Atlas Adventures & Timely Tales

Continuing our look at comic book stories edited by the great Stan Lee!

Invaders From - - ?

The sense of dread in the 1950's caused by the threat of communist aggressors can't be underestimated. America had come through a war a few years before, only to find itself part of a vague, undeclared war with an enemy that just might somehow manage to succeed. The subject of invasion came up again and again in the comics, sometimes in the form of open aggression, but more often in the form of secret subversion...sometimes by Communists, but just as often, by things not even human. Here are some examples:

The Man in the Shadows: 5-page story drawn by Mort Drucker and written by an unknown scripter. Apart from being a good example of Drucker's pre-Mad art, and of Atomic-era uneasiness, this story also displays the effects of the Comics Code Authority (a censorship board set up to convince magazine distributors and retailers that comic books are wholesome for children). One of the original rules is that criminals never be shown getting away with their crimes; as a result, the writer had to indicate in the last panel that the spy is going to turn himself in, despite the fact that he plainly will pay the penalty without the help of the authorities. Either way, it doesn't ruin the story.

The Monster! 3-page story drawn by Ed Winiarsky and written by an unknown scripter, from Adventures into Weird Worlds #12, 1953. This is a cute one.

Old John's Secret: 5-page story drawn by Bill Everett and written by an unknown scripter, from Strange Stories of Suspense #7, 1955. Apart from being an odd little tale, this displays the distinctive skills of Sub-Mariner creator Bill Everett.

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