Super Swingin' Heroes 1968 Special

Other Books by Mechanoid Press

Monster Earth

Betrayal on Monster Earth

Mother of Abominations: A Monster Earth Novel

Strange Trails

Into the Weird by

Archer of Venus by

Swingin SuperHero

1968

Special

Edited by

Jim Beard & Lee Houston, Jr.

Cover by

Scott McCullar

A Mechanoid Press Book

Table of Contents

Introduction Jim Beard and Lee Houston, Jr.

The Living Door Into Nightmare Thomas Deja

A Day in the (After)life David Michelinie

Ruffled Feathers Bonnie J. Sterling

Murder Me Loudly Sam Gafford

The Coming of Changeor Erwin K. Roberts

The Crawler Creeps Chuck Miller

Hathor’s Gift Lisa M. Collins

Automaton Investigations, Inc. Mark Halegua

A Traitor Swings Among Us! Jim Beard

Come Together Lee Houston, Jr.

About the Swingin Authors

Introduction

Attention! For the past few years you Frenetic Followers of the ol’ Mechanoid have asked, nay, demanded! that we here at Mechanoid HQ publish even more adventures of our too-cool cast of crafty cut-ups…but in prose stories! To that we answered back with one of our sultry, singular statements of titanic teasing: "Wait Until ’68!"

And we hoped that would mollify you. Alas, you howled ever the more, so we knuckled down like the knuckleheads we are and put together the terrifyingly terrific tome you now clutch in your fevered fingers.

In other words, it’s finally 1968 and the wait is over!

So, what’s inside, Mechanoid Mavens? Merely all the groovy greatness you expect from the GR scene, natch. We cherry-picked from all our characters to assemble a luminous line-up that we ourselves quake in our little booties as we read off: Ghostman! The Robot Roundtable! The Creeper! The Go-Go Gears! Peregrine and the Pigeon! Fate’s Four! And more! Much, much more, you Frantic Fiends…err, Friends!

And creators? You want big-name writers to help these kooky krazies to even greater heights of action and adventure? Okay! You twisted our arms! How about Deliberate David Michelinie? Choosy Chuck Miller? Redoubtable Robert Kennedy? Lightning Lisa Collins? Heck, we’ve even got Tote-able Thomas Deja on tap! And, as they say, more! Much, much more, including your humble and overworked editors, Jim and Lee…

Now, enough from us. You asked for it, we provided it. Sit down, get comfortable, and dive in to the Swinginest, Grooviest, Ginchiest Hero Special ever! You deserve it, pally! Yes, you do!

Wood Wool!

Jalopy Jim and Don’t Call Me Late for Lunch Lee

Fate’s Four in

The Living Door Into Nightmare

Thomas Deja

The brownstone at the end of Kupperberg Avenue, one of Weston’s ritziest areas, did not look unusual. If anything, it seemed to blend into the other residential buildings on the street. There was nothing that stood out or marked it as special.

Within its specially reinforced walls, two men and a woman sat in a lounge. These people were anything but normal. The woman sat on the divan languidly; a striking, curvy figure with long honey blonde hair and mismatched eyes–one a bright sapphire blue, the other a cloudy hazel. One of the men sat opposite her, reading the latest edition of Wow magazine. He was a swarthy man whose short black hair stood up on end, and whose every move was accompanied by a crackle like electricity. The other man, if man he was, stood by the window, looking out onto the street. A strange figure seemingly fashioned out of a red, partially translucent material, this man’s sketchy face was twisted into a dark expression.

The man with the short hair practically crumpled the magazine. Those cuckoos did it again!

The blonde straightened up. Oh, Leo, you shouldn’t let what’s in that magazine drive you up the wall.

The red figure turned away from his vigil. Effortlessly, his right arm extended like taffy, snaking across the room to snatch the magazine out of his fellow’s hand. Why shouldn’t he, doll? We keep getting called freaks and weirdos. We spend all our time saving people, and they spit on us in return.

But Sam, we should be more tolerant. They don’t understand–

Easy for you to say, Rachel, Sam shot back. You’ve got your own body and all your senses. You’re not a living brain trapped in a plastic shell.

Can I have the magazine back? Leo asked.

Look at all this hot air, said Sam, pointing to the open page. They’re still using those nicknames they came up with after we saved the world from The Eternity Man! Polymer, Fahrenheit, and The Positive-Negative Man. We have real names; they should use them.

Leo stood up. Small sparks played along his body. I told you to give me back my magazine! He gestured, causing a metal candlestick to fly across the room to hit Sam in the head. The curious crimson golem scowled and made a fist that grew to the size of a boulder.

Before the two men could clash, the blonde stood up. There was a sizzling noise, and suddenly in her place was a figure that was still female, but sculpted out of intense flames. She stood between the two men, waves of heat coming off her, hands extended in a posture that was unmistakable.

I will not cool off, Rachel!

This bozo started it! declared Leo.

Before the fight could escalate, the house intercom system came alive with a deep resonant voice all three recognized. My allies! We have a new mission. Report immediately.

