Mystery in Space # 66Mystery in Space # 66

March, 1961

Who Caught the Loborilla?

Writer: Gardner Fox

Penciller: Sid Greene

Inker: Sid Greene

Synopsis: In the year 2160, Earth's Space-Zoo had offered 10,000 credits to anyone who can capture the extremely rare Loborilla (a cross between a lobster and a gorilla). Weeks later, a crowd waits at Interstellar Spaceport for three people who claim to have captured it: Karel Sorensen, Rick Purvis and Homer Glint. Since only one of them could possibly have captured it (as only one is known to exist), a reporter gets the three to tell their stories, so they can figure out who had really done so. Karel tells her story first, about how she tracked down the creature to the planet Zaddara and had to use stepping stones to cross a river. Suddenly, she spotted the loborilla and shot it. As she ends her debut, Rick Purvis tells his story. He had tracked the loborilla to Zaddara as well, and he saw Karel's shot at it. He then saw Karel heading back home...with a piece of wood, which Rick assumed the loborilla hypnotized her into thinking was him. When Karel inspects her package closely, indeed all that's in it is a piece of wood. Next, Rick tells all. Afterward, Homer tells the other two that he saw Rick walk back apparently under someone's influence, and they go out to their cages,the animals area, and sure enough, after more examination, the three realize that the loborilla Rick thought he had in his cage was illusory. Homer then explains that after what happened to the first two, he kept a close eye on the loborilla and shot him with a tranquilizer, certain that it used no illusions. Homer shows everyone his cage, but, just as he's declaring himself the winner of the contest, the loborilla breaks out of the cage and declares that it is he who had captured the three, not vice versa. The loborilla explains that it was on Zadarra to photograph its flora and fauna and it found itself hunted, so decided to play along. When Homer aimed at the loborilla, the loborilla made an illusion in Homer's mind making Homer think that he shot the loborilla and brought him back to Earth, so he could get other humans to acknowledge him as winner of the hunt. He reveals that he has everything taped, and vanishes, teleporting back to his place so he can tell his story as well.

Notes: This is the first appearance of Karel Sorensen, Rick Purvis and Homer Glint. The term "Star Rovers" is not used for them in this issue.

This story takes place in the year 2160.

In Starman (2nd series) # 55, the Star Rovers are mentioned during a story that occurs in 2153, indicating that this is not the first meeting of Karel, Rick and Homer, but that the three have been friendly rivals and well-known adventurers since before that time.


All characters and images are copyright DC Comics.


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