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Tales to Astonish
Ant-Man #27
Originally printed as Tales to Astonish #27.
The origin of Ant-Man! Scientist Hank Pym has been the subject of ridicule by all his peers, but he will endure the insults no longer! Today is his day, today his Pym Particles will work!
The origin of Ant-Man! Scientist Hank Pym has been the subject of ridicule by all his peers, but he will endure the insults no longer! Today is his day, today his Pym Particles will work!
8 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 1962
4 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,563 books2,343 followersStan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 11, 2019
Silver Age Super-Key - came out the same month as FF #2 (1/62) - transitional book that still was 'grounded' in science fiction. First appearance of Henry Pym (Ant-Man).
April 1, 2024
Timed my reread so I read it as I turned 20, because what better way to celebrate than by revisiting the first appearance of one of my favorite characters of all time? This man's existence has irreparably damaged my brain and I for one could not be happier about it. Insert the "if X has no fans left I'm dead" copypasta here.
July 11, 2017
A good introduction to the character of Hank Pym, although this story felt more like it was just a one off, something that they weren't going to continue with. I'm glad they did though because this story was a really good starting off point!
November 7, 2025
In this issue, the main story serves to introduce the character of Henry Pym. I have to admit, I was hoping for something a bit more heroic and less cliché than the usual “I didn’t think about how to turn back to normal” trope—especially from someone as brilliant as Pym. Still, the whole adventure with the ants is undeniably fun and adventurous. The fact that he keeps his discovery a secret seems to foreshadow that we’ll see him reuse the formula later under a different name. I’m curious to see how that comes about.
The rest of the stories are both entertaining and amusing. The one about the mirror had a great premise and started off really well, but I found the ending disappointing and even a bit ridiculous. “The Talking Horse” was very funny and satisfying, while the last story felt quite short and almost forgettable.
The rest of the stories are both entertaining and amusing. The one about the mirror had a great premise and started off really well, but I found the ending disappointing and even a bit ridiculous. “The Talking Horse” was very funny and satisfying, while the last story felt quite short and almost forgettable.
August 1, 2024
The Man in the Ant Hill!
Just after Reed Richards shrunk an entire planets population, some schlub named Henry Pym creates a shrinking serum of his own! He plans to use it to help humanity, making things easier and cheaper to ship around. Henry has tested his formula on a chair successfully, so naturally his next step is human trials on himself. He's shrunken down and realises he's left the regrowth serum too high and panics, then he's chased by ants, so he decides the safest spot to hide is inside the ant hill? He's kind of right as he finds the only kind, friendly ant who actually helps him out and get to his regrowth serum. Pym destroys his experiment, but is soft on ants now because of the one that saved him. This was kinda fun, I'm excited for man Ant-Man, these stories might be fun in a weird way.
I might read this issue of Tales to Astonish eventually, but my lunch break is almost done and I feel like I'd need to read it in order with the classic Journey into Mystery and Strange Tales books.
Just after Reed Richards shrunk an entire planets population, some schlub named Henry Pym creates a shrinking serum of his own! He plans to use it to help humanity, making things easier and cheaper to ship around. Henry has tested his formula on a chair successfully, so naturally his next step is human trials on himself. He's shrunken down and realises he's left the regrowth serum too high and panics, then he's chased by ants, so he decides the safest spot to hide is inside the ant hill? He's kind of right as he finds the only kind, friendly ant who actually helps him out and get to his regrowth serum. Pym destroys his experiment, but is soft on ants now because of the one that saved him. This was kinda fun, I'm excited for man Ant-Man, these stories might be fun in a weird way.
I might read this issue of Tales to Astonish eventually, but my lunch break is almost done and I feel like I'd need to read it in order with the classic Journey into Mystery and Strange Tales books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2020
Henry Pym has created serums to reduce and enlarge anything. But when he tries the shrinking serum on himself, he ends up in an unexpected situation!
The first appearance of Henry Pym, who will someday become Ant-Man, is kind of lack-luster. It’s the lead story in this anthology comic and really amounts to little more than the typical science experiment gone wrong story. Pym is arrogant and almost comes across as a typical “mad scientist” early on in the story and could easily have taken a turn toward villain status. But his accident mellows him and he actually destroys many of his serums at the end of the story.
