CLASSIC COMICS: Tales To Astonish Vol 1 #9 "I Saw Droom the Living Lizard!"

Tales to Astonish Vol 1 #9
May, 1960
Editor-in-Chief: Stan Lee
Cover Artists: Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, Stan Goldberg, Artie Simek

"Return of the Genie!"
Writers: Stan Lee
Pencilers: Jack Kirby

"No Way Out"
Pencilers: Steve Ditko
Inkers: Steve Ditko

"I Saw Droom the Living Lizard!"
Pencilers: Don Heck

"Fangs of the Bear"
Pencilers: Doug Wildey

​Appearing in "Return of the Genie!"
Featured Characters: Freddy Sykes (The Genie) (Last appearance)
Other Characters: Genie (Only in flashback)
Locations: Earth, United States of America, New York, New York City, Illinois, Chicago, Michigan, Detroit, Swamp, Europe, Asia, Moon
Items: Bottle

Synopsis for "Return of the Genie!"
The genie from last issue's Kirby story returns again when a man uncorks his muddy bottle from the swamp and discards it because he cannot see the genie inside. Since the genie has no master, he is free to do whatever he wishes and he enslaves the Earth. Growing bored, he sets his sights on the stars, but finds once he passes Earth's atmosphere, his powers fade and he winds up back in the bottle again watching the man approach. This time, the genie thinks, he knows his mistake and won't overreach, but the man turns away and leaves without uncorking the bottle.

Appearing in "No Way Out"
Featured Characters: Doctor Harris
Supporting Characters: Amy
Other Characters: NASA
Locations: Earth, Just beyond Pluto
Vehicles: Spaceship

Synopsis for "No Way Out"
In the 21st century mankind finds that there is a barrier out beyond Pluto that prevents any further space travel, keeping humanity confined to the solar system like goldfish in a bowl.

Appearing in "I Saw Droom the Living Lizard!"
Featured Characters: Droom (First appearance)
Supporting Characters: Henry Gordon, U.S. Army
Other Characters: Dr. Jonhson (Mentioned), Droom (Only appearance)
Locations: Earth-616, Earth-60059 (Only appearance)
Items: Growth Serum

Synopsis for "I Saw Droom the Living Lizard!"
The creature Droom started life as a regular reptile called Droomedia Rex and was supposedly one of the most vicious reptiles.

A scientist created a growth serum that increased the size of fruits and vegetables and wanted to show his findings to his friend who was a curator at a local museum. The curator had the Droomedia Rex reptile in his box when it escaped while the two men were talking about the growth serum. The lizard knocked over a vile and the growth serum splashed all over the reptile.

The creature started growing and growing until it reached a height of mountains. Droom started destroying the town and the local police and militia could not stop it. The Air Force tried to stop Droom with a nuclear bomb but that failed when the creature snatched the plane from the sky.

The military devised Plan X which involved thousands of soldiers. These men attached rockets that were powered by solar energy to Droom's feet as it was distracted by fighter jets. The military activated the countdown and Droom was launched into space where it stopped growing and drifted aimlessly in suspended animation.

Appearing in "Fangs of the Bear"
Featured Characters: Scientist
Supporting Characters: Bobby
Locations: United States of America
Items: Robot Bear

Synopsis for "Fangs of the Bear"
A man develops a robot teddy bear controlled through telepresence for the purpose of stealing from those who buy the toy. When a poor man buys the toy for his crippled son who loves the gift profusely, the inventor tries to recall the robot in order to get it sold to someone wealthy, but the controls do not respond. He takes a gun and resolves to go to their house and remove it himself, but when he arrives and threatens the family, the bear attacks him even though there is no one at the controls. 

Notes

• "Return of the Genie!" is reprinted in Vault of Evil #11.
• "No Way Out" is reprinted in Where Monsters Dwell #34.
• "I Saw Droom the Living Lizard!" is reprinted in Fantasy Masterpieces #8.
• "Fangs of the Bear" is reprinted in Crypt of Shadows #13.