"TOM TUCKER"

Real Name: "Tom Tucker" (see comments)

Identity/Class: Human mystically cursed (1950s era)

Occupation: Unrevealed

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Lama

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Abominable Snowman, Yetti (see comments)

Base of Operations: Mobile in the Himalayan mountains;
   temporarily in the Lama's monastery;
   originally from an unidentified American city

First Appearance: Strange Worlds#1/2 (December, 1958)

Powers/Abilities: "Tom Tucker" was a selfish and greedy man who schemed, lied, and stole so he could win fame and fortune by finding the Abominable Snowman.

As punishment for his crimes, "Tucker" was later cursed to wear the beastly form of a Yetti (see comments), until such time as another unscrupulous individual came along to take his place. The curse caused "Tucker's" body to be covered with a thick white fur, which protected him from the cold.

Height: 5'10"'; (as Yetti) 7' (by approximation)
Weight: 170 lbs.; (as Yetti) 500 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Black; (as Yetti) white

History:
(Strange Worlds#1/2 (fb) ) - The past of "Tom Tucker" is largely unrevealed, but he went to see a movie-documentary (The Snowbeast) about a scientific expedition that was going in search of the legendary Abominable Snowman. Fascinated by the film, "Tucker" was overpowered by the thought of being the one to find the Snowman, so he could reap all the glory for himself. Since the expedition was already on its way, "Tucker" had to act fast, so he broke into a safe and stole some money to finance his own search, then took a flight to India.

   "Tucker" easily picked up the expedition's trail in India, and with lies and bribes, he managed to pose as a magazine writer so he could spy on the scientific team's final preparations; he later stole the equipment and maps he would need from them.

   "Tucker" made his way to the Himalayas, and he used the stolen maps to locate the area where the most numerous Yetti sightings were made--it was no easy task climbing the mountains alone, but the thought of the rewards that awaited him gave him the strength to carry on. Along the way, "Tucker" became lost in a blizzard, and he began to weaken in his drive for glory; but when the storm subsided, he came upon a monastery, and new hope arose in him when he saw huge footprints in front of the structure. An aged Lama came out of the monastery, and he took "Tucker" inside the warm temple to feed him--as "Tucker" hungrily ate, the Lama sat silently watching him, and "Tucker" felt that the Lama's eyes seemed to read every wrong deed that he had ever done.

   When the Lama finally spoke, it was the answer to the question "Tucker" was about to ask him--the Lama confirmed that the huge footprints were those of the Yetti, but he warned "Tucker" that they would not lead him to the glory he sought. Enraged, "Tucker" grabbed an ornament to use as a cudgel, and he threatened to wreck the temple unless the Lama showed him where the Yetti was; the Lama reluctantly complied and led him through the monastery, then down into a winding cavern that led to the other side of the mountain. When they emerged outside, the Lama blew into a large horn to summon the Yetti.

(Strange Worlds#1/2 ) - While the strange music produced from the horn was carried through the mountains and faded into the wind, "Tucker" recollected the events that brought him to the monastery. Then "Tucker" heard crunching footsteps coming closer and closer...and he was shocked when he beheld the approaching Yetti! "Tucker" brandished the ornament/cudgel and threatened the monster, but the Lama told him there was no need for violence--the Lama spoke some arcane words to the Yetti, and the sobbing monster dropped to its knees before him.

   "Tucker" saw how the Yetti understood and obeyed the Lama, so he demanded that the Lama force the monster to accompany him down the mountain; but the Lama scolded "Tucker" for his greed and evil, then directed him to watch as he spoke more arcane words to the Yetti--the monster slowly began to change, until it became a human! The Lama explained that the Yetti had once been like "Tucker"--a man who had been seeking what he had no right to--and as punishment for his sins, he had been transformed by the spell and condemned to wander the mountains. But the former Yetti's punishment was now over, and he was free to live a useful and productive life, for another had come to take his place...

   Suddenly, a change came upon the horrified "Tucker," and he found himself covered with thick white fur as he changed into the new Yetti--the Lama regretfully told "Tucker" that he hoped he would also be granted a short term.

   While the Lama and the former Yetti somberly watched, the sobbing "Tucker" wandered off into the frigid and desolate mountain peaks --"Tucker" realized his punishment was deserved, and he was saved from committing greater crimes, but only time would tell when another fool such as he would come along to take his place...

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Steve Ditko (artist).

In regards to "Tom Tucker": Although the tale was told from his narrative perspective, this character was never identified in this 6-page story--I Captured the Abominable Snowman!--so I took the liberty of naming him for the purpose of this profile. The source of the name is from the 1957 film The Abominable Snowman, wherein glory-seeker Tom Friend (portrayed by actor Forrest Tucker) tried to capture a Yeti.

In regards to "Yetti": That's the way it was consistently spelled in the story (four times).

Maybe "Tucker's" wandering eventually took him into Europe, where he became known as the Ice-Monster.

