Today my comic book review is of  The Astonishing Ant-Man!,Prisoner of the Slave World From Tales To Astonish #41. Starting this review, I do find myself at a loss for word, It had alien’s, it had scientific kidnapping,  it had Time and dimensional travel.  but did it have the heart and soul of a good story?

When it comes to the reading  of it, I can’t help but feel I read this same story before, with Thor in Journey Into Mystery #87 only aliens instead of communist. but did this one have enough differences to stand out? was it a good read? Or does this Ant-man Tale just not measure up to my expectation’s of our hero.

Story

Synopsis

This story starts with great scientific minds disappearing out of thin air. With no one knowing what happened to them or where they went. Dr. Pym suspects that he too may be subject to this event, and for the sake of our story, he suspects correctly.

He is kidnapped and taken to “another dimension of space and time” to be added to the scientist whom the alien is using to make a death ray.  What will our hero do on this alien planet? where there are no ant’s as we know them on earth?

Story review

This story of Ant-Man just did not appeal to me. the whole thing went beyond my ability to accept.  for one thing, What is an alien whom has a device that can bring scientific to another dimension of time and space need our men to build a death ray for?  The whole story does not flow for me. Also the alien Ant’s, it just worked to quickly for ant-man to adjust his devices. I did not like it.

Art

Artistically, this comic book reviews much more favorably then the story. I think Don Heck did a great job drawing Ant-Man.   the inking and coloring was also done well, the use of shadows helped proved an extra dimension to the work. While I do stand that it is more favorably then the story, I do not feel this was much beyond what I would expect for the title and era.

The whole story, seems to have a dark and gloomy feel to it, it adds the strong element of suspense and amazement that the story needed. 

Originality & Continuity

I feel this peace did nothing for originality, it seemed like a clear-cut copy of Journey Into Mystery #87.  the hero and antagonist are different. but it reads and feels the same. I would love for you to compare the two and tell me what you think.   but it just comes down to Photographer Vs. Window Washer, Communist Vs. Aliens. Ant-Man Vs. Thor.

I know inspiration often comes from past works.  but this one was less than 3 months old with Stan Lee doing both plots and Larry Lieber dong both scripts.

Characters & Development

This story is a non development. it does little to develop upon Dr. Hank Pym’s Ant-Man, or anything against it.  there is always room for development, but in these short stories it sure seems to take its time to seep in.