Tales to Astonish ##43
Marvel Comics • Tales to Astonish Vol. 1
Writer
Stan Lee, Ernie Hart (H.E. Huntley)
Interior Artist
Don Heck
Cover Artist
Jack Kirby, Sol Brodsky
Publication Date
May 1963
Cover Variant
Regular (12-cent price)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
In this issue, Ant-Man (Hank Pym) battles 'The Mad Master of Time' (Kala). The villain uses a ray to age Ant-Man into an elderly man. This story is significant for the introduction of the Chrono-Beam and exploring the biological vulnerabilities of Pym's size-changing powers.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Good (CGC 4.0)
Condition Details
Notable spine wear with visible stress lines (ticks), moderate corner blunting, visible tanning/yellowing of the cover paper stock, and minor surface soiling and creases typical of a mid-grade Silver Age comic. Darker edging on left indicates light staining or oxidation.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $150 - $250; Graded (CGC 4.0): $300 - $450
Recent Sales
Recent sales for mid-grade CGC 4.0 to 5.0 copies ranging from $325 to $550 depending on eye appeal; lower-grade raw copies frequently sell between $120 and $180.
Grading Recommendation
Worth grading if the goal is preservation or long-term sale, but value gain may be offset by fees given the mid-grade condition. A 'Press and Clean' service is recommended to potentially bump the grade to a 4.5 or 5.0 by removing surface soiling and light non-color-breaking creases.
Notable Features
Includes a 5-page backup story 'The Man in the Beehive' (art by Steve Ditko). Notable Silver Age Ant-Man solo cover. Features the second appearance of the character 'Kala' (though this is a different version than the Queen of the Netherworld).
Authentication Notes
Authentic Silver Age Marvel comic. Displays correct 12-cent price box, 'MC' logo in the top left, and appropriate paper oxidation/tanning consistent with 1960s newsprint. Staple placement appears original.