SPACE BEASTS

Classification: Extraterrestrial humanoids

Location/Base of Operations: Unrevealed

Known Members: Luther Gorr

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Jeb Harris, unidentified race, US Air Force, US Army

First Appearance: Tales to Astonish I#29 (March, 1962)

Powers/Abilities: Due to their size, the Space Beasts presumably had strength well above Earth norms.

Traits: The Space Beasts have a fleet of flying saucers capable of interplanetary travel. These ships are equipped with magno-repulsion fields that prevent metallic objects from coming within approximately 100 feet of their vessels. The vessels are able to hover in one spot while emitting a beam of light from beneath; soldiers disembark the ships upon ladders. The Space Beasts themselves used handheld weapons that could disintegrate any metallic object they struck; these weapons had no effect on non-metallic targets.

Type: Bilaterally symmetrical humanoids
Eyes: Two (black in color)
Fingers: Three (with opposable thumb)
Toes: Unrevealed
Skin color: Orange or red
Average height: Unrevealed (approximately up to 9'0")

History:
(Tales to Astonish I#29) - Under the command of Luther Gorr, the Space Beasts conquered many other planets to plunder their resources but always moved on to find new worlds to conquer. After conquering a race of green men, they moved on to Earth as their next target. The Space Beasts informed humanity that they were all now their captives and their world had been conquered. The US Air Force took that to mean they were declaring war and sent a wing of fighter jets to attack the Space Beasts' vessels, but the Space Beasts repelled them with their magno-repulsion fields.

    The Space Beasts next landed ground troops and fought the US Army, firing their disintegrator beams to destroy tanks, likewise targeting planes and hangars. Soon, the Space Beasts went on a spree of destructive behavior, destroying statues, cars and bridges simply to instill terror in humankind. Luther Gorr declared himself ruler of the Earth and instituted serfdom upon humanity, ordering them to build a new city for the Space Beasts to dwell in.

    One space untouched by the Space Beasts was a farm in the midwest of the USA where farmer Jeb Harris lived with his family. Luther Gorr and two other Space Beasts went to the farm and ordered Harris to vacate, as they intended to build an airstrip where his farm lay. Jeb refused and, grabbing his rifle, struck Gorr in the chin with the butt of the rifle. This simple blow easily knocked Gorr down, to the amazement of onlookers. The other two Space Beasts fired their guns at Jeb but only managed to disintegrate his belt buckle. This revealed to Jeb the weakness of the Space Beasts and he picked up his rifle again, firing shells at the Space Beasts. Terrified, the Space Beasts fled Jeb's farm.

    As word of Jeb's defiance spread, other humans fought back against the Space Beasts and their determination terrified the plunderers, who were accustomed to finding an easy conquest. Finally, the entire fleet fled the planet Earth in terror.

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer (likely either Larry Lieber or Stan Lee), Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers.

    Yes, this story really does go for the "he's got a board with a nail in it!" climax. It's especially hilarious because the humans drive them off with guns...which are made from metal. All the Space Beasts had to do was aim at the guns.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Space Beasts should not be confused with:

Luther Gorr

Luther Gorr was the leader of the Space Beasts. He led his men on several successful conquests until finally leading them to Earth. Although they initially succeeded in the field against the US Air Force and US Army, he made the mistake of invading the midwestern farm of Jeb Harris with the intent of replacing it with an airstrip. Harris fought back against Gorr and struck him in the jaw with the butt of his rifle. Gorr collapsed immediately from the blow, thereby inspiring Jeb to continue to oppose the Space Beasts. In the end, all of the Space Beasts were driven from Earth.




--Tales to Astonish I#29

Jeb Harris

Jeb Harris was a farmer who lived with his wife and son in the midwestern USA. He ignored the invasion of the Space Beasts for some time, believing that "Mankind has survived for thousands of years and it'll go on surviving for thousands of yars more! In spite of all our troubles, things somehow always manage to work out all right in the end!" Jeb's farm remained untouched by the Space Beasts until they came with the intent of demolishing his property so they could put up an airfield. Jeb refused to stand idly by and struck the Space Beasts' leader with the butt of his rifle. To his surprise, this knocked the Space Beast down. The other Space Beasts assaulted Jeb with their rifles but they only disintegrated Jeb's belt buckle. This revealed to Jeb that their weapons could only affect metal. Emboldened by knowledge of their weakness, he wielded his rifle against the Space Beasts and drove them off his property. Jeb's act of resistance inspired other humans to stand up and drive the Space Beasts from the Earth. Jeb believed this outcome proved his old adage: "Especially if you give providence a little nudge now and then!"


--Tales to Astonish I#29

unidentified race

This unidentified race of small green people were among those the Space Beasts enslaved. It was after conquering their civilization that the Space Beasts chose to invade Earth.



--Tales to Astonish I#29

images: (without ads)
Tales to Astonish I#29, page 4, panel 2 (Space Beasts, main)
Tales to Astonish I#29, page 5, panel 1 (Space Beasts' reign of terr-- uh... petty vandalism?)
Tales to Astonish I#29, page 2, panel 1 (Luther Gorr)
Tales to Astonish I#29, page 2, panel 5 (Jeb)
Tales to Astonish I#29, page 2, panel 2 (enslaved race)

Appearances:
Tales to Astonish I#29 (March, 1962) - unidentified writer, Jack Kirby (pencils), Dick Ayers (inks), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 03/02/2023
Last updated: 02/28/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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