Issue(s): Tales To Astonish #61 (Giant-Man/Wasp story only)
Cover Date: Nov 64
Title: "Now walks the android"
Credits:
Stan Lee - Writer
Steve Ditko - Penciler
George Roussos - Inker

Review/plot:
The opening splash panel for this issue is a bit busy. In addition to the delightful acrobatics of Giant-Man and a reminder of his outburst towards his fan club last issue, on the bottom left is an introduction to a new vehicle for Pym and Janet, and on the right is an Editor's Note explaining that Steve Ditko is drawing this issue instead of Dick Ayers.

The same opening panel also tells us that Giant-Man is no longer clumsy like he was in his first appearances with that moniker. The opening splash does a lot of work, is what i'm telling you.

This issue pits a somewhat off-model Egghead against Giant-Man and the Wasp again.

This time Egghead has a mentally-controlled android, but in the end Giant-Man wins by spinning it around a lot, which makes Egghead dizzy.

Here's another shot of the "Converti-Car", custom built at Tony Stark's factory.

It sure beats flinging yourself off a flagpole.

And here's either the Wasp's latest costume or Steve Ditko's version of her current costume.

Ditko draws a nice android, anyway.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - continued minor developments for Giant-Man

Chronological Placement Considerations: The MCP places this between Avengers #9-10.

References:

• Giant-Man reminds Egghead that he already beat him three times already: Tales To Astonish #38, Tales To Astonish #45, and Tales To Astonish #57.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Essential Ant-Man vol. 1

Ditko actually had to rush this story because Ayers' original replacement--Dick Rockwell, brother of Norman--didn't let Stan know of his decision to turn down the assignment until rather late. Rockwell drew Blackhawk for DC about 23 years later.

As per the Grand Comics Database: "Joe Orlando originally drew this story but refused to make changes demanded by Stan Lee so Steve Ditko came in and did extensive changes to the original art. Info from Mark Evanier via Fred Hembeck." (Hembeck's original post about this issue did credit Rockwell, but Evanier corresponded with Hembeck to guide him to Orlando as the original uncredited penciller.)

I hears that Orlando was so upset by all this that he never worked for Marvel again although one story he had completed already was published after this. I don't remember for what series that last story was for unless it was Daredevil.