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MARTIANS

Classification: Extradimensional/alternate reality humanoid extraterrestrial race

Location/Base of Operations: Mars

Known Members: None

Affiliations: Major General Rufus G. Harrington (loose), Willy (last name unrevealed), Prof. Arnold Wolsey (loose)

Enemies: None

First Appearance: Tales of Suspense I#7/5 (January, 1960)

Powers/Abilities: These Martians are an advanced and highly intelligent species capable of interplanetary space travel.

Traits: These Martians exhibit elitist behavior, defaulting automatically to thinking that all other alien species are inferior and must prove themselves to be equals by means of passing one intelligence test that came to b known as the Martian Maze. Otherwise, they are cordial in first contact, but limit trade only with those species they deem as intellectual equals.

Type: Bilaterally symmetric semi-humanoid bipeds
Eyes: Two (on head; purple color seen)
Fingers: Four (plus opposing thumb)
Toes: Unrevealed
Skin color: Pink
Average height: Approximately 5'10"

History:

(Tales of Suspense I#7/5 (fb) - BTS) - In the future of 1975 (topical), an interplanetary network of trading had developed between alien species. However, the Martians were resistant to trading with those beings they considered "inferior" and devised a "maze" puzzle that a planet's representatives had to pass before trade would begin. All planets had failed except Earth and a small envoy of smart people was rounded up, including scientists and mathematicians.

(Tales of Suspense I#7/5) - Earth's envoy included Major General Rufus G. Harrington, Prof. Arnold Wolsey plus other scientists and mathematicians. Willy accompanied them as the spaceship's steward. Upon landing, the cordial Martians presented the Earth envoy with their Martian Maze test: a small empty room with a door at the other side of an opening that the person had to reach under dim light (but was secretly walking on a treadmill) or explain why it was unreachable. Each human tried unsuccessfully, guessing anti-matter or space barrier or dimensional effect or somesuch, and each suggestion was denied by the Martians. Although derided by his fellow humans, Willy tried the Martian Maze and quickly solved the riddle that it was a treadmill.

(Tales of Suspense I#7/5 (fb) - BTS) - Satisfied an Earthman had passed their test, the Martians began trade with Earth and Willy was made Earth's ambassador to Mars with his new wife Alice.

(Tales of Suspense I#7/5) - Willy looked out at the busy Martian skyline alongside his wife, confiding that sometimes people can be too smart.

 

Comments: Created by uncredited writer & Steve Ditko.

It seems odd that Earth was the last planet to attempt trade with Mars; it could've just as easily have been set in the "far future" of, say, 2025 with a planet from a different solar system. I'd suggest then that Earth was the last planet to make a trade application with Mars as it was the last to develop efficient space travel.

It remains to be explained how so many different races/beings allegedly originated from Mars:

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS:
These Martians should be distinguished from:

Rufus G. Harrington

Brash and overconfident, Major General Rufus G. Harrington was part of the Earth envoy to Mars to attempt cracking the riddle of the Martian Maze so that Earth could trade with Mars. He paid little attention to the steward Willy of the spacecraft that took them on the week-long trip to Mars. Once on Mars, Harrington pushed forward as the first volunteer to attempt solving the puzzle, but failed after trying for fifteen minutes, suggesting (incorrectly) anti-matter was involved. Once all the other scientists had tried and likewise failed, Willy made an effort and quickly solved the Martian Maze puzzle; like the rest of the envoy, Harrington was flabbergasted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

--Tales of Suspense I#7/5

Martian Maze

The Martian Maze was a Martian puzzle that looked like a large empty room with an open wall and a door at the other side. The Martians' rule was that people from an alien envoy would attempt to reach the door in very dim light or explain why they could not touch it. Passing this riddle was the precondition for any planet's species' successful application to trade with Mars. The answer was relatively simple: the floor was a treadmill. Earth was the last of the known planets to apply; the envoy included several highly respected scientists and mathematicians, but they failed at identifying the true nature of the puzzle, suggesting highly advanced (but incorrect) scientific theories. The envoy's valet Wally, derided by the scientists due to his working class status, was the last to try and correctly identified the answer, which led to Mars opening trade relations with Earth.

 

 

 

 

 

--Tales of Suspense I#7/5

Willy

Willy (last name unrevealed) farewelled his sweetheart Alice as he took his position as steward for the week-long flight from Earth to Mars carrying a specialist envoy. Mars required that an alien species pass an intelligence test before starting trade and so the sharpest minds on Earth were sent to solve the Martian Maze puzzle. In an age of automation, Willy was happy to have a job and the Earth envoy paid him little attention. On Mars, Willy saw each scientific genius fail at the Martian Maze and their reasoning lost in highly advanced science, but all incorrect. With Earth's trade prospects with Mars seemingly lost, Willy volunteered. The scientists initially dismissed the notion given his lack of specific expertise, but he was allowed as a last chance. Willy quickly deduced that the puzzle involved a relatively simple treadmill to mimic constant distance while traveling. His correct answer led to trade opening between the two planets. He married Alice and became Earth's ambassador to Mars. He confided to Alice that sometimes people can be too smart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

--Tales of Suspense I#7/5

Arnold Wolsey

Prof. Arnold Wolsey, specialist in advanced physics and higher mathematics, was part of the Earth envoy to Mars to attempt cracking the riddle of the Martian Maze so that Earth could trade with Mars. He paid no attention to the steward Willy of the spacecraft that took them on the week-long trip to Mars. Once on Mars, Wolsey was the second human to attempt the Martian Maze after Rufus Harrington. Flustered, he responded that there had to be a space barrier or dimensional physics preventing him from reaching the goal, which was incorrect. After the other Earth scientists had also failed, he suggested that the Martians knew of a science branch that Earth was unaware of. When Willy suggested he could try as the last man, Wolsey initially dismissed the notion as Willy was much less educated, but gave in. Wolsey was flabbergasted when Willy quickly solved the Martian Maze puzzle.

 

 

 

 

 

--Tales of Suspense I#7/5

images: (without ads)
Tales of Suspense I#7/5, p2, pan4 (main image, Maze door at rear)
   p2, pan2 (full body in shadow)
   p3, pan4 (headshot, profile view)
   p2, pan6 (Harrington)
   p2, pan3 (Martian Maze)
   p2, pan1 (Willy)
   p4, pan1 (Wolsey)

Appearances:
Tales of Suspense I#7/5 (January, 1960) - uncredited writer, Steve Ditko (art), Stan Lee (editor)

First Posted: 11/02/2025
Last updated: 11/02/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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