Marvel Tales #102
In the distant year 2423, a pacifist scientist confronts Earth’s unified government over its plan to attack peaceful Martians, proposing a test of their magnetic weapon on the moon instead. When the blast fails to register, the ruler suspects deception—until the scientist reveals the truth: the weapon’s force altered the moon’s orbit, sending it crashing into Earth, shattering the celestial body and wiping out all life except himself. Written and illustrated entirely by Basil Wolverton, this eerie tale of cosmic consequence and moral reckoning stands as a striking early example of speculative science fiction in a 10-cent comic from 1951, with a cover by Christopher Rule that captures its unsettling tone.
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In 2423 a pacifist scientist attempts to halt the plans of the united Earth government from attacking the newly-discovered peaceful Martians. He tells the ruler that his magnetic force weapon's blast is too powerful for Earth and must be tested on the moon. When no blast occurs the ruler thinks he's been tricked. The scientist reveals the blast occurred on the moon's dark side, shifting it out of orbit and crashing into Earth. After playing havoc with the tides the moon shatters, killing everyone except the scientist, who believes he was justified by sparing other beings from Earth's tyranny.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).