What are the Terranauts?

According to an affluent member of the Baltimore Gun Club (circa 1895), a Terranaut is an individual who: investigates Earth’s strangest anomalies, seeks answers to the world’s bizarre secrets, creates a report between the known and the unknown, uses his or her talents to help strengthen the bond between man and earth, and fights the good fight against those who would subjugate the truth or twist the dark forces to do their bidding.

Where are they from?

They come from around the world, each a specialist in his or her own field.

How did they originate?

In the late 1870s, when adventurers from the Baltimore Gun Club traveled to the American west to confront a horrific, gargantuan arachnid, they discovered a need for professionals, like themselves, who would rise to any occasion at any time to combat any force that would jeopardize the planet and its inhabitants.
Yet, while the Gun Club members had the inner resolve, military experience, and financial backing, they felt they did not possess the insight and knowledge in specific fields to truly understand the mind and/or makeup of their opponents. They approached others, specialists in their respective fields, inviting them to be a part of a new “team” of professionals to further their self-inspired cause.
(Dedicated though they may be, the many teams throughout the decades are filled with men and women who have private, public, professional or personal lives that occasionally intertwine with the organization’s obligations. There have never been nor are there now any hard and fast rules to follow, no bylaws to break. And, as they grow older, these scientists and adventurers pass along the torch to others who are just as dedicated.)
Since 1889, there have been many such people. Men and women dedicated to protect the Earth and its myriad forms of life. These people, of varied skills and educations, are approached to help their fellow man and, while not all who are called upon embrace the concept, they realize the need for such an organization and the people serving.

Are there many Terranauts?

The Baltimore Gun Club approached one of its own members in the fall of 1889 to research and assemble an adequate team of professionals. By 1895, the first group of Terranauts was established. Since then, there have been five more teams of which only one member has ever done ‘double-duty’ (see DuPre).
(An interesting aside: Up until 1931, there were no ‘official’ emblems, symbols, uniforms, etc.)

What’s the publishing history of the Terranauts?

Paul Daly and Don Secrease (see members pauldaly and donsecrease) created the Terranauts in 1985, with Fantasy General publishing the 1st issue in ‘86. The 2nd issue was ready to go when Fantasy General ceased operations. Thirteen years later, Paul and Don brought the Terranauts back for the online site, adventurestrips.com. Paul and Don decided to focus on one of the other 20th century teams and, since both creators enjoy drawing the 50s era, it was decided they would concentrate on those members.
The comic strips here start with what originally appeared in adventurestrips.com all those years ago.