MARTIANSMARTIANS
Classification: Semi-humanoid extraterrestrial race
Location/Base of Operations: Mars;
the city of Proxzi was identified
Known Members: Unidentified editor of Space Tales, unidentified observer (aka "the vagrant")
None identified
Affiliations: Jim, unidentified police officer, unidentified police psychologist
Enemies: None known
First Appearance: Astonishing Tales#45/3 (January, 1956)
Powers/Abilities: The Martians did not demonstrate any superhuman abilities.
Notably, at birth, they are fed their "life meal." They do not eat after that.
It is unrevealed whether the "vagrant"
was a Martian who could metamorph into human form (and/or whether other
Martians could similarly morph) or whether he was mutated/transformed
via unrevealed means or whether he was perhaps a Martian android (see
comments) programmed for such a purpose.
They possessed spaceships able to transport them from Mars to both Earth and Venus, at least.
They allowed their ships to be observed to help humanity appreciate that life on other planets may be possible.
Traits: The Martians are peaceful beings who seek peaceful relationships with other people, and they are willing and able to explore other worlds.
They are very patient and wish to take time to maximize the chances of peaceful relationships.
They can patiently observe people of other races to learn about them.
They do not sit. They do not eat regularly, as they have a single "life meal" at birth.
Type: Bilaterally symmetric humanoid bipeds
Eyes: Two (on head; color not clearly seen, but dark)
Fingers: Unrevealed
(the editor appeared to have fused digits, but he may have been wearing
gloves; regardless, human hands were foreign to the "vagrant")
Toes: Unrevealed
Skin color: Gray-purple
Average height: Unrevealed (the "vagrant" looked to be about 6'
tall, but he was transformed to appear to be human; Martians in their
true form were not observed next to anyone or anything of reference")
History:
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) -
Four hexagles (equivalent to 10 Earth years) before the main story, the
Martians visited Venus, noting that there was no life on it and that
its surface was almost entirely water.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) - BTS) - Martians wished to establish contact with humanity in the near future but to avoid trouble, they felt they should first completely understand humanity.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) -
Martians deliberately buzzed Earth with their spaceships to help
humanity appreciate that life on other planets may be possible.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - A Martian traveled to Earth and set himself up as the editor of
Space Tales, apparently putting out about five science fiction
magazines, each of which carried "The Editor Answers" column, which
invited questions that the editor directly answered.
This editor maintained his true Martian appearance.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - Space Magazine had a story about Martians visiting Venus.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - Another Martian also traveled to Earth, apparently stripped or
otherwise devoid of personality and in the form of a human. His mission
was to observe humanity and develop a human personality and behavior,
after which he would return home so the Martians could understand human
psychological make-up. With this information, the Martians hoped to
determine the safest way to make their initial contact with humanity.
Arriving on Earth in an
unidentified city, this Martian in human form stood on the corner
observing the people and the environment.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3) -
After an hour, a local man who had observed this man reported to a
police officer that the man had been standing there, staring into space
for the last hour. As loitering was an offense, the police officer
suspected him to be a vagrant; he told the man he couldn't just hang
around the street all day and asked if he had a home. Specifying that
he didn't have a home nearby, the "vagrant" also added that "hanging
around" there was his job.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - The "vagrant" apparently told the police officer that his home was fifty million miles away.
The police officer brought the
police station and, puzzled by his vacant look and strange manner,
asked the police psychologist to look into him.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3) - After evaluating the "vagrant," the psychologist told him that all of the tests indicated that he had no personality, but the man explained that he was from Mars and had been "made up as one of you" and sent to Earth to develop a typical Earth personality and return home so his people could understand human's psychological make-up from the inside. Considering it fortunate that the man had been brought in before his delusions became violent, the psychologist recommended that he stay with them for observation, and the vagrant agreed, noting that he would observe them in turn.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - The "vagrant" spent four hours standing in a jail cell, staring
at his surroundings and not eating. The psychologist was summoned back
to further evaluate him.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3) - At
the psychologist's queries, the "vagrant" noted that Martians never sat
and that it had never occurred to him, and that when Martians were
born, they were fed their life-meal. However, he sat and ate after
observing how the psychologist did so, adding that he could duplicate
his actions to further learn about him; he considered eating like a
human to be fascinating.
Also at the psychologist's request, the vagrant shared that the Martians wished to soon establish contact with humanity but to avoid trouble, they felt they should first completely understand humanity. He discussed his mission and when the psychologist showed him pictures of flying saucers, the man admitted that those were fair approximations of their spaceships as well as why their ships had been flying on Earth.