Instantly, the hostility went out of the room, replaced with a quiet purpose. The sparks that provided Leo with a frightening halo dissipated, whereas Sam’s fists returned to their normal size. Once more there was a sizzling pop, and Rachel’s form stood between them.

You heard The Physician, the beautiful woman said to her companions. Time to punch the clock.

*

Deep in the recesses of Fate’s Four HQ, a gray-haired figure brooded. His skin was tinged with blue, the only indication of an accident that left him only capable of existing under special circumstances. His eyes were firmly on a monitor screen attached to the wall, watching the newest disaster taking place. Fingers tapped out data on a special keypad with a speed that belied the extremely low temperature of the room, writing down notes that might help his teammates.

Behind him, the quiet hum of sliding doors, followed by footsteps, snapped him out of his concentration. He turned to face the trio that made up his field team. Even though their faces were obscured by the snorkels of the parkas they wore, the gray haired man knew who was who. Come closer, my friends and take a look at this.

The three adventurers that made up the bulk of Fate’s Four drew closer. On the screen was a stately looking building. All the windows were filled with a strange, multicolored mist. What is that? muttered Leo.

The man known to his team only as The Physician glanced from the screen to his allies. That is The Premiani Institute For Extra-dimensional Study. Professor Premiani was a friend of mine before....

The three heroes allowed their boss to trail off. They knew his accident was still a delicate subject. What’s with all that crazy mist? Sam asked.

I am not positive, The Physician replied. That’s one of the things I want you to find out. We cannot rule out that it is potentially dangerous.

Hard to believe something so beautiful could be hazardous, Rachel offered.

I’d be grateful if it was harmless, but I fear that with all the unusual phenomenon we’ve faced, it’s anything but. The Physician turned to face his allies. Take The Morgana to the site. Evaluate the nature of the mist. If there’s something malevolent behind it, resolve the threat.

Ride the saucer, walk through the fog, save the world, Sam said mockingly. Just another day to Fate’s Four.

I pray it’s nothing, The Physician said solemnly. But if it’s not...

Rachel smiled, a toothy grin that caused a million men to swoon. We’re on the way. Wish us luck!

*

Citizens of the world famous metropolis who happened to be looking up that afternoon were treated to the rare sight of the saucer-like Morgana. Having emerged from the concealed dock underneath the Thomas River, the silvery amphibious craft whizzed through the air silently to its destination. In a matter of minutes, the gravimetric brakes brought the craft down gently on the Premiani Institute’s grounds.

The bizarre trio approached the building carefully. The strange colored mist threw odd shadows onto the lawn, making the landscape look like a surrealist painting. Rachel and Leo wore the formfitting, transparent life-support suits The Physician had designed for them when they first became his allies. All were drawn to the bizarre sight before them.

Sam, The Physician said over the tiny concealed intercom all three wore. Activate your Auto-Eye and Snooper-modes. I want a comprehensive recording and reading of everything you experience inside.

I still don’t know all the gadgets you planted in this body, doc, Sam grumbled as he willed the requested equipment to come to life within his artificial form.

I wish you wouldn’t call me that, The Physician groaned.

Rachel continued to stare at the curious mist roiling within the Institute. If we’re unsure of whether what’s contained within the building is poisonous, how can we investigate without letting it out into the open air?

Leo smirked and moved towards the double doors of the Institute foyer. Let me take care of that. When you two step inside, I’ll erect a magnetic force field to contain it.

But to use your abilities to that level, you risk– Rachel said, following behind him, worry etched on her lovely face.

We all run the risk, doll, the dark-haired man shot back as electrical energy started sparking across his body. We knew that when we agreed to sign up with The Physician. You two step up to the door.

Rachel looked back reluctantly at Sam, concern in her eyes. Something passed silently between them before they strode towards the building's threshold.

Leo gritted his teeth and raised his open hands. The electrical energy sparking all over his stocky body increased in intensity before a loud crackling sound filled the air. Yellowish white energy spread from his body, moving in all directions. A sizzling sound rose from the places where the energy met the lawn. Rachel and Sam watched their friend motion with his arms, shaping the electromagnetic discharge until the entire building was enveloped by a solid, shimmering force field.

Don’t take too long, Leo called out, his body shook as the strain of using his powers so extensively was visible on his face.

Sam opened the door, causing a burst of the curious multicolored mist to escape in lazy wisps that caressed the two. Rachel took one last lingering look at her struggling teammate before entering.

*

Inside the facility, the mist became a heavy fog. Neither hero could see more than a few feet in front of them. Sam’s right arm distended and twisted silently until he had a fan for a forearm. The blades spun rapidly, causing the alien clouds to move back away from the duo. Rachel reached into a pouch on her belt and retrieved a flashlight, but turning it on did little to cut through the murk surrounding them.

Rachel’s attention was drawn to a body on the tiled floor. She knelt next to the lab-coated figure curled up in a ball. Her hand went to his wrist. He’s alive, she told Sam. Just asleep.

Good, Sam replied. We better find the weirdo behind this before Leo blows his mind again.

