MARTIANSMARTIANS
Classification: Plant-based extraterrestrial race (Martians)
Location/Base of Operations: Mars;
an undefined number grew in a Siberian prison camp;
active on Earth circa 1957 A.D. (see comments)
Known Members: None identified
Affiliations: Ivan Lenov and other inmates of the Siberian Prison Camp
Enemies: Commandant Muravitch and the other guards and staff at the Siberian Prison Camp
First Appearance: Mystery Tales#51/4 (March, 1957)
Powers/Abilities: The Martian plant people's forms made them resistant to puncture and blunt injury, including gunfire, club and bayonets.
They were certainly highly vulnerable to extreme cold, which apparently caused them to wither and die.
They would likely have been vulnerable to fire.
Traits: The Martians were loyal to those who helped and cared for them, and they were willing to risk their lives to fight armed soldiers.
They apparently did not appreciate
the changing of seasons and weather conditions that would be
inhospitable to them (see comments).
Type: Bilaterally symmetric semi-humanoid-plant bipeds
Eyes: Two (on head; light blue color seen)
Fingers: Four (plus opposing thumb)
Toes: Unrevealed
Skin color: "Pink" (comparable to Caucasian humanity), at least
Average height: Approximately 5'10"?
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(Mystery Tales#51/4) - The space storm had abated considerably by the time it
reached Earth, but it carried these Martian seeds to Siberia,
depositing them in a prison camp field worked by captive Ivan Lenov. While he did not notice the unusual shoots that appeared, Ivan was pleased at the vines that soon developed; as there was so little beauty in the Siberian wasteland, he resolved to keep them growing despite abuse from the guards. As the rocky soil of the grim country could not
nourish the vines as he wished, Ivan sneaked morsels of the food, such
as a crust of bread or a cabbage leaf, to serve as fodder for his
beloved plants. Day after day, Ivan cared for the vines, nourished them and keeping them free of weeds. Time and again, he withstood the guards' abuse and ignored their warnings. |
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Eventually, Ivan was brought before Commandant
Muravitch, who sentenced him to three months in the Hole, which was
cold, even in the warmth of the Siberian summer. Resigned to his fate, Ivan lamented that his vines would soon bloom and that he would not be able to see this. (Mystery Tales#51/4) - A
few nights after Ivan's imprisonment in the hole, the Martians bloomed
from the vines, and they attacked the Soviet soldiers, who fled from
the inhuman creatures that weren't stopped by their bullets. As the powerful green creatures approached Ivan's
cell, they spoke to him telepathically, explaining that they were not
just his imagination but rather Martians and that they were indebted to
Ivan for nourishing them. They offered to grant any request, and Ivan asked
them to rid them of the tyrant who held their country in chains,
starting with the guards and their superior officers. As the Martians resisted bullets, clubs and
bayonets, the guards, officers and commandant fled, with the survivors
taking refuge in a mountain stronghold.
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(Mystery Tales#51/4 - BTS) - While
some of the prisoners wished to flee and lose themselves in the vast
country, Ivan advised them that if they waited, the Martians would rid
their nation of all tyrants, and they may be able to return home to
their families within the year. (Mystery Tales#51/4) - Winter
came suddenly, swiftly to the cold north country, and snow fell atop
the Martians. Unable to withstand the frigid cold, the Martians dropped to the ground and at least appeared to die. (Mystery Tales#51/4 - BTS) - Commandant Muravitch and the other officers and guards returned to the prison and punished the prisoners further, sending them to the Hole for a few months. While the other prisoners' spirits were broken,
Ivan considered that when spring came again, the vines would grow and
spread, and he would feed them. And each year, the vines would grow ever stronger, and eventually all of Russia (or the USSR) would be free. |
Comments: Created by Ed Winiarsky and unidentified writer.
I don't see anything in this story
that would exclude it from taking place in Reality-616 around the time
of publication.
It remains to be explained how so many different races/beings allegedly originated from Mars.
Who knows if the Martian plant creatures ever regrew and wiped out the Siberian camp...if they did eventually overthrow the "tyrant" of the Soviet Union (who would have been Nikita Krushchev at the time of this story), then that would most likely be a divergence from -616 that would make it an alternate reality.
Superficial research tells me that
the average temperature on Mars is - 80 F (-60 C), ranging as low as
-195 F on the poles during winter and as high as 70 F midday at the
equator. But, even at the equator, the thin atmosphere swiftly cools
overnight to like -100 F. Something on Mars apparently allowed them to
survive the extreme colds there but those factors were apparently
lacking on Earth.
This profile was completed 04/07/2025, but it was saved for Arbor Day, 04/25/2025
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Martians plant people should be distinguished from:
(Mystery Tales#51/4 - BTS) - A violent storm visited Mars, ripping seeds from fields. (Mystery Tales#51/4) - The space storm had abated considerably by the time it reached Earth, but it carried these Martian seeds to Siberia, depositing them in a prison camp field worked by captive Ivan Lenov. --Mystery Tales#51/4 "The Strange Seeds" |
images: (without ads)
Mystery Tales#51/4, pg. 2, panel 2 (Mars; space storm);
panel 3 (seeds landing in Siberia);
panel 4 (shoots growing);
pg. 3, panel 1 (confronting Soviet soldiers);
panel 2-3 (meeting with Ivan);
pg. 4, panel 1 (surrounding Soviet fortress);
panel 3 (collapsing in snow)
Appearances:
Mystery Tales#51/4 "The Strange Seeds" (March, 1957) - Ed Winiarsky (penciler), unidentified writer, inker & editor
First posted: 04/25/2025
Last updated: 04/25/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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History:
(Mystery Tales#51/4 - BTS) - Perhaps the beautiful vines were a symbol of freedom to Ivan, but no threats were sufficient to stop him from caring for them. 
The Martians guarded the stronghold day and night, but the Soviets had food for a few months.