The psychologist gave the vagrant
some drawing materials, and while he admitted that he was not good at
using his human hands yet, he sketched one of their spaceships as well
as the city Proxzi, his home on Mars.
In answer to further queries, the
vagrant supplied facts about Mars, including that its orbital velocity
was 15 miles per second (noting those to be Earth units), their surface
gravity to be 38% of Earth's and that their day was 37 minutes longer
than Earth's.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 - BTS) - Following the advice of the patrolman who had brought the "vagrant" in, the psychologist showed the drawings to and shared the information with the desk officer Jim, who read a lot of science fiction. Jim suggested the psychologist write to Space magazine for its question and answer column.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - Receiving the letter, the editor replied, noting that all of the
reported facts about Mars were true to the best of their knowledge.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 - BTS) - Three days later, the psychologist read the answering letter and then re-read it to Jim, appreciating at least that their friend in the observation cell was at least up on astronomy. Recalling a story in the last issue of the magazine about Martians who visited Venus, Jim suggested that the psychologist ask the vagrant about Venus.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3) - The "vagrant" answered that they had visited Venus four hexagles (equivalent to ten Earth years) ago and that there was no life on it and that its surface was almost entirely water.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 -
BTS) - The psychologist wrote the editor of Space Magazine, asking what they knew about Venus and if it could be all water.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) - BTS) - The editor replied back, "It is highly probable that the surface of Venus is all liquid! As yet, man does not know! Mists cover Venus and cloud our view! Only someone who was actually below the mists of Venus could definitely know!"
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 -
BTS) - After the psychologist read this response to Jim, Jim replied that this tied with the vagrant's other claims.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3) - With
the arresting officer present, the psychologist asked the vagrant about
the form of life on Mars, and he drew an average Martian, noting that
some were better looking than others. Replying that he didn't humanity
would run from his people (meaning that they did not appear to be
intimidating), the psychologist asked when they could expect the first
Martian delegation. The vagrant told him that it would be in about
three years, when the right feeling had been established on Earth. He
further added that even now, they were busily trying to set up a
friendly attitude on humanity's part to visitors from space.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 - BTS) - The psychologist showed Jim the pictures, apparently sarcastically telling him that that was what their visitors in three years would look like, although he was afraid that the vagrant would still be an institution.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) - BTS) - The psychologist wrote another letter to the editor, asking about the odds of life on Mars.
(Astonishing Tales#45/3) - The editor replied, "We
believe that life on Mars was a highly probable thing! One of the
functions of our magazine is to prepare readers for just that
eventuality! Then if contact is ever established with Martian life, it
will be a friendly one!"
Comments: Created by unidentified writer and Bernie Kriegstein.
The frequent exclamation points make me wonder if the writer was Stan Lee!?
This was one of the most fun
Martian stories I've reviewed thus far. Lots of detail, and nobody on
either the human or Martian side was overtly hostile.
The surprise ending, revealed in
the last panel, was that the editor was a Martian, just like as had
been drawn by the "vagrant."
Only two Martians were seen, one in his true form and one in the form of a human. I wonder if the "vagrant" was actually an android, akin to the Recorders of Rigel.
Did these Martians ever attempt contact circa 1959 A.D. or ever?
The world may never know...
Speaking of which, Jim, the
unidentified police officer/street patrolman
and the unidentified psychologist deserve their own sub-profiles some
day, but time is alway tight, and I'm focusing
on covering the Martians at the moment. Anyone who wants to add those
sub-profiles is welcome to do so, and, if not, if I live long enough,
I'll get back to him at some point!
Additionally, the vagrant and the editor of Space Magazine could be expanded to full profiles.
I would enjoying knowing more about this Martian people, their society, their adaptation to or of Mars, etc.
