Mystery in Space #24 is an issue of the series Mystery in Space (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1955.
Synopsis for "Hitchhiker of Space"
Space Cabby's cab has been stolen. He learns from the Interplanetary Police that it has been found on Jupiter. Being broke, he stows away on a Martian ship and then hitchhikes to Jupiter to recover it. Along the way he becomes involved with capturing a band of Venusian bandits. After receiving his reward money, he is able to get his cab back.
Appearing in "Hitchhiker of Space"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Interplanetary Police
- The Venusian I.P.
- Martians
- A four-armed Mercurian
Locations:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Planet That Imitated Earth"
On the planet Krillan in the Sirius system, the bird-like Krillan have become so enamoured with radio-images taken of Earth that they emulate human civilisation, including building robotic humans. A Krillan scientist named Vuj wants to become rich, and so invents a space-grapple to abduct and sell real humans as lifelike robots.
The Krillans refuse the believe the humans are real, but the humans make him confess using a cat, as the bird-like aliens are naturally afraid of them. The humans then build a second space-grapple to facilitate travel between the planets.
Appearing in "The Planet That Imitated Earth"
Featured Characters:
- Krillans
- Earthlings
Locations:
- 20th Century
- Earth
- Sirius system
- Krill (planet)
- Krill (planet)
Synopsis for "The Unearthly Earthman"
Clyde Darrow becomes the first man to land on Jupiter, but the native Jovians think he's the criminal Xytll and think it's all a scheme to steal the explosive Durinium he needs to fuel his rocket. The Jovians give him a lie detector test, but it determines he's lying. But eventually, Clyde makes a deal with the Jovians and manages to trick Xytll, whom in disguise was the one who gave him the lie detector test.
Appearing in "The Unearthly Earthman"
Featured Characters:
- Clyde Darrow
- Jovians
Locations:
Synopsis for "Duel in the Stars"
Bert Brandon is sent to the planet Medusa to stop a bazooka duel, since both parties are insured by Interplanetary Insurance Inc. for one million credits. The duel is between the actor Gollol and the athlete Kawak over the beautiful Meleni, even though she insists that if they duel she won't marry anyone.
When Gollol and Kawak see Bert with Meleni, they call of their duel and decide to both duel him. After finding out that Medusans can't stand musical noise, he instead uses against them an original bazooka - the musical instrument the weapon was later named after.
Appearing in "Duel in the Stars"
Featured Characters:
- Interplanetary Insurance, Inc.
- Bert Brandon
- William J. Emory
- Meleni
- Kawak
- Gollol
Locations:
- Capitol City
- Medusa (planet)
Notes
- This issue is the only one in which Space Cabby appears on the cover.
- "Hitchhiker of Space": Space Cabbie is not affected by Jupiter's tremendous gravity AND noxious atmosphere. Perhaps in his time (22nd century) Jupiter has, due to some device or terraformation, an atmosphere and gravity that allow humans to survive, but this is not shown.
- "The Unearthly Earthman": Clyde Barrow is not affected by Jupiter's tremendous gravity. Behind the scenes, he may have some anti-gravity device in his spacesuit, but it is not shown. Perhaps the writer was unaware of this peculiar fact, already exposed in previous stories such as All-Star Comics Vol 1 13 or simply ignored it in favor of the narrative.
See Also
Links and References
