Comic Title: Essential Ant-Man Vol. 1 TPB
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Date: 2002
On Sale Date: February 27, 2002 Direct Market Date February 27, 2002
Source: Previews, Vol. 11 #11 (#155), Vol. 11 #12 (#156)

Direct Market Date February 27, 2002
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, February 27, 2002

Direct Market Date February 27, 2002
Source: Comic Shop News, #763

Cover Price: $14.95
Page Count: 576
Editor: Matthew Ryan

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "The Challenge of Comrade X"
Pages: 13

Feature(s):
Ant Man/Giant Man

Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Dick Ayers

Reprinted From:
Tales to Astonish #36 (1962)

Feature Character(s)

• Ant-Man (last appearance in Tales to Astonish #35; next appearance in Tales to Astonish #37)

Villain(s)

• Comrade X (aka Madame X; no further appearances)
• Several communist spies (no further appearances)
• A gang of bank robbers (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
The Soviets wants to capture Ant-Man to learn the secrets of his size reducing formula. They dispatch Comrade X to execute the mission. A woman claiming to be Comrade X's ex-girlfriend then appears at a police station asking for Ant-Man's help. Through a network of ants, Henry Pym hears the request and responds. The woman reveals to him the plan to capture him.

The woman's information leads Ant-Man to a freighter with communists aboard. They capture him and prepare to take him home with them. However, Ant-Man is able to summon his ant friends to free himself. He then stops the ship and exposes Comrade X as Madame X, the woman who requested his help. Once the authorities arrive to take custody of the communists, Ant-Man departs.