Showing posts with label Journey Into Unknown Worlds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Journey Into Unknown Worlds. Show all posts

Journey Into Unknown Worlds #19: "The Man Who Went Too Far!"

Journey Into Unknown Worlds #19
"The Man Who Went Too Far!"
April, 1959

Story: Unknown
Art: Richard Doxsee

Martin's theory was correct, but the world would have been better off if
it had gone unproven.  With the ray in operation, York was worried that
they were taking science too far.  At this point, they couldn't stop now,
and in moments, he would know if he was either a scientific genius or an
utter fool.  What would happen if he were proven correct?  What if they
found a life form from outer space?  York continues to smoke his pipe and
tells his friend that some things should be left alone.  A life form from
outer space would be unsolid, and would not belong on Earth.

For an alien such as this, the Earth's atmosphere would be solid, and
potentially fatal.  If the cosmic magnet ray should work, it will draw an
alien life form to them.  As a scientist, Martin is aware of the
consequences, but there is no time to turn back now.  The scientist finds
that he cannot stop the ray, and York sees something beginning to form
within it.... A transparent man, a shadow without substance appears
within the confines of the ray.  He is an example of a life form able to
exist within the vacuum of outer space.  They see that the alien is
puzzled and confused.  York wants to turn off the ray and return him to
his own world.  Although he feel sorry for the alien, Martin has been
waiting too long for a chance like this.  He tells York that the ray
cannot harm the smoky alien, and his attempts to communicate will make
the scientist famous.

Five days are spent trying to analyze the alien's structure and
communicate with him.  It seems hopeless to York, who believes that if
more rays were built, more life forms would be taken from their own
worlds.  It took a while to make up his mind, but now, York was now ready
to demolish the ray.  Thinking that Martin was fast asleep, York made his
move towards the scientific device, but a hand grabbed onto his arm
before the wrench did its damage.  KRAACK!  When York recovered from the
punch, he found Martin with his head down, as if in prayer.

The ray worked too well, and now Martin wished that his friend had
succeeded in destroying it.  During their fight, both of them fell
against the ray.  It now pointed straight down, with the power coming on.
Martin had found the footprints after that.  York did not understand at
first, but his friend explained it to him.  If a life form existed in
outer space, as well as on Earth, what about within the planet itself?  A
life form which could pass through rock as humans pass through the air,
and as the alien passes through a vacuum... a life form with an
incredibly dense structure.  Such a creature would have unimaginable
strength, and would be virtually indestructible.  York begins to
understand, with the ray tilted at a downward angle, just such a creature
was now brought into their world from below...  The footprints were the
remaining evidence, footprints which were ten inches deep in solid rock,
and were heading now towards the city.

This story was reprinted in Amazing Adventures #22 (January, 1974).

The art by Richard Doxsee resembles the style of Al Williamson.

York is a pipe-smoker, who wears glasses, wears a brown hat with a blue
band, favors red shirts, and brown pants.

If Dennis the Menace's father hadn't married Alice, he'd look like York.

Martin has reddish-blonde hair, wears a white shirt, tan jacket, purple
pants, and blue boots.

If Bobby Darin had decided to become a pugilistic scientist instead of a
crooner, he'd look like Martin.

Steve Chung
"The Review That Went Too Far!"

Journey Into Unknown Worlds #17: "The Ice Monster Cometh!"

Journey Into Unknown Worlds #17
"The Ice Monster Cometh!"
April, 1953

Script: Unknown
Art: Gene Colan

Fred Hammer had come to enjoy Wintersville's gay carnival atmosphere.  He
finds the place to be little more than a city-sized morgue.  Mr. Hammer
is now less than impressed by the travel advertisements.  THUMP  THUMP
His knocking ran up and down the street, until finally a face peered out
to him from an open window above.  When he asks for a room for the
evening, the owner tells him that they do not take in guests that they
don't know.

Fred Hammer can't help but notice the "tourists welcome" sign, and is
given the advice that he should get off the street as soon as possible.
If no one lets him in, then how can he hope to do so.  When Hammer knocks
on another door, the frightened face peers out, and tells him about the
Ice Monster.  After pounding on more doors, each person tells him the
same story, and recommends that he leave town before the Ice Monster
comes.  When he asks what he's supposed to do about a room, Fred Hammer
is directed to Tobin's Inn on Glacier Mountain.  Not wanting to stay on
the streets any longer, Hammer walks up the lonely mountainside.