Regardless, it remains to be explained how so many different races/beings allegedly originated from Mars.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Martians should be distinguished from:
(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) -
Four hexagles (equivalent to 10 Earth years) before the main story, the
Martians visited Venus, noting that there was no life on it and that
its surface was almost entirely water. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) - BTS) - Martians wished to establish contact with humanity in the near future but to avoid trouble, they felt they should first completely understand humanity. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) -
Martians deliberately buzzed Earth with their spaceships to help
humanity appreciate that life on other planets may be possible. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - A Martian traveled to Earth and set himself up as the editor of
Space Tales, apparently putting out about five science fiction
magazines, each of which carried "The Editor Answers" column, which
invited questions that the editor directly answered. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - Space Magazine had a story about Martians visiting Venus. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - Another Martian also traveled to Earth, apparently stripped or
otherwise devoid of personality and in the form of a human. His mission
was to observe humanity and develop a human personality and behavior,
after which he would return home so the Martians could understand human
psychological make-up. With this information, the Martians hoped to
determine the safest way to make their initial contact with humanity. (Astonishing Tales#45/3) - The Martian observer was arrested and imprisoned as a vagrant and crackpot. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 - BTS) - Following the advice of the patrolman who had brought the "vagrant" in, the psychologist showed the drawings to and shared the information with the desk officer Jim, who read a lot of science fiction. Jim suggested the psychologist write to Space magazine for its question and answer column. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - Receiving the letter, the editor replied, noting that all of the
reported facts about Mars were true to the best of their knowledge. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 - BTS) - Three days later, the psychologist read the answering letter and then re-read it to Jim, appreciating at least that their friend in the observation cell was at least up on astronomy. Recalling a story in the last issue of the magazine about Martians who visited Venus, Jim suggested that the psychologist ask the vagrant about Venus. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 -
BTS) - Based on another discussion with the "vagrant," the psychologist
wrote the editor of Space Magazine, asking what they knew about Venus
and if it could be all water. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) - BTS) - The editor replied back, "It is highly probable that the surface of Venus is all liquid! As yet, man does not know! Mists cover Venus and cloud our view! Only someone who was actually below the mists of Venus could definitely know!" (Astonishing Tales#45/3 -
BTS) - After the psychologist read this response to Jim, Jim replied that this tied with the vagrant's other claims. (Astonishing Tales#45/3) - With
the arresting officer present, the psychologist asked the vagrant about
the form of life on Mars, and he drew an average Martian, noting that
some were better looking than others. Replying that he didn't humanity
would run from his people (meaning that they did not appear to be
intimidating), the psychologist asked when they could expect the first
Martian delegation. The vagrant told him that it would be in about
three years, when the right feeling had been established on Earth. He
further added that even now, they were busily trying to set up a
friendly attitude on humanity's part to visitors from space. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 - BTS) - The psychologist showed Jim the pictures, apparently sarcastically telling him that that was what their visitors in three years would look like, although he was afraid that the vagrant would still be an institution. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) - BTS) - Following another discussion with the "vagrant," the psychologist wrote another letter to the editor, asking about the odds of life on Mars. (Astonishing Tales#45/3) - The editor replied, "We believe that life on Mars was a highly probable thing! One of the functions of our magazine is to prepare readers for just that eventuality! Then if contact is ever established with Martian life, it will be a friendly one!" --Astonishing Tales#45/3 |
  His human form had blond hair and blue eyes and looked to be about 6' tall and 180 lbs.(Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) -
Four hexagles (equivalent to 10 Earth years) before the main story, the
Martians visited Venus, noting that there was no life on it and that
its surface was almost entirely water. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) - BTS) - Martians wished to establish contact with humanity in the near future but to avoid trouble, they felt they should first completely understand humanity. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - A Martian traveled to Earth and set himself up as the editor of
Space Tales, apparently putting out about five science fiction
magazines, each of which carried "The Editor Answers" column, which
invited questions that the editor directly answered. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - Another Martian also traveled to Earth, apparently stripped or
otherwise devoid of personality and in the form of a human. His mission
was to observe humanity and develop a human personality and behavior,
after which he would return home so the Martians could understand human
psychological make-up. With this information, the Martians hoped to
determine the safest way to make their initial contact with humanity. Arriving on Earth in an unidentified city, this
Martian in human form stood on the corner observing the people and the
environment. (Astonishing Tales#45/3) -
After an hour, a local man who had observed this man reported to a
police officer that the man had been standing there, staring into space
for the last hour. As loitering was an offense, the police officer
suspected him to be a vagrant; he told the man he couldn't just hang