This story is little more than a curiosity now - a glimpse into the early days of the Marvel Universe. I’m interested to see how Pym will change in his next appearance and what is the impetus to become Ant-Man.
The first appearance of Henry Pym, who will someday become Ant-Man, is kind of lack-luster. It’s the lead story in this anthology comic and really amounts to little more than the typical science experiment gone wrong story. Pym is arrogant and almost comes across as a typical “mad scientist” early on in the story and could easily have taken a turn toward villain status. But his accident mellows him and he actually destroys many of his serums at the end of the story.
This story is little more than a curiosity now - a glimpse into the early days of the Marvel Universe. I’m interested to see how Pym will change in his next appearance and what is the impetus to become Ant-Man.
January 7, 2022
This little book is filled with a few short stories:
1) we are introduced to Hank Pym and his first adventure with ants
2)a story about a magic mirror that gives off strong Snow White vibes
3) a story about a talking horse and to be careful about what you say
4) a story about how things are not always what the seem
5) there is also a narrative (no pictures) about a boy who blows a big bubble.
1) we are introduced to Hank Pym and his first adventure with ants
2)a story about a magic mirror that gives off strong Snow White vibes
3) a story about a talking horse and to be careful about what you say
4) a story about how things are not always what the seem
5) there is also a narrative (no pictures) about a boy who blows a big bubble.
August 19, 2020
Very clearly a test of this character to see what the interest would be, admittedly I'm mostly indifferent to Pym with the occasional hatred. This brings a solid suspense and horror nature to it and does leave the reader to wanting more.
May 26, 2024
Collection of short stories.
It has the origin of Henry Pym who would go ahead to become Ant-Man.
The other stories are decent but nothing to write home about.
Read it just for the Marvel Universe tie in.
It has the origin of Henry Pym who would go ahead to become Ant-Man.
The other stories are decent but nothing to write home about.
Read it just for the Marvel Universe tie in.
May 13, 2025
Stan Lee calssic debut of Hank Pym the original Ant-Man. This first adventure leans more into the horror element of being a tiny person chased by ants. In an anthology series Tales to Astonish has other entertinaming stories about magic and humor.
October 2, 2020
The man in the ant hill was cool. The talking horse was interesting. The others seem bad and.
January 27, 2021
It’s fine. Good to see a really well-meaning ant though...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2021
Great read!
Love the old school comics in my kindle fire HD!! Stan Lee was a national treasure! May he rest in peace
Love the old school comics in my kindle fire HD!! Stan Lee was a national treasure! May he rest in peace
October 7, 2021
I enjoyed seeing the origins of Ant-Man, but I definitely had less interest in the other stories in this issue.
February 15, 2022
A mixed bag of stories, but the first appearance of Hank Pym was great.
April 15, 2022
Weá tierna HVJJKJJG
May 18, 2023
Primera aparición de Henry Pym y las particulas pym. Esta historia parece ser autoconclusiva y que no se tenía planeado darle el desarrollo como Ant-man que se daría más tarde.
February 13, 2025
ain't reading allat. And DID HE JUST POUR IT IN THE SINK? Dumbass
January 7, 2026
Shrinking yourself before making sure the potion you need to restore your size is off the windowsill is so stupid. It's definitely something Dr. Frankenstein would do (derogatory).
February 1, 2021
I actually really love that this is where Ant Man started. I thought the story was very clever and although it feels like just a one off story, I love that they decided to really explore this character.
August 25, 2020
This was fairly interesting as well, it has some decent horror elements in it. The cover of the ants dragging him into the Ant hole is way scarier to me personally.
September 19, 2016
Well, in a tipsy demeanor, I pulled the trigger on the Marvel Unlimited subscription I had been pondering. I've done research on this and knew there was plenty for me to read. I opted for this as my very first read. This issue, which includes five distinct stories, includes the very first Ant Man.
I saw ant Man in the theater a year or so ago with my family. I did not read Marvel nor comic books growing up so I was unfamiliar with the story. I decided then that I would like to read this from the get-go. This is the get-go.