Despite the bright lights of Tobin's Inn, the large chalet was silent.
After Fred knocks, the oak door opens, and the woman listens to his story
about skiing.  Lucille Tobin introduces her husband, who invites the
out-of-towner to join them for dinner.  When Fred starts to mention the
Ice Monster, Jeffrey cuts him off, and insists that he doesn't want to
hear about such a thing.  His wife tells them that half the town has seen
the Ice Monster, but Jeffrey Tobin just wants to run a business.  It's
gotten so that there's been talk of the innkeeper being the Ice Monster
himself.

When Lucille tells him that they are down to their last log, Jeffrey
Tobin goes to chop more wood.  The guest offers to help the innkeeper's
wife with the fire, and learns that she hopes to share more than some
heat.  Fred Hammer sees that Lucille is afraid of her husband, but she is
more interested in their lone guest.  He knows that the wife is a lonely
woman and is not in love with Jeffrey.  Lucille has only got eyes for
Fred, and she knows that it won't be difficult to get her husband out of
the triangle.  The guest isn't so sure that they'll get away with it, but
the innkeeper's wife tells him that they will place the blame on The Ice
Monster.  As the wife prepares to hurl a large chunk of ice from the
roof, Fred Hammer asks Jeffrey Tobin about the ski run.

The innkeeper hears the hiss when the ice slides down the roof and the
couple hear the crunch when it falls upon him.  Fred Hammer knows that no
human being could have survived such a impact.  Lucille tells him to get
his coat, while she does something outside before they go.  After getting
his coat, Fred stops dead, and sees the large footprints freshly made in
the snow.  The late innkeeper's wife has made them as "proof" that the
Ice Monster was the killer.  Lucille Tobin laughs as she heads for the
stable for the horse and sleigh.  She is now free of her husband forever.
Fred Hammer can only ponder how Jeffrey Tobin had treated his wife to
merit such treatment.  He waits alone in the cold, dark night, and the
crack of a whip breaks the silence.  Fred offers to drive, with Lucille
telling him that they must head to Wintersville, and inform the police
about her husband's death at the hands of the Ice Monster.

CRACK  The authorities will believe their story, having heard of the Ice
Monster before.  Fred Hammer wonders if Lucille Tobin believes in it,
too.  The late innkeeper's wife knows that many people in town have seen
the creature, but she doesn't like to think about it.  Lucille is more
concerned about her future with Fred, the man she loves, and hopes to
marry in town.  The whip continues to crack, with the horse racing
faster, and the sleigh's runners made hissing sounds through the snow.
She waits for his answer, and hears that he wants her.  The sleigh picks
up speed, then swerves away from the road leading to Wintersville.
Lucille Tobin sees this and hears that Fred Hammer's voice has changed.
Now, it is the wind which screams around them, as its moans are heard
through the frozen woods.  The innkeeper's wife wonders why they've come
here, and if Fred wants her, he should take her back to town.  She turns
to him and sees that Fred Hammer did want her... but so did the Ice
Monster.

This story was reprinted in Chamber Of Chills #12 (September, 1974).

On the cover of Chamber Of Chills #12, we see a woman who is enjoying how
the snow has made everything beautiful.  She notices the sudden drop in
temperature, but does not see that her male companion has been frozen in
place by the Ice Monster towering behind them.

I'm struck by the lettering for the title of this story, and wonder if
Gene Colan had lettered it himself.

Today, the gay carnival atmosphere of a town could have quite a different
meaning today than it had in 1953.

"Keep A'Knockin' But You Can't Come In" was sung by Little Richard.

The quest for a hotel room at night is continued annually in San Diego
each year.

Fred Hammer is wearing snowshoes, which leave a large trail in the snow,
and foreshadowing later developments in the story.

The innkeeper goes outside for more wood, but gets more ice than he can
handle.

Although Lucille had lit the fire, it was Fred who mis-sled her about his
intentions.

The wife who had killed her husband in cold blood was the perfect mate
for an Ice Monster.

Steve Chung
"The Ice Monster Revieweth!"