Forbidden Worlds

Entry updated 28 July 2025. Tagged: Comics, Publication.

US Comic (1951-1967). American Comics Group (ACG). 145 issues. Artists include Ken Bald, Pete Costanza, John Forte, Ed Hamilton, Tom Hickey, Harry Lazarus, Paul Reinman, John Rosenberger, Kurt Schaffenberger and Ogden Whitney (with Lou Cameron, Steve Ditko, Frank Frazetta, Roy Krenkel and Leo Morey were also involved in a small number of strips). Script writers include Richard Hughes. Initially 52 pages, decreasing to 36 by #9. 3-5 long strips (usually 4) and initially a short text story per issue (eventually replaced by a letters page); plus occasional short strips as filler. From #83 one or two strips would usually be a reprint (usually from Adventures into the Unknown). #125-#141 were dominated by the Superhero Magicman "with all the strange powers of Black Magic!".

Forbidden Worlds started as a Horror magazine, with Vampires particularly favoured, plus many Werewolves and other were-creatures, witches and ghosts, plus some Monsters, Zombies, mummies and genies (see Supernatural Creatures). Following the moral panic over horror comics encouraged by Fredric Wertham, Forbidden Worlds reinvented itself from #35 (August 1955), when these grotesque elements were drastically curtailed in favour of stories of present-day people involved in Timeslips, peculiar mental abilities, Magic and other odd events; or historical tales with people experiencing strangeness – but nothing too visually disturbing. The comic's subtitle changed from "Exploring the Supernatural" to "Stories of Strange Adventure". Sf stories (and those sharing some of the genre's tropes) had been fairly regular, but now became more frequent – issues such as #81 might be considered entirely sf, doubtless in part due to the genre having more leeway for weirdness when illustrating Alien monsters and suchlike. However this increase led to more slighter tales: as a generalization, stories in the latter half of the Forbidden Worlds run are often more moralistic or flippant (see Humour) than those in the first half, and on the whole are less interesting; though there is an improvement when more cynicism and Satire begins to sneak in from about 1963.

Probably the most important strip to appear in Forbidden Worlds was "Herbie's Quiet Saturday Afternoon!" (#73), introducing the rotund, phlegmatic young Herbie, out for a walk and licking a lollipop. Adventures are had – such as foiling an alien Invasion – which Herbie takes in his stride, said stride involving the ability to walk on air; he can also talk to animals, is very strong and knows things (see Superpowers). Herbie Popnecker, created by Richard E Hughes and Ogden Whitney, also appeared in #94, #110, #114, and #116, displaying god-like powers, with most living creatures being deferential towards him (inanimate objects too, with bullets swerving away in a panic). Eventually he was given his own comic book, Herbie (1964-1967, 24 issues), which Alan Moore has described as the "single comic strip work for which I retain the most affection", calling it "sublime".

