Tales to Astonish #61Tales to Astonish #61
Title: "Now Walks the Android”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Steve Ditko
Inker: Dick Ayers
Giant-Man and Wasp perform acrobatic acts and fly around respectively for a group of children. Wasp says that she is glad that Giant-Man invited his fan club after the way he treated them. Wasp grows up to full size and gives the crowd a wink for a finale.
Outside, police sirens blare. Giant-Man figures that it is a routine police case that doesn’t concern them, but Giant-Man is wrong as the police are chasing Egghead. Egghead is hiding under a manhole cover. He says that he must remain free long enough to get his final revenge on Giant-Man, and then he doesn’t care what happens to him. Egghead drops down the sewer, and makes his way to his secret lab. Egghead says that Giant-Man has to pay for defeating him, a man who is many times his mental superior. Egghead says that he has had a few months to make a plan. Egghead says that fortunately the police do not know about this secret lair. He says that sooner or later the police are going to re-capture him so he has to work quickly to get his revenge. Egghead creates a living-cell beam. Egghead creates a small doll to test the beam. The beam brings the doll to life following his mental commands. Egghead says that it will take more than a small doll to defeat Giant-Man, and so it is time to enact the second part of his plan. Egghead uses his vibration gun to break into a clothing store. He changes the vibration gun into a weight reducer, and takes a mannequin out of the store with him. Egghead takes it down to his lab where he grabs a large mass of the clay that he made the small doll from. Egghead says that the mannequin is about to become one of the most powerful beings to walk the Earth. Egghead says that first to give it near limitless strength he is going to coat it in the special compound to waxen its skin. Egghead then blasts the coated mannequin with an ultra-beta beam. Egghead’s compound feeds upon itself until it grows as tall as Giant-Man. Right as the ultra-beta beam reaches its highest intensity, Egghead stands in front of the beams as well. Egghead says that he didn’t expect it to be so painful. Egghead shuts off the beam and discovers that the Android is now his to command. Egghead says that the Android’s power is much more than a match for Giant-Man’s. Egghead says that he can’t fail this time.
The next day, Giant-Man and Wasp are riding around in Hank’s new converti-car. Hank asks Wasp if she likes the way it rides. Wasp says that she does, but says that she can’t imagine smooching at a drive in movie theater in it. Hank says that he didn’t have that in mind when he designed it. Wasp says that he never thinks of those important things. At Pym’s lab, Hank asks Wasp if there are any messages from the Avengers today. Wasp says that it’s all just the usual junk mail and bills. She spots one letter from a television producer who wants to make a movie from their adventures. Hank says to count him out. He says that he is a biochemist by trade, an adventurer by accident, and an Avenger by choice, but not an actor. Wasp says that she is ashamed of Hank, and asks if he doesn’t have any ambition. Wasp says that the show would be such an inspiration to the youth of the nation. She says that instead of phony actors that people could be seeing the real thing. She says that the PTA and the Boy Scouts would endorse him. Hank tells Wasp that he knows when he is beaten and to get her coat so that they can get this over with.
They fly in the converti-car to the address from the letter. Hank says that this building is dark, window-less, and depressing. Wasp says that they need a building like this so that they can film without outside interference. Giant-Man opens the door and it makes a loud creaking noise. Giant-Man makes a sarcastic remark, but Wasp just makes fun of him for being afraid. Once inside, Giant-Man says that if this is a television studio that he is Doctor Doom. Wasp says that Giant-Man is just too suspicious. A ten-ton steel door comes down behind them and traps them inside. Hank asks Wasp if she thinks he is too suspicious now.
Egghead spots a light going off that signals that Giant-Man has fallen for his trap. He puts on his beta-ray mental energy transmitter helmet so that he can see what Android sees and feel what Android feels. Egghead tells his Android to show itself.
Giant-Man tells Wasp to be quiet as he hears the Android coming towards them. Egghead says through Android that he knew that Giant-Man’s vanity would bring him to him. Giant-Man and Wasp spot Android. Giant-Man tells Wasp to shrink down, and that he will handle him as an equal. Giant-Man grows up to match Android’s size. Egghead’s voice says that while Giant-Man is as tall as Android that Android’s power is greater. Wasp notices that Android’s lips don’t move when he talks. Giant-Man says that he is an android built with the sole purpose of defeating him. Egghead says to give credit where it is due. He reveals himself as the brain that created Android, and says that only he could have done it. Giant-Man says that he should have guessed. Egghead tells Giant-Man that they have only one hour’s oxygen left in the building.
