in flight... but that would put too much pressure on the neck ;)

I like it for nostalgia value. It's quirky & very quaint in a B-Movie way. But that is DEFINITELY one suit in need of a revamp ;)

You have to understand that characters like Adam Strange are modeled after old school science fiction characters like john carter, buck rogers, and flash gordon.  The outfit, including the headfin says, "adventuring spaceman."  His costume was designed to look as out there as possible.  Same way as the rocketeer.  Does it help him fly, no, if anything the headfin would probably increase drag slowing him down.  Yes, it is dorky, it makes about as much sense as wearing a scarf while riding a motorcycle but some things just are the way they are.

Congrats on getting featured, you deserve it, good article

Definitely a throw back to the classic golden age of scifi adventure heroes.

I love the headfin. Very ray-gun gothic.

@xerox-kitty said:

I think it's some sort of kitsch idea of aerodynamics. As if in the 50's there was the idea that moving the head-fin would help direct you in flight... but that would put too much pressure on the neck ;)

I like it for nostalgia value. It's quirky & very quaint in a B-Movie way. But that is DEFINITELY one suit in need of a revamp ;)

This.

I first encountered Strange in Justice League in the early 70's. I was immediately intrigued. The head fin was cool...to a ten year old and I was already all about the characters from the golden age, several of whom had head fins. Starman, Crimson Avenger, the Atom, to name a few, all sported similar and all seemed way cooler than the moderne characters.