RAUMPATROUILLE "Deserteure" (Deserters)

Buckle up, space cadets, as we rejoin the crew of the SpaceShip Orion!

McLane is given a super-weapon called "OverKill" that he's to install on Earth outposts, but the Frogs can now mind-control humans...including the Orion's crew.

Will the space fleet have to destroy the Orion to keep OverKill out of the Frogs' possession?

Note: We've tried to embed the English subtitles, but if they don't come up automtaically, go to the "gear" icon on the lower right, and set them manually.)
Be here next Friday for another astounding adventure!

Reading Room WORLD OF FANTASY "What Went Wrong?"

You think you've prepared for every contingency...but is that truly possible?

Can anyone always account for the "human" factor?

Illustrated by Bob Forgione, whose credits at Timely/Atlas included a number of sci-fi stories including an issue of Speed Carter: SpaceMan, this never-reprinted tale from World of Fantasy #1 (1956) is one of those "average guy inadvertently saves the world" tales that writers (in this case, unidentified) love to tell.

Reading Room STRANGE TALES "Save Me from the Weed!"

Yesterday's tale about sentient shrubbery reminded me of a later story...

...with a similar plot, featuring some amazing art by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers!

Unlike the previous story, this one doesn't diminish the dignity of the hero, whom the protagonist considers "unambitious"...until the end.

Plotted by Stan Lee and scripted by Larry Lieber, this tale from Atlas/Marvel's Strange Tales #94 (1962) was published with a cover date of March, the same month Fantastic Four #3 came out (note the blurb at the bottom of the story).

Strange Tales itself would shortly become the home of several ongoing series including Doctor Strange, The Human Torch (and The Thing), and Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.!

Reading Room WORLD OF FANTASY "Useless Ones"

As more and more Baby Boomers retire, will the vast number of retirees still be considered...

Or will they finally get the respect they deserve, and perhaps even envy from stressed-out workers?

This never-reprinted tale from Atlas' World of Fantasy #1 (1956) takes a rather patronizing attitude towards the older characters.

And, if written today, the scientist might be shown as envying the retired couple, who are able to enjoy their now-free time!

Ilustrated by Tony DiPreta, the story's plotter/scripter is unknown.

Reading Room SILVER SURFER: THE ULTIMATE COSMIC EXPERIENCE Part 3

We Have Already Seen...

...though he lost the battle against Galactus, the Silver Surfer's rebellion caused Galactus to spare the Earth so he could imprison the Surfer on it.

The tale now diverges totally from the story we've known since 1966...going off on previously-unseen pathways...

Needless to say...

TO BE CONTINUED!

As previously-mentioned, the Ultimate Cosmic Experience graphic novel was based on an unproduced screenplay for a Silver Surfer feature film with Olivia Newton-John as Ardina.

But who would've been the other major new character; Master of Guile?

I think I know...Vladek Sheybal!

Well-known for villain portrayals in From Russia with Love and the original Casino Royale, Sheybal had expanded to sympathetic roles like Dr. Jackson on UFO.
And this clip from the little-seen The Apple (produced in the late 1970s) shows he could carry a tune.
And doesn't the Master of Guile look like Sheybal?