Tales to Astonish
Encyclopedia
Tales to Astonish is the name of two American
comic book
series and a one-shot comic published by Marvel Comics
.
The primary title bearing that name was published from 1959-1968. It began as a science-fiction anthology
that served as a showcase for such artists as Jack Kirby
and Steve Ditko
, then featured superhero
es during the period fans and historians call the Silver Age of Comic Books
. It became The Incredible Hulk with issue #102 (April 1968). Its sister title was Tales of Suspense
.
A second Marvel comic bearing the name, reprinting stories of the undersea ruler the Sub-Mariner, ran 14 issues from 1979-1981. A superhero
one-shot followed in 1994.
, the 1950s forerunner of Marvel, before eventually falling under the Marvel banner. It contained science-fiction mystery
/suspense stories written primarily by editor-in-chief Stan Lee
, with artists including Kirby, Ditko, Dick Ayers
, Don Heck
and Paul Reinman
. One such story, "The Man In The Ant Hill", in #27 (Jan. 1962), introduced the character Henry Pym
, who would be repurposed eight issues later as the superhero Ant-Man. Anthological stories continued to appear as backups until Tales to Astonish became a superhero "split book" in 1964, when it began featuring one story each of Giant-Man and the Hulk.
in #35 (Sept. 1962). The series was plotted by Lee and scripted by his brother, Larry Lieber
, with penciling first by Jack Kirby
and later by Don Heck
and others. The first half of the book would be dedicated to Ant-Man (And later on, Giant-Man) stories, while the second half would be more science fiction stories. Ant-Man fought a series of such undistinguished antagonists as the Protector, the Porcupine
, Comrade X, Egghead
, and the Scarlet Beetle (an actual, mutated scarlet beetle). Ant-Man teamed up with socialite
-turned-heroine, Janet Van Dyne, the Wasp
, in #44 (June 1963), under former Atlas staffer Ernie Hart
, writing under a pseudonym
.
Ant-Man began size-shifting in the opposite direction in #49 (Nov. 1963), when he added two letters to his name to become Giant-Man.
Among his antagonists was the alien dubbed the Living Eraser. Comics historian Les Daniels
notes that the celebrated Lee & Kirby's teaming for this story and character is sometimes invoked as an example of misfires by even legendary creators. Decades later, however, a team of Living Erasers was an integral transportation resource in the 2005-2006 series Nick Fury's Howling Commandos
.
Lee remained as writer through the end of the feature's run, except for two stories scripted by Leon Lazarus
(#64, Feb. 1965) and Al Hartley
(#69, the feature's finale, July 1965). Artists of the latter part of the run included Ditko, Ayers, and two greats of the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books
, Carl Burgos
and Bob Powell
.
The backup feature "Tales of the Wasp" (#51-56) used the superheroine as a framing device for anthological science-fiction stories, having her relate tales to hospitalized servicemen
and the like. The Wasp also starred in two subsequent solo backup stories. All were scripted and penciled by Lieber.
The Hulk, whose original series The Incredible Hulk had been quickly canceled after a six-issue run in 1962-63, returned to star in his own feature when Tales to Astonish became a split book at issue #60 (Oct. 1964), after having guest-starred as Giant-Man's antagonist in a full-length story the previous issue. The Hulk had proven a popular guest-star in three issues of Fantastic Four
and an issue of The Amazing Spider-Man
. His new stories here were initially scripted by Lee and illustrated by the seldom-seen team of penciler Steve Ditko and inker
George Roussos
. This early part of the Hulk's run introduced the Leader
, who would become the Hulk's archnemesis, and additionally made the Hulk's identity known, initially only to the military and then later publicly.
Namor the Sub-Mariner
received his first feature in a decade beginning with #70 (Aug. 1965). After the final issue of Tales to Astonish (which became the solo magazine The Incredible Hulk with issue #102, April 1968), the Sub-Mariner co-starred in the split-book one-shot Iron Man and Sub-Mariner
#1 before going on to his own 72-issue series.
, a 1960s pinup by penciler Jack Kirby
and inker Sol Brodsky
, and a new pinup by artist Alan Weiss
. Covers repurposed the original art, with the premiere issue's image flipped 180 degrees.
Tales to Astonish vol. 3, #1 (Dec. 1994) was a 72-page, squarebound, one-shot special starring the Hulk, the Sub-Mariner, Ant-Man and the Wasp in the story "Loki's Dream" by writer Peter David
, with painted art by John Estes
.
