From beyond the Unknown #3

(February-March 1970)

When Earth Turned Into a Comet! (Table of Contents: 1)

comic story / 8.67 pages (report information)

Script

Gardner Fox (credited)

Pencils

Carmine Infantino (credited)

Inks

Joe Giella (credited)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Job Number

S-334

First Line of Dialogue or Text

It is with particular pride that we present this story! Originally published in 1963 -- more than six years before Earthmen landed on the Moon --- it may be closer to reality now than it was speculative then!

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Col. Alan Parker; Captain Tom Edwards; two other Earth astronauts; Mogullians (aliens)

Synopsis

Astronauts on the moon see several strange mirages, then encounter aliens who plan to destroy the Earth.

Reprints

• from Strange Adventures (DC, 1950 series) #150 (March 1963)

Keywords

abounding oddities; aliens; astronauts; caption added or modified; Moon; outer space setting

Indexer Notes

Credits for script, pencils and inks confirmed from Julius Schwartz's editorial records, provided by DC Comics.

The opening caption was clearly added or rewritten in view of the first landing of man in the Moon about six months earlier.

Prisoner of the Electric Eye! (Table of Contents: 2)

comic story / 5.67 pages (report information)

Script

John Broome (credited)

Pencils

Gil Kane (credited)

Inks

Frank Giacoia (credited)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Job Number

S-335

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Four open doors stared the prisoner in the face -- yet he couldn't escape from his cell!

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Kly Toler; intelligence captain; Jedro

Synopsis

Master escape artist Kly Toler is sent by the Solar Intelligence Service to infiltrate a sporting club on Saturn, from which a plot is believed to originate that will set Saturn and Earth to warring against one another. On Saturn, Toler must bring all his escaping expertise to bear when he is imprisoned in a cell with four open and unguarded doors - yet is inescapable.

Reprints

• from Mystery in Space (DC, 1951 series) #53 (August 1959)

Keywords

Earth; escape artist; imprisonment; outer space setting; Saturn; undercover mission; war

Indexer Notes

Credits for script, pencils and inks confirmed from Julius Schwartz's editorial records, provided by DC Comics.

Possible error in story: On Page 2, Panel 3, Kly Toler is told by his superiors: "We suspect the Sport Club of Saturn is plotting to embroil Earth and Saturn in a war!" On Page 4, Panel 2, Kly Toler confronts the man behind the plot: "You -- a member of this military clique, Jedro -- out to trick Earth and *Pluto* into war!"

Throughout the story all references to the planet to be set against Earth are to "Saturn" - with the one above-cited reference to "Pluto". Possible error?

[Haunted House Parties] (Table of Contents: 3) (Expand) /

DC Comics; House of Mystery; House of Secrets / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.33 page (report information)

The Space Hermit (Table of Contents: 4)

comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

Sid Gerson (credited)

Pencils

Henry Sharp (credited)

Inks

Henry Sharp (credited)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Job Number

S-336

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Will the first visitors from another world come to Earth in peace -- or to wage war?

Genre

science fiction

Characters

alien; Dr. Kennedy

Synopsis

The World Series is disrupted by the uncontrolled landing of an alien sealed within an impenetrable and inescapable transparent bubble. Who is he, and why is he here? Astrophysicist Dr. Kennedy is determined to find out.

Reprints

• from Strange Adventures (DC, 1950 series) #34 (July 1953)

Keywords

alien; baseball; caption added or modified; impenetrable bubble; mystery; puzzlement; World Series

Indexer Notes

Credits for script, pencils and inks confirmed from Julius Schwartz's editorial records, provided by DC Comics.

One of the teams participating in the World Series would appear to be the Detroit Tigers, given the uniquely stylized letter "D" on their uniforms. However, the stadium as drawn appears to be New York's Yankee Stadium, with its well-known facade atop the upper deck, the shape of the playing field. and even some familiar-looking Bronx, NY buildings beyond the centerfield walls. But, both being in the American League of Major League Baseball, the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers could not face each other in the World Series, which fields the champions of the American and National Leagues.

A caption at the bottom of the final page appears to have been added as a transition from this story to the next story in this issue, "Escape from Earth!". As these two reprinted stories originally appeared in entirely separate titles and issues, an editorial addition must be assumed.

Escape from Earth! (Table of Contents: 5)

comic story / 7.67 pages (report information)

Script

John Broome (credited)

Pencils

Murphy Anderson (credited)

Inks

Murphy Anderson (credited)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Job Number

S-337

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Jon -- You're flying us straight toward the sun!

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Jon Dwight; Sue Dwight; Vestos (investigative automations); Clark Demming; Dor Demming;

Synopsis

Two young scientists, Jon and Sue Dwight, flee 30th Century Earth, where receiving the "gift" of immortality has become compulsory.

Reprints

• from Mystery in Space (DC, 1951 series) #61 (August 1960)

Keywords

exploring; immortality; outer space setting

Indexer Notes

This story has nothing to do with the previous story, "The Space Hermit", save the (apparently) added closing caption's attempt to tie them together - see Notes above.

[It's Your Turn to Push, Doll-Boy!] (Table of Contents: 6) (Expand) /

DC Comics; Sugar and Spike / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.33 page (report information)

Messages from Beyond (Table of Contents: 7)

Messages from Beyond / letters page / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

Job Number

S-341

Keywords

letters of comment

Indexer Notes

Reader comments on the first issue of From Beyond the Unknown, including a letter from future comics writer Martin Pasko.