Tales to Astonish #45

July 1963
Writers: Stan Lee and H.E. Huntley
Artist: Don Heck

"The Terrible Traps of Egghead!"

Stan is joined by H.E. Huntley for scripting purposes this issue and Don Heck continues his run on this title.

Our story this month features the return of the man who is possibly the most notable of Ant-Man's villains: the Egghead.  Egghead's previous (and first) appearance was in issue #38, which ended with his escape.  The beginning of this issue recaps that previous appearance and picks up where we left off.  After his escape, he became a bum, hidden away in a flop-house... until one day he hears of new exploits of the Ant-Man and his partner the Wasp.  The Egghead snaps out of his depression and begins to formulate a new plan.

Weeks later, the plan is set into motion.  Egghead, disguised as 'Professor Carl Striker, Zoologist', manages to land a lecture at the local zoo, specifically for a wasp exhibit (the idea being that our Wasp wouldn't be able to resist attending).  He plans to capture the Wasp and use her to capture Ant-Man and then enact the perfect crime spree.  The last piece of his plan is to employ the use of a device which prevents Ant-Man's ants from communicating with him.  The device is tested when Egghead and his goons rob a local diamond cutter and get away with the goods.

The next day, Janet attends the wasp exhibit and the lecture by Professor Striker.  During the lecture, she spies the stolen jewels and decides that she can catch the thieves all by herself.  She changes into the Wasp and goes after the jewels; she is quickly entrapped.  She sends out a call for help and Ant-Man hurriedly comes to her rescue.

After sparring with a lizard, avoiding a ravenous ant-eater and using the help of poisonous snakes, our heroes defeat the Egghead and his goons.  Unfortunately, much like last time, Egghead makes his escape.  Hank takes the opportunity to lecture Janet, while she reflects that he is blind to her love.  And back in his lair, Egghead vows to build a better ant-trap.

I'm not sure what it is, but it seems like there is still something missing from this series, making it less engaging than the others (Journey Into Mystery and Tales of Suspense).  The stories are perfectly fine, but nothing more.

Next: Ant-Man and Wasp versus a Cyclops!  (no, not that one)