Crypt of Shadows #20
In "The Martian Who Stole a City!", a skeptical college professor finds himself caught in a cosmic mystery when he’s abducted by aliens who reveal a startling truth: he’s not human, but a long-lost Martian spy sent to Earth years ago. Written by Stan Lee and illustrated with eerie precision by Steve Ditko—whose inks add depth to the story’s unsettling tone—this 1975 Marvel classic blends sci-fi intrigue with a personal revelation that redefines everything. The cover by Aubrey Bradford captures the alien’s unsettling gaze, perfectly framing the issue’s unsettling premise.
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A college professor is certain that life exists upon other worlds, but can't quite remember why he is so assured of this fact. One evening he is abducted by aliens and he receives his answer. The aliens tell him the reason for his abduction is that years ago the aliens sent a spy to Earth, but failed to hear back from him, and the captain of the spaceship realizes that he should not have sent an absent-minded spy. The professor realizes that he is the alien spy.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).