Astonishing Tales
Encyclopedia
Astonishing Tales is an American anthology comic book
series published by Marvel Comics
originally from 1970-1976. Its sister publication was Amazing Adventures
vol. 2
In 2008 and 2009, Marvel produced 11 webcomics starring different characters under the umbrella title Astonishing Tales. Several stories were reprinted in the six-issue miniseries
Astonishing Tales vol. 2 (April-Sept. 2009).
and the supervillain
and principality
-sovereign Doctor Doom
in 10-page stories each. The latter feature was dropped after issue #8 (Oct. 1971).
The creative team of "Doctor Doom" was initially composed of writer Roy Thomas
and penciler-inker
Wally Wood
, a veteran of classic 1950s EC Comics
stories and one of the early, signature artists of Daredevil
. Wood remained as artist through issue #4 (Feb. 1971), succeeded by penciler George Tuska
for two issues and Gene Colan
for the final two. Larry Lieber
was writer for #3-6, succeeded by Gerry Conway
.
"Ka-Zar" was initially by the legendary team of writer
and Marvel editor-in-chief Stan Lee
and penciler and co-plotter Jack Kirby
, the duo who had introduced the jungle lord years before as a one-issue supporting character in The X-Men. Ka-Zar had since guest starred in Daredevil and in other series before gaining his first solo feature here. After that initial story, Roy Thomas scripted the second installment, with the team of writer Gerry Conway
and penciler Barry Windsor-Smith
taking over for issues #3-6. Thomas and signature Hulk
artist Herb Trimpe
teamed for the next two issues, with Thomas abetted by Mike Friedrich
on the latter. Astonishing Tales then starred Ka-Zar solely in stories ranging from 16 to 21 pages each.
A variety of creative teams followed, with Lee, Thomas, Conway and Len Wein
individually writing or collaborating on stories before Mike Friedrich
became regular writer with issue #14 (Dec. 1972). Pencilers included Dan Adkins
, Rich Buckler
, Gil Kane
, and John Buscema
, plus a Buscema-Neal Adams
collaboration one issue. The feature ended with #20 (Oct. 1973).
Issue #14 featured a censored color reprint of the black-and-white Ka-Zar tale in the comics magazine Savage Tales
#1 (May 1971). Issues #12 and #13 introduced Man-Thing
to color comics, as a Ka-Zar antagonist.
Two issues contained backup-feature reprints of 1950s jungle stories from Marvel predecessor Atlas Comics
: Two stories from Lorna the Jungle Girl #14 (July 1955) in Astonishing Tales #9, and a Jann of the Jungle
story from Jungle Tales #2 (Nov. 1954), in Astonishing Tales #14.
Astonishing Tales #21-24 (Dec. 1973 - June 1974) featured "It! The Living Colossus
", starring a stone giant introduced in an anthological science fiction
-monster story in Tales of Suspense
#14 (Feb. 1961), with a sequel in issue #20 (Aug. 1961). Tony Isabella
and Dick Ayers
comprised the modern feature's writer-artist team.
The final feature in Astonishing Tales starred and introduced Deathlok
, a conflicted cyborg
who predated the popular movie character RoboCop
by several years and has become one of the most enduring Marvel characters among those introduced in the 1970s; at least two major iterations of the character, featuring different individuals, starred in series in the 1990s and 2000s. Created by artist Rich Buckler, who devised the initial concept, and writer Doug Moench
, the feature ran from #25-28 & 30-36 (Aug. 1974 - Feb. 1975 & June 1975 - July 1976), the final issue. Bill Mantlo
scripted issues #32-35, with Buckler himself scripting the finale.
The last two issues were released in both a 25-cent and a 30-cent edition.
Issue #29 (April 1975) was a fill-in that reprinted an edited version of the first Guardians of the Galaxy
story, from Marvel Super Heroes #18 (Jan. 1969).
Several stories from those series were reprinted in the six-issue limited series
Astonishing Tales vol. 2 (April-Sept. 2009).
:
Comics anthology
Comics anthologies collect works in the medium of comics that are too short for standalone publication.- U.S. :- UK :British comics have a long tradition publishing comics anthologies, often weekly...
series published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
originally from 1970-1976. Its sister publication was Amazing Adventures
Amazing Adventures
Amazing Adventures is the name of several anthology comic book series, all but one published by Marvel Comics.The earliest Marvel series of that name introduced the company's first superhero of the late-1950s to early-1960s period fans and historians call the Silver Age of Comic Books...
vol. 2
In 2008 and 2009, Marvel produced 11 webcomics starring different characters under the umbrella title Astonishing Tales. Several stories were reprinted in the six-issue miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
Astonishing Tales vol. 2 (April-Sept. 2009).
