ISSUE #1- “PUPPETS WITH NO STRINGS” WRITTEN BY JAKE S. COHEN ~ VISUALS BY RAYMOND GRIFFITH ITH FLATTING HELP FRON EROS DE NARDI Green INGS ANP WELCOME TO ASTOUNPING TALES! IN AN ERA TEEMING WITH S0 MANY ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS, YOUR ATTENTION IS TRULY APPRECIATED. STARTING WITH THE PRODUCTION OF ASTOUNZING TALES #0; THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF A YEAR'S. WORTH OF HARP WORK ANP CREATIVITY. RAMPAGING RAY GRIFFITH AND I ARE DELIGHTED TO PRESENT TO YOU THE FIRST FEATURE-LENGTH STORY ABOLIT A SPECIAL GIRL NAMED S/LL/E AND THE WONDROUS WORLD SHE INHABITS. JOIN US AS SHE NAVIGATES ATTENDING GENE RODDENBERRY MIDDLE SCHOOL WHILE ALSO USING HER SM/QUE ABILITIES TO HELP HER COMMUNITY. OF COURSE, I HOPE YOU ENJOY READING THIS. ROLLICKING ADVENTURE, BUT EVEN MORE SO, MY HOPE IS IT IGNITES A BIT OF WONDER WITHIN YOU. AFTER ALL, THAT 1S THE BEAUTY OF STORY, IT CAN NOT ONLY SHOW US WHAT IS POSSIBLE BUT ALSO INSPIRE US TO PREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE. WITH HUMBLE GRATITUDE, JAKE COHEN, CHIEF WORDSMITH AT THE IMAGINARIUM & BIG WHEEL AT THE CRACKER FACTORY. “A beginning is a very delicate time.” — Frank Herbert P.. - WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENT FEATURED IN A FLITURE ISSUE OF ASTOUNDING TALES? DIRECT MESSAGE THE ASTOUNDING TALES TEAM ON TWITTER, @ASTOLINPINGCOMIX= TX EVEN IF HALE THE CRAZY STUFF You SAID IS TRUE, THAT'S REASON ENOUGH TO FIND HER. /, AND ALL UNDER THE GUISE OF MATIONAL JACK, IT WAS CRAZY How Easy sH= PULLED )———4 APART THAT ROBOT! How Do YOU KNOW 2. YOU DONT J GIVE ME ENOUGH THE ROBOT WAS PROBABLY hl CREDIT. ‘s0IN KIND OF PROTOTYPE AND YI THEY SENT N AN ELITE operative VI TO RETRIEVE THE PLOT BE-oRs fl FORGIVE WE, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT Stee ae (OF THE GLY WHO GOT A er acacsra, THIS 16 NOT ANOTHER RAMPAGING MONSTER OR (COSTUMED VILLAN. WE ARE GONG TO NEED SOME SECURED THE CRIME SCENE. ‘OUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME FIGHTER, ‘AND HER SIDEKICK \EATS ALL OLR CEE 290, woreasa | oy SHE WAS SORT OF consiatiens, | ( oumne THe BATTLE aye me, UKE ME. WITH THE ROBOT TODAY BUT THAT'S. 4 NCU THATS. THERE WAG A GIRL, RIGHT NOW. SHE HAS POWERS AND STUFF, BUT JACK AND T THINK THE GOVERNMENT; OR ILITARY. WHATEVER THE GROUP Is, ITS SOMETHING SECRET AND EVIL, AND 11'S CONTROLLING FER, AND I NEED TO (REBCUE HER.TW Tixcusnour msrorr, rHexe ware seen | VW ov iouals Tar hive Exlere GUTsipe UM TATONS OF THe NATURAL WORLD." Wal | SEVER SINCE 196 fy WHEN THE PUBLIC BECAME AWARE QE INDIVIDUALS WITH EXTRACRDINARY ABILITIES, SOME Sale PEARED THeoe NOVIDUALS MIGHT BE EXPLOITED OR EXPERIMENTED ON FOR NEFARIOUS PURPOSES.” (7 [$1 \ RT / UNFORTUNATELY, VSS THE ONLY WAY TO GET nore KS Touct wim ans To) SREATY \ a. Ses um'n pereaow, ; A rae! KoARACHNID-MAN, MY DAUGHTER BLLIE SAD THE YOUNG WOMAN 16 POSEIBLY EPECIAL OPERATIONS, AND POSSESSES SUPER STRENGTH. THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX HAS TRIED TO EXCLOT PEOPLE LIKE YOUR DAUGHTER AND 2 SINCE THEY FIRST BECAME AWARE OF MyarERY MEN DURING WORLD WAR IL. ne Den 50° ee Wale ase ARACHNID-MAN, DON'T THINK T CAN I JUST KNOW SHE NEEDS OUR len BENG THERE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP OuR