The Most Dangerous Game... On Neptune!

It is interesting how an idea from one short story ("The Most Dangerous Game" (1924), by Richard Connell) spun off into so many different versions. And it actually borders on the amazing that so many of these stories are so much fun. Some story ideas lend themselves to countless variations.

Jack Kirby drew "I was Big-Game on Neptune" for DC's My Greatest Adventure #20 (March/April 1958). Here we meet George Weller, who is more interested in going hunting than in being a good husband. Boy, is HE going to learn his lesson.

George gets kidnapped by hunters from Neptune and soon finds himself with a group of diverse aliens from other planets, all of whom are being hunted as big-game through the jungles of Neptune. George, who proves himself to be a natural leader, takes charge and comes up with the plan of doubling back through the thick jungle and stealing the hunters' space ship.

It's a good plan, but the hunters are always one step ahead of them. Only clever use of the powers of several of the other aliens keeps George and his friends alive.

Finally, George picks up on several clues. One of them allows him to deduce that there's a spy in their group--a supposed native of Saturn was actually a Neptunian in disguise. When the group does get to the space ship and has a chance to escape, George realizes the hunters will only pull the same stunt on other innocent victims if they aren't stopped now. But how can he fight hunters armed with powerful ray guns? Well, the other clue he picked up on earlier in the story might just give him the answer to that question.

This really is a fun story. The writer is uncredited. Kirby was writing a lot of his own stuff at DC about that time, such as Green Arrow and Challengers of the Unknown. So it's very possible he wrote this. It certainly demonstrates his boundless imagination in the plot as well as the visuals.

Next week, we'll meet more aliens as we visit the Legion of Super Heroes again. Anybody remember Blockade Boy? If you do, you've just guessed what Legion story I'll be reviewing.