#1's "The Monster Doll" has a present day scientist investigating the story of "Bulmere's Robot": in 1853 a "malformed" scientist of that name had retrieved a hanged murderess's body to create a lover, her skin being used to cover the machinery (see Androids). Bulmere "did work in electronics, in thinking machines – work that was far beyond his time" (see Cybernetics) However the Robot murdered him, and the investigator finds subsequent press cuttings that show her subsequent history (London Times 1876 "Dying man claims wife was a machine"; Berlin 1888 "lovely robot runs amok, kills three"): his attempts to locate her fail, so he returns home to his wife – who turns out to be the robot. The issue's other tales involve vampires, werewolves and a Scientist unwisely sneering at his late granduncle's research into the occult. Subsequent sf stories include #3's "Domain of the Doomed" where a scientist and his girlfriend ascending into the stratosphere with an atomic bomb (see Weapons, Nuclear Energy) are taken by a passing rogue planet, which is where evil humans go after death (see Eschatology). The bomb explodes, turning the planet's rocks into living creatures who fight the evil dead – because, as the scientist explains – "they sprang from the basic matter of the Universe – the very source of life! That means they're good". #4's "The Doom of the Moonlings" has an Earth couple abducted by the evil Queen of the Moonlings (a not dissimilar plot would be used for #7's "The Realm of the Moonsters"). #5's "The Day the World Died" has atomic experiments sweeping all Earth's living creatures into the "invisible world of nothingness", to be replaced by the evil Beyonders – fortunately a scientist couple working in an atomic vault were unaffected and are able – with the help of a robot temporarily possessed by a dead colleague – to reverse the situation. A giant Dinosaur egg is exposed by an atomic bomb test in "Million-Year Monster!" (#14) – later a red dinosaur with a human-like head and hands hatches and imprints on the woman who looked after the egg, calling out her name. A scientist argues the radiation has speeded up Evolution, but an injection of cysteine concentrate reverts it to a normal dinosaur and the modern day atmosphere kills it. #20's "Terror Island" was clearly inspired by H G Wells The Island of Dr Moreau (1896), with Mad Scientist Professor Kurtz transplanting "the brain tissues of beasts into that of man", resulting in humanoid animals. In "Nightmare for Two!" (#23) an entomologist causes insect metamorphosis in mammals, which pupate to become insect/mammal hybrids. He stares at the pupae of the couple who foolishly tried to rob him, wondering what will emerge. "The Beginning and the End!"(#28) has a scientist turning Bobo the gorilla into a human (see Uplift) – the mistreated Bobo adjusts the scientist's formula and turns him into a gorilla. In "The Invasion of the Deadlings" (#32) "space spirits – inhabitants of the outer universe" kill people and possess their bodies (they behave like zombies). In "Pussycat on the Dog Star!" (#36) a scientist helps the princess of the Dog Star, whose people are being attacked by intelligent dinosaurs: our hero discovers they are allergic to bee stings. "The Explorers" (#46) has a chimp returns from space with increased Intelligence; he persuades the disrespectful scientists to provide a female chimp to accompany him on his next flight; unbeknownst to them, he uses it to seek a world to begin a new life (in #80's "The Ape in the Sky!" a similar returned chimp instead flees to Africa to teach its brethren how to take over the Earth). "The Hydrogen Breathers" (#50) are an advanced alien race visiting Earth – however, their planet is destroyed: humanity is aware they have the capability to change our planet's atmosphere to suit themselves, whilst the aliens agonize over whether to do so – tensions rise, until they discover they can breathe under the sea. "Doctor Marlin's Menagerie!" (#58) has the titular scientist "liberate the intelligence" (see Uplift) of various animals, but when he dies they realize they must either act dumb to live among people, or make a life in the wilds, away from humanity. "The Foolproof Wishes" (#61) has a man studying a wish-granting magic talisman and using test subjects to devise three wishes that will not "boomerang" back on the wisher; "The Monkey's Paw" (1902 Harper's) by W W Jacobs (1863-1943) is acknowledged. One user asks to be "the richest man in all creation" and becomes a sick, corpulent Emperor in the distant future.

"When Duty Calls!" (#63) has a present-day Mathematics professor summoned to Pluto (see Outer Planets) to help defeat an invasion of the Solar System – the inventor of the Plutonians' Ray died before the mathematics was worked out. In "There's a New Moon Tonight!" (#65) temporarily shrunken invading aliens are killed by the radioactivity in a wristwatch's luminous dial. "Rocket to Nowhere" (#68) has the first inter-planetary tourist flight and the travails of the pilot and stewardess, whose pay largely depends on their passengers' feedback (see Jobs in SF). In "The Second Visit" (#74) an archaeologist translates an ancient Persian scroll describing an alien visit – it also gives the date of their return, which happens to be "in the next few days". Alarmed at humanity's advances and only able to visit once every 3,526 years (when their galaxy is closest to ours), the returning aliens decide it prudent to destroy the Earth (they are foiled). "The Glittering Nightmare!" (#76) has a scientist's arguments for Panspermia dismissed by his colleagues, so he traps and grows spores from outer space, which prove to be problematic. "In the Beginning" (#76) very human-like apemen are helped in their fights with more ape-like apemen (see Apes as Human) by their "ancient ones" – a Computer in a spaceship (the suggestion seems to be that humanity originated in space). "Mystery Island!" (#80) shows the recent rediscovery of the Coelacanth was be the result of a scientist's experiments in reversing Evolution – he has also succeeded with giant sloths, sabre-tooth tigers and many others. "The Train That Vanished!" (#87) was clearly inspired by A J Deutsch's "A Subway Named Möbius" (December 1950 Astounding). "The Image Maker!" (#91) has an artist developing a headset whose attached leads are inserted into clay, allowing him to shape a living sculpture with his thoughts (see Arts). "Dr. Chameleon!"(#93) is an ex-Nazi scientist (see World War Two) who steals another scientist's research on chameleons, enabling him to change colour and camouflage himself – his wife rolls her eyes at his choice of name ("did you have to be so theatrical?"). A scientist's "The Delta-R Machine!" (#113) increases intelligence and size, but local animals and plants are accidentally treated, and – resenting their past exploitation by humanity – decide to take over the world. "Joey's a Real Pal!" (#115) has kids discovering their new friend has superpowers. However, he is an alien spy preparing for the destruction of all life on Earth: one of his colleagues voices reservations, particularly over the deaths of children, but Joey responds: "I'll take special joy from wiping out their young." In "Target Planet Dead Ahead – Open Fire!" (#117) Earth discovers a new planet to plunder: the friendly locals treat a badly injured member of the reconnaissance mission, his face now enclosed by a mask. In truth he is one of the aliens, and learning of humanity's plans, they fool the invading forces into attacking Earth.

