Betray the Earth and Marry an Alien

 

cover art by Steve Ditko

The cover story in Amazing Adult Fantasy #8 (January 1962) is pretty basic, with a twist at the end that even the younger readers this was targeted towards probably saw coming from miles away. But it's still fun to read. To start out, Steve Ditko's art fits the tale perfectly. Second, Stan Lee writes one of the best narration insets ever on the first page:

"They offered him the world on a silver platter! So why did he end up... screaming?" That is a wonderfully creepy way to start off the story.

Aliens--advance scouts for an invasion fleet--use the cover of a storm to land on Earth, then seize control of a remote radar post. If they can prevent the radar from being used, they can launch a suprise attack on the planet.

They could simply kill the two radarmen. I suppose wrecking the facility would be an option as well and would seem to be the best one, but no one ever mentions that possibility. One of the humans figures out that the aliens simply don't know how to turn off the radar themselves, but that shouldn't stop them from just breaking things. Oh, well. The unknown depths of alien psychology are beyond the understanding of us mere humans.

The aliens pick a third option--offer the humans wealth, power and the most beautiful women in the universe to turn off the radar. 

One guy stoically refuses and gets hit by an immobilizing ray when he lunges for an alarm button. The other guy, though, is a snivelling coward. He gladly agrees to double-cross Earth in exchange for wealth, power, and--HUBBA-HUBBA--a hot girl.

The predictable Twilight Zone-esque twist quickly follows. What's considered beautiful on one planet isn't necessarily all that good-lookin' on Earth. The traitor is unhappy with his reward. That's why he's screaming. 

A final panel wraps things up by telling us the other guy does manage to reach the alarm button and the alien invasion is foiled. As for the traitor: "Well, who really cares what happens to a traitor?"

There's no denying that the surprise ending isn't terribly surprising. But Ditko's art--especially the creepy design of the aliens--and that wonderful opening sentence sell the story regardless.

Next week, Green Lantern turns himself into a robot. It makes sense in context.