Uncanny Tales #103

In the 17th century, Geoffrey Marshall’s fleeting wish to be brave leads him to accept a charm from a stranger—only to find himself bound to Satan when the price comes due. Decades later, in the present day, Bud Harper, haunted by his own cowardice, stumbles upon the same cursed charm. When the Devil returns to claim his due, Bud’s quiet strength proves stronger than the bargain, and he sends the demon packing with a sharp reminder: no soul was ever truly promised.

In "Strange Little Beast," Russian scientists Marya and Svorsky, along with colleagues Vanya Tchekov and Natasha Tchekov, attempt to contain an alien creature they’ve captured—only to realize, too late, that it’s been quietly observing them all along. The line between observer and observed blurs as the strange little beast reveals powers that challenge their understanding of intelligence, control, and what it means to be truly known.