Flying Saucers Comics (Dell) n01 1967-04[1]

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCERS COMICS
Issue: 1
Volume: 1
Date: April 1967
Publisher: Dell Publishing Co., Inc.
Price: 12c
Cover Headline: UNBELIEVABLE ACCOUNTS OF BIZARRE SIGHTINGS OF UFO'S AND THE "MEN" WHO FLY THEM...

Article Summaries

"Night Sighting"

This story recounts the experience of Seaman Third Class Richard Grover on a warm July evening in 1966. Hitchhiking home to Vermont from the Naval Station in Groton, Connecticut, Grover found himself alone on the road as night fell. While walking the remaining mile home, he witnessed a startling sight: a bright light in the sky that he initially mistook for a star, then a plane, and finally a satellite. The light grew larger and appeared to be coming directly towards him. He described it as not being a plane and that it was coming after him. The object, described as a "thing" thirty feet across and made of metal, stopped in mid-air. Grover hid in a ditch until the object sped out of sight. Frightened and disoriented, he sought help from a nearby farmhouse, but the occupants were skeptical. He then ran to the local police station, attempting to report the incident. The police officers, initially dismissive and suggesting he was drunk, were eventually persuaded to investigate when another report of a "shooting star" chasing a woman in her car came in. The officers and Grover sped to the scene, where they also witnessed a bright light. The police blotter entry for July 15, 1966, at 12:20 am, notes that officers Parker and Cuddy, along with Seaman Richard Grover and Seaman Amos Thatcher, were "buzzed by a large glowing disc" of unknown origin and destination.

"The Devil Ship"

This story, set in Brazil in 1961, features two lifelong friends, Joao Moraes and Pedro Souza, who aspired to be famous baseball players. While playing baseball in a clearing, Joao missed a pop fly, and the ball rolled into some bushes. When Joao entered the bushes to retrieve the ball, he experienced a strange sensation, feeling as if someone was watching him. He described it as "something funny like a feeling." His friend Pedro, noticing Joao's distraction, questioned what he was seeing. Joao couldn't articulate it, only stating he felt funny and that "something" was watching them. The narrative implies that Joao's encounter in the bushes was more significant than just losing a baseball, hinting at an unexplained phenomenon or presence.

General Information on UFOs

The issue begins with a general discussion of "flying saucers," stating that even hardened skeptics must admit to the remarkable similarity in descriptions provided by witnesses. These elusive, glowing discs are reported to range in size from as small as 8 inches across to a more common outside diameter of 30 feet. The "cabin" portion is usually described as being about 12 feet thick. There is virtual 100% agreement that the craft are metallic. The descriptions of the numerous, intense lights emitted from the ships are also identical. Many reports include a description of a burning or heat sensation from the ships. However, the article concludes by noting that despite the striking similarities in description, their actual existence has yet to be proven beyond a doubt.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance is to present "unbelievable accounts" and "bizarre sightings" of UFOs, suggesting an interest in the unexplained and extraordinary. The editorial tone leans towards reporting witness testimonies and unusual events, while acknowledging the lack of definitive proof. The recurring themes include unexplained aerial phenomena, the credibility of witnesses, and the potential for encounters with unknown entities or craft. The stories highlight the fear and confusion experienced by those who witness these events, as well as the skepticism they often face from authorities and the public.

This issue of "Flying Saucers" presents two separate, albeit thematically linked, comic stories centered around encounters with unidentified flying objects and strange beings. The first story, titled "Far Out Physical," features Carl Romain, a gentleman farmer, who investigates an unusual light on his country estate and finds himself confronting figures from a disc-like machine. The second story, which appears to be a standalone narrative within the issue, depicts two boys, Joao and Pedro, practicing baseball when they are attacked by a similar strange figure.