RESPONSIBILITY? You sap YourseuF A MONENT AGO THAT NEFARIOUS ACTORS ‘ARE TRYING TO. EXPLOIT SUPERS. I KNOW YOU WON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON ONE OF YOUR OWN. ALRIGHT, KID. 7 IT'S YOUR FUNERAL, EVER HEAR? OF HE SOMEHOW LANDED A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT AND IS QUICKLY SUBVERTING ‘A CLASSIFIED MILITARY BASE IN ALASKA FOR His OWN WeRaR/ouieBULLE LOVES HER FATHER AND KNOWS HE LOVES HER, w" & THs UNSETTLING PEEL; SOMETHING Nel TRULY KNOW THIS MAN SHE CA WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT LOANED Us. THE JET Ne ON THE 7asK AT HAND,SHE 18 STRUCK BY HOW VOUNG THE GIR Tas TAgie Is, she KNOWS "us ORDERS" 1 NOTA BUPEICIENT RATIONALE. wy 21> you) COME HERE? Q MA HERO, \ FANTASTIC, A ROBOT — Ti (Gaz TJ ecovent, 0 Now z ee! HAVE A PROSTHETIC WAS IN AN | Ane sHe's cme mer | rcawe to HELP HER! LIKE You, BUT SHE'S NO MACHNE,\ WELL, WELL, WELL MR, CARTER KANE, YOU | Continue 10 DIeAPPOWT MISTER ROGERS AND I. MISTER ROGERS CAN CRACK HIS HEAD | URE AN EGG; AND CARTER KNOWS [T. BEFORE I EVEN CONSIDER GING YOU ANOTHER CHANCE; I MUST HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY IN A CLEVELAND SUBURB, WE SEE A MORE WHOLESOME SCENE TRANSPIRE pai = i CEH 7 We Have a PooL, GUINEA PIGS; AND THE PIZZA PLACE WE (ORDER FROM IS Larer THAT CAY, ARTER THE PIZZA AND I WAS ALWAYS TALL FOR MY AGE. SMALL TALK; RACHEL AND PROFESEOR , POTTS HAVE A FRANK CONVERSATION. Sesnsaneeae a daasLtanemnAecdaama RACHEL, THANK SUDDENLY Iny. YOU FOR FREEING POWERS KICKED 51'S NOT Like HOW DID You GET CHANEL WANTS, TANGLED UP WITH SUCH ALINEBACKER TO WALK THE Woulp accerr if X DIDNT THINK ( Decent peorLe ‘DR. MULLER sae: THE OFFICER'S COLLAR /S DAMP WITH FLOP SWEAT. HE KNOWS HE'S OUT OF HIS DEPTH.S nice 508 = ee HERO! - ano wat \ sou ve a cat your \" sy 1 wee S700N6 ree. on Poll THANK YOU orricer, BUT WE; UM, NEE? To; GOING. YOURE QurTe THE TRIPLE THREAT STRONG GIRL. SONETINES THE FIRE FIGHTERS EVEN BRING A WE SHOULD HELP (OUR COMMUNITY; Burr povT REALLY LIKE BEING THE CENTER OF WHY Do You CARE IF PEOPLE NOTICE YOu? = yours POWERFUL AND way WouLe 7He \\ CAPTAIN OF Tre FooTeALL Team | WANT TO DATE Is HARD To FEEL AGIRL THAT CAN CUTE WHEN YOURE BIGGER BENCH PRESS AN? STRONGER THAN EVERY | WIS CAR LZ WeLL sovetines IT WOLLD BE NCE TO JUST ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON ME BEING FREAKISHLY STRONG. I WOULDN'T WANT TO. DATE AVYONE WHO WASN'T PROUP OF ME OR ALL OF MY ABLITIES. FOR You 70 Sav. YOURE STILLI'S A PEACEFUL NIGHT IN THE SUBURBS, TV'S ILLUMINATE LIVING Rous (THs sareat. I FORGOT HOW MUCH ) eee) per S TM NOT sue [wiv'res 20 mace ( “eun'ro warox || AweuL actors, BUT [7 16. BiLLie AND RACHEL WAVE PUTT BEANE THEM AND ARE ENTOYING EACH OTHER'S COMPANY. [ [1 ( | Paras {B17 OF AN AUKARD WALK HOME AFTER THE “S.WA.T, INCIDENT® BOTH 7. oN / -\ (rome (xr wore oF ( wane vou | ALONGING THAN MISSING THEM. WHAT DO. THANK, BILLIE, fe ipeeeael /__1 Hove THis ENT weRD, BUT I WAS KND OF WONDERING BECAUCE mies MY MOM AND ALL... SAYING T miss \ THEM wouLp Be \ WRONS BECALSE IVE NEVER HAD | / PROPER PARENTS. | I LIKE TO THINK THEY TRED THEIR BEST, BUT NAYBE NOT EVERYONE IS MEANT 70 BE A PARENT,SORRY TOO, PRO} 5, BUT I CANNOT A\ EXISTENCE, NOR ASSOCIATION WITH THE SUBJECT YOU