CATALOG RECORD

Tales to Astonish #56

Marvel · Series began 1959 · June 1964

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WHY COLLECTORS WANT IT

Magician (Marvel, Lee Guardineer) — introduction

Dates

Cover date: June 1964
On sale: March 3, 1964
Pages: 36

Values

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Editions and covers (2)

Copies of #56 are not all the same book. Here is how to tell each one apart.

Original edition12¢ cover
Source ↗
UK pence edition9d [0-0-9 GBP] cover

British

Printed cover price 9d [0-0-9 GBP].
This edition’s page

Creators

script: Stan Lee, Larry Lieberpencils: Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, Larry Lieberinks: Sol Brodsky, Dick Ayers, Bill Everett, Paul Reinmancolors: Stan Goldbergletters: Artie Simek, Sam Rosen

Stories

The Coming of the Magician! · 18 pages
Janet goes to a party in the hope of making Hank jealous. There, she is captured by the Magician. Giant-Man hosts a fake party aboard a yacht to lure the Magician into a trap, allowing him to save Jan and capture the Magician with her help.
The Balloon · 1 pages
A young boy meets a tiny space traveler from Skyville, a suburb of Mars, trapped in a balloon.
Beware the Bog Beast! · 5 pages
A suitor thought unworthy by the king wins the hand of the princess through cunning when strength fails.

Publisher’s description

Giant-Man stages a "fake yacht party" to capture the latest villain on the scene....the Magician! A madman with a plan, the Magician pulls the wool over his victims' eyes, only to rob them blind! Meanwhile, Hank and Janet have difficulty expressing their true feelings for each other.

Characters

Hank PymJanet Van DyneWaspGiant-ManLee GuardineerMagician

Reprinted in

Amazing Stories of Suspense (1963), Terrific! (1967), Essential Ant-Man (2002), Marvel Masterworks: Ant-Man / Giant-Man (2006), Ant-Man / Giant-Man Epic Collection (2015), Marvel Tales (1966), Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades Omnibus (2010)