Episode 140: Avengers: World Police (Tales to Astonish #58) -- July 1964

In this episode:

Mike and Ed discuss how Giant-Man and the Wasp prevented an alien invasion that started in Africa. Mike argues that there must be international treaties that allow foreign intervention. Ed believes that this is unlikely due to international bureaucracy, but that America can’t let that stop them from being the “World Police” - at least as it relates to extra-planetary invasions. Also: Who is paying for the jet that the two heroes crashed on their adventure?

Behind the issue:

More and more, Lee is incorporating the broader “Marvel Universe” seamlessly into each title. Here, the Avengers get an alert that there is a giant in Africa that is demanding human sacrifices, but, because it is not seen as a “huge” threat and many of the team members are busy with other work, the decision is made that Giant-Man and the Wasp can handle it on their own. The story otherwise follows the common pattern: the villain is ACTUALLY an alien who is “testing the ground” to see if his people should invade. After encountering resistance from Giant-Man, the alien giant decides for his people that “Earth is not worth it”. Sounds familiar? While Lee is trying to get kids to read more issues across the entire Marvel line, he is still generally assuming that most readers will not notice that this is the same story he has told with a half dozen earlier alien invasions.

In this issue:

Giant-Man and the Wasp head to Africa to investigate the story of a 30 foot tall giant. They fly over in a jet, and sure enough, there is a giant who grabs their jet out of the sky. Giant-Man and the Wasp are able to use teamwork to beat the giant, who is led to believe that they possess strange magical powers. The giant, who is actually an alien, decides that his people should not invade the Earth.

Assumed before the next episode:

People are wondering how broad a net the Avengers cast in the name of world security.

This episode takes place:

After Giant-Man and the Wasp have beaten the giant alien invader.

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