Unusual Tales #6

A man plagued by a mysterious ability—people vanish whenever he glares at them in anger—seeks help from a doctor desperate to be free of it. But the doctor has his own theory about the nature of this strange power, and he's willing to test it in a most unconventional way. This 1957 tale explores whether power is real or simply born from the mind's desire to feel in control.

Herman Pringle resents his wife Clara for saving his failing store and running it ever since—a humiliation that festers as he daydreams of being a powerful caveman. When an accident at work knocks him unconscious, Herman finds himself living that primitive fantasy, only to discover that even as a caveman, he lacks the strength and courage his wife possesses, and she abandons him for his cowardice. Waking back in the modern world, Herman finally sees Clara's value and begins to appreciate the woman he'd been resenting all along.

Henry Rice's daydreams about sudden wealth come true when he inherits fifty thousand dollars from a deceased cousin—but the windfall transforms him from a struggling dreamer into a miserly, bitter man who refuses to spend a penny. When sickness and isolation force him to confront what his obsession has cost him, Henry rushes to return the money, only to discover something far stranger waiting at the bank.

In "The Memorable Mile," a legendary race unfolds at a track meet where the crowd waits for a new record to be set. When a mysterious runner appears, seemingly unconcerned as others pass him, his true pace only reveals itself in a stunning final lap—circles around the field, vanishing just as suddenly as he arrived. The final panel lingers on a smiling statue of Mercury, hinting at something far older than the track itself.

Benny Turkis, a dedicated machinist, shares an unshakeable bond with Willie—a lathe he's worked alongside for decades and genuinely believes is alive. When factory management finally forces Benny out and replaces Willie with a modern automatic machine, his world falls apart, until a chance encounter in the city's forgotten corners offers an unexpected second chance. A touching story about loyalty, friendship, and the things we refuse to let go of, even when the world moves on without them.