Cover: John Stanley

Four Color #461

Apr 1953 · Dell · 0.10 USD

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In "Padlock Problem," a 1953 Four Color comic, John Stanley crafts a delightfully absurd adventure where a Martian saucer, baffled by the shriek of Tubby’s violin, mistakes his accidental noise for a weapon. When the tiny aliens follow Tubby to a sidewalk display of mechanical men, they blend in as toys—only to be scooped up with the rest when Tubby takes them home, along with Gloria. With John Stanley handling writing, art, and inks throughout, and his own distinctive style defining the cover, this whimsical tale of mistaken identity and Martian mischief remains a quirky gem from the era.

Contains 4 stories

Padlock Problem

1 pp · Children

TubbyWillyEddieIggy

Tubby's Secret Weapon

32 pp · Children, Science Fiction

TubbyWillyEddieIggyProf. KleffGloriaLittle Men from Mars (intro)Tubby's mother

In "Tubby's Secret Weapon," a Martian saucer hovering over a quiet town is thrown into chaos when Tubby’s off-key violin practice accidentally sends destructive vibrations through the air. Thinking the boy is a weaponized menace, the tiny alien visitors sneak into town disguised as mechanical toy soldiers, following Tubby as he gathers the discarded figures after a street vendor is chased away. When Gloria shows up, the trio—human, alien, and tin—find themselves on an unexpected adventure, all sparked by a single, squeaky note.

Doll Attack

1 pp · Children

TubbyAnnie

In Trouble Inside or Out

1 pp · Children

TubbyTubby's mother

When Tubby’s mother worries he’ll break a lamp playing with his model plane inside, she sends him out to roller skate—only to find the real trouble might not be where she thought.