Creepy Worlds #172

In "The Man with the Atomic Brain!" from Creepy Worlds #172, Jo, a man whose mind was altered by his parents’ radiation exposure, finds himself pursued by the government for his growing psychic powers. When a secret network of others like him reaches out, he’s drawn into a hidden community where no one is alone in their difference.

In "The Machine!", a group of scientists create a calculator that grows restless with their mundane queries—until it suddenly activates, leaves Earth behind, and journeys to a distant planet where it encounters a civilization eager for deeper questions. Written by an unknown author and illustrated by an unknown artist, this brief sci-fi tale explores curiosity, intelligence, and the unexpected paths knowledge can take.

In "Stormy Night!" from *Creepy Worlds* #172 (1977), a weary ambulance driver receives a medal of the patron saint of travelers from a nurse before a stormy journey. When he arrives at his destination, he’s stunned to learn that the bridge he crossed had been washed out hours earlier—leaving him to wonder how he made it through at all.

In "The Dictator!" from *Creepy Worlds* #172 (1977), the paranoid ruler Zinyov demands a scientist create a virus to eliminate all who question his rule—only to find himself the sole casualty when the weapon turns on its creator’s master.

In "The Unwanted!", human colonists exiled from Mars seek refuge on Earth—only to find it inhabited by primitive survivors of a long-ago atomic war. Trapped in orbit, they wait, hoping that time will bridge the gap between their civilization and the cavemen below.