around the street all day and asked if he had a home. Specifying that
he didn't have a home nearby, the "vagrant" also added that "hanging
around" there was his job. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - The "vagrant" apparently told the police officer that his home was fifty million miles away. The police officer brought the police station
and, puzzled by his vacant look and strange manner, asked the police
psychologist to look into him. (Astonishing Tales#45/3) - After evaluating the "vagrant," the psychologist told him that all of the tests indicated that he had no personality, but the man explained that he was from Mars and had been "made up as one of you" and sent to Earth to develop a typical Earth personality and return home so his people could understand human's psychological make-up from the inside. Considering it fortunate that the man had been brought in before his delusions became violent, the psychologist recommended that he stay with them for observation, and the vagrant agreed, noting that he would observe them in turn. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) -
BTS) - The "vagrant" spent four hours standing in a jail cell, staring
at his surroundings and not eating. The psychologist was summoned back
to further evaluate him. (Astonishing Tales#45/3) - At
the psychologist's queries, the "vagrant" noted that Martians never sat
and that it had never occurred to him, and that when Martians were
born, they were fed their life-meal. However, he sat and ate after
observing how the psychologist did so, adding that he could duplicate
his actions to further learn about him; he considered eating like a
human to be fascinating. Also at the psychologist's request, the vagrant shared that the Martians wished to soon establish contact with humanity but to avoid trouble, they felt they should first completely understand humanity. He discussed his mission and when the psychologist showed him pictures of flying saucers, the man admitted that those were fair approximations of their spaceships as well as why their ships had been flying on Earth. The psychologist gave the vagrant some drawing
materials, and while he admitted that he was not good at using his
human hands yet, he sketched one of their spaceships as well as the
city Proxzi, his home on Mars. In answer to further queries, the vagrant
supplied facts about Mars, including that its orbital velocity was 15
miles per second (noting those to be Earth units), their surface
gravity to be 38% of Earth's and that their day was 37 minutes longer
than Earth's. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 -
BTS) - Following the advice of the patrolman who had brought the
"vagrant" in, the psychologist showed the drawings to and shared the
information with the desk officer Jim, who read a lot of science
fiction. Jim suggested the psychologist write to Space magazine for its
question and answer column from its editor. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 - BTS) - Three days later, the psychologist read the answering letter and then re-read it to Jim, appreciating at least that their friend in the observation cell was at least up on astronomy. Recalling a story in the last issue of the magazine about Martians who visited Venus, Jim suggested that the psychologist ask the vagrant about Venus. (Astonishing Tales#45/3) - The "vagrant" answered that they had visited Venus four hexagles (equivalent to ten Earth years) ago and that there was no life on it and that its surface was almost entirely water. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 -
BTS) - The psychologist wrote the editor of Space Magazine, asking what they knew about Venus and if it could be all water. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) - BTS) - The editor replied back, "It is highly probable that the surface of Venus is all liquid! As yet, man does not know! Mists cover Venus and cloud our view! Only someone who was actually below the mists of Venus could definitely know!" (Astonishing Tales#45/3) - With
the arresting officer present, the psychologist asked the vagrant about
the form of life on Mars, and he drew an average Martian, noting that
some were better looking than others. Replying that he didn't humanity
would run from his people (meaning that they did not appear to be
intimidating), the psychologist asked when they could expect the first
Martian delegation. The vagrant told him that it would be in about
three years, when the right feeling had been established on Earth. He
further added that even now, they were busily trying to set up a
friendly attitude on humanity's part to visitors from space. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 - BTS) - The psychologist showed Jim the pictures, apparently sarcastically telling him that that was what their visitors in three years would look like, although he was afraid that the vagrant would still be an institution. (Astonishing Tales#45/3 (fb) - BTS) - The psychologist wrote another letter to the editor, asking about the odds of life on Mars. (Astonishing Tales#45/3) - The editor replied, "We believe that life on Mars was a highly probable thing! One of the functions of our magazine is to prepare readers for just that eventuality! Then if contact is ever established with Martian life, it will be a friendly one!" --Astonishing Tales#45/3Note: Was the "vagrant" institutionalized for years? That certainly would have hampered his information gathering. |
 The city Proxzi was a city on Mars and was the home of the "vagrant" --Astonishing Tales#45/3 |
 The Martians possessed spaceships able to transport them
from Mars to both Earth and Venus, at least. They could also fly within Earth and Venus' atmosphere. They allowed their ships to be observed to help humanity appreciate that life on other planets may be possible. --Astonishing Tales#45/3 Note: Any details about their speed, occupancy, etc. are purely speculative. The only image shown was drawn by the being known only as a vagrant who was relatively unused to having human hands and was not confident in his ability to depict them accurately. |
images: (without ads)
Astonishing Tales#45/3, pg. 1, panel 1 (vagrant, full);
pg. 2, panel 2 (vagrant, face);
pg. 3, panel 6 (Martian spaceships);
panel 7 (Proxzi);
pg. 5, panel 2 (mostly full drawing of Martian);
panel 7 (editor)
Appearances:
Astonishing Tales#45/3 "The Vagrant" (January, 1956) - Bernie Kriegstein (artist), Stan Lee (editor)
First posted: 10/15/2026
Last updated: 10/15/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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