Story 1: The Farmer's Encounter

The narrative begins with Carl Romain leaving his house on a clear fall evening to walk his dog, Earl. He notices an odd light glowing in a meadow and decides to investigate. Upon reaching the meadow, he discovers a strange, disc-like machine. As he approaches, figures emerge from the craft. Romain confronts them, asserting his ownership of the property, but is attacked. His dog, Earl, also intervenes and is subdued. Romain and Earl are then taken aboard the UFO.

Later, Romain is found by his associate, Sims, who reports that Romain has been missing for 14 hours. Romain, however, is disoriented and claims only 20 minutes have passed, questioning if it's a joke. Sims implies that Romain is unaware of the true extent of what has happened to him, suggesting a deeper mystery and knowledge held by others.

Story 2: The Baseball Players

This story opens with two boys, Joao and Pedro, practicing baseball. They are confident that their skill will one day make them famous. Their practice is interrupted when Joao hits a ball too hard, and a strange, bald figure in an orange suit appears. The figure attacks Pedro, and in the struggle, the baseball bat shatters against the figure's body as if it were made of steel. The figure remains motionless for a moment before darting into the woods.

Joao and Pedro follow the figure and witness it climbing aboard a strange, disc-like machine in a clearing. The craft then rises silently and ascends at a phenomenal speed, disappearing from sight. The boys are left stunned. Meanwhile, a man named Ribeiro is looking for his son, Joao, and expresses concern about the approaching darkness. Another character, Fitto Ladrão, points out shooting stars, seemingly unaware of the true event.

Later, Ribeiro finds the boys, who are distressed. He notes that they have seen "something from the devil," but the mystery remains unsolved as there is no one to ask about it.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are clear: mysterious aerial phenomena (flying saucers, disc-like machines), encounters with non-human entities (strange figures), and the subsequent disorientation or unexplained experiences of the human witnesses. The editorial stance, as suggested by the title "Flying Saucers" and the nature of the stories, is to explore and present accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena and potential alien contact, often leaving the reader with a sense of mystery and wonder. The narratives highlight the unknown and the potential for extraordinary events to occur in ordinary settings.

Title: FLYING SAUCERS
Issue Date: October 14, 1951 (for the main story)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of 'Flying Saucers' presents two distinct, albeit related, narratives concerning unusual aerial phenomena and encounters.

Strange Shoot Out

The primary story, set in the Ridgeback Mountains, recounts an event on October 14, 1951. It begins by contrasting the area's reputation for marksmen with the inexplicable events that transpired. The narrative focuses on a family, referred to as 'Paw,' 'Maw,' 'Luke,' and 'Jed,' who are confronted by strange, pink-skinned humanoid figures. The encounter escalates into a 'shoot out' where the farmers, armed with shotguns, fire upon the entities. However, the bullets seem ineffective, as the figures 'just falls down and gets back up.' The farmers express frustration that they 'ain't hurtin' them a bit.' The figures are described as having large heads and appearing to be 'bouncing' or 'running away.' The incident concludes with the sheriff, Avery Plunkit, arriving and deciding not to file a report, deeming the events too unbelievable and best left unsaid, though he acknowledges the entities were 'real.' The story implies a connection to the mysterious White Sands Proving Ground.

Collision Course

A secondary narrative, titled 'Collision Course,' details an incident involving Fleet Airways on June 16, 1964. Captain Paul Hanson and his co-pilot Ray Roy were transporting a shipment. Initially, the crew speculates about the cargo, with possibilities ranging from atomic bombs to office furniture. They discover the cargo is 'RADIOACTIVE.' During the flight, the pilots experience radio static and encounter glowing clouds. They then spot an unidentified object, described as being on a 'collision course' with their plane. The co-pilot, Ray Roy, states, 'IT'S TOO LATE, PAUL, IT HIT US! WE'RE GOING DOWN!' The story implies that the chimpanzees being transported had escaped their cages and caused a disturbance, contributing to the overall chaos before the collision.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to focus on unexplained aerial phenomena, alien encounters, and mysterious events. The editorial stance seems to be one of presenting these accounts as factual or at least as significant occurrences that warrant investigation and discussion, even if official reports are suppressed or dismissed. The use of comic book format suggests an aim to engage a broad audience with these often sensationalized accounts of UFOs and related mysteries.

