Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Strange Tales #6
"Inside the Black Bag" delivers a chilling, atmospheric tale from the Atlas Era, where a man’s journey to a remote jungle temple leads to a mind-bending revelation: the temple is a hidden alien rescue ship, and the three others already there are extraterrestrials drawn by illusions projected onto movie screens—illusions only they could perceive. Written and illustrated with striking precision by Bernard Baily, the story unfolds with quiet dread as the protagonist, unmarked by the cinematic lure, must decide whether to expose his true nature or join the others in leaving Earth behind. The haunting cover by Bill Everett captures the mystery perfectly, making this a standout entry in the Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Strange Tales series.
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A man arrives at a hidden temple deep in the jungle to find three others ahead of him. The temple informs him that they are really aliens and the temple is a rescue ship that broadcast images of the temple onto movie screens that only they could see which is why they felt compelled to seek out the temple. The man realizes that he is not one of the aliens since he has not been to the movies, but is undecided whether he should reveal himself or go along with the aliens and leave Earth.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).