• Genre:non-fiction; math & science

• Feature Logo:Keys of Knowledge
• First Line of Dialogue or Text:Meteors are loose particles from the breaking up of comets and asteroids.
• Keywords:astronomy; educational feature; meteorites; meteors

Synopsis:

Illustrated text feature on meteors and meteorites.

Reprints (1)

• in Lynvingen (Illustrerte Klassikere / Williams Forlag, 1969 series) #12/1975 ([desember] 1975)

Five illustrations on meteors and meteorites with accompanying text. © 1963, Western Publishing Company, Inc. Black and white on inside front cover.

• Genre:adventure; science fiction

• First Line of Dialogue or Text:For hundreds of years, earthmen explored the stars, never once finding another inhabitant as intelligent as man!
• Keywords:aliens; cooperation; first contact; outer space setting

Synopsis:

For the first time, an Earth ship meets an alien ship, which attacks with missiles. The Earthmen would jump-drive for home, but the aliens could follow. To safeguard Earth's location, Captain Johner must destroy the enemy. The aliens are saucer-headed loop-limbed giants captained by Zarz, who also must protect his planet. A furious battle damages both ships. Then an Earth lifeboat puts out.... Via tele-translator, Captain Johner proposes half the Earth crew venture to the aliens' planet, and half the aliens go to Earth. "To establish contacts and trade. It looks like a good beginning!"

Reprints (1)

• from Magnus, Robot Fighter (Western, 1963 series) #1 (February 1963)

Reprint of the first entry in the series.

• Genre:adventure; science fiction

• Feature Logo:The Aliens [Western Publishing - Single Line "Eye-Chart-Style" Lettering]
• First Line of Dialogue or Text:The next day, Captain Johner explains the master control to Zarz, the commander of the aliens...
• Keywords:caption added or modified; mistrust; outer space setting; prejudice

Synopsis:

Aboard the Earth-bound ship, Captain Johner teaches Zarz how the ship runs. Two crewmen object to the "creatures" and distrust them. Later the ship is attacked by (some unknown ship's) missiles. Shields hold, but the hypatomic motors spill radiation. Humans collapse, but the Aliens are unaffected and steer the ship into an asteroid belt, safe. Humans revive. An objector admits, "I'll be more careful before I pass judgment on anything from now on!"

Reprints (1)

• from Magnus, Robot Fighter (Western, 1963 series) #3 (August 1963)

Discrepancy between the first line of this reprint and the first line of the original printing:

ORGINAL: "Aboard the spaceship returning to earth, Captain Johner explains the master control to Zarz, the commander of the aliens..."

REPRINT: "The next day, Captain Johner explains the master control to Zarz, the commander of the aliens..."

There is no noticeable difference in the "new" portion of the lettering of the reprint, and no apparent "story-reason" for the change.

• Genre:adventure; science fiction

• Feature Logo:The Aliens [Western Publishing - Single Line "Eye-Chart-Style" Lettering]
• First Line of Dialogue or Text:All is well aboard the earthship, until a startling message is received...
• Keywords:caption added or modified; disarming warhead; missile; outer space setting

Synopsis:

The Earth-bound ship gets a call. An experimental missile with an atomic warhead will destroy the Space Research Lab in three hours. Diverting, Captain Johner and Zarz defuse the warhead with seconds to go. The Earthman and Alien are saluted by the crew of the Space Lab.

Reprints (1)

• from Magnus, Robot Fighter (Western, 1963 series) #4 (November 1963)

Discrepancy between the first line of this reprint and the first line of the original printing:

ORGINAL: "Aboard the earthship, with its alien guests, a startling message is received..."

REPRINT: "All is well aboard the earthship, until a startling message is received..."

There is no noticeable difference in the "new" portion of the lettering of the reprint, and no apparent "story-reason" for the change - with the possible exception that, as these stories are collected back-to-back-to-back, it may no longer seem necessary to refer to the Aliens aboard the earthship as "guests"?

• Genre:adventure; science fiction

• Feature Logo:The Aliens [Western Publishing - Two Lines Plain Font]
• First Line of Dialogue or Text:Relaxing in his quarters aboard the spaceship, Captain Johner talks to the commander of the Aliens...
• Keywords:nerves; outer space setting

Synopsis:

Earth-bound, Captain Johner and Zarz wonder about the Alien-bound ship... On that ship, the human "ambassadors" are bottled up and stir-crazy. The only calm guy is Ric, who has hypersensitive nerves for hypatomic maintenance. They venture out and Bul explains how their motors work - as the sub-space drive overloads! Ric is stranded in sub-space, a bewildering rainbow of colors. Only with hyper-nerves can he trace the vibrations and colors to shut off the motors - even passing through solid bulkheads. The Aliens were helpless. "Credit it to a case of nerves!"

Reprints (1)

• from Magnus, Robot Fighter (Western, 1963 series) #6 (May 1964)

• Genre:adventure; science fiction

• First Line of Dialogue or Text:Still aboard the alien spaceship...
• Keywords:outer space setting; telepathy

Synopsis:

After two years, the Alien-bound ship reaches home. The Earthmen are amazed at the honor: first to visit an alien planet! Yet Captain Bul warns of "strange appearances" and not to touch anything. The reception has many strange aliens - and two pretty human women! Yet when an Earthman touches one, he collapses. The telepathic Dream Makers take on any form - and are hideous if seen clearly. Camouflaged, they are the secret service that protects the planet.

