Journey into Mystery #78

In "Kraggoom! The Creature Who Caught an Astronaut!", a gaseous alien criminal plots to hijack Earth by possessing the first human astronaut, only to find his host is a fraud who cheated his way into the mission. As the astronaut's mind unravels under the strain of space, Kraggoom is trapped in a failing consciousness, both lost in the void and bound to a man who never should have been there.

In "The Sorcerer," a lone stranger seeking work at a remote gas station draws attention with his eerie presence and hidden abilities. When supernatural forces confront him, they demand a terrible price: surrender his powers or face eternal torment.

In "Monsters on Mercury!" from Journey into Mystery #78 (1962), a team of astronauts landing on Mercury on Christmas Eve are greeted not by danger, but by a surprising gift: a group of friendly telepathic aliens who create a glowing Christmas tree to welcome them. The story captures a quiet, wondrous moment of first contact, where holiday spirit and alien wonder meet under the red planet’s sky.

In "The Clutching Hand," a mysterious hand materializes in a sideshow exhibit, drawing crowds and sparking greed. When one of the booth's owners uncovers the truth—that the hand belongs to a stranded being from another dimension—he faces a moral test, setting him on a path that could bring fortune or ruin.