Journey into Mystery #1

In "The Clutching Hands," a desperate writer commits murder to steal a rival’s work, only to find the dead man’s hands won’t let go—first sabotaging his alibi, then signing a confession in his own name, and finally pulling the switch on the gallows. Written by an unknown author and illustrated by an unknown artist, this chilling 1952 tale from Journey into Mystery explores the haunting consequences of literary theft.

In "It Can't Miss," a desperate con man takes a deadly gamble, killing a man who resembles his fugitive partner to stage his death and take his place—only to discover too late that the identity he’s stolen belongs to a man already confined behind asylum walls. The twist isn’t just in the lie, but in the chilling truth of who’s really been locked away all along.

In "Iron-Head," a desperate grave robber named Bronson takes a dangerous job as a deep-sea diver, only to turn on his crew and flee with stolen black diamonds. Stranded on a remote island, he's mistaken for a water god by superstitious natives who call him "Iron-Head" and guard him ceaselessly. Trapped beneath his helmet, Bronson's fear of exposure grows as hunger weakens him—until the islanders, in their devotion, make a final, fatal decision.