Strange Sports Stories #6 (1974)

Frank Walters and Murdock Lafayette are the best of friends but they grow up competing against each other in various sports. On one particular occasion they are playing a round of golf when they finally get to hole 18. Frank suddenly sees a monstrous hand reaching out of the hole but it goes unnoticed by Murdock who is concentrating on his shot. As Murdock makes the winning putt, the monstrous hand reaches out and pulls him into the hole. Frank is also sucked in and the two boys find themselves standing in front of a set of three towering monsters that seem to be speaking a strange language. The monsters announce that the draining of V-factor has begun and the two boys are plunged into a falling sensation where they find themselves competing against each other in various sports. They race down a hill on skis, they play each other in a game of tennis and they surf the waves on boards competing to win. As the two compete, they are being monitored by the monsters who are in awe of the two boys and their will to win. They reveal that they themselves must regain their will to win so they can drive out the conquering Frilians. They find themselves with a defeatist attitude that keeps them in bondage. By injecting themselves with the human lust for victory they hope to defeat their conquerors. As the boys compete, they are siphoning off quantities of V-factor which will give them the will to win. The two boys are then returned back to earth where they find themselves on the golf course again. They wonder about their strange adventure and discuss the fact that they will keep it to themselves.