For today’s comic book review I read the story in Tales To Astonish #49 titled “The Birth of Giant-Man”  and this story offers perhaps the greatest development and change for our ongoing Ant-man and the wasp stories so far, giving Dr. Hank Pym the choice to be ant-man or to double his size to 12 feet and become Giant-man.

But the story offers us more than just the new development by the brilliant scientist; Although I am happy to say that the development is given significant page space instead of just being seen in action.   You see, while Dr. Pym is working on this, a new menace known as the Eraser has shown up on the scene, and is on some kind of mission of erasing key scientist.   What seems like it might be some kind of communist plot, expect for the fact that the Eraser is clearly not human.  But what can  his goal be? 

Story

As far as stories go, I think it is well written, and every detail explained.  From the new developments of Dr. Pym, to the  limits on his growth.  To the goal’s of the Eraser.  Everything is well laid out in the pages of the story. The great level of detail is likely due to the realization that such an epic event and change justified giving it a full 18 pages.

Artwork

An issue of Scale

This is perhaps quite subjective,  given that all I had to compare him against is the inhabitants of Dimension “Z”, but I can not help but feel that there are issues of scale with the Twelve foot tall Giant-Man when compared to  the other’s whom when he was his normal six-foot Dr. Pym self, they where not much smaller.

Scale Aside

now that I talked about the one problem that stood, out. the rest of the artwork in the issue is Fantastic, and in many places shows the great depth the Jack Kirby’s work.

For example this panel of the Eraser hiding from the police in the panel to the right I feel is a fine example of Kirby’s pencils as well as Don Heck’s inking.

But then that is far from the only detailed panel in the issue, in fact most sport a great deal of detail, including the ones in Dimension “Z” where Jack Kirby again shows us his great world building skills while giving us the action that we seek.

It is because of all this detail throughout the issue, that I can look at the issue of scale above, and still review the artwork as being quite well done.

Originality & Continuity

Tales to Astonish #41 comes to mind right away,  less than a year before in publication and the stories are strikingly familiar,  Alien races from another dimension seem to have a strange need for human scientist.

There is also little reason offered for why Dr. Pym, decides its time to add giant size to his repertoire of powers, if there was some kind of lead in, or hint in last issue that being bigger would have been good, it would have been a great addition to continuity.

Characters & Development

Dr. Hank Pym, and his role as a super hero undergoes the biggest development in this issue. But it is not exactly clear how this and the different size option’s will affect the wasp’s character. I was well worth the read for the development and changes, both in creating Giant-Man and in having size change pills instead of the vapors.