This project was born from two things. One of these is my increasing frustration with the MCU and its, in my opinion, lackluster characters and stories. The other was me rereading some of the earliest storylines of Marvel Comics and being inspired to attempt to bring some of the best of those ideas to a new audience.
Tales to Astonish
Chapter 1: The Age of Marvels!
I was awoken by the blaringly high pitch sound of my dorm's alarm system. I opened one bleary eye and glanced across the cramped floorspace of my dorm to check the time on my clock. The green numbers on the screen told me it was just after one in the morning.
With a groan of effort, I pulled my drowsy body out of bed. I pushed the sheets back into place before turning and raising my arms above my head. A yawn escaped my lips as quickly went through some basic stretches.
I really hope this wasn't just a couple of jokers pulling the fire alarm again. Three times in one week is far more than enough, thank you!
The alarm screamed its ugly tone again while I threw on my clothes and grabbed my boots. My fingers flew across the laces, finishing the knots and pulling them tight.
Knowing that the RA's would make us sit outside for far longer than was necessary, I reached into my minifridge and pulled out last night's leftover pizza. After securing the pizza in a plastic bag, I slipped it into the backpack laying the corner before slinging the pack over my shoulder.
After shoving my phone into my pocket, I pried open the door and walked out into the hallway.
Humming to myself, I jogged down the hallway, barely noticing just how quiet it was.
"Huh, the alarm stopped…" My voice echoed strangely in the silence.
That's odd, I don't remember there ever being an echo in here before.
I reached the door into the stairwell and shoulder-pushed it open with one arm. The door slams shut behind me with an audible thud. My eyes fell upon a wisp of smoke curling up from the floor below. It was soon followed by a half-dozen more, each of them twisting and turning in the air, slowing rising towards me.
I'm pretty sure smokes rises, but I don't think it's supposed to move like that.
I spin on my heels to retreat to the hallway, only to find the door conspicuously absent. I frantically slammed my hands against the wall, trying desperately to find a door that no longer seemed to exist.
Nope, nope, nope, so much nope! Stupid horror movie bullshit, this doesn't even make sense!
I turned around to face the smoke, my back pressed up against the wall. It was much closer now, its nearest tendrils creeping up the final set of stairs.
Just visible above the smoke was a window one landing down.
Well, I suppose jumping for it better than doing nothing.
And so I jumped.
I didn't make it.
I overestimated how far I could jump and landed directly on the smoke-filled landing. At first, nothing happened except for the oddly scentless smoke curling around me.
Within a few seconds, however, it flowed upwards, completely blocking off all lines of sight.
Well, that's it, folks!
The strange not-smoke seemed to tighten around me, slowing my movement to a crawl.
Really? That's the best you could…
September 1963,
Greyburn College, Upstate New York
Then, suddenly, I was standing up. I opened my eyes, just to be assaulted by blinding light coming through a pair of open blinds.
Am I wearing stilts? I know I'm not this tall.
I looked down and saw an athletic torso and pair of legs clad in a red and black jumpsuit standing on a hardwood floor.
I raised my hands to my face and saw that they were also larger than those I remembered having. I was also wearing a pair of surprisingly flexible dark blue gloves.
This isn't my body! What did that crazy smoke do to me? And where the heck am I?
A burst of pain exploded in the back of my skull, and memories of another man's life flooded my consciousness. The life of one Dr. Henry Pym played out on fast-forward before my mind's eye.
I saw his unhappy childhood progress into miserable adulthood. I watched his first love turn into tragedy as his young bride was murdered while he was helpless. I observed his moment of triumph when he perfected the technique to harness the power of the newly named Pym Particles. All these events and more flashed across my mind so quickly I could barely comprehend what was happening within them.
Wait, I'm Hank Pym? As in Ant-Man, the founding Avenger? As in the guy who builds Ultron?
Dr. Pym was a professor here at Greyburn College, and that meant that I was a professor here! I had thought about teaching before, but I had never expected to just be thrown into it like this!
I would have to talk to whoever was in charge here, get them to cancel all my classes at least until I got this new life sorted out.
