Issue(s): Tales To Astonish #43 (Ant-Man story only)
Cover Date: May 63
Title: "The mad master of time!"
Credits:
Stan Lee - Plot
Larry Lieber - Script
Don Heck - Penciler
Don Heck - Inker

Review/plot:
This is Henry Pym's last solo adventure before the introduction of the Wasp next issue. It starts with poor Pym getting spotted on the street and being told that he looks "adorable".

We then switch over to a Professor Elias Weems, who is looking forward to his grandson's upcoming visit. He'd like to show young Tommy the lab that he works at. Unfortunately, his company has implemented a mandatory retirement policy, effective immediately. And man that HR guy sure is mad at Elias for having the nerve to be 65 years old on company time.

Weems goes a little nuts, declaring vengeance on all living creatures and calling himself Time-Master. The firing certainly was an inspiration to him; he creates an aging ray and goes on a rampage.

Ant-Man doesn't do much in this issue and the situation is resolved when the Professor accidentally hits his grandson with the ray. Pym does manage to protect the ray gun from getting smashed by sacrificing a horde of his "friends" when Weems drops the ray.

When everything is settled Weems is even hired back to his old company. And who wouldn't want a guy that can build aging ray guns? We never learn that Weems' company is actually a subsidiary of Roxxon.

Actually, it's not true that Pym doesn't do much this issue. He does manage to get trapped inside a flower pot.

At least for once he realizes that he can grow back to human size to get out of it.

The city that Ant-Man patrols was never named but i always assumed the setting was really New York City, as is the case with most of Marvel's books, especially after it was said that Egghead took up residence in the Bowery after his defeat. But according to Weems' thought balloon, he lives in "Center City".

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Essential Ant-Man vol. 1