Tales of Suspense #43
In "Kala, Queen of the Netherworld!", a scientist's theoretical time machine becomes a trap when his envious assistant steals it, only to be stranded in the past as a powerless ghost—unable to change anything, yet forced to witness events unfold. Written by Stan Lee and illustrated with eerie precision by Steve Ditko, this 1963 tale blends scientific ambition with cosmic dread, all framed by Jack Kirby’s dynamic cover and Dick Ayers’ sharp inks.
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A scientist creates a time machine just to prove that it can be done, but never plans to use it, since he knows that it would be too dangerous to attempt to alter the past. His assistant, however, is envious of the fame such a journey would bring and so clouts the scientist on the jaw and takes off in the machine, only to find himself stuck in the past rendered insubstantial by fate like a ghost unable to affect anything.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).