The Voice of Doom!
Featuring: Ant-Man
Release: January 3, 1963
Cover: April 1963
12 cents
Plot: Stan Lee
Script: Larry Lieber
Art: Don Heck
13 pages
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: Ant-Man/Giant Man vol. 1.
This is Don Heck’s second issue of Ant-Man. The art duties will be a mix of Heck and Kirby going forward.
An accident at an atomic lab sends some charged particles into Jason Cragg’s microphone that imbue him with the power to make people follow his every command. We have seen other radiation-based anomalies–notably the effects of a bite from an irradiated spider and being caught in the blast of a gamma bomb–and we will see many more.
There is perhaps some political commentary in this issue. An orator speaks and sways the crowd with demagoguery and fear-mongering. Ant-Man tries to point out the orator offers no evidence, but his cries are lost on deaf ears. Perhaps the creators were thinking of some 1960s politicians when writing this. It certain applies seems to describe a 2019 politician or two.
We see what seems to be a plot error that I have no explanation for. In his first appearance, we learned Ant-Man was too small to be heard. In later issues, we see him talking to people all the time, but always while wearing his helmet. One could surmise he just built a voice amplifier or such into his helmet. But now we see he can speak and be heard even without the helmet. Not sure how to reconcile this.
I get that he’s very small, but it looks to me like a lot of people have now seen Ant-Man’s face. How will this affect his secret identity?
Anyways, in the end, Ant-Man defeats the villain by giving him laryngitis. It seems rather presumptuous to assume this will permanently defeat Cragg.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 53/100
Significance: ★★☆☆☆
Jason Cragg is a good original villain; his powers will be seen in again in comics. I appreciate the political satire inherent in the character.
Characters:
- Jason Cragg
- Dr. Henry Pym/Ant-Man
Story notes:
- Cragg had been radio announcer; we first see him selling Peppo dog food
- Accident at atomic lab sent particles to Cragg’s microphone, making his voice compelling
- Police present award for meritorious service to Ant-Man
- Ant-Man can be heard when ant-sized even without helmet. Contradicts what we learned in 35.
#55 story in reading order
Next: Tales of Suspense #40
Previous: Incredible Hulk #6
You rated this significantly more highly than I did.