Martian Sand Rats

Origin
Nick Nelson of the 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, which they discuss as having great value. The Patrollmen 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 passenger spaceship.

Public Domain Appearances

 * Amazing Mystery Funnies #23