Ka-Zar and Doctor Doom
Astonishing Tales began as a split title with solo features starring the jungle lord Ka-ZarKa-Zar
Ka-Zar is the name of two jungle-dwelling comics fictional characters published in the United States. The first appeared in pulp magazines of the 1930s, and was adapted for his second iteration, as a comic book character for Timely Comics, the 1930s and 1940s predecessor of Marvel Comics...
and the supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
and principality
Principality
A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or by a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince....
-sovereign Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom
Victor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
in 10-page stories each. The latter feature was dropped after issue #8 (Oct. 1971).
The creative team of "Doctor Doom" was initially composed of writer Roy Thomas
Roy Thomas
Roy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
and penciler-inker
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
Wally Wood
Wally Wood
Wallace Allan Wood was an American comic book writer, artist and independent publisher, best known for his work in EC Comics and Mad. He was one of Mads founding cartoonists in 1952. Although much of his early professional artwork is signed Wallace Wood, he became known as Wally Wood, a name he...
, a veteran of classic 1950s EC Comics
EC Comics
Entertaining Comics, more commonly known as EC Comics, was an American publisher of comic books specializing in horror fiction, crime fiction, satire, military fiction and science fiction from the 1940s through the mid-1950s, notably the Tales from the Crypt series...
stories and one of the early, signature artists of Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
. Wood remained as artist through issue #4 (Feb. 1971), succeeded by penciler George Tuska
George Tuska
George Tuska , who early in his career used a variety of pen names including Carl Larson, was an American comic book and newspaper comic strip artist best known for his 1940s work on various Captain Marvel titles and the crime fiction series Crime Does Not Pay, for and his 1960s work illustrating...
for two issues and Gene Colan
Gene Colan
Eugene Jules "Gene" Colan was an American comic book artist best known for his work for Marvel Comics, where his signature titles include the superhero series, Daredevil, the cult-hit satiric series Howard the Duck, and The Tomb of Dracula, considered one of comics' classic horror series...
for the final two. Larry Lieber
Larry Lieber
Lawrence D. "Larry" Lieber is an American comic book artist and writer, and the younger brother of Marvel Comics' writer, editor and publisher Stan Lee....
was writer for #3-6, succeeded by Gerry Conway
Gerry Conway
Gerard F. "Gerry" Conway is an American writer of comic books and television shows. He is known for co-creating the Marvel Comics vigilante The Punisher and scripting the death of the character Gwen Stacy during his long run on The Amazing Spider-Man...
.
"Ka-Zar" was initially by the legendary team of writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and Marvel editor-in-chief Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
and penciler and co-plotter Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
, the duo who had introduced the jungle lord years before as a one-issue supporting character in The X-Men. Ka-Zar had since guest starred in Daredevil and in other series before gaining his first solo feature here. After that initial story, Roy Thomas scripted the second installment, with the team of writer Gerry Conway
Gerry Conway
Gerard F. "Gerry" Conway is an American writer of comic books and television shows. He is known for co-creating the Marvel Comics vigilante The Punisher and scripting the death of the character Gwen Stacy during his long run on The Amazing Spider-Man...
and penciler Barry Windsor-Smith
Barry Windsor-Smith
Barry Windsor-Smith, born Barry Smith is a British comic book illustrator and painter whose best known work has been produced in the United States....
taking over for issues #3-6. Thomas and signature Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
artist Herb Trimpe
Herb Trimpe
Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe (b. May 26, 1939, is an American comic book artist and occasional writer, best known for his work on The Incredible Hulk and as the first artist to draw for publication the character Wolverine, who later became a breakout...
teamed for the next two issues, with Thomas abetted by Mike Friedrich
Mike Friedrich
Mike Friedrich is an American comic book writer and publisher best known for his work at Marvel and DC Comics, and for publishing the anthology series Star*Reach, one of the first independent comics...
on the latter. Astonishing Tales then starred Ka-Zar solely in stories ranging from 16 to 21 pages each.