It's a nice story, but one that appears to not be decided to extend beyond this one off. Dr. Pym created the syrum to shrink himself. He was worried as he left the antidote on the window sill, which was out of reach. After a scary encounter with ants, a friendly ant helped him back home. It is there that Pym destroyed the syrum and decalred his experiment a failure.
The other stories in the issue were unremarkable other than as a reminder as to how simple life once was. Written in the early 1960s, all was wholesome. One story was a powerful warrior, who could find no life on the planet to fight. He perished only as the rock declared victory as disguised life forms.
One story was about a man who purchases a mirror for his wife who becomes obsessed with it until it shatters. Meh!
There was a talking horse betting story. that was pretty bad.
Another story was written out about Mr. Bigger and a boy who destroyed, at his mother's behest, the ability to create bubbles that would encapsulate others. That was pure text, no comics at all.
I saw ant Man in the theater a year or so ago with my family. I did not read Marvel nor comic books growing up so I was unfamiliar with the story. I decided then that I would like to read this from the get-go. This is the get-go.
It's a nice story, but one that appears to not be decided to extend beyond this one off. Dr. Pym created the syrum to shrink himself. He was worried as he left the antidote on the window sill, which was out of reach. After a scary encounter with ants, a friendly ant helped him back home. It is there that Pym destroyed the syrum and decalred his experiment a failure.
The other stories in the issue were unremarkable other than as a reminder as to how simple life once was. Written in the early 1960s, all was wholesome. One story was a powerful warrior, who could find no life on the planet to fight. He perished only as the rock declared victory as disguised life forms.
One story was about a man who purchases a mirror for his wife who becomes obsessed with it until it shatters. Meh!
There was a talking horse betting story. that was pretty bad.
Another story was written out about Mr. Bigger and a boy who destroyed, at his mother's behest, the ability to create bubbles that would encapsulate others. That was pure text, no comics at all.
August 9, 2019
TALES TO ASTONISH 27, 35-52 (Ant-Man's First Arc)
As is constant with this magazine, Stan Lee's story is great. This other stuff is cookie cutter nonsense.
THE MAN IN THE ANT HILL is a great work of suspense, and introduces a defining theme of the Ant-Man character that smallness does not mean weakness. This is a radical and unique notion compared to the larger canon of comic book heroes, which already existed at this point, that the largest and strongest was the most powerful. Here, when forced to live in the world as an Ant experiences it, Hank Pym can no longer see these insects as insignificant specks he is superior to. He sees them on their level, and when they help him and protect him he finds a newfound respect for things that are smaller than him. It's quite a compassionate message for the Cold War, where everyone was racing to dominate someone else under either capitalism or communism. It's a metaphor he actually seems to directly reference in the story's conclusion, with Ant-Man citing it as why he won't share his formula with the rest of the world. They don't think with the equal respect he comes to possess in this story.
As is constant with this magazine, Stan Lee's story is great. This other stuff is cookie cutter nonsense.
THE MAN IN THE ANT HILL is a great work of suspense, and introduces a defining theme of the Ant-Man character that smallness does not mean weakness. This is a radical and unique notion compared to the larger canon of comic book heroes, which already existed at this point, that the largest and strongest was the most powerful. Here, when forced to live in the world as an Ant experiences it, Hank Pym can no longer see these insects as insignificant specks he is superior to. He sees them on their level, and when they help him and protect him he finds a newfound respect for things that are smaller than him. It's quite a compassionate message for the Cold War, where everyone was racing to dominate someone else under either capitalism or communism. It's a metaphor he actually seems to directly reference in the story's conclusion, with Ant-Man citing it as why he won't share his formula with the rest of the world. They don't think with the equal respect he comes to possess in this story.
December 20, 2016
I don't know if this is just because it's quite dated, but this was so silly. Hank is an idiot, but then he magically manages to ignite a convenient match in an ant-hill, then from nowhere he has a rope lasso... I know comics are fantasy, but come on... it has to make some kind of sense, doesn't it?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2015
Henry Pym and Ant-man's first appearance.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews