COVER STORY: Marvel Premiere #47
Marvel Comics; 35¢
What makes the best comic book covers? It’s a great topic for debate. For us as individuals there is no wrong answer, of course. It’s purely subjective. But with a little thought, it is frequently possible to explain what it is about a particular image that grabs you. The best ones are the ones that make you stop and check out something you weren’t previously going to purchase – and in some cases, you even end up picking up a title you’ve never even heard of before.
The character of Ant-Man is one of the oldest of the Marvel-era characters in the Marvel comic book universe. Scientist Hank Pym debuted in Tales to Astonish #27, cover dated January 1962, in a story by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby, and his costumed identity of Ant-Man first appeared in Tales to Astonish #35.
In June 1963’s Tales to Astonish #44, Ant-Man became a regular feature in the series, along with his love interest and female sidekick or partner, Janet Van Dyne, The Wasp.
Just a few months later, Avengers #1 (September 1963) was launched with Ant-Man and The Wasp joining Thor, Iron Man, and the Incredible Hulk, thus carving out a big niche of Marvel history for the diminutive hero.
Hank Pym was the subject of many changes, though. When Avengers #2 hit, Ant-Man had become Giant Man. After he and the Wasp departed for a while following Avengers #15, he returned in Avengers #28 as Goliath.
He became Yellowjacket in Avengers #59, before reverting to Ant-Man in Avengers #93, and he appeared in 10 issues of Marvel Feature, starting with #4, as Ant-Man as well, before periodically utilizing the Yellowjacket persona.
He appeared simply as Hank Pym or “The Doctor” in West Coast Avengers, and again as Giant-Man, followed by time as Yellowjacket, a long stint as Giant Man in Avengers Academy, and The Wasp.
The character of Scott Lang, the second Ant-Man in the Marvel comic book universe, first appeared in 1979 in Avengers #181 as a technician. A month later, Marvel Premiere #47 was the first of two issues with the origin of the new Ant-Man.
Under a strong cover by Bob Layton, who inked John Byrne on the issue’s interior, readers get to know Lang, an ex-con and father who was committed to turning his life around. When his daughter Cassie’s life is threatened by a heart ailment and the surgeon who could help her is kidnapped, Lang steals Pym’s Ant-Man costume and technology to save the day.
At this stage, Marvel Premiere didn’t have a regular series in its pages. It was more of a character try-out series, so a powerful, attractive cover image was even more important than it would be on an ongoing title with familiar characters. The magnifying glass, a common enough gimmick, is utilized well, giving the small character a big impact in the image.
The character of Scott Lang as Ant Man, of course, has come into much more acclaim since the character’s appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it’s still really hard to beat this cover.
– J.C. Vaughn
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COVER STORY: Marvel Premiere #47
Marvel Comics; 35¢
What makes the best comic book covers? It’s a great topic for debate. For us as individuals there is no wrong answer, of course. It’s purely subjective. But with a little thought, it is frequently possible to explain what it is about a particular image that grabs you. The best ones are the ones that make you stop and check out something you weren’t previously going to purchase – and in some cases, you even end up picking up a title you’ve never even heard of before.
The character of Ant-Man is one of the oldest of the Marvel-era characters in the Marvel comic book universe. Scientist Hank Pym debuted in Tales to Astonish #27, cover dated January 1962, in a story by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby, and his costumed identity of Ant-Man first appeared in Tales to Astonish #35.
In June 1963’s Tales to Astonish #44, Ant-Man became a regular feature in the series, along with his love interest and female sidekick or partner, Janet Van Dyne, The Wasp.
Just a few months later, Avengers #1 (September 1963) was launched with Ant-Man and The Wasp joining Thor, Iron Man, and the Incredible Hulk, thus carving out a big niche of Marvel history for the diminutive hero.
Hank Pym was the subject of many changes, though. When Avengers #2 hit, Ant-Man had become Giant Man. After he and the Wasp departed for a while following Avengers #15, he returned in Avengers #28 as Goliath.
He became Yellowjacket in Avengers #59, before reverting to Ant-Man in Avengers #93, and he appeared in 10 issues of Marvel Feature, starting with #4, as Ant-Man as well, before periodically utilizing the Yellowjacket persona.
He appeared simply as Hank Pym or “The Doctor” in West Coast Avengers, and again as Giant-Man, followed by time as Yellowjacket, a long stint as Giant Man in Avengers Academy, and The Wasp.
The character of Scott Lang, the second Ant-Man in the Marvel comic book universe, first appeared in 1979 in Avengers #181 as a technician. A month later, Marvel Premiere #47 was the first of two issues with the origin of the new Ant-Man.
Under a strong cover by Bob Layton, who inked John Byrne on the issue’s interior, readers get to know Lang, an ex-con and father who was committed to turning his life around. When his daughter Cassie’s life is threatened by a heart ailment and the surgeon who could help her is kidnapped, Lang steals Pym’s Ant-Man costume and technology to save the day.
At this stage, Marvel Premiere didn’t have a regular series in its pages. It was more of a character try-out series, so a powerful, attractive cover image was even more important than it would be on an ongoing title with familiar characters. The magnifying glass, a common enough gimmick, is utilized well, giving the small character a big impact in the image.
The character of Scott Lang as Ant Man, of course, has come into much more acclaim since the character’s appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it’s still really hard to beat this cover.
– J.C. Vaughn
Popular Topics
Overstreet Access Quick Links