Reprints (1)

• from Magnus, Robot Fighter (Western, 1963 series) #7 (August 1964)

• Genre:adventure; science fiction

• First Line of Dialogue or Text:On the alien planet, the Earthmen are presented to the inhabitants…
• Keywords:alien fanatics; outer space setting

Synopsis:

On the Aliens' planet, the Earthmen are treated as honored guests. But some Aliens think they're dangerous spies. The men go sight-seeing after Bul warns of fanatics. Fanatics lead them into an empty chamber and lock it. Gas pours in, pitting their helmets. They'll be dissolved! They radio for help. Bul frees them and the fanatics are killed. That was a disintegration chamber. In the future, the Earthmen will be guarded at all times.

Reprints (1)

• from Magnus, Robot Fighter (Western, 1963 series) #8 (November 1964)

• Genre:adventure; science fiction

• Feature Logo:The Aliens [Western Publishing - Two Lines Plain Font]
• First Line of Dialogue or Text:Aboard the earthship with its alien guests, the long journey through space is almost at an end…
• Keywords:caption added or modified; Earth; outer space setting; psycho-gas

Synopsis:

The Earth-bound ship reaches home, but a strange pink cloud-belt cuts off all communication. At Earth Space Control, the staff panics: anyone who enters the cloud of psycho-gas, a backfired defense experiment, will be rendered helpless. The ship tries to land and the humans pass out. Zarz contacts Space Control, who freak to see an alien. Zarz calmly explains he can pilot with a talk-down - and by a miracle, lands safely.

Reprints (1)

• from Magnus, Robot Fighter (Western, 1963 series) #9 (February 1965)

Discrepancy between the first line of this reprint and the first line of the original printing:

ORGINAL: "Aboard the Earthship with its alien guests, the long journey through space is almost at an end…"

REPRINT: "Meanwhile, the Earthship's long journey through space is almost at an end…"

There is no noticeable difference in the "new" portion of the lettering of the reprint, and no apparent "story-reason" for the change - with the possible exception that, as these stories are collected back-to-back-to-back, it may no longer seem necessary to refer to the Aliens aboard the Earthship as "guests"? And, since these Aliens stories are reprinted in strict sequence, the first word, "Meanwhile" serves as a nice transition from the previous story - which did not take place on the Earthship.

There is also a discrepancy between the CLOSING CAPTION of this reprint and the CLOSING CAPTION of the original printing:

ORGINAL: [refers to the danger posed by the cloud of psycho-gas] "A miracle indeed! Again the Earthmen owe their lives to the bravery and competence of the Aliens! But how is this bravery to be rewarded? How are Commander Zarz and his fellow aliens going to be accepted when they step out of the spaceship???"

REPRINT: "Yes... it is a miracle that the Earthship has come through the deadly psycho-gas." [This new version of the closing caption links into the opening caption of the next story.]

• Genre:adventure; science fiction

• Feature Logo:The Aliens [Western Publishing - Single Line "Eye-Chart-Style" Lettering]
• First Line of Dialogue or Text:But the miracle is not yet complete...
• Keywords:caption added or modified; dialogue added or modified; fear; homecoming; outer space setting

Synopsis:

Zarz landed the ship after humans passed out, but now the hypatomic engines rupture. Zarz orders "Every Earthman must be outside before any of us leave the ship!" But the rescuers freak at the aliens, and soldiers open fire as the ship burns. No way out but to link up "our barrier of mind-force!" Outside, Captain Johner revives and opens the air lock as the commander orders, "Hold your fire!" Zarz says, "Fear of the unknown can be deadly to any civilization [but]... it looks like a good beginning!"

Reprints (1)

• from Magnus, Robot Fighter (Western, 1963 series) #10 (May 1965)

Discrepancy between the first line of this reprint and the first line of the original printing:

ORGINAL: "Aboard the Earthship with its alien guests, the long journey through space is almost at an end…"

REPRINT: "But the miracle is not yet complete..."

This story's OPENING CAPTION - as well as the CLOSING CAPTION of the previous story has been completely rewritten to better accommodate the back-to-back reprinting of these reprinted stories... [This new version of the opening caption links directly into the closing caption of the previous story.]

The FINAL PANEL of this reprinted story, including dialogue balloons, has been completely rewritten, giving the one-shot reprint issue a more optimistic ending. Perhaps because this was a better way to close a one-shot with no follow-up issues.

ORGINAL:
GENERAL CURSO: "Come! I will see that both your crews are attended to... This is an Earth-shaking event!"
CAPTION: "Exactly how Earth-shaking even the general cannot know! What now lies ahead for the Aliens?"

REPRINT:
GENERAL CURSO: "Let's forget our fears! Come! I want our people to meet you! They will probably be curious!
ZARZ "Curious... Yes! But as Captain Johner said when we first met, it looks like a good beginning... For we, too, are curious!"
END CAPTION: The End".

• Genre:non-fiction; math & science

• Feature Logo:Keys of Knowledge
• First Line of Dialogue or Text:In addition to the nine main planets, there are about 2,000 minor ones which fill the gap between Mars and Jupiter.
• Keywords:asteroids; astronomy; educational feature

Five illustrations on asteroids with accompanying text. © 1963, Western Publishing Company, Inc. Black and white on inside back cover.

• Genre:adventure; science fiction

• Keywords:aliens; outer space setting; pin-up

Color on back cover. The front cover image is repeated on the back cover, sans logo and all cover copy. Solid orange color border around the illustration.