Tales to Astonish Primer

Jan 19

Jan 19 Tales to Astonish Primer

Tales to Astonish originally started as a science fiction/horror anthology series originally published by Marvel’s predecessor, Atlas Comics. With super-heroes becoming popular again, that quickly began to change. Tales to Astonish featured a story titled “The Man in the Ant-Hill” penned by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber and drawn by Jack Kirby. It featured a scientist named Henry Pym developing a shrinking potion and barely survives being trapped in an ant-hill.

What was intended to be a one-off science fiction story turned into Marvel’s next superhero. In issue #35 of that title, Pym used his shrinking formula and other technology to become the miniature crime fighter known as Ant-Man. If I were to hazard a guess, Ant-Man was created to compete with DC Comic’s own size changing superhero, the Atom. Whatever the case, Ant-Man became a regular feature in the title which bundled the hero with one-off science fiction stories. At the time due to a publishing deal, Marvel was limited to the number of titles they could publish and these anthology series became the new homes of its new superhero characters.

The first few issues Ant-Man faced various communists and criminals until issue #38 when he was given his first recurring foe, the criminal genius called Egghead. Ant-Man went on to fight various other foes from space aliens to propaganda artists. Issue #44 added to the Ant-Man mythos by giving him a sidekick, Janet Van Dyne, aka the Wasp. The pair went on to fight many one-off foes, as well as a rematch with Egghead in issue #45. Another recurring foe, the Porcupine, appeared to menace the couple in Tales to Astonish #48. The following issue saw Pym increase his powers, adding the ability to grow in size. From there he changed his name to Giant-Man. Issue #50 introduced another recurring enemy, the Human Top who went on to become the Avengers villain known as Whirlwind. In issue #52, the pair also fought a modern day Black Knight. In that same issue the back-up features began being narrated by the Wasp as Marvel began phasing out these anthology stories in favour for more superhero content. The following issue they fought the Porcupine again. Then, after a series of new one-off villains, Giant-Man and the Wasp had their first cross-over with the relatively new Spider-Man in issue #57.

Issue #59 was another titanic cross-over, this time with the Incredible Hulk, who went on to become the regular back-up feature on the title, totally replacing the science fiction anthology portion of the series. While the Hulk thrived, Giant-Man did not fare as well. The Hulk had on going serialized stories, Giant-Man continued to have dismal one-off stories. Not even a new costume could save the character. While the Hulk was battling his new foe, the Leader, Giant-Man fought increasingly uninspiring foes and he was pulled from the title in issue #69. Giant-Man and the Wasp remained in publication limbo until they returned to the pages of the Avengers in Avengers #28.

Starting with issue #70, the Sub-Mariner took over Giant-Man’s spot on the book. Taking a page from the Hulk, the Sub-Mariner stories told serialized stories that went across various issues. The first five issues featured the Sub-Mariner questing for the lost Trident of Neptune while the Hulk was sent by the Leader to steal the Ultimate Machine from the Watcher.

Issues #76-80 saw the Sub-Mariner battle the Puppet Master and the Behemoth, while the Hulk was sent into the distant future, had is secret identity blown by Rick Jones, and fought Hercules. Starting with issue #81, the tales of the Hulk and the Sub-Mariner started weaving together. While the Hulk battled the costumed villain known as Boomerang and the Sub-Mariner chased after the rogue Warlord Krang, the pair were both drawn to New York City and into an evil plot orchestrated by the Secret Empire. Of particular note during this run was issue #82, which featured a cross-over with Iron Man which also spilled into the pages of Iron Man’s own title, Tales of Suspense.

Bill Everett, the creator of the Sub-Mariner, returned to drawing the character with issue #87, which also saw Namor returning to Atlantis following the defeat of the Secret Empire. While Namor faced various undersea foes, the Hulk tied up his clashes with Boomerange. In issue #89-91, the Hulk was given a new foe, the gamma spawned Abomination, the Hulk’s apparent equal. Also during this spread of issues, one of Namor’s old Golden Age foes, Byrrah, was revived in the Sub-Mariner stories. In the following stales, the Sub-Mariner battled a creature called It, while the Hulk sought a newlife among the stars leading to a battle with the Silver Surfer. From issues #94-99, the Hulk encountered the High Evolutionary and his New Men as well as the Lords of the Living Lightning, while the Sub-Mariner battled the Plunderer.

Issue #100 was a massive issue which featured a single story where the Sub-Mariner clashed with the Hulk. Issue #101 saw the Hulk go to Asgard, while the Sub-Mariner began trying to unearth the mystery of his past and learn how he was stricked with amnesia (which led to the Human Torch reviving him back in Fantastic Four #4). Issue #101 was the final issue of this title as, at the time, the publication restrictions imposed on Marvel was over and they could expand the number of titles they could go on to print. The Hulk’s own solo title was revived using the numbering from Tales to Astonish. Meanwhile, the Sub-Mariner still had an anthology length story and was paired with a left over Iron Man anthology story in Marvel’s first one-shot, Iron Man and the Sub-Mariner #1. The following month saw the Sub-Mariner get his own title.

Tales to Astonish as a title would return from time to time. From 1979 to 1981 the title was revived and was used to reprint old Sub-Mariner stories. In 1994, the title was brought back as a one-shot paying homage to Marvel’s old anthology titles.