Those Annoying Shape Shifters!

cover art by Kurt Schaffenberger

Captain Marvel Jr #78 (Feb. 1950) predates the classic movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers by six years. 

This article from the Science Fiction Encyclopedia details the rich history of shape-changing aliens, humans and monsters. By 1950, this concept was really starting to catch hold by 1950 (though there are a few earlier classic examples). So it's probably not that much of a coincidence. But this story is set in the silly, fun, and unique Captain Marvel universe. A story that hits same paranoia vibe as Body Snatchers or John Campbell's novella "Who Goes There?" is bound to stand out.

The mild-mannered Mr. Peeble has bought a paper from Freddie Freeman every day for years. So when Mr. Peeble drops his notebook, Freddie tries to return it to him. But Freddie discovers that Mr. Peeble isn't really Mr. Peeble. He's an alien that's part of a vast conspiracy in infiltrate and take over humanity.

 

Freddie transforms into Captain Marvel Jr. and, after the alien arrogantly boasts about the whole secret invasion plan, he bashes Preeble into bits. He also discovers the notebook he found includes a list of the other aliens, which includes a railroad tycoon, a surgeon, military leaders, a diplomat and so on.

But Freddie can't get anyone to believe him. The aliens have had years to establish their human identities and can't even be identified via medical examination.

So Freddie starts tailing the tycoon around town, hoping for a break. He gets that break when he realizes the aliens can't see the color red.

He uses this to expose the aliens. The aliens fall back on their Plan B--taking the risk of a military takeover. But Freddie foils this. While the aliens are all flying towards their secret base, Freddie paints an intervening mountain red. The aliens all fly their ships into the now invisible-to-them mountain. Earth is saved.

The story, written by Otto Binder and drawn by Bud Thompson, has the same fun, unique vibe that all the Golden Age and Silver Age Marvel Family stories had. But added to that is the paranoia that Body Snatchers would perfectly capture six years later. The aliens look really creepy in their natural form, one of them dies a pretty graphic death when caught in a fire and Freddie's initial helplessness when he can't get anyone to believe him is powerful. 

 

You can read the story online HERE. 

Next week, we'll see how Walt Kelly interpreted the story of Rip Van Winkle.