PETERS

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Extra-terrestrial (Post-World War II era) (see comments)

Occupation: Science fiction editor at Thorndike Publications

Affiliations: Mr. Thorndike, other members of his race

Enemies: John Johnson

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Smiling Boy"

Base of Operations: Mobile;
    Post-World War II era

First Appearance: Uncanny Tales I#23/5 (August, 1954)

Powers/Abilities: Peters was an expert on outer space lore, and a master of disguise capable of passing himself off as a human.

History: (Uncanny Tales I#23/5 (fb) - BTS) Peters arrived on Earth for unknown purposes. At some point his allies would meet up with him on Earth. He disguised himself as a human, giving himself a permanent smile to make people think he was happy and trustworthy.

(Uncanny Tales I#23/5) - Peters got a job at Thorndike Publications helping science fiction editor John Johnson pick out stories. Peters chose stories he recognized as having a semblance of truth in relation to the outer space societies he had seen. John Johnson was soon fired, and Peters took over as science-fiction editor. The enraged Johnson ambushed Peters at the office one night and went after him with a knife. Peters was unharmed, but his disguise fell off. He revealed his true nature to Johnson, driving the man insane.

Comments: Created by an unnamed writer and Bob McCarthy.

As with many 1950's and 1960's Marvel monster stories, this story is not confirmed as part of Earth-616 continuity, but there's nothing to exclude it either.
    --Leave it in unless something rules it out!--Snood.

This story was reprinted in Crypt of Shadows#8.

PROFILE BY FUTURE

CLARIFICATIONS:
Peters has known connection to:

• Peter, Namor character, @ Marvel Comics Presents#57/3
• Peter, mutant, Northstar and X-Men character, @ Uncanny X-Men#414
• Peters, Warheads, @ Warheads#3
• Peters, Russell of Earth-UV, bought out Playland, killed by Deathmask, @ Night Man I#1
• Any other characters named "Peter" or "Peters"

John Johnson has no known connection to:

• Johnson, Anna, @ Cloak and Dagger III #17
• Johnson, Cal, Fantastic Four character, son of Frank, @ Fantastic Four Unlimited#7
• Johnson, David, Vengeance character, @ Marvel Comics Presents #149/1
• Johnson, Frank, Zzutak creator/foe, @ Strange Tales I #88
• Any other characters named "John" or "Johnson"

John Johnson

Editor who lost several jobs because of his alcoholism. He was working at Thorndike Publications as science fiction editor when Peters was assigned as his assistant. Johnson became worried that Peters would take his job, and he resented Peters because he was smiling all the time. Johnson started hitting the bottle again, and was soon fired. A few days later he returned to Thorndike Publications at night, armed with a knife. He attacked Peters, and was shocked when Peters' human disguise ripped away. The sight of Peters' alien visage drove him insane, and he was locked away in a mental institution.

--Uncanny Tales I#23/5

Mr. Thorndike

Owner of Thorndike Publications. He hired Peters after the alien started showing up at his office, telling him that he knew what type of science fiction stories people wanted to read. He was so impressed with Peters' work that he fired Johnson.

--Uncanny Tales I#23/5

images:
Uncanny Tales I#23/5, p4, pan4;
Uncanny Tales I#23/5, p3, pan8;
(John Johnson) Uncanny Tales#23/5, p4, pan6;
(Mr. Thorndike) Uncanny Tales#23/5, p2, pan1

Crypt of Shadows#8 (January, 1973)

Last updated: 08/23/04

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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