Journey into Mystery #73
In "Where Will You Be, When...The Spider Strikes!", a seemingly generous gift—a free TV set from a mysterious stranger—unwittingly becomes the centerpiece of an alien scheme to enslave Earth through hypnotic broadcasts. Written by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber, with dynamic art by Jack Kirby and inks by Dick Ayers, this 1961 classic blends sci-fi suspense with a twist of irony, as a couple’s accidental defiance of mind control leads to an unexpected act of gratitude. The cover, penciled by Kirby and inked by George Klein, captures the eerie allure of the alien device, setting the stage for a story where the real power lies in the antenna, not the screen.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
A couple with a nasty landlord get a free TV set from a stranger. It is a device sent by aliens to enslave Earth by hypnotizing people through the sets in preparation for their landing force. The couple snap out of the hypnosis and the aliens from Pluto realize that their plan has failed and leave Earth. It turns out the landlord took down the antenna that the couple had set up to improve reception of the set, and the couple express their overwhelming gratitude to the puzzled landlord.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).