Tales to Astonish #62Tales to Astonish #62
Title: "Giant-Man versus the Wonderful Wasp”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Carlos Burgos
Inker: Dickie Ayers
Henry Pym discovers a way to speed up the growth of both plant and human life. Pym says that this will be excellent for the have-not countries since it will allow them to double their food supply. Pym sprays down a plant. He waits for it to show effects. Suddenly the plant starts growing out of control, and Pym realizes that he made it too effective. Before a minute passes the plant grows down the side of the skyscraper. He says that he has to stop this now since if it goes too much longer it will cover the entire city. Since he has no antidote prepared Pym shrinks down to Ant-Man size. He finds the exact portion of the plant that controls the growth and gives it a karate chop to sever it. He figures that should do the trick.
In a nearby building, Second Story Sammy is ripping off an apartment. He realizes that all the jewelry he is about to steal is costume jewelry. He hears someone opening the door and so he climbs out on the window ledge. Sammy accidentally falls off the ledge and lands on one of the giant leaves from the plant. Sammy slides down the leaf until he lands right on the ledge where Hank Pym has just grown back to normal size. Sammy sneaks into the lab and peers through a crack in the door. Hank Pym says that by succeeding too well he has actually failed. He says that unless he can control it the formula is useless. Pym makes a mistake and accidentally mixes too much of one of the ingredients. The formula explodes and Pym is tossed across the room, and his head bumps into a piece of an iron apparatus. Pym is knocked unconscious. Sammy walks towards him and says that he recognizes Giant-Man’s costume. He spots a card on the floor in front of him, and Sammy discovers that Giant-Man is really Henry Pym, biochemist. Sammy says that Giant-Man’s secret identity should be worth some money. Sammy realizes that he is thinking too small, and he takes Giant-Man’s costume. Sammy wonders how Pym manages to grow, and as soon as he thinks of it Pym’s cybernetic helmet receives the command and Sammy grows to giant size. Sammy says that he is growing too big. He thinks if only he could grow smaller. Sammy shrinks down to Ant-Man size. Sammy realizes that all he has to do is think about it. Sammy hears someone coming in the door, and decides that he better get out of there so he can plan his next move. Janet van Dyne opens the door and Sammy charges out. Janet yells at Hank, but Sammy doesn’t even stop.
Outside Sammy passes by a jewelry store. He figures that would be easy for Giant-Man to break into. Sammy shrinks down to ant size and finds a crack to get into the store from. Sammy grows too quickly and too much and sets off the burglar alarm. Sammy shrinks down and hides inside one of the jewelry display.
Outside the police surround the store. One
of Pym’s giant stalks from the plants suddenly begins to
grow again. Inside the police don’t find anyone. They figure
that the giant plant must have scared off the crook. Wasp flies
into the store and her cybernetic helmet detects Giant-Man’s
helmet. She spots Sammy and flies down to him. Wasp asks him what
he is doing there. She says that he hasn’t even commented on
her new helmet she designed. Sammy tells her to get lost, and
Wasp realizes that he isn’t Hank Pym. Sammy says that it is
too bad that she realized that. 
He leaps on her
and covers her mouth with his hand. Wasp decides that Hank must
be dead if this man has his costume because he would never give
it up while he was still alive. Wasp gives Sammy a judo move so
she can fly off to go check on Hank. Sammy lands on a
diamond’s edge. Wasp pushes over a display case and a bunch
of pin, clasps, and brooches pin Sammy down. Wasp demands some
answers, but Sammy says that she can’t fool him, and that
everyone knows that Avengers don’t kill.
Outside the plant continues to grow. A cop says that if it doesn’t stop soon that they are going to have to evacuate the city.
Inside Pym’s lab the phone rings and wakes up Pym who was shut up in a closet. Pym answers the phone, and the mayor’s emergency council is calling for all biochemist’s help to stop the plant. After he hangs up Hank looks out the window and says that he thought that he had stopped the plant. Suddenly Hank remembers that he was wearing his Giant-Man costume when he was knocked out. Hank uses his prototype cybernetic communicator to contact Wasp. Wasp is so relieved to hear that Hank is okay that she stops paying attention to Sammy. Sammy is also hearing what they are thinking through his helmet. Sammy traps Wasp inside a jewel case and runs off. Wasp thinks to herself that Sammy doesn’t know that Hank is sending an ant to grab up Sammy.
