Prisoner Of The Reds! Five scientists have apparently given up on the American way of life and have defected to Russia, causing the government to exercise grave concern. While in New York, Donald Blake decides to do something in his godly identity of Thor. As part of this plan, Blake travels to Washington D.C. where he meets Colonel Edwards Harrison of the US Army Intelligence and offers himself as bait for the Russians by reporting that he has come up with a new biological weapon. When asked why he wants to help, Blake makes up a story about how his lame leg prevented him from fighting in the Korean War and he wants to do something for his country to make up for it.
When the story about Blake's "discovery" hits the newswire, a Russian agent posing as a photographer for National Magazine visits Blake's office. As expected, the spy's camera is rigged to spray a will sapping gas that puts Donald in a hypnotic trance. The spy then has Blake write a similar defection letter and flies him to Russia where he is put in a cell with the other "defected" scientists.
When left alone in his cell, Donald taps his cane changing into Thor and easily breaks out of his cell. The Russian soldiers have rigged the dungeon with various traps, which Thor easily bypasses. However, the Russians get Thor at a stalemate when their commanding officer threatens to activate a self-destruct device that would destroy the dungeon and everyone in it, including the captured American scientists.
Forced to relinquish his hammer and be shackled in "electronically treated" chains that even Thor apparently cannot break out of, the Russian soldiers leave Thor unattended figuring that he is no longer a threat. As the 60 second time limit that Thor can be away from his hammer runs out, he changes back into Donald Blake, who is lithe enough to limber out of the shackles and recover his hammer changing back into Thor.
The Thunder God then frees the captured American scientists and then gets the drop on his Russian captors and easily destroy their dungeon. Reverting back into Donald Blake, Thor joins the scientists as they smuggle themselves out of the country and are shipped back home to America. Later, Donald recounts the tale (while keeping his identity of Thor secret) to Jane, who once more moons over Thor, leaving Donald Blake to wonder if the woman he loved could ever love him as Donald Blake, and not Thor.
The Comic A 2-page fantasy text story.
In the Twilight Zone tradition, Stan Wepp, a bored television comedian, is mysteriously transported back to the small town theatres that he loves.
Originally published in "Journey into Unknown Worlds" #45 (May 1956).
The Man On The Endless Stairway! A 5-page suspense story.
Carl Cragg, a fugitive on the run, escapes up a staircase to hide. Once the police are gone, Carl soon discovers that descending down the stairs leads him to a most unexpected place.
Story by Stan Lee
Art & Inks by Steve Ditko
Colors by Stan Goldberg
Letters by Artie Simek
I Know The Secret Of The Sea-Monster! A 5-page science fiction adventure.
A sea serpent panics numerous boats and ocean liners in the North Atlantic. The military responds with with a fierce attack... culminating with the threat of dropping a nuclear bomb.
Roger, a reporter, soon discovers that the sea serpent is actually an alien from another world. And he may not be alone. But are they friend or foe?
Story by Stan Lee & Larry Lieber
Art & Inks by Paul Reinman
Colors by Stan Goldberg
Letters by Artie Simek
