(Astonishing I#8/2 (fb) - BTS)
- The shapeshifting predators that came to be known as Man-Eaters
traveled through interstellar space to planet Earth.
MAN-EATERS
Classification: Extraterrestrial humanoid
Location/Base of Operations: Across the USA (1950s era);
formerly planet (name & location unrevealed in
interstellar space)
Known Members: None named
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Humankind (notably Mallory
Clyde, Bob
Turner, Martha Turner)
First Appearance: Astonishing I#8/2 (January, 1952)
Powers/Abilities: Man-Eaters are fiercely
ravenous extraterrestrials that quickly adapted to Earth's atmosphere.
They appear to feast only on humans, consuming a grown human in minutes
and leaving only clean bones. In their native form, they have
membrane-like wings that sag below their arms and help them glide; as
they slowly fly, their lower body is composed of wispy smoke. Having
consumed human flesh (and with it human DNA), Man-Eaters can mimic a
fully grown human, including their speech, but to eat, they must
partially return to Man-Eater form with exposed head and claws. They
have extended jaws and drooling corrosive saliva that helps to quickly
digest their prey. Their durability is unknown, but given their ability
to instill paralyzing terror in their victims, it may be that they have
a terror stare or aura.
Traits: Man-Eaters are highly skilled
predators and operate solo. They have excellent stealth capabilities in
infiltrating new foreign environments. They are driven purely by
unyielding carnivorous hunger, seeking no conquest or negotiation, just
slaughtering for food.
Type: Extraterrestrial bipedal shapeshifting
humanoids
Eyes: Two (in head)
Fingers: Five (including opposable thumb)
Toes: None in true form
Skin color: Brown-gray
Average height: 6'6" in true form (by approximation); adult
human height (5' - 6'6")
in mimicry
History:
(Astonishing I#8/2 (fb) - BTS)
- The shapeshifting predators that came to be known as Man-Eaters
traveled through interstellar space to planet Earth.
(Astonishing I#8/2) - The spacecraft landed in a remote farming field and two Man-Eaters exited wraith-like toward farmer Bob Turner, who instinctively panicked and fled back to the farmhouse to his wife Martha. But the horrific Man-Eaters followed and, with their victims frozen in fear, the two Man-Eaters devoured the humans in minutes, leaving only clean bones behind as they left.
(Astonishing I#8/2 (fb) - BTS) - The next day, more
victims were found across the USA, as far-ranging as New York, San
Francisco and Chicago. Thousands of victims were claimed by the
ravenous creatures, which spread terror and public dissent. However, it
was discovered that Man-Eaters could take on human form, yet all the
while Man-Eaters insinuated themselves into society by taking on
human guises.
(Astonishing I#8/2) - Chief of the Science Bureau
Mallory Clyde addressed the nation by radio of the startling
revelations, recommending people isolate during the national emergency.
The radio engineer cut him off and partially turned into a Man-Eater,
devouring Clyde while still on live broadcast. Suspicion spread among
Americans as they questioned who was an alien while the killings
continued. Still some people went on their normal daily routine, but
leery of any unusual dress or behavior. At one point, trouble began on
an overnight coach with some harassing a lone woman, but a company
security guard (really a Man-Eater imitating guard Phil Murphy) boarded
and kept the peace. At night with dimmed lights, the Man-Eater made his
way from the back of the bus, quickly feasting on every passenger until
he reached the bus driver.
Comments: Created by uncredited writer & Norman Steinberg.
The Man-Eaters' activities seem to oddly have been
confined
to the USA. Perhaps they were later eliminated by magic as a type of
space
vampire/werewolf, or tracked down by monster hunters. However, given
the wide scope of their numerous killings, this could also have been an
alternate Earth, a type of precursor to a zombie Earth. The spacecraft
they landed on Earth might not even have been their own.
Only two Man-Eaters are shown
exiting the spacecraft,
yet the killings rapidly spread far across the USA. Was it a case where
it was only a pair who traveled incredibly fast (and separately),
targeting cities, or were there multiple spacecraft landings? And
surely if it was just a meal they were after, they would initially
target smaller
towns for stealth, but by first attacking major cities, they spread
panic and terror,
suggesting other motives beyond base hunger.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Man-Eaters have no known connections to:
Mallory Clyde was the U.S. Government's Chief of the
Science Bureau investigating the insidious threat of the alien
Man-Eaters. He reported findings that they were extraterrestrials,
carnivorous and could change their shape to appear like any human, and
recommended that people isolate themselves, declaring a state of
national emergency. At that point, a nearby radio engineer partially
turned into a Man-Eater and devoured Clyde on live broadcast with
Clyde's scream heard across the nation.
--Astonishing I#8/2
images: (without ads)
Astonishing I#8/2, p2, pan1 (main image)
p5, pan7 (headshot)
p1, pan3 (emerging from spacecraft)
p2, pan6 (rear view)
p3, pan5 (imitating human body in suit)
p3, pan3 (Clyde)
Appearances:
Astonishing I#8/2 (January, 1952) - uncredited writer, Norman Steinberg
(pencils & inks), Stan Lee (editor)
First Posted: 10/31/2021
Last updated: 10/31/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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