An ant grabs Sammy up and flies him high into the sky. Sammy thinks that he can’t grow any larger or the ant will drop him. The ant drops Sammy off right in front of Hank Pym. Sammy starts to grow to giant-size so he can pulp Hank, but Hank punches him right in the face as he reaches normal size. Hank puts his Giant-Man costume back on, and then turns his attention to the plant issue. He makes a call out to all the ants for them to find the main root of the plant. Seconds later the ants find the main root. Pym shrinks down to ant size and goes to the anthill where the root is located. After having all the surrounding ants evacuate, Hank quickly grows up to Giant-Man size and rips the root out of the ground.
The ants start removing all traces of the plants. Wasp finally escapes the case and heads back to Hank’s lab. Hank is there calling the press, but Wasp isn’t sure if he is really Hank or the imposter. She stings him in the head, and when Hank yells at her she knows that it is him. The press enters for the story of how he defeated the giant plant. They ask if this man is his new assistant. Hank lies and says that the man is a friend. After the press leaves, Hank explains to Wasp that he gave Sammy some memory loss serum that he had laying around. Hank says that Sammy doesn’t even remember being a crook and that he is going to go straight from now on.
Avengers Files rating: 7 out of 10
Eh, kind of a goofy story here. I like the Giant-Man vs. Wasp idea. The giant plant and the coincidental “memory loss formula” that Hank finds are pretty corny. I also can’t help but wonder why when they are trapped under jewelry or cases why they don’t just grow to a larger size and escape. Carlos Burgos does a real good job with this issue. Clear and good storytelling.
Title:
“Enter… the Chameleon!”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Steve Ditko
Inker: George Bell
Hulk is trapped in the restraints from last issue. Hulk says that sooner or later his strength is going to break him loose, but he wonders if he can do it before they learn his secret identity. Ross says that Hulk will never get free until he learns the truth about him.
In his secret lab, a man wearing a work suit
and helmet takes a moment off from his latest humanoid creation
to contact the Chameleon. He says, “Chameleon! This is the
Leader! The agent that I sent to General Ross’ missile base
has not reported back! I must know what has happened to him! You
will leave immediately! That is all!”
In his home, Chameleon says that sounds like a simple enough job for one of his talents.
When Rick Jones learns of Hulk’s capture he feels that he has to rush to his side. Captain America says that he understands that Rick must go to Hulk just as Bucky would have come to him. Rick says that Cap can’t forget his partner Bucky, but says that he has to hurry if he is going to catch his jet.
Aboard the jet, Rick Jones is coincidentally seated next to the Chameleon. Chameleon says that he thinks that the Hulk killed the Leader’s agent. He gets an idea. Rick thinks to himself that even though he is now Captain America’a partner and practically a member to the Avengers that he still can’t abandon the Hulk since it is his fault that Bruce Banner is the Hulk.
At the base, Talbot says that there is still no sign of Bruce Banner. He says that he is more convinced than ever that Banner is a security risk. Ross says that he is too, and if only they could prove it. Betty is more concerned with Bruce’s safety. Talbot says that they will learn the truth.
Hulk strains harder and harder against the chains. He forgets that the exertion is going to change him back into Bruce Banner. Hulk feels the change coming on.
Rick arrives at the base. Betty says that she is glad that Rick came and asks if he has come to look for Bruce as well. Rick responds, “Eh, yes Miss Brant! I heard he was missing, and thought I could help with the search.” Rick walks by the room where they are keeping the Hulk, but the sentry tells him that the room is off limits to unauthorized personnel. Rick sees that Hulk is about to change and decides that he has to provide a distraction. Rick starts to run, but Talbot yells at him that this is no place for him to be.
Chameleon stands outside Ross’ window and gets a look at him. Chameleon then gets changed into a Thunderbolt Ross disguise. He says that he is going to make an ally out of the Hulk. Chameleon disguised as Ross, walks right up to the Hulk. “Ross” says that if Hulk agrees to take orders from him that he will set him free. Hulk says that he takes orders from no one and that Ross is his enemy. Chameleon orders the other men to leave so that he can be alone with the prisoner. As Chameleon clears out the room, Hulk’s pulse reaches the critical level. Hulk changes back into Bruce Banner. Bruce slips right out of the chains that were set to hold the Hulk’s much larger frame. Chameleon returns after Bruce leaves with a flashlight and some powerful acid. Chameleon finds that the Hulk is gone, but that the chains are still intact. He wonders who freed the Hulk.
Bruce is running alone when Rick spots him and calls out to him. Rick hides Bruce inside a door and directs some soldiers down the hall. Rick enters the room to find Bruce changing into the clothes that Rick brought him. Bruce asks Rick why he came. Rick says that he can never forget that Bruce saved his life and became the Hulk because of him. Bruce says that Rick did the right thing when he left him. Bruce says that he never knows what can happen when he transforms into the Hulk. Rick says that he just felt like a deserter.
