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Issue: Astonishing Tales #21
Publication Date: December 1973
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Disclose Detail
Issues: #21 of 36 Issues (70 Printings)
Title:
Variant: unnamed
Rating: Approved by the Comics Code Authority
Publisher: FlagMarvel
Brand: Marvel Comics GroupView Brand Images4
Indicia Publisher: Marvel Comics Group
On Sale Date: 09/11/1973
Volume: 1
Pages: 36
ISBN:
UPC/EAN: none
Price: $0.20 USD
Indicia Frequency: Approved by the Comics Code Authority
Content Items: 5 (2 stories, 1 cover)
Editor(s):  
Disclose Notes: On-sale date from The Comic Reader #100.
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Disclose Format
Publication Type: Comic Book
Color: color
Dimensions: standard Silver Age US and later standard Modern Age US
Paper Stock: glossy cover; newsprint interior
Binding: saddle-stitched
Publishing Format: was ongoing
Format Notes:  
Disclose Variants2
Disclose Reprinted In2
Disclose Reprinted From1
reprinted from a Content Item in another Issue.
Disclose Images1
Cover, Front
Original Artwork
Digital Edition
Adult Image
Title Page
Indicia on this Page
 
 
Assets1
Indicia
 
 
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Disclose Content Items (5 total)
Disclose Issue Images
Watch Out, World!! The Colossus Lives Again!

Illustration  on  Cover, Front
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: horror
Character(s): It, the Living Colossus; Bob O'Bryan
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Firsts: The 1970s #2 published January 2012
as Astonishing Tales #21 [Cover Reprint (on Interior Page) on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Crespi lettering per Nick Caputo. George Olshevsky's Marvel Comics Index #7B incorrectly credits Gaspar Saladino.

The cover is reprinted as page 10 panel 3 of the story in Astonishing Tales #24.
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It!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
Genres: horror
Character(s): It, the Living Colossus; Dr. Aloysius Vault (first appearance, villain); Bob O'Bryan; Dorian Delazny (introduction); Diane Cummings; Grant Marshall; Dr. Braun (introduction); Blackie; Daniel; a Gargoyle creature from Stonus Five (named in the next issue)
First Line: Look at these films taken of the Colossus...
Synopsis: Special effects technician Bob O'Bryan, becomes a cripple after his legs get broken by a vengeful actor on the set he was working on. One night while working at the studio, he notices that the Colossus (which is being kept on the studio lot) is being stolen. Through concentration he finds he can transfer his mind into that of the Colossus like the aliens from Cancrius III had done. The statue is ultimately taken by Dr. Vault; a madman who wants to transfer his mind into the statues body to replace his frail mortal form. The Colossus is able to escape from Vault before ultimately collapsing.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMarvel Firsts: The 1970s #2 published January 2012
as It! the Colossus Lives Again! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 15
Disclose Notes: Revival of Colossus from Tales Of Suspense (Marvel, 1959 series) #14 and #20 (stories reprinted in Monsters On the Prowl (Marvel, 1971 series) #17 and #25). Bob O'Bryan, Diane Cummings and Grant Marshall were introduced in the Colossus story from Tales of Suspense #20 (reprinted in Monsters On the Prowl #25). According to the text article in Astonishing Tales #22 (Kings and Things To Take By Storm by Tony Isabella) Roy Thomas, Marv Wolfman and Don McGregor all helped put this story together.

In his previous appearance Bob O'Bryan was a scenery designer, but is now a special effects technician hired by producer Dorian Delazny to save his science fiction series "Star Lords" which has been plagued by poor ratings. In one sequence O'Bryan was showing Delazny his work featuring the Colossus in Washington D.C. fighting the "Intrepid", a ship from the series. O'Bryan references "King Kong" when explaining his effects.

O'Bryan finds out that he can only keep his mind in the statue for a short amount of time which is why the Colossus collapses at the end.

The end of the story shows a large living stone gargoyle witnessing the Colossus and flying off to tell his master.

The Colossus is colored purple deviating from his gray color from his previous appearances.
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The Man Who Captured Death!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: fantasy, occult
Character(s): Death; Tom
Synopsis: A dying man traps Death to save himself but soon finds that Death is needed to keep the natural order intact and bring an end to those that are suffering. Realizing this, he frees Death and accepts his fate.
Reprinting
From Content Item: FlagAmazing Adult Fantasy #9 [U.S. Cover Price] published February 1962
was The Man Who Captured Death! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 5
Job Number: V-471
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Monumental Memorandums of Mice and Marveldom! [December 1973]; The Ultimate Fan Club!

In-house Column  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ? (promo copy)
Letterer(s): typeset
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Items about how martial arts is coming to Marvel with Shang-Chi-Master of Kung Fu (the son of Fu Manchu) by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin, Uncanny Tales, The Dead of Night and Weird Wonder Tales are debuting, the address to give your college bookstore if they aren't carrying the latest Marvel masterworks, Crazy #2 features satire by none other than Art Buchwald, FOOM is shipping out the third issue, a cryptic message about an upcoming Marvel event which can be decoded with the Spider-Man code and the sad news that Syd Shores has passed away. Marvel checklist for comics listed with a synopsis are Dracula Lives #4, Tales of the Zombie #3, Savage Tales #3, Crazy #2, Fantastic Four #141, Spider-Man #127, Avengers #118, Captain America & the Falcon #168, Daredevil #106, Fear #19, Werewolf By Night #11, Marvel Team-Up #16, Doc Savage #8, Astonishing Tales #21, Marvel Double Feature #1, Marvel Spotlight #13 and Master of Kung Fu. Also includes a small advertisement for FOOM Magazine. Appears between pages 2 and 3 of the second story sequence.
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A Genuine Spider-Man Medallion-Coin

Advertisement  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ? (ad copy)
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Spider-Man Medallion Coin
Character(s): Spider-Man [Peter Parker]
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: An advertisement for a Spider-Man Medallion Coin, Coin Holder, Keychains and Neckchains.

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