Henry Pym Question

[Haunt]

am i correct in thinking that Pym first appeared in Tales to Astonish; some time in the 60s? i ask because, by pure chance, i found these links to a book supposedly put out in the 50s. you'll understand after looking at the links (hopefully).


http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=page1&issue=55769191033%2057

http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=page2&issue=55769191033%2057

does anyone know who the writer of this story was? another site lists it as a prototype to the Lee "man in the anthill" story. just curious.

[Aaron King]

Henry Pym first appeared in Tales to Astonish #27. I think the story is that there was a doctor in a Marvel monster comic that had the surname "Pym," but his first name wasn't Henry. Then, in some later reprint, a sneaky letterer changed it to Henry Pym.

That, combined with this traditional suspense story of the crazy shrinking-serum doctor, probably led to some rumors. (It seems like the scientist is the generic "proud and haughty big man" type from the opening page).

And the GCD doesn't have any writer's credits for any issues of Mystic.

[MichikoS]

You've stumbled onto one of the many "prototype" issues that are to be found in the early Marvel/Atlas monster-horror titles. Stan Lee was the writer of these stories, and he often re-used ideas or took a promising concept (like shrinking) and developed it a little differently. Heck, the guy was cranking out a phenomenal number of scripts single-handedly.

Overstreet is very good about noting prototype issues; this issue, Mystic #57, is noted as being "very similar" to Tales to Astonish #27, the first Ant-Man story, as Aaron noted.

The surname "Pym" must have been a favorite of Stan's. My recollection is that it appears more than a few times in these hundreds of monster stories Stan wrote in the late '50s and early '60s. Perhaps he was inspired by The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym, the novel by Edgar Allan Poe. Who knows?

Michi

[Lone Ranger]

Michi

Do you recall reading an article (perhaps in Alter Ego) discussing Overstreet's 'prototype' listings?

I believe the author try to draw a distinction between the stories that actually served as a protoype (themes, character design etc...) from those stories that simply had coincidental similarities .

[Haunt]

You've stumbled onto one of the many "prototype" issues that are to be found in the early Marvel/Atlas monster-horror titles. Stan Lee was the writer of these stories, and he often re-used ideas or took a promising concept (like shrinking) and developed it a little differently. Heck, the guy was cranking out a phenomenal number of scripts single-handedly.

Overstreet is very good about noting prototype issues; this issue, Mystic #57, is noted as being "very similar" to Tales to Astonish #27, the first Ant-Man story, as Aaron noted.

The surname "Pym" must have been a favorite of Stan's. My recollection is that it appears more than a few times in these hundreds of monster stories Stan wrote in the late '50s and early '60s. Perhaps he was inspired by The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym, the novel by Edgar Allan Poe. Who knows?

Michi


thanks a bunch. that's exactly what i was looking for! good thing Stan remembered that particular story.

[MichikoS]

Michi, Do you recall reading an article (perhaps in Alter Ego) discussing Overstreet's 'prototype' listings?

I believe the author try to draw a distinction between the stories that actually served as a protoype (themes, character design etc...) from those stories that simply had coincidental similarities .LR, I do recall such an article, but I don't recall where I read it. There have been a number of discussions over the years in various forums about the so-called Marvel "prototype" stories (usually having to do with their collectibility or value). Here's a link from Jonathan Couper's SPIDERFAN site that has a fascinating and detailed discussion of some of the early prototype stories.

http://www.spiderfan.org/rave/2002/0207.html

The important point made by the author, Al Sjoerdsma, is that, in his view, prototype stories are ALL coincidental similarities. I tend to agree. He correctly notes,

"Stan Lee didn't have a master plan to present monsters with powers and then redo them as heroes and villains several years later. Steve Ditko did not sneak Aunt May into uncredited cameos, waiting for the right time to spring her on the comic-reading public."

Prototype characters are fascinating footnotes in Marvel Comics history, but I am highly skeptical about any of them being actual first appearances of iconic superhero characters.

I'll keep an eye out for that article and any associated factoids and share what I run across.

Michi

[MichikoS]

Serendipity strikes! I was leafing through an issue of ALTER EGO tonight looking at an article by Tom Lammers on the "Atlas Implosion" of 1957, and this blurb appeared at the head of the article. Here you go:

In ALTER EGO #29 & #31, Tom Lammers, who in what's known as "real life" teaches biology (esp. botany) at a college in Wisconsin, took, a skeptical look at the so-called "Marvel prototypes" of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which are purported to have been "trial balloons" for the Marvel heroes which sprang up from 1961 on."

Twomorrows' website shows both of these back issues are still available for purchase should you wish to read the articles in question. Don't you just love living in the 21st century?

Michi

[Rob Allen]

BTW, Michi (and everyone else) - Tom Lammers has expanded that implosion article into a small book which he has self-published. He may still have copies available. PM me and I'll put you in touch with him if you're interested. Kurt (Cei-U!) got to read that book just this past weekend, and he liked it.

[MichikoS]

Rob, thank you very much for the heads up on the Lammers book. I found out about the book not long ago while reading the UK zine FROM THE TOMB, and had contacted Mr. Lammers about ordering it. In fact, I ordered two. Here's what he wrote me on Jan 9:

Thank you for your interest. Yes, I still have copies available. Two copies can go for one $2 postage fee, so one copy for $12 or two copies for $22.

Send check or money order to me at:
Dept. of Biology & Microbiology
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Oshkosh WI 54901

Michi