ISBN 978-0785118893
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series and a one-shot comic published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
The primary title bearing that name was published from 1959-1968. It began as a science-fiction anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
that served as a showcase for such artists as Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
and Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
, then featured superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
es during the period fans and historians call the Silver Age of Comic Books
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
. It became The Incredible Hulk with issue #102 (April 1968). Its sister title was Tales of Suspense
Tales of Suspense
Tales of Suspense is the name of an American comic book series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such artists as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck, then featured...
.
A second Marvel comic bearing the name, reprinting stories of the undersea ruler the Sub-Mariner, ran 14 issues from 1979-1981. A superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
one-shot followed in 1994.
Science-fiction anthology
The early run of Tales to Astonish, from issues #1-34 (Jan. 1959 - Aug 1962), began under Atlas ComicsAtlas Comics (1950s)
Atlas Comics is the term used to describe the 1950s comic book publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. Magazine and paperback novel publisher Martin Goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitude of corporate entities, used Atlas as the umbrella name for his comic...
, the 1950s forerunner of Marvel, before eventually falling under the Marvel banner. It contained science-fiction mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
/suspense stories written primarily by editor-in-chief Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
, with artists including Kirby, Ditko, Dick Ayers
Dick Ayers
Richard "Dick" Ayers is an American comic book artist and cartoonist best known for his work as one of Jack Kirby's inkers during the late-1950s and 1960s period known as the Silver Age of Comics, including on some of the earliest issues of Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four, and as the signature...
, Don Heck
Don Heck
Don Heck was an American comic book artist best known for co-creating the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, and for his long run penciling the Marvel superhero-team series The Avengers during the 1960s Silver Age of comic books.-Early life and career:Born in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New...
and Paul Reinman
Paul Reinman
Paul J. Reinman was an American comic book artist best known as one of industry legend's Jack Kirby's frequent inkers during what comics fans and historians call the Silver Age of comic books...
. One such story, "The Man In The Ant Hill", in #27 (Jan. 1962), introduced the character Henry Pym
Henry Pym
Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber and penciler Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #27...
, who would be repurposed eight issues later as the superhero Ant-Man. Anthological stories continued to appear as backups until Tales to Astonish became a superhero "split book" in 1964, when it began featuring one story each of Giant-Man and the Hulk.
Ant-Man and Giant-Man
Following his one-shot anthological story in #27, scientist Henry Pym returned donning a cybernetic helmet and red costume, and using size-changing technology to debut as the insect-sized hero Ant-ManAnt-Man
Ant-Man is the name of several fictional characters appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. Ant-Man was originally the superhero persona of Hank Pym, a brilliant scientist who invented a substance that allowed him to change his size...
in #35 (Sept. 1962). The series was plotted by Lee and scripted by his brother, Larry Lieber
Larry Lieber
Lawrence D. "Larry" Lieber is an American comic book artist and writer, and the younger brother of Marvel Comics' writer, editor and publisher Stan Lee....
, with penciling first by Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
and later by Don Heck
Don Heck
Don Heck was an American comic book artist best known for co-creating the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, and for his long run penciling the Marvel superhero-team series The Avengers during the 1960s Silver Age of comic books.-Early life and career:Born in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New...
and others. The first half of the book would be dedicated to Ant-Man (And later on, Giant-Man) stories, while the second half would be more science fiction stories. Ant-Man fought a series of such undistinguished antagonists as the Protector, the Porcupine
Porcupine (comics)
Porcupine is the name of three fictional characters in Marvel Comics. Two of them are super-villains.-Fictional character biography:Alexander Gentry, was originally a scientist who worked as a weapons designer for the United States Army, conceived the idea of designing a battle-suit in imitation of...
, Comrade X, Egghead
Egghead (comics)
Egghead is the name of two fictional Marvel Comics villains. The original first appeared in Tales to Astonish #38. He is also the arch-nemesis of super-hero Henry Pym. The second first appeared in Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1.-Elihas Starr:...
, and the Scarlet Beetle (an actual, mutated scarlet beetle). Ant-Man teamed up with socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
-turned-heroine, Janet Van Dyne, the Wasp
Wasp (comics)
The Wasp is a fictional character, a superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe and founding member of The Avengers. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #44 ....
