 |
|
October - November 1960 |
The Chall's silver jet sets down among rugged hills. They radioed ahead to the sheriff, so a jeep is waiting. They pile in and roar into the hills. They're on the trail of a criminal named Albom who stole a machine made to help people. The machine is called ELCODE, short for Elements Control Device. It can prevent or control earthquakes, tornadoes, and other violent weather. If Albom gets hold of certain ores in these hills, he can reverse ELCODE and create bad weather. And soon they find Albom's hideout. But the crook calls for Halanka - a whopping alien made of metal! Never daunted, the Challs charge. Red yells they'll "drop him like a felled tree. TIMBER-R-R!" But the guys bounce right off! Red's groggy. Before anyone can get grabbed, the Challs jump in their jeep and rocket away. They'll need special equipment - and Ace has an idea for dealing with him. Albom chuckles and gets back to work digging up ore. "We've seen the last of them!" In a nearby town, at an ironworks factory, the Challs load a shrouded object into their jeep. They get a second jeep in case they need to split up. And returning to the scene of the crime, they do need to split up. Tire tracks run into two directions. Not far away, Albom directs Halanka in refining ore - by heating it in his bare hands. Until two Challs arrive in the hooded jeep and pull off the cover. An electromagnet! "Yes," yells Ace, "powerful enough to draw that metallic pal of yours right to it - and keep him pinned while we handle you!" |
Albom panics, then comes up a solution. He throws a flame pellet at the alien's feet. "What's he up to now?" The alien glows - red hot! And the electromagnet is pulling him "like a fiery missile!" Before they can reverse the current, the alien grabs their jeep. In seconds, the gas tank blows up.  The alien's unharmed and Ace and Rocky are without wheels. They run. "We could sure use Red and Prof now! Where are they?" |
On the other trail, Prof and Red get out of their jeep to find themselves staring into a ray gun held by yet another alien.  This alien barks, "Hold! I speak your language! Do not try any tricks! You are my prisoners... And he collapses! |
Prof gets water from a stream, and the blue alien revives. He's Thark, a lawman, who was returning Halanka to his asteroid jail when they crashed. Halanka's "electro-change cell" was damaged. Albom came by and took Halanka away. Thark was injured. Helping the space policeman along, they set out to find Ace and Rocky. But a breeze turns into a gale. It's no natural wind - it must be from Albom's machine! The Challs reunite, explain their new-found alien friend, and race toward Albom. But he's now "Master of the Elements!" Cranking up the machine, he generates a tornado "to whip the Challengers off the face of the earth!" The Challs run for cover, but Thark pulls his gun. A force field diverts the tornado. |
Albom gloats, "Let's see what they do about a man-made earthquake!"  Not too well. The jeep plummets into the crevice. The Challs manage to grab hold and haul themselves out. Thark's ray gun can't harm Halanka, but it can destroy the infernal machine - and does. CRACKLE - KWHAM! |
Albom sics the metal alien on the Challs, but Ace has an idea. "Your force-ray gun seems to be able to perform all sorts of tricks!" At Ace's instruction, Thark seals the Challs in a force-sphere. A push and they're rolling - right at Halanka. "Get set for the big bang!" They collide with a booming roar. The force-sphere dissolves and Halanka is flattened. All that's left is to patch his cell and the ship, and Thark can get on with his mission. Thark adds, "A mission which would have been utterly hopeless without your help! Both of our worlds should be thankful for that!" |
"Prisoners of the Mirage World" |
"A mirage, says the dictionary, is an optical illusion, due to atmospheric conditions, by which reflected objects are cast great distances! A mirage, according to the Challengers of the Unknown, is a strange, unexplained world of living breathing people, where it is best not to venture!" But they will... In their Rocky Mountain headquarters, four men grow restless. June should have been here hours ago. OK. They'll head to the last place they heard from June - the desert. |
They find June's prop plane cracked up on the sand. Splitting into two parties, they search. Soon Red and Rocky spot June - staggering dazed toward a mirage!  But a bell begins ringing - Gong! Gong! Gong! June fades even as the mirage gets more real. |
It is real! The walls are solid. And while the guys tend June, who's passed out from fatigue and lack of water, they don't notice two knights on horseback dashing up! "Ho! A wondrous fair damsel, Sir Rodfold! We will save her from these outsiders!" shouts one. "Aye, Sir Manson, so we will!" Rocky ducks a shield, and reacts. Grabbing a stirruped foot, he pitches the knight into the air. Immediately the guys are overrun. "A whole platoon of 'em!" yells Red. "That's a little too much for us!" To the dungeon with them! June, meanwhile, still dazed, is being dressed in finery by ladies in waiting. She's to be the guest of honor at the Arena of Duels! And one Lady Melissa goes running - to the dungeon. Where Rocky grumbles, "Hanged if I know what this is all about!" Lady Melissa unlocks the door and explains. June will be at the arena. "Fetch her quickly, outsiders. Even now, time wings away! The gong will soon sound again, opening the Time Gate so that you may pass back into your world! Go!" In the arena, knights joust and unhorse each other. The winner gets June's hand! She rails, "This is incredible! I won't tolerate it!" And in burst Red and Rocky, slinging fists! "Run, June! We've got to get out of here - pronto!" Or quicker. The gong is sounding! Red and Rocky drop a rope and help June slide down the wall. Arrows zip around them. Meanwhile, out in the desert, Ace and Prof follow tracks to the "mirage" and find their pals in trouble! Together the five rush for the gate, desperate to reach it before the bell stops sounding. But they're blocked by a "wall of iron - spears and shields!" The men are to be thrown back in the dungeon, but the knight claims June. He won her! "Not so fast," says Red. "If you have a code of honor, we challenge you and your champions to a duel - for the lady and our freedom!" Very well, they meet in the arena in one hour. So our heroes wait, and worry. When the final bell sounds in the evening, it will be their last chance to escape to their world for 100 years! |
Soon the Challs mount battering-ram chariots. "This isn't exactly up our alley, pals, but let's see how we make out!" Wheels flying, Rocky is knocked out a chariot. Then Red is knocked ass over teakettle. Ace and Prof circle and bowl over their opponents - and the gong sounds!  Wicked Sir Rodfold makes his move. He hauls June into his chariot and takes off. He's always wanted to venture into the outside world, and this is his chance, taking June and leaving the others stranded forever! Good Sir Manson calls off the duel. Fair Melissa has brought news of Rodfold's treachery. "Go for your lady! The bell shan't toll much longer!" Red yells, "Step on the gas, Ace!" |
Thundering at full tilt, Ace knocks Sir Rodfold for a loop with his lance. June jumps. Then all five adventurers take a dive through the Time Gate - just in the nick of time!  The mirage world vanishes. "Leaving Rodfold, Manson, Melissa and the others with all their problems - and joys!" |
Comments Two stories not all that exciting. Not much imagination, no snappy patter. The Challs better jazz up their adventures, because the masks and capes are coming up hard behind. JLA 1 was advertised in this issue.  |