{"product_id":"tales-to-astonish-12-october-1960","title":"Tales to Astonish #12 (October 1960)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Appearance \u0026amp; Cover Debut of Gorgilla\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublished by Atlas\/Marvel Comics\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGrade:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.0 (Fair) to 1.5 (Fair\/Good)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Narrative Recap (Or: A Mild Case of Missing Link Misunderstanding)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is something strangely comforting about 1960s comic book logic. A team of respected, presumably tenured scientists travels all the way to Borneo not to discover a cure for tropical diseases, but to find the ancient, calcified hip bone of a human ancestor. Instead of fossilized remains, however, they are greeted by the local villagers with the inconvenient news that the \"missing link\" is not dead at all, but rather alive, furious, and living atop something dramatically named \u003ci\u003eMidnight Mountain\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnter \u003cb\u003eGorgilla\u003c\/b\u003e: a towering, half-man, half-ape monstrosity who seems entirely reasonable in his desire to be left alone. When the scientists inevitably trek up the mountain, Gorgilla naturally attacks them—because that is what one does when strangers burst into one's living room. But just as the expedition is about to meet a gruesome end, a wild Tyrannosaurus Rex inexplicably wanders out of the jungle foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGorgilla, exhibiting a sudden sense of civic duty, pummels the T-Rex into submission. Realizing that Gorgilla chose not to eat them afterwards out of some vague, unexpressed primitive affection for fellow primates, the scientists pack up their notebooks and return to America, agreeing never to bother the giant beast again. (A promise Marvel promptly broke six months later when they dragged Gorgilla to Manhattan to wash skyscraper windows).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor those who appreciate the glorious, pre-superhero Atlas monster era, \u003ci\u003eTales to Astonish #12\u003c\/i\u003e occupies a choice position on the timeline:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Appearance \u0026amp; Origin:\u003c\/b\u003e Debuts Gorgilla, one of Marvel’s most memorable pre-hero monster icons who later crossed over into \u003ci\u003eThe Defenders\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eFin Fang Four\u003c\/i\u003e, and the broader Marvel Universe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJack Kirby \u0026amp; Steve Ditko Mastery:\u003c\/b\u003e Features a classic, towering cover by the legendary duo of \u003cb\u003eJack Kirby\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eDick Ayers\u003c\/b\u003e, with interior story pencils by \u003cb\u003eSteve Ditko\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eJack Kirby\u003c\/b\u003e, and \u003cb\u003eDon Heck\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePre-FF Marvel History:\u003c\/b\u003e Released in October 1960, just one year before \u003ci\u003eFantastic Four #1\u003c\/i\u003e ushered in the Modern Superhero Age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eComplete Condition Report\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThis book has been handled with the enthusiasm typical of a nine-year-old in the early Kennedy administration. It wears its history openly, which is a polite way of saying it has seen better days.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSpine:\u003c\/b\u003e Exhibits heavy wear with partial spine splitting along the lower and middle sections, a noticeable spine roll, and significant color flecking and stress ticks along the fold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFront Cover:\u003c\/b\u003e Shows pronounced creasing with color breaking throughout the image, severe edge wear, corner rounding, and general surface scuffing across the yellow dialogue balloons and Gorgilla's torso.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBack Cover:\u003c\/b\u003e Features a distinct paper tear and loss at the upper-right corner, heavy creasing, and notable foxing\/soiling along the cream margins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eInterior:\u003c\/b\u003e Pages present in \u003cb\u003eOff-White to Cream\u003c\/b\u003e condition with mild, age-appropriate tanning along the outer margins. The paper remains flexible and fully readable without brittleness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOverall Assessment:\u003c\/b\u003e A complete, original, and presentable low-grade placeholder copy (GD\/FR range) of a high-demand Silver Age monster key.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"The Grumpy Apothecary","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55880229355593,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/grumpycomics.com\/products\/tales-to-astonish-12-october-1960","provider":"The Grumpy Apothecary","version":"1.0","type":"link"}