A variety of creative teams followed, with Lee, Thomas, Conway and Len Wein
Len Wein
Len Wein is an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men...
individually writing or collaborating on stories before Mike Friedrich
Mike Friedrich
Mike Friedrich is an American comic book writer and publisher best known for his work at Marvel and DC Comics, and for publishing the anthology series Star*Reach, one of the first independent comics...
became regular writer with issue #14 (Dec. 1972). Pencilers included Dan Adkins
Dan Adkins
Dan Adkins is an American illustrator who worked mainly for comic books and science-fiction magazines.-Early life and career:...
, Rich Buckler
Rich Buckler
Rich Buckler is an American comic book artist and penciller, best known for his work on Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four in the mid-1970s and, with writer Doug Moench, co-creating the character Deathlok in Astonishing Tales #25...
, Gil Kane
Gil Kane
Eli Katz who worked under the name Gil Kane and in one instance Scott Edward, was a comic book artist whose career spanned the 1940s to 1990s and every major comics company and character.Kane co-created the modern-day versions of the superheroes Green Lantern and the Atom for DC Comics, and...
, and John Buscema
John Buscema
John Buscema, born Giovanni Natale Buscema , was an American comic-book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics during its 1960s and 1970s ascendancy into an industry leader and its subsequent expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate...
, plus a Buscema-Neal Adams
Neal Adams
Neal Adams is an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who...
collaboration one issue. The feature ended with #20 (Oct. 1973).
Issue #14 featured a censored color reprint of the black-and-white Ka-Zar tale in the comics magazine Savage Tales
Savage Tales
Savage Tales is the title of three American comics series. Two were black-and-white comics-magazine anthologies published by Marvel Comics , and the other a color comic book anthology published by Dynamite Entertainment.-Marvel/Curtis:The first of the two volumes of Savage Tales ran 11 issues, with...
#1 (May 1971). Issues #12 and #13 introduced Man-Thing
Man-Thing
The Man-Thing is a fictional character, a monster in publications from Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in Savage Tales #1 , and went on to be featured in various titles and in his own series, including...
to color comics, as a Ka-Zar antagonist.
Two issues contained backup-feature reprints of 1950s jungle stories from Marvel predecessor Atlas Comics
Atlas Comics (1950s)
Atlas Comics is the term used to describe the 1950s comic book publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. Magazine and paperback novel publisher Martin Goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitude of corporate entities, used Atlas as the umbrella name for his comic...
: Two stories from Lorna the Jungle Girl #14 (July 1955) in Astonishing Tales #9, and a Jann of the Jungle
Jann of the Jungle
Jann of the Jungle is a fictional comic book jungle girl protagonist created by writer Don Rico and artist Jay Scott Pike in the anthology title Jungle Tales #1 , published by Marvel Comics' 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics....
story from Jungle Tales #2 (Nov. 1954), in Astonishing Tales #14.
It! and Deathlok
It the Living Colossus
It! The Living Colossus is a fictional character in comic-book published by Marvel Comics. Initially a statue animated by a hostile extraterrestrial, he first appeared in the science-fiction anthology series Tales of Suspense #14 , in a story drawn by Jack Kirby . He was revived in Astonishing...
", starring a stone giant introduced in an anthological science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
-monster story in Tales of Suspense
Tales of Suspense
Tales of Suspense is the name of an American comic book series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such artists as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck, then featured...
#14 (Feb. 1961), with a sequel in issue #20 (Aug. 1961). Tony Isabella
Tony Isabella
Tony Isabella is an American comic book writer, editor, artist and critic, known as the creator and writer of Marvel Comics' Black Goliath, DC Comics' first major African American superhero, Black Lightning, and as a columnist and critic for the Comics Buyer's Guide.-Marvel Comics:Before he joined...
and Dick Ayers
Dick Ayers
Richard "Dick" Ayers is an American comic book artist and cartoonist best known for his work as one of Jack Kirby's inkers during the late-1950s and 1960s period known as the Silver Age of Comics, including on some of the earliest issues of Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four, and as the signature...
comprised the modern feature's writer-artist team.
The final feature in Astonishing Tales starred and introduced Deathlok
Deathlok
Deathlok is a fictional cyborg published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Astonishing Tales #25 , and was created by Rich Buckler and Doug Moench...
