Mystery in Space #8
In "The Curse of the Fire God," Amos Todd’s Museum of Worthless Inventions takes a strange turn when a stormy night brings unexpected power to his odd exhibits—water bursts into flame, a pill turns water into gasoline, and even a perpetual motion machine fixes the hospital generator. Written by Otto Binder and illustrated by Bernard Baily, this 1959 tale from Thorpe & Porter unfolds with a mix of wonder and mystery, as Todd’s inventions seem to gain a life of their own—until a theft and a sudden failure leave everything in ruins. The cover, by Ernest Schroeder, captures the storm’s intensity, mirroring the chaos within.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Amos Todd sells tickets to his Museum of Worthless Inventions when he sees a flash of light come through the rain clouds. He shows a gold making machine and then a power pill which converts water to gasoline. He is surprised when the water suddenly bursts into flame. In the storm he helps a doctor's car with a power pill and water. He finds all inventions now work and fixes the hospital generator with a perpetual motion machine. Back at the museum criminals steal the gold making machine. Todd follows using mechanical wings which stop working as he lands. All machines return to uselessness.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).