'The Loathsome!'

[cyberghostface]

This is from Weird Science #20.

The story opens with a child born in the aftermath of a nuclear bomb. The wife of a sailor who was in proximity of the bomb gives birth to what we are told is a hideous mutant. The father is convinced, for the sake of his wife's mental health, to give away the child to an orphan asylum and tell her that it died in pregnancy. Years go on, and the two parents have another child and quickly forget about their first one.

Their child however, has grown up in the orphanage and has become hated by everyone around it. She is considered to be both a monster in looks and behavior. She often steals toys and breaks them, and she is frequently punished by the orderlies. When she is allowed to mingle with the other children, she is vicious. This is all recounted by two nurses; we never see the child.









As a bit of trivia, the girl in this story was later used as reference for Maggie in 'Marvels'.

Comments

[liliaeth]

I saw this one before, and it always makes me feel so sorry for that poor little girl.

;(

[deh_tommy]

Thank you for all the spooky stories you post every Halloween.

[crinos]

I actually remember this comic from this big book on Golden and silver age comic history they had at my school library, which talked about this story, and the ending.

I often had stories in my head where someone rescued that poor little kid and gave them the happy life they deserved. And apparently Alex Ross agreed since he used her as the basis for the little mutant girl that Angel saves in Marvels.

I mean who could think that little princess is a monster? She's adorable.