Tales to Astonish #41
Prisoner of the Slave World!
Henry Pym has arrived at the home of a colleague who wished to show him a new formula. When Pym rings the doorbell nobody answers he becomes concerned. Luckily he brought his shrinking formula and Ant-Man costume and changes into his alter-ego to investigate. With the help of an ant, Pym enters the apartment and finds it deserted. When he returns home, Pym watches the news and learns that there has been a rash of disappearances within the scientific community. Suspecting that he might be next, Pym is certain that Ant-Man will be ready to face whoever tries to kidnap him.
A few days later, Pym is visited by a window washer representing a company that is seeking new customers by offering a free window cleaning. Hank invites the stranger in and goes back to his work. This proves to be Hank’s undoing as the window washer dumps a chemical concoction on the scientist that completely paralyzes him. The window washer then places a device on Hank’s head and the pair are teleported away to a distant dimension.[1] There, a tyrannical ruler named Kulla is dealing with an insurrection from his people, who have trapped him in his fortress in the hopes of starting him into surrender. Instead, Kulla has used his world’s technology to kidnap Earth scientists and force them to create a weapon to reassert his authority and destroy the dissidents.
Now a prisoner with his fellow scientists, Henry Pym figures his abilities as Ant-Man give him an advantage over his foe. Pym then begins to protest working for a tyrant and, as he expected, is locked in the dungeon. Without anyone observing him, Pym shrinks down to size and changes into Ant-Man. He is immediately attacked by this world’s insects but he can easily fight them off with his strength, which is still the same even though he has shrunk in size. Then, after making adjustments to his cybernetic helmet, Ant-Man is able to compel the creatures to follow his orders.
By this time, the scientists have been forced into completing an electro-death ray for Kulla. When Ant-Man attacks, he trips up Kulla and his minions. Ultimately, the villain manages to splash Ant-Man with the same paralyzing agent used to capture the scientists. However, Ant-Man was merely creating a distraction while the insects take control of the death ray. Before Kulla can crush Ant-Man with a hammer, the bugs fire the cannon at the dictator, killing him instantly. With Kulla dead, the rebels storm the castle and those loyal to Kulla quickly surrender.
With the situation back under control, Ant-Man retreats back to his cell where he changes back into Hank Pym. When Pym is freed, the scientists agree to let the people of this world punish the window washer who was working for Kulla. The scientists are then teleported back to Earth where they wonder how Ant-Man was able to find them in another dimension. Pym suggests that it doesn’t matter how the hero got there, just that he was there when they needed him.
Recurring Characters
Ant-Man
Continuity Notes
This other dimension is only to here as simply “Slaveworld”. However, Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #6 identifies this dimension as Dehnock.
Topical References
Ant-Man enters his colleague’s home by crawling in through the keyhole. This should be considered topical since key technology has changed where it would be impossible for something ant-sized to pass-through modern locks since the space is quite compact. Modern readers can assume he got in another way.
Pym is depicted watching the news on a black-and-white television set. I shouldn’t have to tell you that these types of television sets are obsolete.
