• Genre:science fiction
• Job Number:S-471

• First Line of Dialogue or Text:The humans of Earth were prepared for an attack from outer space - even for an onslaught from the interior of the Earth!
• Keywords:dominant species; humans; praying mantises; role reversal; subjugation

Synopsis:

Physicist John Adair has created a machine that translates animal and insect brain waves into images on a TV screen. After attempts on higher animals such as dogs and cats prove inconclusive, he then tries it on a praying mantis subject and learns of the insects' plan to enslave the human race.

Reprints (1)

• from Strange Adventures (DC, 1950 series) #85 (October 1957)

Credits for script, pencils and inks confirmed from Julius Schwartz's editorial records, provided by DC Comics.

Somewhat similar in plot to the OUTER LIMITS TV episode "Corpus Earthling" (1963) but with sinister, intelligent rocks, rather than praying mantises, planning conquest. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0667809/?ref_=ttep_ep9

• Genre:science fiction
• Job Number:S-472

• First Line of Dialogue or Text:Our train is going to land on this planet - outside our solar system!
• Keywords:aliens; hijackers; humans; outer space setting; spacecraft; train; train robbers; vacationers

Synopsis:

A group of human tourists on a train are transported across the universe to the planet Almoran. At the same time, a group of Almoran aliens are sent to Earth, assuming the form of Earthlings to avoid panic. The two groups each experience the vacations originally intended for the other - and, in ways unique to Almorans and Earthlings respectively, overcome terrestrial train robbers and alien ship-hijackers.

Reprints (1)

• from Mystery in Space (DC, 1951 series) #50 (March 1959)

Credits for script, pencils and inks confirmed from Julius Schwartz's editorial records, provided by DC Comics.

• Job Number:S-476

• Keywords:letters of comment; reprint origins

Letters of comment from readers Mike W. Barr (future comic book writer), Scott Dickerson and Gary Kuhlmann, with replies from Schwartz.

Schwartz also provides the original issue titles and numbers for the stories appearing in From Beyond the Unknown #4 (as it was the issue receiving reader comments) and #6 (this issue) - and announces that From Beyond the Unknown will become a 64-page bi-monthly with its next issue.

• Genre:science fiction
• Job Number:S-473

• First Line of Dialogue or Text:Farewell, Earthman! I'm on my way to your native world - to drain its people of their life-force!
• Keywords:alien technology; deadly cloud; Earth; future setting; outer space setting; space explorer; spaceship; transformation; United Nations

Synopsis:

Jon Harper of the Space Explorers lands on a planet to repair his spaceship when he encounters an intelligent green cloud that feeds upon the life-force of living beings, leaving them dead in its wake.

Reprints (1)

• from Mystery in Space (DC, 1951 series) #62 (September 1960)

Credits for script, pencils and inks confirmed from Julius Schwartz's editorial records, provided by DC Comics.

Takes place in the year 2150.

• Genre:non-fiction; math & science
• Job Number:S-477

• First Line of Dialogue or Text:The starlight of Polaris -- the "North Star" used as a navigational guide -- takes about 300 years to travel across space to Earth...
• Keywords:astronomy; educational feature

Reprints (1)

• from Mystery in Space (DC, 1951 series) #75 (May 1962)

Four panels of illustrated text on astronomy.