Post by dlw66 on Mar 17, 2007 20:01:34 GMT -5
A short while ago I posted my contribution to the #45 Super-Adaptoid thread. Right after I went back to the DVD-ROM and read #46.
I don't want to compare the two issues, because the dynamics of the two stories are completely different, but since I've always been a Hank Pym fan, and since I did read both of them today only a couple of hours apart, I have to say I lean strongly toward #46.
Interestingly, both of these issues mentioned contained one-and-done stories. In fact, at the end of #45 Stan or Roy makes the comment that the story is different from Marvel's usual multi-parters. I recall a few years ago, while reading Amazing Spider-Man in the Essentials version that there was some conversation about fans liking/not liking these two story format choices. It seems that in 1967 Marvel was experimenting with each, trying perhaps to strike a balance.
Anyway, the book centers around some leisure time for the team, and of course all that can go wrong on a day like that
! Hawk, 'tasha, Herc, and Wanda go for a walk and Cap and Pietro head off to a ballgame. Hank and Jan stay behind in the lab because Hank is working on a new cybernetic helmet so he can better control red ants. And then the Whirlwind strikes!! This story should be read back-to-back with #139 because they just really dovetail -- check it out sometime if you don't believe me!
Whirlwind dumbs across a ray in the lab that will override the Pyms' growth powers and shrinks them to ant size. Like any careless baddie would do, he doesn't do them in himself; he drops them in the aquarium that holds the ant farm and decides the insects can do the work for him. While the Pyms recover their wits, Whirly plants a bomb.
Without giving it all away, here are some notable facts about the issue:
Good story. Let me tell you, Roy does such a good job writing this team -- anyone who picked this story up cold (no prior Avengers knowledge necessary) would "get" each character's personality. And that is with some of them having only 1-2 lines in the whole book!!! Too bad some writers today can't figure that out
.
I don't want to compare the two issues, because the dynamics of the two stories are completely different, but since I've always been a Hank Pym fan, and since I did read both of them today only a couple of hours apart, I have to say I lean strongly toward #46.
Interestingly, both of these issues mentioned contained one-and-done stories. In fact, at the end of #45 Stan or Roy makes the comment that the story is different from Marvel's usual multi-parters. I recall a few years ago, while reading Amazing Spider-Man in the Essentials version that there was some conversation about fans liking/not liking these two story format choices. It seems that in 1967 Marvel was experimenting with each, trying perhaps to strike a balance.
Anyway, the book centers around some leisure time for the team, and of course all that can go wrong on a day like that
! Hawk, 'tasha, Herc, and Wanda go for a walk and Cap and Pietro head off to a ballgame. Hank and Jan stay behind in the lab because Hank is working on a new cybernetic helmet so he can better control red ants. And then the Whirlwind strikes!! This story should be read back-to-back with #139 because they just really dovetail -- check it out sometime if you don't believe me!Whirlwind dumbs across a ray in the lab that will override the Pyms' growth powers and shrinks them to ant size. Like any careless baddie would do, he doesn't do them in himself; he drops them in the aquarium that holds the ant farm and decides the insects can do the work for him. While the Pyms recover their wits, Whirly plants a bomb.
Without giving it all away, here are some notable facts about the issue:
- Whilrlwind was Giant-Man's one-time foe, the Human Top.
- It's mentioned again that the Wasp is newly-rich. In fact, Whirlwind is actually her chauffeur in his secret ID.
- Quicksilver again uses his "flight" powers, this time to such a degree that he is up among the NYC skyscrapers!
- Cap discusses leaving the cowl. I found this interesting as earlier this week I'd finished reading the "Secret Empire" tpb where he actually does this and later becomes Nomad. That story, however, is around five years after this one.
- At the end of the story, Hank declares that he will be both Goliath and Ant-Man from then on.
- Hercules shaves off his beard.
- Pietro again makes some bigoted comments toward homo sapiens.
Good story. Let me tell you, Roy does such a good job writing this team -- anyone who picked this story up cold (no prior Avengers knowledge necessary) would "get" each character's personality. And that is with some of them having only 1-2 lines in the whole book!!! Too bad some writers today can't figure that out
.