I stood there in my tiny office, frozen in thought, as I held that shining silver helmet with its bizarre antenna-like protrusions.
How is this possible anyway? I'm pretty sure it isn't normal to suddenly wake up as a fictional character!
As I was processing this strange set of circumstances, a call rang out from just outside the street-side window.
"Hank? Are you ready yet? We need to get a move on if we want to catch up to the Hulk before he gets away!" The voice was female and urgent, but not loud.
That must be the Wasp, and… wait, did she just mention the Hulk?
"I'll be there in a moment Jan!" I replied, having been forced to improvise in the moment.
"Is your helmet on the fritz again?" Her voice was noticeably more exasperated this time.
I lifted Ant-Man's helmet over my head and put it on. It felt normal and very strange at the same time, probably because one set of memories is used to this and the other has no experience with it.
As expected, it was currently tuned to pick up radio signals. Specifically, the broadcast being put out by Rick Jones and his bizarre Teen Brigade.
"…Contact Teen Brigade! Hulk must be found! Do you read us?"
The message was being repeated over and over again and if memory serves, it was intended for the Fantastic Four but was redirected by Loki to get the attention of Thor.
This is it; this is when the Avengers meet.
With a flip of a switch, I turn on the helmet's transmitter, which was primarily used for communicating with and controlling my ant allies.
"I need your assistance, we need transport to the southwest, and fast!" As I spoke into the device, I pulled open the window. This revealed both the rapidly forming swarm of winged ants, as well as the tiny form of the Wasp in full costume, currently sitting on the windowsill.
She looked up at me as I approached, "Finally! Now come on, those kids need our help!" She said as she took flight. With a slight wave of her hand, she gestured for me to follow as she took off into the distance.
I couldn't see much of her appearance at the time, because of the small size, but even so I could still tell that she looked about the same as she did in the comics. Which is to say, absolutely stunning.
Is everyone here going to be ludicrously attractive? I certainly hope not, that would get old real fast.
I called one of the winged ants over to me just as I willed myself to shrink down to about three inches tall. The world certainly looked different at that height, with the carpet fibers nearly as tall as me and the massive motes of dust floating around like tumbleweeds in a desert. Sadly, because of the urgency, I didn't have time to explore this strange new environment at the moment.
The ant I had called landed next to me, now about the size of a horse from my perspective. It lowered its head so I could climb upon its back. Once I was safely aboard, I commanded it to take flight once more and fly me out of the window.
I'm flying, I'm actually flying! Not by my own power, but still, flying!
Flying through the open air is a unique experience, imagine jumping off a diving board and just never hitting the water. You just move through the air continuously.
Eventually, I realized that I have control of my flight, but by the time I do I am already well on my way to the headquarters of the Teen Brigade.
The ant I rode already had the destination set and though the trip would take several hours, it was still faster than it would be if I had taken a train.
As the countryside of New York faded into the empty landscape of the Midwest, I began to ponder what I actually intended to do when I got there.
I am not even slightly capable of fighting the Hulk, but maybe I could distract him for the others?
This line of thought continued throughout the several hours it took to arrive at the destination. As the small building that the Teen Brigade used as their headquarters came into view, I heard the sounds of panicked conversation coming from within.
I steered my ant through the open doorway and announced my presence through my helmet's speakers.
"Your message said you needed help finding the Hulk. Well, it looks like your going to get it!" I intoned, deepening my voice slightly.
The small room I had just entered was already filled near to capacity with half a dozen teenage boys led by Rick Jones, as well as Thor, Iron Man, and the Wasp, who beat me here because of the head start.
Do not freak out, do not freak out. These people are only some of the greatest heroes of all time, I definitely shouldn't stare!
Iron Man's armor was still the clunky Mark 1, with the tacky all gold paint job. Thor was garbed in the winged helmet and full cape that seemed to take up half the room. The Wasp was sitting against the wall, still in her three-inch form, apparently exhausted after flying the whole way here under her own power.
What were you thinking with that paint job Tony? The gold paint makes him hard to even look at. Maybe that was the intent? So that it would harder to get a good look at him?
Remembering what happened next in the comic, I addressed the group, "One of my ants saw someone matching the description of the Hulk at the local circus, we should head there at once."
"Now hold up just a minute buster, shouldn't we come up with a plan first? If we are gonna take down the Hulk we aught to…" Iron Man replied, walking up to my tiny form to look me in the eyes.
Rick Jones interrupts, "Now just you wait, we don't know for sure that the Hulk is the guilty party here, we have no idea why he broke those train tracks! I don't want you to hurt him unless you must!"
"Thou should hold thy tongue; are we not allies? Come, and let us make haste for this circus at once!" Thor's voice boomed across the small space.
Rick flinched at the loud sound, as did many of the other teens present.
I sat there on my ant, hovering in the air, just watching the conversation unfold.
How powerful was the Hulk at this point? He gets stronger over the years, right? If that's the case, Thor could likely beat him now.
By the time I looked back up, the conversation had finally died down into a few quiet mumblings from the teenagers.
"Alright then, if you all are finished, we really need to get moving." I admonished.
"I suppose you're right, come on, let's be on our way." Stark's voice sounded tense but determined.
He and Thor made their way outside, and myself and the Wasp followed.
Thor and the Wasp took flight under their own power, and I was already aboard one of my winged ants, but I had forgotten a key fact about the current model of Iron Man's armor.
His current armor was still the clunky Model I, which did have the power of flight, but with a twist. The turbine that allowed the armor to hover also emitted a very loud high-pitched noise, which would eventually give this model the unfortunate nickname of the "Screaming Mimi."
Wasp reacted immediately to the sudden noise, "I think you might want to work on that, tinhead!" She shouted, barely audible over the ear-wrenching sound.
We flew over barren plains and rocky hills, before finally soaring over a massive circus tent, complete with dozens of caged animals set up as attractions outside.
Why do people go to circuses? I guess seeing exotic animals is more popular when you can't just look up hundreds of videos about them?
A hastily constructed poster pinned to one of the cages depicted a vaguely Hulk-like figure, with bulging muscles and green-gray skin. Just below the inaccurate drawing, big red and gold letters exclaimed, "One Night Only, Mechano: The Most Powerful Robot on Earth!"
Iron Man lets out a strangled laugh at the bizarre image, "What were they thinking? How could anyone mistake the Hulk for a robot of all things?"
Didn't the X-men fight a robotic Hulk at some point?
"How should we approach this?" I ask, "Should we attempt to reason with him, to get him to come with us?"
"Nay Ant-Man, a beast like this Hulk cannot be bartered with, for he is a creature born from violence, and violence he shall receive!" Thor bellows at the top of his lungs. His hammer was held over his head as he rushed forward, scattering stunned civilians as he ripped through the side of the circus tent as he entered.
I gawked for a moment, marveling at the sheer recklessness of the god of thunder. And in the single moment I waited, the others rushed into the tent in Thor's wake.
That sounds bad, if he thinks the Hulk is just a monster, he might actually try to kill him!
A loud sigh escaped my lips as I moved to follow, but as I did so I saw a glint of gold out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to face it, and when I did, I saw an enraged, opaque face staring directly at the hole in the circus tent that my allies had entered not seconds ago!
Is that a horned helmet?
Loki! I had forgotten about Loki!
This whole thing was part of a hair-brained scheme to kill Thor, and his plot was destined to bring those who would form the Avengers together.
I can't screw this up, whether they know it or not this world needs the Avengers. The Avengers are an important symbol, to show that not everyone with powers turns to crime.
With one final glance at Loki's goat-like features, I sprinted into the tent.
The scene inside was pure chaos.
Civilians were running towards the exits, screaming at the top of their lungs. Thor and the Hulk were in the midst of a slugging match in the middle of the main performance stage. Meanwhile, Iron Man and Wasp were both standing at the edge of the battle, apparently looking for a way to assist.
Walking up beside Stark's armored form, I spoke up, "Did you even try to talk to him?"
"Never had a chance, blondie over there was already hitting him by the time I got close enough." He responded without turning, his eyes still on the ongoing brawl.
With a quick verbal command, my mount took me to the ground, where I swung myself off the ant.
With a bit of concentration, I grew back to my human size.
I called out to the pair of combatants, "Stop! You've been tricked! Someone has been using illusions to trick us into fighting the Hulk!"
The Hulk paused, one massive hand closed around Thor's throat. He looked me dead in the eye and grunted.
"Who tricked Hulk?" He snarled, his gigantic teeth grinding.
"Someone who can create powerful, vivid illusions. But as for who specifically, I have no idea." I replied.
I obviously couldn't just say it was Loki, as I would have no reasonable way to explain how I have that knowledge, not quickly at least.
He dropped Thor onto the ground, his form hitting the earth with a dull thud.
Thor pulled himself to his feet and an exasperated expression appears on his face.
"Doth thou mean to tell me that some trickster is responsible for all this? Only one could be capable of such a heinous deed, my mad brother, Loki!" He explained, lofting his hammer skyward to emphasize his point.
"I assume you saw something on those train tracks that caused you to smash them Hulk?" I queried.
"Dynamite." He grunted.
"And I saw a face in the air outside," I added.
"Wait here noble warriors, for I will go to Asgard at once and bring my treacherous brother here for us to question on the matter!" Thor boomed, and he took into the air with a single leap, ripping right through the side of the tent as he went.
"Wait, we should confront him as a team!" The Wasp called after Thor's rapidly fading form.
"I don't think he can hear you, Lady," Stark commented.
"So, …Hulk, you aren't the mindless monster that people think you are, are you?" I noted.
"Hulk just want to be left alone, but stupid little men chase Hulk everywhere Hulk goes!" He says, the frustration very obvious on his face.
Tony couldn't help but interrupt, "And by stupid little men, you mean the military, correct?"
The only response that he receives is a glare and the tightening of fists.
Iron Man backs off with a, "Alright, alright, sensitive topic, I get it" and promptly moves to address me instead.
"You use your inventions to change your size, correct?" He asked, his uncovered eyes showing me that he was much more interested in my answer than his tone would suggest.
I took a slow deep breath before responding, inwardly cringing at the pseudo lie I was about to tell, "Yes, I designed the helmet, as well as the rest of the equipment I use as Ant-Man."
I tried to wipe the sweat off my face, but immediately remembered I was wearing a helmet when my hand hit solid metal. Stark gave me an odd look, but I shrugged it off.
During this whole adventure so far, I had felt just a bit off. Years' worth of scientific knowledge flooded across my thoughts, on subjects I had previously known nothing about. More importantly, I knew exactly how said Particles could be harnessed to reproduce their size-changing properties.
Already I felt dozens of ideas flowing around in the back of my mind.
Is this what it feels like to be a genius? I'm so used to having to work for months on just one idea, but now dozens of them just pop into my head!
Hold on a minute, in my confusion and excitement over all this I forgot about the most important issue. How and why am I here? This doesn't feel like a delusion, but how would I know if it was?
In the midst of my musings, I had started pacing up and down the length of the circus tent. When I finally looked back up at the others present, they were all looking back at me. Stark and Wasp simply looked bemused, but Hulk looked genuinely annoyed.
Whoops
His face said it all. His eyes narrowed, his brows taught, and his nostrils flaring all alerted me to the potential danger.
It was at this point I realized that I was genuinely afraid of the Hulk. It may have been petty, but I was very much intimidated by his appearance in the moment. It was one thing to see an image of him or watch him in a movie, but standing right next to him and looking him in the eye is a different thing altogether! I had never much liked hot-tempered people, despite the fact that I could occasionally be somewhat hot-tempered myself. Perhaps that makes me a hypocrite, but at the moment that never came to mind.
I raised my hands in front of me to attempt to placate him. His oversized pupils focused in on my hands, and then flicked back to my face.
The back of my neck began to sweat profusely as I took a step back. He evidently noticed my fear, because a small but noticeable smirk appeared on his face.
It was at this moment that Thor returned, flashing across the sky with a struggling shape held under one arm. He descended through the hole in the side of the tent he had made earlier, landing just in front of the group.
Thank heavens for convenient timing!
It was now clear that the shape under Thor's arm was a fruitlessly struggling Loki.
"Unhand me, you overgrown oaf!" He shrieked, desperately slamming his fists against Thor's forearm in a futile effort to dislodge his grip.
That face, just wow, I didn't know it was possible for a face to simultaneously resemble a goat and a rat, but here it is!
Thor tossed him on the ground at the Hulk's feet, "Here is thou enemy, the one who has deceived you!" He boomed, waving his hammer for emphasis.
The Hulk's expression transformed in an instant as a full grin pulled itself across his face.
"HORNED MAN TRICK HULK, HULK SMASH HORNED MAN!" He roared as he made to charge his fallen foe.
Loki scrambled to his feet, his fingers twisting to presumably cast some sort of spell.
"Back, Back, You human dolts! No mortal may lay a hand on Loki! I have powers you never dreamed of!" Loki cried as his body began to glow with an unearthly light.
Iron Man takes a few steps back, and then belted out, "Careful, he's made himself radioactive!"
How the heck does that work?
I called out with my helmet for all the ants in the area to swarm Loki before he can do any real damage. They come fast, but the Hulk is faster.
The Hulk grabs hold of Loki by the shoulder and slams him into one of the tent's metal support poles, which immediately snaps in two upon impact.
Loki lets out a pained moan as the Hulk slams him into the ground, again and again, each time increasing in speed and ferocity. Once Loki is thoroughly battered, the Hulk throws him across the length of the tent.
Loki lands in a crumpled heap upon the hard earth floor of the tent, his robes dirtied, his face bruised, and his horned helmet dented.
"How?" He cries, his radioactive glow rapidly fading, "How could a mere, lowly mortal defeat Loki?"
And then, the ants arrive.
They cover Loki in seconds, swarming over his face and entering his mouth and nose. He screams and flails wildly, trying to get them off
Please work, please work, please work!
"Surrender, and I'll order them to get off you," I said, desperately trying to feign confidence.
"Release him, I shall bring him before my father to receive punishment for his actions," Thor said, as he moved forward towards our incapacitated foe.
I call off my ants, letting them filter off in all directions.
Thor approached Loki's fallen form and heaves him over his shoulder.
This was the moment Ant-Man was meant to propose the alliance that would be known as the Avengers.
I raised my hand and spoke up, "Wait just a moment, I have a proposition."
All four of my companions turns to look at me.
"Hank, what's this about?" The Wasp questioned.
Isn't that supposed to be a secret, Janet?
"I think we should form a more permanent alliance, as together we would be much harder to defeat than if we were alone," I said, glancing at each of them in turn.
Iron Man responded first, "A team? I'm for it!"
Thor answered with a resounding, "Aye, we can do more good together!"
The Hulk replied, "Hulk sick of being hunted and chased, whether you like it or not, Hulk is joining the… What are you calling yourselves?
"I guess you're right, we do need a name." Wasp realized.
Bringing a finger up to tap her cheek, she thought aloud, "I should be something colorful and dramatic, like the Avengers, or…"
I interrupt, "That's perfect! I say we call ourselves the Avengers!"
Ok, I admit it, saying that felt really cool.
A chorus of nods told me that none of the others disagreed.
"From this day forward we are the Avengers, and we shall never be beaten!" exclaimed Thor, his hammer raised skyward dramatically.
I really wish you hadn't said that Thor…
Well, that was fun to write. Hope you all enjoyed it! This won't follow the plot of the comics exactly; I have some major changes planned. My inspiration for this came from both the comics and some of the better cartoons.
This won't be updated quite as often as my Star Wars SI, but this will be a higher priority than anything else I may choose to write in the future.
If you want to join the discord on which I am active, the link is: 9XG3U7a