Giant-Man misjudges Android’s weight,
and as he swings Android hops over his punch and levitates in the
air. Giant-Man throws himself into some boxes because of the
momentum of his punch. Egghead says that Giant-Man is as graceful
as ever, and that he has dreamed of this moment. Giant-Man says
that he has beaten Egghead three times already. He asks when
Egghead is going to stop underestimating him. Giant-Man grabs the
Android out of the air and throws a punch into Android’s
face. Giant-Man hurts his fist against Android’s face.
Egghead says that he forgot to mention that just as Giant-Man can
control his size so can Egghead control Android’s weight.
Wasp tells Giant-Man to shrink down to ant-size so they can
escape. Giant-Man says that he won’t give up. Egghead says
to himself that he wants Giant-Man to continue hopelessly. He
says that he wants to enjoy this as long as he can. 
Egghead says
through Android that Giant-Man is about to receive the beating of
a life, and that it is the last beating of his life. Wasp stings
Android in the face just long enough for Giant-Man to dodge
Android’s attack. Android keeps trying to swat Wasp between
its hands, but Giant-Man tells her to get back. Android punches
Giant-Man. Android leaps into the air light as a feather, and
then comes down like a piledriver into Giant-Man’s chest.
Wasp begs Hank to shrink down, but Hank says that running
isn’t going to solve anything, and that she has to have more
faith in him.
Egghead says that he can tell Giant-Man’s time is almost up because of the way that he is gasping for breath. Giant-Man takes another swing at Android, but Android floats up into the air. Giant-Man says that he was counting on that. Giant-Man grabs Android’s ankle and starts spinning him around faster and faster. Giant-Man says that Egghead admitted that he could see and hear what Android did, and Giant-Man guessed correctly that Egghead felt what Android felt. Giant-Man says that he is betting that Egghead is too dizzy to concentrate and control the Android’s weight. Giant-Man says that he has enough air to do this for five more minutes. Egghead tells him to stop, but Giant-Man says that only if Egghead raises the steel door. Egghead couldn’t bear it for five more seconds, and so he raises the steel door and cuts contact with Android. Giant-Man lets Android go and shrinks down to normal size. He says that Egghead wouldn’t dare using it again now that they know its weakness because Egghead fears physical pain more than anything else. Wasp asks what about the Android as it walks away. Giant-Man says that without Egghead to control it that it is harmless. Android walks off the pier into the water. Wasp says that she has never been prouder of him. Giant-Man says, “I bet you tell that to all the Giant-Men, little girl!”
At his hideout, Egghead waits for the police to catch him again.
Avenger's Files rating: 8 out of 10
Egghead is a cool villain for Giant-Man. Giant-Man is kind of hard to classify because he has both brains and brawn. Egghead responds with his brain and brawn that he creates. Having read this and the issues of the Avengers I actually want to know more about Egghead- something I never though possible. Ditko does a very good job especially considering the note included that he did it at the last moment when another artist fell through.
Title: “Captured At Last”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Steve Ditko
Inker: George Bell
Once again we spot the spy in the robot suit standing over Hulk as Hulk falls down the mountain to hide his coming transformation into Bruce Banner. The spy says that he has defeated the Hulk, and that he need fear nothing else on Earth. After the Hulk falls, the spy keeps on walking and coincidentally finds Bruce Banner’s secret lab in the desert. The spy sets out to use his own scientific knowledge to construct a crude missile to destroy the military base.
Bruce Banner works feverishly trying to come up with a way to defeat the robot suit. Bruce says that it is his fault the thing is free, and that he must be the one to stop it. Bruce is designing an electric scanner that will allow him to track the robot suit. Outside Banner’s window, two security military officers meet with the newly arrived Major Talbot. Bruce figures out that he must be a new security officer. He listens at his door as Talbot says that he is going to go meet with General Ross. Talbot tells the other two security officers that he wants Banner under surveillance at all times.
Minutes later in Ross’ office, Ross says that it is about time that Talbot arrived. Ross says that he was just about to call the Pentagon again. Talbot apologizes for the delay, but says that he has spent the last two weeks reading all about Banner’s career. Talbot says that he thinks that Ross’ suspicions about Banner were well rounded. Talbot says that he reported his conclusions to the Pentagon, and that the Pentagon is pleased with Ross’ alertness. Ross compliments Talbot’s work, and says that he can see that they are going to get along fine. Betty walks into Ross’ office. Betty apologizes and says that she didn’t realize that he had company. Ross introduces Betty to Major Glen Talbot. Talbot says that he knows how busy Ross’ time is, and says that he wonders if Betty could show him around the base. Betty tries to say that she was about to visit Bruce, but Ross cuts her off and says that Betty would be happy to show him around. Ross says that he hopes Talbot can take Betty’s mind off that milksop.
