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cyberghostface (cyberghostface) wrote in scans_daily,
@ 2009-10-09 15:02:00

Entry tags:

publisher: ec comics, title: shock suspenstories

The Monsters!

This comes from Shock SuspenStories #1.

I know, I know. You saw it coming. Still, if you reread the story, I think it's funny to see the humans' reactions to the descriptions of the "monsters", the fifth page in particular. (See what they're doing when they're hearing about the monsters.)

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kamino_neko
2009-10-09 09:03 pm UTC (link)

I think it's funny to see the humans' reactions to the descriptions of the "monsters", the fifth page in particular.

I don't get the second panel of that page...all the others are pretty obvious, but...well, I guess 'selfish, brutal and ruthless' is hard to illustrate without showing people engaging in criminal activity, but I can't figure out how what they put there even related.

I love the 'reproduction' panel, though...it's a bit more subtle than the other two, but clearer than 'selfish'.

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	icon_uk 2009-10-10 08:53 am UTC (link)
	Showing the elderly WASP in her jewels being instantly judgemental based on what is essentially a propoganda release, does seem to showcase selfishness. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	seriousfic 2009-10-09 10:58 pm UTC (link)
	Man, those are some douchey aliens, even by douchey alien standards. (Reply to this)

	nagaoka 2009-10-10 12:16 am UTC (link)
	It's like some extra-terrestrial version of a prank phone call or the ding-dong ditch. "Dude, let's abduct two humans. I've got this awesome idea!" (Reply to this)

	cmdr_zoom 2009-10-10 01:28 am UTC (link)
	So, did anyone here not figure out they were describing humans by, like, the fifth panel? Of course, we've been spoiled by fifty years of stories just like this. ("Turns out it's Man.") (Reply to this) (Thread)

	blakeyrat 2009-10-10 03:51 am UTC (link)
	Science Fiction writers used to be pretty misanthropic. Not sure why... maybe they weren't hugged enough as children. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	felinephoenix 2009-10-10 04:43 am UTC (link)
	Used to be? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

blakeyrat
2009-10-10 03:40 pm UTC (link)

Well, there's a definite sub-genre, yah. But it's a little better now...

If you see one of those "aliens are here to save us from ourselves" plots now, you're usually looking at just lazy writing and not actual misanthropy. (BTW, this is why I like the theatrical release of The Abyss better than the director's cut-- it cuts out all of that cliche subplot. In the theatrical release, the aliens are just out exploring not intervening to prevent nuclear war or whatever.)

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	zordboy 2009-10-10 09:44 am UTC (link)
	I didn't even get as far as the descriptions to realise exactly where we were going, narratively. And the story. "Suppose this, then suppose that, then suppose this, then suppose this other thing..." Lead 'em on why don't you? But I love that one of the scientists smuggled a gun in. Ah, Earthlings. (Reply to this)

	kagome654 2009-10-10 11:45 am UTC (link)
	Yes, yes, humans are monsters and alien races (like the elves in fantasy) are overly fond of reminding us of that 'fact.' Seriously though, I love these posts. Good stuff (Reply to this)

	ashtoreth 2009-10-10 10:59 pm UTC (link)
	Awful convenient to find a whole planet of ugly mutates to dump your mutants on. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	cyberghostface 2009-10-10 11:07 pm UTC (link)
	Awful convenient that the same exact burglar Spider-Man fails to stop kills his Uncle Ben, etc. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ashtoreth 2009-10-10 11:36 pm UTC (link)
	You're right! This calls--for a McGuffin! (Reply to this) (Parent)

psychop_rex
2009-10-11 06:52 am UTC (link)

So the way I read it, it happened like this - these aliens are either basically human themselves, or humanoid enough that mutations actually COULD occur that would result in normal human features and characteristics. (I'm just inferring this so the story will make sense.) Now, they have been viewing Earth through their space-telescopes or whatever, and know what humans look like - therefore, they know what humans look like, and note their resemblance to these mutants of theirs. Now, these aliens are morally advanced enough that they hold no particular prejudice against the mutants, but they wish to have nothing to do with races that would not return the sentiment were the positions reversed. Therefore, they devise a plan - they will arrange contact with Earth, bringing along with them a couple of the mutants. Having landed and ascertained the presence of humans, they will then make ready to lift off, and feed them a cock-and-bull story about mutants of their own. Everything hinges on how the humans react to this - if they respond in a properly enlightened manner, protesting that, hold on a second, these mutants don't sound THAT bad, then proper contact is made, ushering in a mutually benficial contact between two morally equal races, with the mutants acting as ambassadors due to their human form. If, on the other hand, they react with xenophobia and start talking about monsters, then back home the aliens go, leaving the mutants behind to show humankind the error of its ways - and, most likely, since these aliens ARE morally advanced, to give humanity a few hints of their home planet's advanced science, so that the meeting is at least to their advantage in SOME way. Unfortunately for us, we responded in the latter manner.

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