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Tales of Suspense, #20 British

Published: August 1961

Cover

Tales of Suspense #20

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Issue Contents:
Colossus Lives Again!!
1 page science fiction

"Stop him!"

Credits
Colossus Lives Again [Part 1]
Story 1 6 pages science fiction

"Introduction: The Colossus, world's largest and strongest statue, was built by the iron curtain nations as a symbol of..."

Storyline

As the Colossus is being sent to America from the Soviet Union for an International Fair, the crab-creatures of Cancrius III return and try to take over the earth by taking control of the Colossus again. This time it attacks America.

Characters
  • Crab-Creatures of Cancrius III (also in flashback)
  • Judy
  • Frank
Credits
Story Notes

Narrated in the first person. The Colossus last appeared in issue #14 (February 1961). Colossus, Bob O'Bryan, Diane Cummings and Grant Marshall all appear next in Astonishing Tales (Marvel, 1970 series) #21 (December 1973). George Olshevsky's Marvel Comics Index credits Stan Lee as sole writer. Story is pages 3-7, 10 of comic (pages of story numbered 1 to 6).

Weather Man
Story 2 2 pages science fiction

"There was trouble in the air."

Storyline

The weather reporter at a newspaper realizes that the weather is being manipulated somehow in an effort to destroy Earth's crops and helps the government stop the attack.

Characters
  • Chuck
  • Harry Davis
  • Dr. Ramsay
  • Kennedy
Credits
Story Notes

Text story with illustration. Text story is pages 8, 26 of comic (pages of story not numbered).

[Colossus Lives Again], Part Two!
Story 3 7 pages science fiction

"It's a giant statue!"

Storyline

Bob O'Bryan, a scenery designer, comes up with the idea of creating a gigantic plaster of paris monster to trick the crab-creatures into taking it over. Thinking the bigger creature would be a better tool to use to conquer the world, the crab-creatures foolishly abandon the Colossus and enter the fake being. Bob blows the fake monster up, destroying the aliens and saving the Earth.

Characters
  • Crab-Creatures of Cancrius III (destroyed)
  • Charlie
  • Ben
Credits
Story Notes

The fake monster O'Bryan creates is a huge orange humanoid with pointy ears. In one humorous sequence, the Colossus terrifies a group of Beatniks. Story is pages 11-14, 16-18 of comic (pages of story numbered 7 to 13)

The Rocking Horse
Story 4 5 pages drama

"The year was 1961... A year when the rich nations of Earth offered help to..."

Storyline

A lame boy in a poor house asks for a rocking horse from charity, enraging his parents. When their house is destroyed in an earthquake the horse saves the boy, showing the value of love.

Characters
  • Hamim
  • Hamim's mother
  • Hamim's father
Credits
Story Notes

Story is pages 20-24 of comic (pages of story numbered 1 to 4, last page not numbered).

The Bomb
Story 5 5 pages science fiction

"Behold!! A strange object, making a sudden, dramatic appearance as it plunges earthward!"

Storyline

A threatening object that appears to be a bomb drops from the sky and lands in New York city. The object even emits ticking sounds that lead people to believe they are in imminent danger and so the city the evacuated. The military cordons off the object and just waits for its detonation. Eventually the ticking stops and it rises into the air and disappears. It was recalled to its planet of origin because no living thing touched it in response to its signals, and its makers assume Earth is barren of life, so they send their gift package off to another world.

Credits
Story Notes

Story is pages 28-32 of comic (pages of story numbered 1 to 4, last page not numbered).