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Tales to Astonish #56: The Coming of the Magician! (1959)
Overview:
Tales to Astonish #56, published in June 1964, is a comic book issue written by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber, with artwork by Dick Ayers. This issue features Ant-Man and the Wasp facing off against a new adversary, the Magician, a criminal who uses his mastery of illusions and sleight of hand to commit his crimes.
Plot Summary:
The story introduces the Magician, a stage performer with incredible skill in magic and illusion. However, rather than using his talents for entertainment, he turns to a life of crime, using his tricks to deceive and rob his targets. The Magician’s ability to create convincing illusions and manipulate objects with ease makes him a difficult opponent for law enforcement to catch.
Ant-Man and the Wasp become involved when they hear about a series of daring heists where the victims claim to have been robbed by "magic." They quickly deduce that the culprit is using illusions to distract and confuse his targets, allowing him to steal valuable items without being detected.
Their first encounter with the Magician takes place during one of his performances, where he uses his skills to rob the audience while keeping them entertained. Ant-Man and the Wasp attempt to stop him, but the Magician’s illusions make it difficult for them to discern what is real and what is a trick. The heroes find themselves outmatched as they struggle to see through the deceptions.
Determined to capture the Magician, Ant-Man and the Wasp devise a plan to counter his illusions. Ant-Man creates a special device that can detect and disrupt the electromagnetic fields used by the Magician to create his illusions. Meanwhile, the Wasp uses her speed and agility to try to anticipate the Magician’s tricks, keeping him off balance.
In their final showdown, Ant-Man and the Wasp confront the Magician in his lair, where he has set up a series of traps and illusions to protect himself. The Magician confidently begins to perform his tricks, but Ant-Man activates his device, causing the illusions to falter and revealing the Magician’s true location. The Wasp then swoops in, using her agility to avoid the remaining traps and close in on the villain.
With his illusions exposed, the Magician is left with only his basic skills in sleight of hand, which are no match for the combined abilities of Ant-Man and the Wasp. The heroes manage to subdue him and turn him over to the authorities. The issue concludes with Ant-Man and the Wasp reflecting on the dangers of facing a villain who can blur the line between reality and illusion, and the importance of staying one step ahead of their foes.
Tales to Astonish #57: On the Trial of Spider-Man! (1959)
Overview:
Tales to Astonish #57, published in July 1964, is a comic book issue written by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber, with artwork by Dick Ayers. In this issue, Ant-Man and the Wasp face the return of the cunning villain Egghead, who devises a new plan to outsmart the heroes and finally achieve his revenge.
Plot Summary:
The story opens with Egghead, a brilliant yet malevolent scientist named Elihas Starr, who has once again escaped from custody. Embittered by his previous defeats at the hands of Ant-Man and the Wasp, Egghead is determined to exact revenge. He uses his vast intellect to create an intricate plan that he believes will finally allow him to defeat his enemies and prove his superiority.
Egghead's plan involves using his scientific knowledge to exploit Ant-Man’s reliance on his shrinking technology. He develops a device capable of interfering with Ant-Man’s Pym Particles, the substance that allows Ant-Man to change his size. With this device, Egghead hopes to render Ant-Man powerless and leave him vulnerable.
Ant-Man and the Wasp become aware of Egghead’s return when they intercept communications hinting at a new scheme. Realizing the threat Egghead poses, they begin investigating his activities, trying to anticipate his next move. However, Egghead’s genius allows him to stay several steps ahead of the heroes, laying traps that exploit their weaknesses.
In their first confrontation, Egghead uses his device to disrupt Ant-Man’s ability to shrink and grow. As a result, Ant-Man finds himself unable to control his size, oscillating between being too small and too large to fight effectively. The Wasp, meanwhile, is forced to fend off Egghead’s robotic minions, which he has programmed to target her specifically.
Despite the initial setback, Ant-Man and the Wasp regroup and devise a plan to counter Egghead’s device. Ant-Man builds a portable disruptor that can neutralize the effects of Egghead’s invention, allowing him to regain control of his size-changing abilities. The Wasp, using her sharp intellect, traces Egghead’s signal back to his hidden laboratory.
In the final battle, Ant-Man and the Wasp infiltrate Egghead’s lab, where they are met with a series of elaborate traps designed to exploit their powers. However, with Ant-Man’s disruptor in hand, they are able to neutralize the traps and confront Egghead directly. Despite his technological advantages, Egghead is ultimately outmaneuvered by the heroes, who work together to dismantle his equipment and apprehend him.
The issue concludes with Egghead being taken back into custody, his plans foiled once again. Ant-Man and the Wasp reflect on the importance of teamwork and strategy in overcoming even the most intelligent of foes, knowing that Egghead will likely return with another scheme in the future.
Editor's Note:
The next part Tales to Astonish (1959) #58-59 is scheduled to release on Tuesday, 10 September, 12:00 PM IST. If you have a favorite comic that you'd like us to explain in detail, feel free to leave a comment! You can also reach out to us on Instagram, Discord, or email us at comicexplainedofficial@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow our page for more comic explanations and updates!
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