Astounding Stories #13
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeIn "The Booster Shots!" from Astounding Stories #13 (1967), a courtroom drama takes a surreal turn when a mysterious figure, glimpsed only in shadow, hypnotizes the jury into acquitting Chalmers of murder—despite overwhelming suspicion. The verdict shocks the judge, and though the jurors later recover and describe the man, no trace of him remains—until an artist’s sketch reveals a startling resemblance to the supposedly deceased Sir Alfred Haines. The story unfolds with quiet tension, blending courtroom suspense and a twist that redefines the truth, all rendered in the distinctive style of John Forte on art and inks. The cover by Ogden Whitney captures the story’s eerie mood with a striking, shadow-drenched image.
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Chalmers is accused of murdering Sir Alfred Haines as he knew he was the benefactor of his will. The jurors are all sure he is guilty but a mysterious man steps out of the shadows and hypnotises the jurors to return a not guilty verdict. When the foreman announces the verdict the judge is angry but has to release Chalmers. Later the jurors recover and tell the judge but no trace of the man is found. They give details to an artist and the man is recognised by the judge as being Sir Alfred! A young burglar is caught and confesses to the crime. The judge is glad that Chalmers was not hanged.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).
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