Astonishing Tales 35 and 36

The sister publication to the first Amazing Adventures series, Astonishing Tales started in 1970 as double-sized double feature book with the odd pairing of Ka-Zar stories with Dr. Doom stories. This format ran for the first eight issues and I always liked Ka-Zar. Issues 9 - 20 feature Ka-Zar on his own so they are pretty good. The next four issues are complete crap. If you don't believe me, read them for yourself. You can probably find them lining some bird cage somewhere. I am certain that Marvel produced these stories about a stone giant, IT! The Living Colossus fighting Fin Fang Foom to make the next 12 issues really stand out. And stand out they do!

The last feature in Astonishing Tales is simply Bronze-Age greatness. Issue 25 introduces us to a new character named Deathlok. Created by artist Rich Buckler and written by Doug Moench, Deathlok is a unique, original hero. He is military strategist Col. Luther Manning, a conflicted cyborg of reanimated flesh and computer circuitry. Luther is Deathlok the Demolisher, no longer a man, but a weapon of war programmed solely for destruction. Deathlok is one of the most popular characters created in the bronze-age and the stories are about as far from the Spidey stories just reviewed as you can get. Issue 25 sells for over $1000 in high grade for two reasons - the introduction of Deathlok and the two page back-up story which is George Perez's first comic art.

It is kind of amazing, but this story arc stands the test of time and predates similar stories like Terminator and Robocop. It is set in the bombed-out ruins of Manhattan in the distant dystopian future year of 1990, yes 1990. Luther Manning is a soldier who died in 1985 and whose partially decayed body is made into a cyborg.

Major Simon Ryker wants to control the country after the bombing of Manhattan (this part will really hit you between the eyes, after 9-11). It is unclear if Major Ryker had anything to do with the bombing, but it is clear that he creates Deathlok for a purpose of controlling the country. Deathlok only want to break free from Ryker's control and kill Ryker for making him a cyborg.

In terms of the story, Deathlok is in Manhattan battling several enemies but wanting a war against Ryker. There is a fight between Deathlok and Ryker in a computer network, and of course this predates The Matrix movies. The war with Ryker finally occurs in the last two issues of Astonishing Tales, Issues 35 and 35, which also happen to be available as 30 cent price variants. How cool is that? Buckler's artwork is superb, just check the cover to issue 36.

Astonishing Tales was cancelled after issue 36. Marvel was struggling financially and wouldn't be rescued until Star Wars 1 came out one year later. Marvel Spotlight 33 contains the story that would have been Issue 37.

I am speculating that Buckler and Moench missed a deadline for Issue 29 because this issue is a Guardians of the Galazy fill-in.





CGC has certified 13 copies of the the issue 35 price variant with two copies in 9.6, two in 9.4, and two in 9.2. A 9.2 sold in 2002 for $65. GPA has no recorded sales of a higher graded copy.

CGC has only certified eight copies of the issue 35 price variant with two copies in 9.4, one in 9.2, and one in 9.0. The only record of a 9.4 sales was in February of 2006 for $104.


If you have not read the Deathlok stories, collecting the series is very expensive, especially in high-grade.  Fortunately Marvel has reprinted the stories in its Masterworks Hard Cover series.   For more information about this book go here  http://www.collectededitions.com/marvel/mm/deathlok/deathlok_mm01.html