Having read the Ant-Man feature in Tales To Astonish #37, I feel this story and the one from last issue would have been better served in reverse. it feels like it covers a bit of what felt like was missing between the two.

While I would not call this a classic story, it was a good read. It also serves as a great crime fighting Tale.  True to the title of the book, I feel the ending has an Astonishing twist. I would suggest reading this Ant-Man story as a classic crime fighting story.

Story

The background of the story is that the city’s jewelers have been being terrorized by a criminal going under the name ‘The Protector’.  He was charing the jewelers for protection from himself. for the hefty price they pay he would not use his disintegration ray against their merchandise. he also makes the all to scary threat of turning the ray on them if they sign a complaint with the cops.

Our hero, using his ant’s and brain, puts together the clues given to him. and finds a way to track down his query.  but the tale is not without its bumps for Ant-Man along the way.  Though the story he uses both his Ant-Man and full size self to succeed.

While I did not solve the mystery as I read, I do believe enough clues are given to get there, I did figure out an important part before the ending. this all adds to the crime fighting and solving mystery format that I feel this was written in.

Art

I feel the art of this story did not live up to what I have seen in the last couple issues.  the detail seems to be down, and the strength of the effect’s as well. I ranked the art highly for both Tales To Astonish #35 and #36,  but this issue, just did not move me visually the same way.

Originality & Continuity

I think this story has a creative take on a barely classic crime story. Sans-Ants I could almost see this tale being told as a Sherlock Homes story.  Ant-man just had a little help and a bit more heroic action in solving the crime.

It also reinforces how well he can communicate and even control the ant’s. As well as an understanding he is developing with the local law enforcement.

Characters & Development

this is mostly another world building story for Ant-Man.  In this issue we also see more of how his crime fighting mind works.  I get the impression, being a super hero has gone to his head a little in reading this.  While this issue does not have strong development over the last, It has strong reinforcement of what we have already begun to see in the Dr. Pym / Ant-Man character.