I recall being highly satisfied with all three stories in Strange Adventures 137 (Feb. 1962), but I hoped one would “go to series,” as they say in Hollywood.
Alas, it was not to be.
Writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino told us how Kansas State College astronomy professor Bill Horne (who looked very much like Barry Allen) tracked down a large meteorite containing a trapped, telepathic alien — Ptandol from the exploded planet Fralimar.
Ptandol, who resembles a large, light green ant, explains to Horne that because he has been in suspended animation for millions or perhaps billions of years, he requires certain chemicals, pressures, and rays to survive.
Luckily, the professor can arrange those, and as he does so Ptandol explains that he escaped the space vortex that destroyed his advanced insect civilization by hiding in an invulnerable metal vault. And although he was already too late, Ptandol figured out how his planet might have survived.
To remain alive, Ptandol requires a long, uninterrupted sleep, and the professor promises to protect him.
Meanwhile, Horne and other astronomers discover that a space vortex is approaching Earth! Although walls and streets crack and volcanoes erupt, Horne doesn’t dare awaken Ptandol.
Instead, the professor concentrates on an attempt to parallel Ptandol’s thinking — and comes up with an answer. He convinces the authorities to launch a drill-equipped Saturn rocket to the Earth’s core, thwarting the destructive effects of the space vortex.
When Ptandol awakens, he tells Horne that yes, that was the solution he’d up with and that he hopes others of his race will someday arrive on Earth.
“So, if you’ll let me, I’d like to team up with you to search for falling meteors,” says Ptandol, perched cutely on Horne’s shoulder. “Some of them will contain my friends!”
“Welcome to your new home, Ptandol!” the astronomer says. “We can look forward to an exciting future!”
Unfortunately, we readers never found out about it.
An alien savior who might be the last survivor of an exploded planet? The story gets points as a unique variation on the Superman theme.
But I suspect another popular culture influence was at work here as well. The Walt Disney film Pinocchio was being re-released only a month after this issue went on sale, so the puppet who wanted to be real was in the public consciousness around that time.
And Ptandol could easily be mistaken for a spacefaring Jiminy Cricket.
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