The two stepped forward carefully. The beam from Rachel’s flashlight revealed more sleeping scientists and support staff. Some slept fitfully, twitching intermittently. The beautiful blonde frowned; there was something else going on beyond this mist being some sort of sleeping gas.

Suddenly, the side of Sam’s head twisted and metamorphosed into a giant ear. Did you hear that?

What?

The artificial hero’s legs elongated and stretched to give him a greater stride. He dashed deeper into the Institute. Rachel struggled to keep up with her red-hued ally. It’s a crazy humming, like a neon sign on the fritz, explained Sam. Maybe it’s the creep behind this! Better get geared up to do your switcheroo babe.

But which one, the gorgeous woman the papers called Fahrenheit wondered. Her friend had turned the corner... and gasped. Rachel increased her running speed until she caught up with her friend.

She gasped as well.

Moving towards them was a shape. It was definitely human, but there was no three dimensionality to it, as if it was a paper doll. The figure had no features whatsoever. The multicolored mist was spilling out of it, the amount varying with the thing’s movement. It seemed oblivious to the two strange adventurers presently contemplating its movements.

What is it? Rachel asked.

Stumps me, Sam replied, but there’s one way to find out.

The plastic hero strode toward the one dimensional apparition. Hey, man!

Rachel watched, observing the impending confrontation. She was ready to bring one of her alternative forms out, even with the twist of fear in her guts that this would be the time where the form she sent back out into the world would stay here for more than a minute, dooming her to a lonely death.

She saw her friend step in front of the unknown figure. Sam’s hands grew to immense proportions to stop its progress. Rachel still struggled with the way the figure seemed so thin as to be invisible when viewed from the side; as if this thing was a literal doorway, a void that linked one place to another.

The artificial man put up his now gigantic hands and made to push the weird figure back. To both heroes’ surprise, Sam’s limbs partially went into the new arrival. He turned his head, and Rachel anticipated being called on to summon one of her two avatars.

Instead, Sam fell to one knee, swayed unsteadily, and screamed.

*

He’s behind the wheel of the McKeever 45R, pushing the prototype race car to lengthen his lead, reveling in the smoothness of the handling and the speed of this beautiful machine. There’s no question in his mind–and the collective minds of the crowd–that this win will be another milestone in ‘Speed-lane’ Sam Drake’s career.

But he doesn’t realize he had pushed the McKeever too far. As he breaks the absolute upper edge of the car’s capacity to go faster, the front wheel blows. He struggles to keep control, but the McKeever hits the wall, tipping the car over at just the right angle that the roll cage crumples. Sam screams as he feels his bones break and powder. Sparks from the friction of metal on macadam sets fire to his suit, and he braces for what he’s relived in his dreams many times before.

Only this time his car twists left instead of right. The rear slams hard into the car in second place, the impact crumpling the back and piercing the gas tank. A stray spark hits the spray of gas, setting off a fireball that consumes him. Sam screams how this isn’t the way it happened as the conflagration consumes him utterly...

*

Rachel ran to her compatriot. Taking a deep breath, she triggered the reaction that switched her with her two alternative dimensional avatars. As with every time, she prayed that it would switch back with her before that vital minute was up.

There was a sizzle as she once more sank into the cold and misty world of her nightmares. In Rachel’s place was a thing with a feminine shape fashioned out of ice and frost. It moved forward, each step accompanied by a brittle crackling, and fired a blast of frigid cold at the bizarre figure. The creature did not seem affected.

But it did turn to face the Cold Avatar. It approached her slowly. Suddenly, Rachel found herself pulled back into her home dimension. She instinctively breathed in a great gulp of air–

*

While the camera rolls deep inside the Amazon temple, she reaches out for the strange globe-like artifact that sparkles with a weird, ever-changing light. As she gazes into the symbols etched into the smooth obsidian surface, she feels herself sucked into a dark place filled with spiderwebs of light. As she floats within this scary place, she breathes in something that’s thick and viscous. It fills her lungs, making them feel congested and heavy.

Rachel barely perceives that something has taken her place in the real world, a creature of flame and heat. She strives to return and screams silently as the flame monstrosity destroys her crew. Her breath becomes short as the stuff this place is made of passes through her lungs into her internal organs. The creature moves past her dying fellows just as her consciousness slips away, and terminal oblivion rises up to meet her.

*

Rachel spasmed and collapsed into unconsciousness. The bizarre creature stood over her and seemed to study her prone form before turning away to continue its wandering down the mist-obscured corridor.

Elsewhere, Sam found his brain clearing. He glanced over to see his gorgeous ally lying in the same deep sleep he saw the people in this building succumb to. Smoothly he rose up and ran towards Rachel. I’m betting my artificial body allowed me to shake off that crazy gas. One thing to be grateful for.

Effortlessly, the artificial body with the human brain willed his arms to grow in size, his hands melding into giant sledgehammers. He swung his transformed arms in such a way that it hit the strange outline in the back. The thing’s body seemed very spongy, as if made of dough. With a deliberate slowness, it brought its attention to bear back on Sam. The mists