In this issue, Giant-Man takes to the countryside for some experimentation when a plane careens toward him, seemingly out of control. Tumbling out of the way, he manages to save himself and the pilot but ends up unconscious. It is then revealed to the readers that the pilot is none other than the Human Top, who flees the scene, leaving Giant-Man incapacitated.

Back at his lab, Giant-Man confides in his partner, the Wasp, about his growing challenges: he can no longer shrink to Ant-Man size, his range of selectable sizes has become increasingly unstable, and he must now settle on a single alternate size. With Ant-Man no longer an option, he commits to 35 feet as his new standard form. This change also comes with a new limitation: size changes must now occur more slowly.

Meanwhile, the Human Top is undergoing his own transformation, redesigning his costume to enhance his abilities. The upgrade allows him to use his spinning powers for flight, making him a more formidable foe.

The Wasp, too, receives an upgrade. She replaces her bee mount (named Boopsie) with a wasp and gains a cybernetic helmet that enables her to communicate with wasp (including her new mount) in the same way Ant-Man once did ants.

The issue builds to its climax as the Human Top, disguised as a reporter, infiltrates Giant-Man’s lab. The villain takes the Wasp captive, setting the stage for the next installment.

Characters & Development

This issue packs in significant character development:

• Giant-Man: Unable to revert to his Ant-Man persona and being made to commit to a single alternate size (to avoid negative side effects of his powers) . His choice to remain 35 feet tall. the other change, requiring him to size change slowly, I am curious where that might be going. The constant flux in his abilities suggests a character perpetually in transition, which risks alienating readers. The reasons given for this from the last issue do not flow with how the prior issue resolved. This reinvention, like many before, feels more reactive than organic.
• The Wasp: Her new cybernetic helmet and wasp mount are intriguing additions. While her upgrades parallel Giant-Man’s losses, they feel more like compensations for his setbacks than innovations in her own right.
• The Human Top: His redesign enhances his powers, giving him the ability to fly. It’s a functional upgrade that positions him as a more credible threat.

In summary, the characters feel stuck in a cycle of reinvention. The developments here, while significant, lack cohesion, making it difficult to stay invested. “Too much, too late” is a fitting summation of their arcs in this issue.

Originality & Continuity

The story echoes earlier issues where Giant-Man reinvented himself, though this time with a more meaningful adversary than, say, a spider. Yet we get barely any adversary at all, instead the heart of the conflict is saved for the next installment. In short, Too much too late seems fitting here as well.
The other problem: is it Dr. Pym’s Lab or Giant-Mans? the story seems to confuse that to the point that I wonder how they can maintain a secret identity at all and it not be obvious to the world at large.

Story

It’s hard not to see the cracks in Giant-Man’s foundation as a character. Evolution and experimentation with powers can breathe new life into a hero, but constant instability undermines their appeal. Readers need consistency to stay invested, and this issue, while offering some interesting concepts, fails to provide a sense of direction. The result is a story that feels like a prelude rather than a compelling chapter in its own right.

Final Thoughts

While Tales to Astonish #68 offers significant character updates, it struggles to integrate them into a cohesive narrative. The Wasp’s enhancements are promising, but Giant-Man’s arc feels like yet another round of reinvention, leaving the reader uncertain about his future. Once again, this story falls into the pattern of too much, too late, leaving readers questioning where this series is headed.