This issue of "Flying Saucers" presents a dramatic narrative of a UFO encounter involving a civilian aircraft and subsequent military pursuit, interspersed with reflections on space exploration. The magazine's tone is one of mystery and intrigue, highlighting unexplained phenomena and the limitations of current human understanding.

The Encounter with the Disc

The issue opens with Captain Hanson and his co-pilot, Roy, experiencing radio static and observing a strange phenomenon. Their heavily loaded plane is suddenly on a collision course with an unidentified flying object, described as a "strange disc." The disc maneuvers erratically, appearing to "play games" with the aircraft. In a swift and decisive action, the disc strikes the plane, tearing off half of its starboard wing. The aircraft loses control and begins to descend, with Captain Hanson desperately trying to manage the descent. The pilots are unable to evade the object, and their final transmissions indicate the severity of the situation.

Military Pursuit and Loss

Meanwhile, over two hundred miles away, the sighting triggers an alert. Two "hot jets" are scrambled in pursuit of the UFO. Radar initially tracks the object but then loses it, reporting nothing in the area. One of the pilots expresses readiness, having encountered similar phenomena before. The jets engage, but the UFO proves to be incredibly fast and agile, far beyond the capabilities of any known jet. The narrative shifts to one of the pursuing jets reporting that the object has hit it, taking off half its starboard wing. The pilot declares, "IT'S HIT...GREAT SCOT! IT'S TAKEN OFF HALF OUR STARBOARD WING!" The jet goes out of control and begins to fall. The transmission ends abruptly with the pilot stating, "THIS IS IT...WE..... THAT'S THE END OF THE TRANSMISSION. IT'S ALL OVER."

The Aftermath and Investigation

The radar fix on the initial object is lost, with no trace found. The narrative then focuses on the crash site of Fleet Airways Flight 611, which ended midway on its intended flight plan with no survivors. Investigators are present, with one witness describing the event as "TERRIBLE...JUST TERRIBLE. WHAT WAS IT?" Another observer notes the presence of a "bright thing" before the plane hit. The official conclusion is that it was "JUST ANOTHER UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT." However, the text concludes with a rhetorical question, implying doubt about the official explanation: "IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, ALL RIGHT. AN UNFORTU-NATE ONE TOO. BUT JUST ANOTHER UNFORTU-NATE ACCIDENT? THERE'S NOBODY LEFT TO SAY... OR IS THERE?"

Reflections on Space and the Universe

The latter part of the magazine shifts focus to broader themes of space exploration. An illustration depicts the solar system, with planets orbiting the sun. A text block discusses the immense distances involved, not only within our own solar system but to other solar systems and galaxies. It acknowledges that human technology is still in its infancy, relying on probes and radio wave transmissions for deep space exploration. The text poses a philosophical question about whether the problems of traversing space and communication hold true throughout the universe.

Another section, accompanied by an illustration of astronauts on the moon with a lunar lander, discusses the early 1970s plans for the United States to land men on the moon, with the Russians also having a similar objective. It speculates that in a short time, regular journeys to the moon will be commonplace for study, similar to how Earth is studied. The section concludes by pondering what might already be learned "out there" in the universe, beyond the moon and the solar system, by "somebody...somewhere."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the unexplained nature of UFO phenomena, the potential threat they pose to conventional aircraft, and the limitations of human technology in understanding and confronting them. There is a clear implication that official explanations for certain incidents, like the crash of Fleet Airways Flight 611, may be insufficient or deliberately misleading. The magazine also touches upon humanity's burgeoning steps into space, contrasting the vastness of the universe with our current technological capabilities and raising questions about what might exist beyond our immediate reach. The editorial stance appears to be one that encourages skepticism of official narratives and promotes curiosity about the unknown, particularly in the realm of UFOs and extraterrestrial possibilities.