Amazing Adventures (1970 series) #23

At the Lincoln Memorial slave market, Killraven is carried off by the Martians in their tripods, vowing revenge against the slave dealer Abraxas. Meanwhile, his Freemen battle the Cavaliers, the slave-hunting human henchmen. M’Shulla is caught between two Cavaliers but Grok the mutant monster, comes to his rescue. M’Shulla thanks Carmilla Frost, Grok’s owner, for his help and a connection is made between them. Old Skull clouts some more baddies, Mint Julep informs the Freemen that they must work together as she is the only one who knows where the Martians have taken Killraven. Sabre, leader of the Cavaliers, makes his getaway, giving the Freemen an ironic farewell, noting that they have earned his respect….

Killraven is brought before the Martian High Overlord at the White House who decides to snuff out the legend of Killraven by staking him out in the catacombs for Rattack and his scavengers to prey on him….

And we instantly get a tutorial on Rattack: he was a Secret Service Agent who was exposed to chemical weapons during the Martian invasion and, trapped in the White House basement, he mutated into a rat-man. Now he shows films of himself when he was human to remind himself that such a thing ever existed while now leading his swarm of rats to hunt for prey….

Mint Julep takes the Freemen to her headquarters in the former Pentagon where she tells them the Martians must have taken Killraven to their central base at the White House. M’Shulla asks if she is willing to lead them there but she doesn’t like his disrespectful tone and threatens to cleave his tongue down the center. The only way to the White House without being seen is the tunnels….

High Overlord has Killraven strapped down with the Mural Phonics System put in place. This was an entertainment system that played images directly on the brain and now it will be used for the world to witness the death of Killraven. As an ironic insult, the hero’s sword is hung up just out of his reach. As he lies there, swarms of rats approach and start crawling upon his body….

Mint Julep shows the Freemen her fleet of Dyna-Gliders and they take off through the tunnels for the White House, the boastful M’Shulla finding out they are not as easy to fly as he had assumed….

As his bonds have been loosened by rats’ chewing, Killraven is able to reach a nearby torch and fight off the rats. Rattack appears and, incensed that the hero has harmed his pets, orders them to slay him. But Killraven has recovered his sword and can now cut down rats at a high rate. Rattack panics and flees with the remainder of his swarm just as the Freemen arrive, a bit late for the rescue. Killraven addresses the High Overlord via the Mural Phonics System, making a defiant speech that will inspire the human viewers….

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Story #2

“Face of Fear

Writer: Unknown.
Penciler/Inker: Tom Cooke.

Synopsis

Many years ago a highly disfigured child named Hiram was born to the Wolf family. Hiram was raised out of sight of all outsiders. After his parents died, Hiram lived alone in the home, donning a mask when he had food delivered to his door. And then he accidentally set the house on fire. His body was pulled from the wreckage and we see that he is a normal human being while everyone else resembles a monster!