Publishers / Marvel / Tales to Astonish (1959) / #44
44June 1963
$0.12

Tales to Astonish #44

Marvel · June 1963 · on sale 1963-03-05

First appearance: Janet Van DyneFirst appearance: WaspFirst appearance: Vernon van Dyne1 variant
How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
Tales to Astonish (Marvel, 1959 series)
Issue
#44
Publication date
June 1963
Key date
1963-06-00
On-sale date
1963-03-05
Indicia publisher
Vista Publications Inc.
Price
$0.12
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Janet Van Dyne - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Wasp - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Vernon van Dyne - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Maria Pym - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Pilai - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Creature from Kosmos - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Lee Kearns - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0The Creature From Kosmos!!cover1script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Don Heck; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekAnt-Man, Creature from Kosmos First, Pilai First, Hank Pym, Janet Van Dyne First, Wasp First
1The Creature from Kosmos!comic story18script: Stan Lee, H. E. Huntley; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Don Heck; letters: Art SimekAnt-Man, Creature from Kosmos First, Lee Kearns First, Pilai First, Hank Pym, Maria Pym First, Vernon van Dyne First, Janet Van Dyne First, Wasp First
2Blueprint for Victorytext story2letters: typesetLtC. Cam Westover; Maj. Franks; Cpt. Bill Trayne; Gen. von Kretz
3Huntedcomic story5script: Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Terry Szenics

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Britishprice 9d [0-0-9 GBP]

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Marvel Feature #81973On eBay ›
The Superhero Women #[nn]
ISBN 0-671-22928-1
1977On eBay ›
Essential Ant-Man #1
ISBN 0-7851-0822-X
2002On eBay ›
The Marvel Saga the Official History of the Marvel Universe #11985On eBay ›
The Marvel Saga the Official History of the Marvel Universe #91986On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks: Ant-Man / Giant-Man #1
ISBN 0-7851-2049-1
2006On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check spine ticks and cover gloss in the photos; silver-age Marvels chip at the edges easily.
  • Look for tanning at the page edges and transfer stains on the inside covers.
  • Confirm the cover price against the plate; higher prices can mean a later or foreign printing.

Series context

Sources

  • Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Wikidata, Q27067914 (Janet Van Dyne), first-appearance property (CC0)

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com