Tales to Astonish #54
No Place to Hide!
The Wasp wants to plan a vacation but her parenter Giant-Man is more interested in the news coming out of the nation of Santo Rico has just elected a new leader named El Toro. This is of concern because until this past election Santo Rico was a democratic republic, and El Toro — a communist backed candidate — won by the largest vote count in the history of the country.[1] Henry Pym is also concerned by this, wondering why the people of Santo Rico would elect El Toro. Janet Van Dyne on the other hand is only interested in getting Hank to focus on where they are going on vacation next. When Hank can’t keep focused on the subject, Jan starts a size-changing play fight between the two of them. Giant-Man eventually gets the upperhand, spoiling the Wasp’s fault. However, she has the last laugh when Hank has to deal with members of their fan club who have come by for a visit.
Luckily, Hank is spared dealing with the fan club when he gets a phone asking Giant-Man and the Wasp to come to Washington, DC. Kicking out their fan-club, the two heroes pack their banks and shrink down to insect size to make the trip. In Washington, the pair meet with government officials who want them to go to Santo Rico and learn if the country’s free elections were meedled in by communist actors. Posing as a couple on vacation, Hank and Jan take a flight to Santo Rico where they discover that the idilic country has become a police state. They are watched by the authorities their whole way to their hotel. However, when El Toro hears that there are Americans in his country, he orders them arrested.
By this time, Hank has Janet carrying all of their size-change capsules in her purse. This turns out to be a bad idea because the police nab her first. While struggling to get free, Janet manages to toss a growth tabet toward Hank. He quickly uses it to change into Giant-Man. However, before he can save Jan he is rammed from behind by El Toro, who bucks Giant-Man with the horns he wears on his head. This allows the police to take Janet away.
Without his size-changing pills, Giant-Man is now stuck at his twelve-foot size which turns out to be a handicap when the police force is deployed against him. This is because it is nearly impossible to hide and when he tries fleeing from armed soldiers he ends up tripping over telephone wires, bridges, and just about everything that ends up under foot. Giant-Man eventually manages to evade the authorities by hitching a ride on top of a train leaving the area. He then begins looking for Janet by communicating with the ants in the region. He soon learns that Jan is being kept on a ship at sea and rides two speed boats like water-skis to get to her. Recovering his size-changing capsules, Giant-Man and the Wasp are easily able to escape the boat undetected.
They then ambush El Toro at his mansion and leave the tyrant hanging from a flag pole. They also uncover evidence that proves that the election was fixed in El Toro’s favor. When Giant-Man and the Wasp return to the United States their government thanks them for helping Santo Rico regain its democracy. Although Giant-Man has had his fill of travel for the time being, the Wasp is still trying to figure out where they should go on vacation.
Recurring Characters
Giant-Man, Wasp, El Toro
Continuity Notes
Santo Rico is a fictional country that only exists in the Marvel Universe. If your interested in knowing more, the nation has an entry in Marvel Atlas #2.
Topical References
The news program that Giant-Man is watching is identified as the Huntley-Brinkley Report. This was a popular news program that ran on NBC and was hosted by Chet Huntley and David Brinkley. This should be considered a topical reference since the HBR ended its run in 1970. Huntley later died in 1974 and Brinkley died in 2003.
Likewise, Hank is depicted watching a black-and-white television.
This story also uses a lot of dated Cold War terminology, such as referring to communists as “Reds”
Giant-Man is depicted receiving a phone call on a rotary phone.
Conquest!
The Wasp has to turn down an evening of dinner and dancing with Hank Pym because she has been asked to babysit the son of one of her girlfriends. Since it’s time for Tommy to go to bed, Janet decides to tell the kid one of her patented science fiction stories...
On a far off planet there was once a ruler named Shann is concerened by his kingdom’s current prosperity as he frears it will make his people take him for granted. He decides the best way to maintain his people’s awe is to wage war with the nearby planet Andromeda. With is world’s superior weapons they easily conquer the planet Andromeda.
At first, King Shann revels in his victory but soon realizes that conquering Andromeda was more trouble than it was worth. He is pressured into providing aid to the planet since a just king wouldn’t allow his new subjects to starve following the war. Soon, the people of King Shann’s homeworld faced higher taxes and working more to provide for their newest citizens. Eventually, the people have grown to resent their leader, blaming him for their constantly having to attend to the needs of planet Andromdea. Eventually, everyone in the kingdom grows to hate the king, leaving King Shann to realize the folly of his plan.
When the Wasp finishes her story, she is surprised to see that Tommy is still awake. When she asks if he has any questions about her story, the boy is more interested in knowing why the Wasp doesn’t have wings when she is at her normal height.
Recurring Characters
Giant-Man, Wasp