Inside his office, Ross is freaking out. He says that it must have been an imposter that ordered the men to leave the Hulk. Bruce enters and asks if he can help. Talbot says that they have been looking everywhere for him. Bruce says that he didn’t ask them to. Ross asks where Bruce has been. Bruce says that he was just doing some research in the hills, and that he got lost for a while. Talbot says that Bruce is a little too smooth. Talbot says that he is aware that Bruce is one of the top nuclear scientists, and that his services are vital to the defense effort, but that the Pentagon has sent him to investigate the disturbing rumors about him. Bruce says that he isn’t interested in rumors and leaves.
As he returns to his laboratory, Bruce is jumped by the Chameleon. Chameleon ties Bruce up. He says that he hasn’t been able to find out what he came there for, but that if he can steal some secrets from one of America’s greatest atomic scientists that it won’t be a total waste. Disguised as Banner, Chameleon finds the formula for a grenade-type gamma bomb and a working prototype model. Suddenly Betty enters and says that she couldn’t wait to see him when she heard that he was back safe. Bruce tells her that he is busy and that she should come back. Betty realizes that Chameleon isn’t Bruce, and that he must be the one that impersonated her father as well. Chameleon says that Betty is too smart for her own good. The real Bruce Banner overhears and knows that the Chameleon won’t leave Betty alive. Bruce hulks out and tears through the ropes. Hulk smashes through the wall. Chameleon tells Hulk to stay back or he will drop the gamma grenade bomb and kill them all. Betty says that they have to run, and that a mere bomb won’t stop him. The small part of Hulk that is still Banner remembers the power of the gamma bomb, and that he can’t allow the entire base to be destroyed. Hulk stands there thinking for a minute until he spots a patrol coming. Hulk says that they can’t chain him again. Hulk plows through the window. Hulk leaps over the guards hoping to lure them away from where the Chameleon is so that he won’t drop the gamma grenade bomb.
Talbot finds “Bruce Banner” with Betty thrown over his shoulder. Talbot tries to stop him, but Chameleon punches Talbot in the face. He says that with the girl as a hostage he will be able to get away and bring the gamma grenade to the Leader.
Outside, Chameleon finds a high-speed rocket sled and decides to hide Betty in it. Hulk leaps and lands right next to the crash wall for the rocket sled. Chameleon worries that the Hulk won’t be scared off this time. He loads Betty into the rocket sled and launches it so that he can get away. Hulk dives into the rocket sled and stops it from hitting the wall. Chameleon says that he had hoped the rocket would crush the Hulk, but at least it gave him a head start. Hulk leaps and lands near Chameleon. Chameleon threatens to use the gamma bomb again. While Hulk is trying to decide what to do the group of soldiers rushes up behind Hulk. Hulk forgets about Chameleon and rips up the entire concrete rocket track bed to throw at the soldiers. Chameleon freaks out after seeing Hulk do this. He says that he has to get away, and that even the gamma grenade doesn’t matter anymore. Chameleon throws the gamma grenade and runs. Hulk throws the concrete bed upward to create a vertical wall to block the soldiers. Hulk then throws himself on the grenade and absorbs the impact of the explosion saving the lives of everyone within miles. Chameleon is blown clear from the force of the explosion, which allows him to escape detection later. He thinks to himself that his mission was a complete failure. He knows nothing of the other agent, he lost the gamma bomb, and he is barely escaping alive. Hulk struggles to rise. His skin absorbs the gamma rays and causes him to change back into Bruce Banner. Bruce uses the covering smoke to run back to his lab. Talbot arrives and says that Banner was seen putting Betty into the rocket. A soldier explains that Betty can’t talk as she is still in a state of shock.
Later, Talbot says that due to “Miss Brant’s” testimony that the charges against Bruce Banner have been dropped. Ross says that he and Talbot aren’t sure if Betty isn’t just covering for Bruce. Bruce says that he has nothing to say, but asks why they hate the Hulk so much since he saved the post. Ross says that is just what the Hulk wanted them to think. Talbot says that Hulk just wanted to save himself. Betty wonders again what the connection between Hulk and Banner is.
Elsewhere, the Leader makes his next plan. He says that his first agent disappeared and that the Chameleon was not powerful enough to defeat the Hulk. Leader says that his humanoid creation is completed. Leader says that it is now time for the Leader to take over.
No Excuses rating: 7.5 out of 10
Besides the fact that Stan Lee keeps referring to Betty as “Miss Brant” from Spider-Man the writing is pretty cool. Leader is finally revealed as the mastermind behind the Hulk’s recent troubles. The story moves along fairly well and I like the action in the book. Ditko, when given enough space does some great work, but he doesn’t get much of that space in this book. 3.5 out of 5.