There are many other stories with sf elements: anything approaching a crashed meteor takes root and become trees (#27); a mechanical mole finds a dinosaur-inhabited world near the Earth's centre ruled by a human-like but mouthless Telepathic race (#48); two scientists find a cure for the common cold (see Medicine), but a side-effect is extreme conformity (#58); aliens are forced to briefly land on Earth and pass on a virus to humanity, whilst they catch pneumonia (#71); a robot commits Suicide upon realizing humanity will never trust it (#71); a new high-speed racing car takes its inventor to another Dimension, whose advanced but unimaginative inhabitants are weary of all the drivers of crashed high-speed vehicles who claim to be from another dimension (#75). An alien Dog is posited to be another species' Laika (#78). Atlanteans – a different sub-species from Homo sapiens – survive in a temperate land under the Antarctic ice (#96). A race of peaceful, winged humanoids from a different evolutionary path secretly dwelt among Homo sapiens until their last member seemingly died in 1878 (#115). [SP]

further reading

Forbidden Worlds – Volume 1 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2011) [graph: collects issues #1-#5 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: hb/Ken Bald]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 2 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2013) [graph: collects issues #6-#11 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: hb/ken Bald]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 3 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2013) [graph: collects issues #12-#18 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: hb/Ken Bald]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 4 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2013) [graph: collects issues #19-#25 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: hb/Ken Bald]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 5 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2014) [graph: collects issues #26-#32 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: hb/Ken Bald]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 6 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2014) [graph: collects issues #33-#39 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: hb/Ken Bald]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 7 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2014) [graph: collects issues #40-#46 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: hb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 8 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2014) [graph: collects issues #47-#52 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: hb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 9 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2015) [graph: collects issues 531-#58 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: hb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 10 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2015) [graph: collects issues #59-#64 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: hb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 11 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2016) [graph: collects issues #65-#70 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: hb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 12 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2017) [graph: collects issues #71-#76 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: hb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 13 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2017) [graph: collects issues #77-#82 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: pb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 14 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2017) [graph: collects issues #83-#88 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: pb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 15 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2017) [graph: collects issues #89-#94 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: pb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 16 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2017) [graph: collects issues #95-#100 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: pb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 17 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2017) [graph: collects issues #101-#106 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: pb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 18 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2021) [graph: collects issues #107-#111 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: pb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 19 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2021) [graph: collects issues #112-#116 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: pb/Ogden Whitney]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 20 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2024) [graph: collects issues #117-#121 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: pb/Kurt Schaffenberger]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 21 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2024) [graph: collects issues #122-#126 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: pb/Kurt Schaffenberger]
Forbidden Worlds – Volume 22 (Hornsea, East Yorkshire: PS Publishing, 2024) [graph: collects issues #127-#131 of the comic: illus/various: in the publisher's ACG Collected Works series: pb/Kurt Schaffenberger as Pete Costanza]

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