MAY, OR UNTED MAY NOT, BE REFERRING FOR ONE OF THEM. =m sorry, AGENT HERMAN, THAT I CAN'T BE OF BETTER HELP. BUT I'm SuRE YOUR SUPERIORS WILL BE PLEASED TO HAVE THEIR ASSET BACK.HELLO LADIES, HOW ARE WE THE MORNING? DON'T BE SUCH A CARBON-BASED CHALNINIST, RACHEL, CONSIDER ALL THAT 16 YOU, LIKE MEMORIES AND PERSONALITY; EVEN YOUR DMid. ESSENTIALLY, IT'S ALL INFORMATION AND YOUR BRAWN I A MEAT COMPUTER PROCESSING AND STORING THIS INFORMATION. HOWEVER, IF YOU WERE NO LONGER RELIANT ON AUMAN BIOLOGY TO STORE THAT INFORMATION, IT COULD BE PRESERVED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN A CLOUP-SACED STORAGE OR A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE BODY SAY THE CHEST CAVITY, OR THE BUTTOCKS. PROFESEOR POTTS, Tm REALLY Hay BILLIE IS FINE, BUT HOW. I6 SHE ALRIGHT AFTER HER HEAD WAS SMASHED Like THAT? WELL BILLIE, Locke LIKE You Have zrecevinn Y OF A WILD FEW PAYS, HOW ARE You FEELING KIDDO? (I FEEL GREAT. ‘AND YOU KNOW WHAT DAP? weep nw waving asic [INN SISTER. hay TRY TO PLAY IT COOL BILLIE. YOURE COMING ON ‘ABIT STRONG. DON'T WORRY PROFESSOR POTTS, (78 Cock. I FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT MY LITTLE SISTER.TWO MONTHS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE INCIDENT. WITH CARTER (CANE, AND Tile LOVELY MONOTONE OF EVERY DAY LIFE Has BEGUN TO TARE HOLD WITH EACH PASSING DAY, (We REALLY LucKED out | Har your mew siszie Has A DRIVER'S LICENSE, RACHEL, ARE YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO COME WITH US TO AWAZE-CONF (rea, zm ) SURE Guy: —_ x = 2’M GOINS To MEET \ UP WITH SOME ERIENDS (OLD ENOUGH 70 GET INTO APES REMEMBER £ MENTIONED THAT FAMILY THAT LET US BORROW THE \ ( SUPERSONIC JET? THEY NEED OUR ASSISTANCE. COMETHING ABOUT A DIMENSIONAL 4THIS BOOK COULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT THE HELP. OF THESE WONPERFUL HUMAN BEINGS! E.J. BOCAN GIG] COHEN ANDREW BULTHAUPT LENNON PATTON | BRIXALOTL BRIDGET JENNY VILLA SPENCER GERSHENSON MICAH HEBERT LEE EMERSON DEAN NEVINS DEANNA SHEA DKO PC HILLARY GERSHENSON JOHN DAVIS DOROTHY GRIFFITH JOHN LANGE STEVE (LA-Z-RIDER) IR LINPA HIESIGER CAM THE PURPLE DRAGON SUSANNAH LIVENGOO? BRYAN OAKLEY MATTHEW GRAY KETS EDWARP F HARVEY JR GLOBAL FREQUENCY STUDIOS JAY ARRR JESSICA MELBER JONATAN D. PENA-BAEZ MIK HENDRIX RAY KREMER STEPHEN STRUBLE VINNY AVILA J. RENNER ADAM ROSSI ALEJANDRA HERMAN JAMISON DIGREGORIO BRENDAN BRIAN GRODOFSKY BRIAN TUMBLESTON CHRIS WUCHTE DAVIP GORDON DOUG KNIGHT ERIC GAY FRANK LAMONICA JASON CRASE JOSEPH ASH JOSEPH SOLANO KEVIN "KELTARIAN" GOINGS KEVIN A. HINKLE KEVIN MCHENRY LEE LEWELIN POLANCO MICHAEL MICHAEL SAMMLER MHAIL BRAILA NICK 6, ROB TCHAIKOWITZ SETH PEACOCK STEPHANIE HUNSAKER RAIN KING STUDIOS XCCT WILL LEWIS ANP A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR DIGITAL BACKERS AS WELL, YOU CAN READ? A COMPLETE NAME LIST AT WWW.FUNNYF/GS.COM/THANKYOL/4 ee =— People love Astounding Tales! ade Reale ana. scales THROWBACK TO THE COMICS WE ENJOYED AS KIDS...THE ART \S TOP NOTCH AND THE STORY bao aod mag TAT el ae Dea aan cu ul ad lea “JESSE KEPLER, CREATOR OF “ROBO” Robe hua ag a Bella Lid WHAT WAS HER FIRST BATTLE LIKE? ECR Nr) ee at Ch ALL THIS AND MORE IN ASTOUNDING TALES ISSUE HO: SECRET ORIGINGL GET IT FOR FREE NOW BY EIN Nat ea aa