And maybe the Lama was actually the mystic Ancient One (Yao) (...who also secretly portrayed a lama when he bestowed his wisdom to Doctor Druid).

This story would be reprinted in Strange Tales Annual#2 (September, 1963), and Journey into Mystery II#13 (October, 1974). This same basic Abominable Snowman-curse plot would later be reused (with minor variations) in Strange Tales I#72/3 (December, 1959) and Tales to Astonish I#13/1 (November, 1960) (see CLARIFICATIONS for details).

Profile by Ron Fredricks.

CLARIFICATIONS:
"Tom Tucker" has no known connections to:

The Lama has no known connections to:

The Abominable Snowman/Yetti has no known connections to:

Lama's monastery

A temple built somewhere in the Himalayan mountains, it was the home of the Lama.

While searching for the Abominable Snowman, "Tom Tucker" became lost during a blizzard; he later discovered the monastery when the storm ended, and he found footprints of the Yetti in front of the structure.

The Lama came out of the monastery and took "Tucker" inside to shelter and feed him.

--Strange Worlds#1/2

Lama

An aged mystic, his past was unrevealed (see comments); he lived in a monastery somewhere in the Himalayan mountains.

At some unspecified point in the past, an unidentified greedy man had apparently come to the monastery to capture the Abominable Snowman; as punishment for the man's misdeeds, the Lama apparently cursed him with a mystic spell and transformed him into a Yetti.

At some point afterwards, following a blizzard, the Lama found "Tom Tucker" outside the monastery, so he took him inside to give him food and shelter.

Apparently psychic, the Lama seemed to sense that "Tucker" was an evil and greedy man who was also searching for the Yetti for his own fortune and glory. The Lama tried to dissuade "Tucker" from his quest, but "Tucker" threatened violence unless the Lama showed him where the creature was, so the Lama reluctantly complied.

The Lama blew a large horn to summon the Yetti., then he recited a magical spell that transformed the monster back into a human; but the curse was then transferred to "Tucker," and he was condemned to be the Abominable Snowman until another came along to take his place.

As the transformed "Tucker" wandered off into the desolate mountains, the Lama regretfully told him, "May you also be granted a short term (as the Yetti), my son."

--Strange Worlds#1/2

Lama's horn

A large wind-instrument used by the Lama, its strange music summoned the Yetti.

--Strange Worlds#1/2

Yetti

An unidentified greedy man, he had been searching for the Abominable Snowman at some point in the past. But he was cursed by the Lama's spell to became a Yetti himself, condemned to wander the Himalayan mountains and contemplate his sins until another unscrupulous person came to take his place.  

One day, he was summoned by the music of the Lama's horn, and when he saw "Tom Tucker," the Yetti wept tears of joy, for he realized his punishment was finally over.

The Lama spoke arcane words that broke the spell, and the Yetti became a man again--now fully human, he was exhilarated because he could live a useful and productive life, for his punishment taught him to never again be tempted by greed and evil.

But he somberly stood by the Lama and watched as the curse was transferred to "Tucker," who then wandered off into the mountains as the new Yetti.

--Strange Worlds#1/2

images: (without ads)
Strange Worlds#1/2, p1, pan1 (Main Image - "Tom Tucker" standing behind horn)
Strange Worlds#1/2, p4, pan4 (Headshot - "Tom Tucker")
Strange Worlds#1/2, p6, pan6 (Headshot - "Tom Tucker" transformed into Yetti)
Strange Worlds#1/2, p6, pan7 (transformed into Yetti, "Tom Tucker" walks away, as Lama and former Yetti watch)
Strange Worlds#1/2, p3, pan1 ("Tom Tucker" discovers Lama's monastery)
Strange Worlds#1/2, p3, pan6 (Lama seemingly reads "Tom Tucker's" mind)
Strange Worlds#1/2, p3, pan8 (Lama tells "Tom Tucker" to follow him after "Tucker" (holding ornament) threatens to wreck temple)
Strange Worlds#1/2, p5, pan4 (Lama (background) speaks arcane words to Yetti)
Strange Worlds#1/2, p4, pan5 (Lama blows horn to summon Yetti; "Tom Tucker")
Strange Worlds#1/2, p5, pan1 (Yetti approaches "Tom Tucker" (holding ornament) and Lama)
Strange Worlds#1/2, p6, pan1 (Yetti begins to transform back to human, as "Tom Tucker" watches)
Strange Worlds#1/2, p6, pan2 (Yetti continues to transform back to human, as "Tom Tucker" watches)
Strange Worlds#1/2, p6, pan3 (Yetti fully transformed back into a man)

Appearances:
Strange Worlds#1/2 (December, 1958) - unidentified writer, Steve Ditko (pencils and inks), Stan Goldberg (colors), Art Simek (letters), Stan Lee (editor) 

First Posted: 09/12/2019
Last updated: 09/12/2019

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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