Marvel Tales #131

In "The Man Who Bought a Dingbat," a weary used car salesman swaps a run-down sedan for a mysterious, otherworldly vehicle—only to find himself stranded on a hostile alien world, miles from home and out of gas. The story unfolds with a quiet dread as the man confronts the strange, unwelcoming planet, his only companion the strange car that brought him there.

In "Five Fingers," a clever pickpocket uses a wax hand to dodge punishment—his real hand hidden, the fake one taking the blame. When his trick backfires and he’s cornered by a furious mark, the wax hand begins to act on its own, leading to a shocking turn on a train. Written by an unknown author and illustrated by an unknown artist, this eerie 1955 tale blends cunning, consequence, and a touch of the uncanny.

In "Farewell-Moon," a doglike alien scout from a werewolf-led lunar colony is sent to Earth with a mission to provoke war—but when he’s found and cared for by a little girl, his loyalty shifts in ways no one expected. Written by an unknown hand and illustrated by an unknown artist, this 1955 sci-fi tale blends quiet tenderness with cosmic stakes, as one small act of kindness sets off a chain of choices that could change the fate of two worlds.

In "While Death Waits," a miner buried beneath rubble after a cave-in faces his final moments, confessing to his fellow trapped men that he’s a murderer—only to be surprised when rescue comes, leaving his fate and the truth of his words hanging in the dark.