, in #44 (June 1963), under former Atlas staffer Ernie Hart
Ernie Hart
-Early life and career:Ernie Hart was part of the Timely Comics "animator" bullpen, separate from the superhero group producing comics featuring the Human Torch, the Sub-Mariner and Captain America...
, writing under a pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
.
Among his antagonists was the alien dubbed the Living Eraser. Comics historian Les Daniels
Les Daniels
Leslie Noel Daniels III, known as Les Daniels was an American writer.-Background:He attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he wrote his master's thesis on Frankenstein, and he worked as a musician and as a journalist.-Career:He was the author of five novels featuring the...
notes that the celebrated Lee & Kirby's teaming for this story and character is sometimes invoked as an example of misfires by even legendary creators. Decades later, however, a team of Living Erasers was an integral transportation resource in the 2005-2006 series Nick Fury's Howling Commandos
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos was an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. Running six issues before its cancellation and cover-dated December 2005 to May 2006, the series featured a fictional team set in the Marvel Universe, consisting of supernatural characters employed as a unit...
.
Lee remained as writer through the end of the feature's run, except for two stories scripted by Leon Lazarus
Leon Lazarus
Leon Lazarus was an American writer-editor for publisher Martin Goodman's Magazine Management Company, as well as for Goodman's Timely and Atlas comic book companies, the two predecessors of Marvel Comics...
(#64, Feb. 1965) and Al Hartley
Al Hartley
Henry Allan Hartley , known professionally as Al Hartley, was an American comic book writer-artist known for his work on Archie Comics, Atlas Comics , and many Christian comics...
(#69, the feature's finale, July 1965). Artists of the latter part of the run included Ditko, Ayers, and two greats of the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
, Carl Burgos
Carl Burgos
Carl Burgos was an American comic book and advertising artist best known for creating the original Human Torch in Marvel Comics #1 Carl Burgos (né Max Finkelstein, April 18, 1916, New York City, New York; died March 1984) was an American comic book and advertising artist best known for creating...
and Bob Powell
Bob Powell (comics)
Bob Powell né Stanislav Robert Pawlowski was an American comic book artist known for his work during the 1930-40s Golden Age of comic books, including on the features "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle" and "Mr. Mystic". He received a belated credit in 1999 for co-writing the debut of the popular...
.
The backup feature "Tales of the Wasp" (#51-56) used the superheroine as a framing device for anthological science-fiction stories, having her relate tales to hospitalized servicemen
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and the like. The Wasp also starred in two subsequent solo backup stories. All were scripted and penciled by Lieber.
Hulk and Sub-Mariner
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
and an issue of The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
. His new stories here were initially scripted by Lee and illustrated by the seldom-seen team of penciler Steve Ditko and inker
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
George Roussos
George Roussos
George Roussos , also known under the pseudonym George Bell, was an American comic book artist best known as one of Jack Kirby's Silver Age inkers, including on landmark early issues of Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four.-Early life and career:George Roussos was born in Washington, D.C., the son of...
. This early part of the Hulk's run introduced the Leader
Leader (comics)
The Leader is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #62, and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. In 2009, The Leader was ranked as IGN's 63rd Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.Actor Tim Blake...
, who would become the Hulk's archnemesis, and additionally made the Hulk's identity known, initially only to the military and then later publicly.
Namor the Sub-Mariner
Namor the Sub-Mariner
Namor the Sub-Mariner is a fictional comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe, and one of the first superheroes, debuting in Spring 1939. The character was created by writer-artist Bill Everett for Funnies Inc., one of the first "packagers" in the early days of comic books that supplied...
received his first feature in a decade beginning with #70 (Aug. 1965). After the final issue of Tales to Astonish (which became the solo magazine The Incredible Hulk with issue #102, April 1968), the Sub-Mariner co-starred in the split-book one-shot Iron Man and Sub-Mariner
Iron Man and Sub-Mariner
Iron Man and Sub-Mariner is a one-shot comic book published by Marvel Comics in 1968. It is notable for being the first Marvel title to be intentionally published for only one issue, as it existed to use up two half-length stories left over after Marvel began its expansion and the characters were...
#1 before going on to his own 72-issue series.
