No what in blazes is wrong with both of you! It's not murder and it's not torture! I just collect them and that's different! 
- —Roger Worth
Appearing in "The Man With The Net"
Featured Characters:
- Roger Worth (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Tommy Worth (First appearance)
- Helen Worth (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Giant Butterflies
Other Characters:
- Numerous unnamed entomologists
- Expedition Crew
- Gunther (First appearance)
- Numerous unnamed Argentinian natives
- Collected Collectors
- Unnamed East Dutch Collector
- Unnamed Russian Collector
- Unnamed English Collector
- Unnamed German Collector
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Insects
- Butterflies
- Giant Butterflies
- Butterflies
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earth
- North America
- South America
- Russia (Named only)
- England (Named only)
- Germany (Named only)
- Earth
Synopsis for "The Man With The Net"
Little Tommy is horrified witnessing his father Mr. Worth add another butterfly to his collection. Later showing off what he believes to be a complete collection, he is told he is missing one rare breed: A breed of giant butterflies that originate in Argentina. Determined to get one of these creatures for his collection, Mr. Worth spends a fortune to go out and hunt for them. In an ironic twist, the butterflies end up capturing him and taking him to their home, where they have a collection of their own: different breeds of human, foolish enough to venture in their territory.
Appearing in "The Tragic Train"
Featured Characters:
- Louis Chilaver (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- City Elevated Lines (First appearance)
- John Reynolds (First appearance; dies)
- Willard Stranford (First appearance)
- Bill Michaels (First appearance; dies)
- Mike Devans (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Jesse Purpins (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Mrs. Reynolds (Mentioned in narration)
- Mayor James Donahue (First appearance)
- Professor Ethlemeyer (Mentioned)
- Unidentified Police Department
- Commissioner Thomas Mulins (First appearance)
- Three unnamed police officers
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earth
- United States of America
- Uptown Local
- Wilton Park
- State University (Mentioned)
- Wegely Avenue
- Apartment House
- Apartment 8A
- Apartment House
- United States of America
- Earth
Items:
- Unidentified Cold Heat Device
Synopsis for "The Tragic Train"
- Synopsis not yet written
Appearing in "My Name is Death!"
Featured Characters:
- Sigmund Graasp (First appearance; dies)
Antagonists:
- Unnamed Governor
Other Characters:
- Spanish Inquisition (Mentioned in narration)
- Numerous unnamed scientists
- Leon (First appearance; dies)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earthspace
- Heaven (Invoked)
Items:
- Iron Maiden
Synopsis for "My Name is Death!"
A story narrated by the Iron Maiden describing the events surrounding her creation.
Appearing in "One Must Die!"
Featured Characters:
- Millie (First appearance)
- Jim (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Doctor Zorg (First appearance) (Apparent death)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earth
- Doctor Zorg's Zoo (First appearance)
- Doctor Zorg's Mountain Estate (First appearance)
- Earth
Synopsis for "One Must Die!"
A scientist theorizes that if one animal can save its life by killing its mate, it will do so. He tests this theory on gorillas by suspending bananas out of their reach and the male does in fact strangle his mate in order to use her body as a ladder to reach the fruit. When he discovers his wife is cheating on him, he stitches the two lover's shoulders together and dumps them in a cave filled with hungry hyenas and an exit wide enough for only one to fit through and leaves them ...an ax.
Appearing in "The Executioner!"
Featured Characters:
- Tourneau (First appearance; dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Joseph-Ignace Guillotin (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Numerous unnamed French Revolutionaries
Other Characters:
- King Louis XVI of France (Mentioned)
- Francis (First appearance)
Races and Species:
Locations:
Events and Eras:
Synopsis for "The Executioner!"
Tourneau is an executioner to King Louis XVI of France in the year 1789. He labors to find a more efficient means of executing prisoners. A physician named Joseph-Ignace Guillotin provides him designs for a mechanized decapitation device. The device (dubbed the guillotine) is put into use, but a revolution takes place and the prisoners storm the Bastille. They capture Tourneau who subsequently becomes the guillotine's first victim.
Appearing in "It Can't Be Done"
Featured Characters:
- Jed Dorish (First appearance; dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Mr. Gerrity (Circus Manager) (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Unnamed Circus
- Tightrope Walkers
- Smith
- Matthews
- Nick
- Numerous unnamed circus employees
- Tightrope Walkers
- Numerous unnamed audience members
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earthspace
- Heaven (Referenced)
Synopsis for "It Can't Be Done"
A clown wants desperately to be the center of attention on the highwire and practices until he can cross it. The circus manager is unimpressed, however, claiming that he doesn't bring anything new to the performance and fires him for being a lousy clown. He tells him that if he can come up with something sensational he'll let him write his own ticket but doesn't think he'll ever see the man again. When the guy shows up again the manager threatens to have him thrown out, but he pleads with him to take in his act. When he ascends the highwire, he detaches it and walks on air before the startled manager. He thinks it must be a trick but can't see how it's done. He puts on a sensational show before a huge audience and is a smash hit. Several people want to sign his act but the clown declines saying this evening will be his only performance. He leaves the tent and stares for a moment at the promotional poster before his ghost returns to his grave as he had committed suicide the night he was fired.
Notes
Publisher Notes[]
- "The Man With The Net" is reprinted in Zombie #3.
- "My Name is Death!" is reprinted in Kull the Destroyer #14.
- "One Must Die!" is reprinted in Dead of Night #5.
- "The Executioner!" is reprinted in Frankenstein #7.
Trivia
- Contrary to popular belief, Joseph-Ignace Guillotin did not actually invent the Guillotine. He lobbied for its widespread adoption as a humane alternative to hanging despite his opposition to death penalty. Tourneau did not exist, and Louis XIV's chief-executioner Charles-Henri Sanson became High Executioner of the First French Republic.