Out of This World #7

In "The Stray!", science teacher Gwendolyn Purdy finds herself unexpectedly drawn into an interstellar encounter after her tektite collection begins to glow. When two aliens from Uranus, led by the perplexed Kryptos, declare her the only Earth woman worthy of a cosmic courtship, Gwendolyn is forced to confront her self-image in ways she never expected. Written by Thomas R. Drew and brought to life with expressive art by Ogden Whitney, this 1984 gem features a striking cover by Steve Ditko, blending classroom drama with cosmic whimsy in a story that’s as quietly poignant as it is delightfully strange.