Revival
A second volume of Tales to Astonish, using the cover logo Tales to Astonish starring the Sub-Mariner, ran 14 issues (Dec. 1979 - Jan. 1981), reprinting edited versions of Sub-Mariner #1-14 (May 1968 - June 1969). All but the last issue ran 18-page versions of the originally 20-page stories, with panels and text reworked to condense the plot. That last issue also included a 1940s Sub-Mariner pinup by character creator Bill EverettBill Everett
William Blake "Bill" Everett, also known as William Blake and Everett Blake was a comic book writer-artist best known for creating Namor the Sub-Mariner and co-creating Daredevil for Marvel Comics...
, a 1960s pinup by penciler Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
and inker Sol Brodsky
Sol Brodsky
Sol Brodsky was an American comic book artist who, as Marvel Comics' Silver Age production manager, was one of the key architects of the small company's expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate. He later rose to vice president, operations and vice president, special projects...
, and a new pinup by artist Alan Weiss
Alan Weiss (comics)
Alan Weiss is an American comic book artist and writer known for his work on Warlock, Avengers, Captain America, Daredevil, Sub-Mariner and Spider-Man...
. Covers repurposed the original art, with the premiere issue's image flipped 180 degrees.
Tales to Astonish vol. 3, #1 (Dec. 1994) was a 72-page, squarebound, one-shot special starring the Hulk, the Sub-Mariner, Ant-Man and the Wasp in the story "Loki's Dream" by writer Peter David
Peter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
, with painted art by John Estes
John Estes
John Estes is an American football center. He graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a degree in Communications in December 2009....
.
Collected Editions
- Marvel MasterworksMarvel MasterworksMarvel Masterworks are a American collection of hardcover and trade paperback comic book reprints published by Marvel Comics. They are printed in full color and feature various titles from the Golden Age, Pre-Code , Silver Age, and Bronze Age of comics.The collection started in 1987 with volumes...
: Atlas Era Tales to Astonish (Marvel, 2006) ISBN 0785118896,
ISBN 978-0785118893
-
- Reprints Tales to Astonish #1-10
- Marvel MasterworksMarvel MasterworksMarvel Masterworks are a American collection of hardcover and trade paperback comic book reprints published by Marvel Comics. They are printed in full color and feature various titles from the Golden Age, Pre-Code , Silver Age, and Bronze Age of comics.The collection started in 1987 with volumes...
: Atlas Era Tales to Astonish (Marvel, 2008) ISBN 978-0785129134
- Marvel Masterworks
- Reprints Tales to Astonish #11-20
- Marvel MasterworksMarvel MasterworksMarvel Masterworks are a American collection of hardcover and trade paperback comic book reprints published by Marvel Comics. They are printed in full color and feature various titles from the Golden Age, Pre-Code , Silver Age, and Bronze Age of comics.The collection started in 1987 with volumes...
: Atlas Era Tales to Astonish (Marvel, 2010) ISBN 978-0785141969
- Marvel Masterworks
- Reprints Tales to Astonish #21-30
- EssentialEssential Marvel ComicsEssential Marvel is a line of American comic book reprints. It consists in a series of black-and-white paperbacks containing about 20-30 issues of mostly Silver Age or Bronze Age Marvel comic book reprints each...
Astonishing Ant-Man, Vol. 1 (Marvel, 2002) ISBN 078510822X, ISBN 978-0785108221
- Essential
- Reprints Tales to Astonish #27, 35-69
- EssentialEssential Marvel ComicsEssential Marvel is a line of American comic book reprints. It consists in a series of black-and-white paperbacks containing about 20-30 issues of mostly Silver Age or Bronze Age Marvel comic book reprints each...
Incredible Hulk, Vol. 1 (Marvel, 2006) ISBN 0785123741, ISBN 978-0785123743
- Essential
- Reprints Tales to Astonish #60-91
- EssentialEssential Marvel ComicsEssential Marvel is a line of American comic book reprints. It consists in a series of black-and-white paperbacks containing about 20-30 issues of mostly Silver Age or Bronze Age Marvel comic book reprints each...
Incredible Hulk, Vol. 2
- Essential
- Reprints Tales to Astonish #92-101
- EssentialEssential Marvel ComicsEssential Marvel is a line of American comic book reprints. It consists in a series of black-and-white paperbacks containing about 20-30 issues of mostly Silver Age or Bronze Age Marvel comic book reprints each...
Sub-Mariner Vol. 1 (Marvel 2009)
- Essential
- Reprints Tales to Astonish #70-101
- Reprints Tales to Astonish #1-10