Image of Martian Sand Rats

Martian Sand Rats

Nick Nelson of Space Patrol and his Martian gunner, Kodi, make a forced landing on the planet Mars. This is due to a “sudden accumulation of slag” in one of the rocket barrels of their ship. While engaged in repair work, Kodi expresses his nervousness concerning the desert on which they’ve landed. Beneath the desert, he explains, lie ancient Martian cities buried in the “great sand storms”. They see a creature come from beneath the surface. It looks at them malignantly then burrows back under the sand. Kodi explains it is a Martian Sand Rat, which lives below the surface of the desert. After the encounter, a Gigantic Martian Beast burrows out of the ground. As Nick and Kodi attempt to take off, the monster slashes the rockets barrels. Nick and Kodi escape the the damaged Space Patrol ship in their anti-gravity suits. The beast crushes the ship and the atomic bombs it carries, setting off an explosion that kills it and destroys the ship. The explosion reveals tops of skyscrapers in the buried Martian city beneath. Nick and Kodi find ancient artifacts of great value. The Patrolmen are observed by the Sand Rats. The creatures attack them, but Nick and Kodi escape by using their anti-gravity suits. They fly higher to be picked up by a passing passenger spaceship.
Alias Martian Sand Rats
Real Names/Alt Names Jol
Characteristics Centaur Universe, Alien Species, Martian, Stone-themed, World War II Era
Creators/Key Contributors Basil Wolverton
First Appearance Amazing Mystery Funnies #23 (August 1940)
First Publisher Centaur Publishing [CB+] [DCM] [GCD]
Appearance List Amazing Mystery Funnies #23
Sample Read Amazing Mystery Funnies [DCM] [CB+]
Description Nick Nelson of Space Patrol and his Martian gunner, Kodi, make a forced landing on the planet Mars. This is due to a “sudden accumulation of slag” in one of the rocket barrels of their ship. While engaged in repair work, Kodi expresses his nervousness concerning the desert on which they’ve landed. Beneath the desert, he explains, lie ancient Martian cities buried in the “great sand storms”. They see a creature come from beneath the surface. It looks at them malignantly then burrows back under the sand. Kodi explains it is a Martian Sand Rat, which lives below the surface of the desert. After the encounter, a Gigantic Martian Beast burrows out of the ground. As Nick and Kodi attempt to take off, the monster slashes the rockets barrels. Nick and Kodi escape the the damaged Space Patrol ship in their anti-gravity suits. The beast crushes the ship and the atomic bombs it carries, setting off an explosion that kills it and destroys the ship. The explosion reveals tops of skyscrapers in the buried Martian city beneath. Nick and Kodi find ancient artifacts of great value. The Patrolmen are observed by the Sand Rats. The creatures attack them, but Nick and Kodi escape by using their anti-gravity suits. They fly higher to be picked up by a passing passenger spaceship.
Source Martian Sand Rats – Public Domain Super Heroes Wiki