Strange Tales #78

In "A Martian Walks Among Us!" from Strange Tales #78, Jo stumbles upon a stranger who doesn’t belong—someone pretending to be human while secretly scouting Earth for a hostile takeover. When the authorities dismiss his warnings, Jo takes matters into his own hands, only to uncover a truth far stranger than he imagined.

Jo, a reclusive scientist, unlocks a hidden psychic ability and spends years refining a machine to amplify it—until a betrayal from his trusted assistant leaves him physically weakened and powerless, his once-absolute control slipping away just as he needs it most.

In "The Gargoyle!" from Strange Tales #78, Jo, a man long shunned for his unattractive appearance, seeks acceptance by applying for a job at a traveling circus—only to find himself drawn into a bizarre and otherworldly scheme. The aliens behind the circus, flawless in beauty, are captivated by his ugliness and have a shocking reason for wanting him as their queen’s consort.

In "Dear Reader: What Would You Have Done if You Were the… Worm Man," a spy known only as the Worm Man uses shrinking pills to infiltrate enemy lines and steal secrets—until a chance encounter with a rat leaves him stranded in his miniature form, with no way back. The story poses a chilling question: how far would you go to survive when even the smallest creature becomes a threat?