, a conflicted cyborg
Cyborg
A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts. The term was coined in 1960 when Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline used it in an article about the advantages of self-regulating human-machine systems in outer space. D. S...
who predated the popular movie character RoboCop
RoboCop
RoboCop is a 1987 American science fiction-action film directed by Paul Verhoeven. Set in a crime-ridden Detroit, Michigan in the near future, RoboCop centers on a police officer who is brutally murdered and subsequently re-created as a super-human cyborg known as "RoboCop"...
by several years and has become one of the most enduring Marvel characters among those introduced in the 1970s; at least two major iterations of the character, featuring different individuals, starred in series in the 1990s and 2000s. Created by artist Rich Buckler, who devised the initial concept, and writer Doug Moench
Doug Moench
Douglas Moench , better known as Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok.-Biography:...
, the feature ran from #25-28 & 30-36 (Aug. 1974 - Feb. 1975 & June 1975 - July 1976), the final issue. Bill Mantlo
Bill Mantlo
Bill Mantlo is an American comic-book writer, primarily at Marvel Comics, best known for his work on two licensed toy properties whose adventures occurred in the Marvel Universe: the Eagle Award-winning Micronauts and the long-running Rom. An attorney, he also worked as a public defender...
scripted issues #32-35, with Buckler himself scripting the finale.
The last two issues were released in both a 25-cent and a 30-cent edition.
Issue #29 (April 1975) was a fill-in that reprinted an edited version of the first Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy
The original Guardians of the Galaxy are a fictional superhero team that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Guardians first appear in Marvel Super-Heroes #18 .-Publication history:...
story, from Marvel Super Heroes #18 (Jan. 1969).
Vol. 2
In 2008 and 2009, Marvel produced 11 webcomics starring different characters under the umbrella title Astonishing Tales:- Astonishing Tales: DaredevilDaredevil (Marvel Comics)Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
(2009) - Astonishing Tales: Dominic FortuneDominic FortuneDominic Fortune is a fictional comic book character, owned by Marvel Comics.Created by Howard Chaykin and based on the Scorpion, Chaykin's character for the failed Atlas/Seaboard Comics company, Dominic Fortune was originally a 1930s costumed, fortune-seeking adventurer.-Publication history:Dominic...
(2009) - Astonishing Tales: Iron ManIron ManIron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
(2008) - Astonishing Tales: Iron Man 2020Iron Man 2020Iron Man 2020 is a fictional supervillain. He is the counterpart of the superhero Iron Man in the future year of 2020 in the Marvel Comics multiverse...
(2008–2009) - Astonishing Tales: M.O.D.O.K. (2009)
- Astonishing Tales: MojoworldMojoworldMojoworld can have at least two meanings:* MojoWorld Generator is a fractal landscape generator created by Pandromeda, Inc.;* Mojoworld, or Mojo World, is the home planet of Mojo, a Marvel Comics supervillain....
(2008–2009) - Astonishing Tales: SabraSabra (comics)Sabra is the alias of Ruth Bat-Seraph, a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:...
(2009) - Astonishing Tales: Shiver Man (2009)
- Astonishing Tales: Spider-WomanSpider-WomanSpider-Woman is the codename of several fictional characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Marvel Comics' then-publisher Stan Lee, said in 1978, shortly after Spider-Woman's debut in Marvel Spotlight #32 Spider-Woman is the codename of several fictional characters...
(Jessica Drew) (2009) - Astonishing Tales: The Thing (2009)
- Astonishing Tales: Wolverine/PunisherPunisherThe Punisher is a fictional character, an anti-hero appearing in comic books based in the . Created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita, Sr., and Ross Andru, the character made its first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 .The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder,...
(2008–2009)
Several stories from those series were reprinted in the six-issue limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
Astonishing Tales vol. 2 (April-Sept. 2009).
Collected editions
Some of the stories in the series have been collected into trade paperbacksTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Essential Super-Villain Team-Up, Volume 1 ( collects Astonishing Tales vol. 1 #1-8: Doctor Doom stories, 552 pages, September 2004, ISBN 0-7851-1545-5)
- Essential Man-Thing, Volume 1 (Astonishing Tales vol. 1 #10-11)
- Marvel MasterworksMarvel MasterworksMarvel Masterworks are a American collection of hardcover and trade paperback comic book reprints published by Marvel Comics. They are printed in full color and feature various titles from the Golden Age, Pre-Code , Silver Age, and Bronze Age of comics.The collection started in 1987 with volumes...
: Deathlok, Volume 1 (Astonishing Tales vol. 1 #25-28, 30-33)