It's been awhile since we've seen an Atlas post, so here's a queer little quickie from the July 1952 issue of Adventures into Weird Worlds #8. And maybe we'll go ahead and finish out the month with a few more creepy Atlas classics as well-- so stay tombed!
This one is rather tragic. The poor little guy doesn't even realize that his touch can kill, and is just looking for his parents. How the heck did they even lose him to begin with?
ReplyDeleteAnd how long is he doomed to wander the planet alone, afraid, starving, and, you can bet on it, hunted?
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr.K., a bit of a contrast for Todd. No character is happy after this one ends. I'm happy though, some nice art here, especially the kid/disintegrator and his parents. I you-tubed "Satan's Triangle" had never seen it and enjoyed it. Thanks Mr.B. Thanks Mr.K!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a sad one. Poor little guy!
ReplyDeleteIt appeared a year before, but this immediately made me think of the classic '53 indie film 'Little Fugitive', about a small boy stranded at Coney Island all by his lonesome.
Whoa, that is a really great three-pager. Totally creepy, comfortably paced, and doesn't overstay its concept. I really like the second panel on the last page. That really brings the horror home.
ReplyDeleteThe Everett cover on this issue is superb, too. Is it unique? Are there other comics, Atlas or otherwise, with small half-page sequential stories on their covers? This one seems unrelated to any of the stories inside, but I can't tell for sure.
Yikes, that's a hard one on me. Nobody is in the wrong, nobody is evil, everybody is trying to protect the boy, yet he leaves a complete and utter trail of destruction. What a fine quick story, just the right length and every panel matters.
ReplyDeleteThe ending isn't as sad as you think, eventually the other humans are going to figure out not to touch him and then figure out a way to contain him and then communicate (it's obvious he isn't trying to hurt anybody) -- which is probably why it ends in 3 pages!
Some nice art -- I like the aliens (or whatever.). The colorist -- ugh, normally Atlas is much better that part was a bit disappointing.
It's certainly an interesting idea. I wish it were a little better developed; after all, the boy's parents care about his physical well-being but seem unconcerned he's just going to wander around upset forever. Then again, maybe their culture's just screwy like that.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny because I barely know The Little Fugitive, but the general idea of it always stays with me, so I thought of it too.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of weird cultures, this is almost like some scare film talking people out of trying to help a lost kid. Of course, now (or now more than ever) people who do that aren't killed, but they're labeled in an obvious way just by talking to the kid!
The most chilling thing about this, is that a lost child is something few adults can stand by and ignore. Yet certain death is the consequence of acting on our better nature, nurturing instincts.
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