From Beyond the Unknown #8 is an issue of the series From Beyond the Unknown (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1971.
Synopsis for "Station Mars on the Air"
This story is reprinted from Mystery in Space #25.
A Martian envoy to Earth flies through an ion storm and finds human civilisation destroyed. When they return to Mars, they see humanity's buildings and realise there must be a time-warp between the planets. Humans are initially hostile, but the scientist Professor Benson and his assistant Willis invent a telepathy machine to communicate with them. The Martians tell them of the epicentre of the disaster, which turns out to be Benson's own lab, and they stop a dangerous chemical from expanding before it can destroy all life.
Appearing in "Station Mars on the Air"
Characters:
- Martians
- Ag-Var
- Bu-Marn
- Professor Benton
- Willis
Locations:
- 1955 (1975 in the reprint)
Items:
Vehicles:
- Martian spaceship
Concepts
Synopsis for "Riddle of the Counterfeit Earthmen"
This story is reprinted from Mystery in Space #54.
Appearing in "Riddle of the Counterfeit Earthmen"
Featured Characters:
- Hal Burton
- Gil Hardy
- Titanians
- Ku-Li-Ix
Antagonists:
- Zu-Ok-Qu
Other Characters:
- Earthlings
Locations:
Items:
- Lead
Vehicles:
- Spaceships
Synopsis for "Across the Ages"
This story is reprinted from Strange Adventures #60.
Appearing in "Across the Ages"
Featured Characters:
Other Characters:
- librarian
- Wax museum owner
Locations:
- 2155
- 1st Century BCE
- 1492
- 19th Century
- 1955
- United States of America
- wax museum
- library
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Dreams of Doom"
This story is reprinted from Strange Adventures #132.
Appearing in "The Dreams of Doom"
Featured Characters:
- Mark Daley
- Andrew Carew
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Kalidorians
- Valkan Var
Locations:
- United States of America
- Kalidor
Items:
- Dream-screen
- ICBM
Vehicles:
- Starships
Synopsis for "Earth Shall Not Die"
Appearing in "Earth Shall Not Die"
Featured Characters:
- Major Glenn Merritt
Supporting Characters:
- Sgt. Kevin Tempest
Antagonists:
- Troggians
Other Characters:
- Senator Archibald Beauregard
- Captain Quasar (K-Way-Zzr)
Locations:
- 1999
- Trogg (Flashback only)
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Incredible Eyes of Arthur Gail"
This story is reprinted from Strange Adventures #77.
Arthur Gail, a researcher at a big chemical company, is caught in an accidental explosion at work. As a result, his vision is affected such that he sees only organic material (people, cotton cloth, etc.) and all else (metal, plastic, etc.) is invisible to him. He makes special arrangements at home and work such as paneling his rooms with wooden walls, and is thus able to get along for a while. But when a special formula is stolen by a rival chemical company, he is accused since only he could have seen it through the metal walls of the safe it was hidden in. Fearing arrest, Gail runs, cursing his handicap. But then he realizes that his affliction can help him. He goes to the rival firm, and (since he can see through walls) he discovers that another employee of his company had used a hidden camera to photograph the formula before it was placed in the safe. In an ensuing altercation with the thief, Gail is shot, and the bullet grazes his head restoring his normal sight. The real thief is arrested, and all ends well for Arthur Gail.
Appearing in "The Incredible Eyes of Arthur Gail"
Featured Characters:
- Arthur Gail
Antagonists:
- Fairlie
Other Characters:
- Mr. Bliss
- doctor
- nurse
- oculists
Locations:
- United States of America
- Unknown American city
Items:
- Unknown
Vehicles:
- Unknown
Synopsis for "Meet Your Masters -- the Ants"
This story is reprinted from Strange Adventures #23.
Appearing in "Meet Your Masters -- the Ants"
Featured Characters:
- Frank Kuhl
Antagonists:
- Giant Ants
Other Characters:
Locations:
- 10,000 years ago
- Yumant
- 20th Century
Items:
Vehicles:
- spaceship
Notes
- The Martians in the first story were green in the original print (Mystery in Space #25) and recolored as blue in this issue.
- 2nd story: 1988 is considered the future at the time this issue was published; the story implies that human civilization had developed manned spaceships capable of reaching Saturn by 1988, which places the story in Earth-54.
- 3rd story: the year in the initial panel was altered from 1955 to 1969, but the "present time" of the story stays set in 1955.
- Earth Shall Not Die!: One of the very few original stories to run in From Beyond the Unknown, "Earth Shall Not Die!" was originally written as a licensed tie-in to Mattel's action figure, Major Matt Mason. When the licensing agreement fell thru for unknown reasons, DC changed the main character's name to "Glenn Merritt" and published the story in this issue and the next.[1]
- The last story infers the human race was dominated by giant ants 10,000 years ago. This does not seem to apply to the history of any known parallel Earth.
See Also