Outside, Talbot tells Betty that he is particularly interested in seeing where Dr. Banner has his lab. Betty says that she was just heading there herself. Betty wonders if something is wrong. At Banner’s lab, Betty says that it is too bad, but that Bruce isn’t there. Talbot grimaces at the guard outside and mummers that he thought he told the officer to keep Banner under surveillance. The officer explains that Banner was already gone when he got there, but that he was seen heading towards the hills with a strange instrument. Talbot calls Betty “Miss Brant” and says that he would like to get an aerial view of the base. He asks her if she would join him on a helicopter ride. “Miss Brant” agrees, but thinks to herself that she knows he is just trying to spot Bruce from the air.
Bruce’s instrument is successfully tracing the robot suit. Talbot’s helicopter spots Banner and decides to land. The spy stands next to his missile and spots the helicopter. He figures that they are out trying to find him. Bruce spots the helicopter and notices that Betty is inside it. Bruce then spots the robot suit and sees that he is about to smash the helicopter with a large rock. Bruce freaks out and transforms into the Hulk. The robot throws the rock down at the helicopter. Talbot shields Betty with his own body, but while they are huddled on the ground the Hulk leaps by and smashes the big rock into pieces. A stray shard hits Talbot’s shoulder. Betty says that Talbot tried to save her by sacrificing his own body. Betty notices that Talbot’s shoulder is hurt. Talbot says that it is just a bruise, and asks if he can call her Betty.
While Betty is mooning over Talbot, Hulk
plows into the robot suit and the two of them start sliding down
the hill together. They slide all the way down and into a cave.
Hulk gets up first and starts pounding on the robot. The spy
inside says that he is completely safe inside and doesn’t
even feel the punches. Hulk hits the robot with a pillar of rock.
The robot
strikes back and nearly knocks Hulk into a bottomless pit. Hulk
is hanging onto the edge while the robot suit stands above him
with a big rock over its head. The spy asks if Hulk hears that
noise, and says that is a missile that he has aimed at the army
base. The missile launches and the spy says that nothing can stop
it now. The spy drops the rock at the Hulk. Hulk bounds from the
side he is holding onto to the other side, and then bounds back
towards the robot suit. Hulk leaps over the robot suit, and hits
him from behind. The robot suit topples over and falls into the
bottomless pit. Hulk climbs out of the hidden cave, and sees the
missile flying overhead. Hulk leaps into the air and punches the
missile. The missile explodes and Hulk catches the full force of
the explosion. Hulk loses consciousness and falls to the ground.
Talbot and Betty find the Hulk unconscious. Talbot says that it
must have been the Hulk that hurled the rock at them. Talbot
contacts Ross. Ross says that he will have a volunteer task force
there immediately.
Minutes later, Ross and the task force are on the scene. Ross shakes Talbot’s hand, and says that he is going to get a citation for this. Two soldiers go up to the Hulk with a chained that was manufactured by Tony Stark and designed by Bruce Banner. They say that the chains are supposed to be unbreakable. After the chains are put on a crane hoists Hulk up to his feet. Recon patrol reports that there has been no sign of Bruce Banner. Ross says to keep searching and that he has to be there somewhere. Betty wonders what happened to Bruce and why Talbot was sent there to investigate him. Talbot mentions to Ross that Betty was quite friendly with Bruce Banner. Talbot says that he thinks that Bruce Banner has some connection to the Hulk. He says that there must have been someone controlling him. Ross orders the tanks to keep trained on the Hulk and that if he tries to break free to fire. Hulk regains consciousness. He thinks to himself that he will get free, and that nobody can keep the Hulk prisoner. Hulk tries to break the chains, but the chains hold strong. Betty tells Glen that she is worried about what they are going to learn next.
No Excuses rating: 7 out of 10
Love those bottomless pits! The cracks are showing in Stan Lee’s armor. The bottomless pit aside Stan’s affection for alliteration shows here, as he can’t recall that Betty’s last name in Ross. Maybe Betty’s name should have been Rebecca. The introduction of a mainstay in Hulk’s life, Glen Talbot, and the foreshadowing of the coming of Hulk’s greatest foe keeps the writing at a 3. Ditko’s art is still doing the job. Hulk breaking the big rock apart, the fight, and the destruction of the missile all work very well. The look between Betty and Talbot after he shields her from the rock really helps communicate what is not really written in.