Comic Title: Strange Adventures #144
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: September 1962
On Sale Date: July 26, 1962 Copyright Date July 26, 1962
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1962

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Julius Schwartz

Title: "When the Earth Blacked Out"
Pages: 15

Feature(s):
Atomic Knights

Writer: John Broome
Artist: Murphy Anderson

Reprinted In:
Strange Adventures #226 (1970)
Atomic Knights HC (2010)
Showcase Presents:The Great Disaster Featuring the Atomic Knights TPB (2014)

Feature Character(s)

• Atomic Knights (last appearance in Strange Adventures #141; next appearance in Strange Adventures #147)
• Atomic Knight (Gardner Grayle; last appearance in Strange Adventures #141; next appearance in Strange Adventures #147)
• Douglas Herald (last appearance in Strange Adventures #141; next appearance in Strange Adventures #147)
• Marene Herald (last appearance in Strange Adventures #141; next appearance in Strange Adventures #147)
• Hollis Hobard (last appearance in Strange Adventures #141; next appearance in Strange Adventures #147)
• Wayne Hobard (last appearance in Strange Adventures #141; next appearance in Strange Adventures #147)
• Bryndon Smith (last appearance in Strange Adventures #141; next appearance in Strange Adventures #147)

Villain(s)

• A race of mole men (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Two giant dalmatians (last appearance in Strange Adventures #141; next appearance in Strange Adventures #150)
• Various residents of Durvale (Mr. Morris and Billy named; no further appearances)

Comments:
This story reveals that World War III was started by a race of mole men.

Synopsis:
Bryndon returns to Durvale injured in an encounter with strange mole men. The other Atomic Knights ride out to meet the mole men. They discover the invaders from underground are using plants called Ki-Moli, to envelop the Earth in darkness.

The Knights are turned back in their initial encounter with the mole men, but they take a prisoner with them. By questioning the prisoner, the Knights learn the mole men are weakened by light, so they gather fireflies to use as weapons. The Knights then place the fireflies inside pumpkins and use them as light bombs against the mole men, chasing them back underground.

After destroying the Ki-Moli, the dark cloud above the Earth dissipates. The Knights also learn that it was the mole men who triggered World War III.