Weird Science-Fantasy #23
In "The Children," a 1954 EC classic, a colony's strict child-rearing policy—where newborns are taken from their parents for "proper" upbringing—comes under fire when mothers rebel after years of separation. Written by Al Feldstein and illustrated with striking precision by Wally Wood, the story unfolds with quiet dread, building to a powerful moment of revelation and emotional defiance. The cover by Wally Wood captures the tension perfectly, setting the stage for a tale that challenges authority with heart and humanity.
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When colonists on a new world give birth, their babies are taken away from them by the government. This is to assure the children are raised properly. Originally it was intended for a short time but the time period kept getting extended. The mothers on the colony get fed up with not being able to see their children and form a mob to storm the government building. It is then revealed that the babies are born mutants due to the environment of the world. Despite their physical deformities, the mothers reclaim their children and love them anyway.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).