Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #28
Published February 1975
Frequency Bi-Monthly
Cover Price 0.25 USD
Pages 36
Editing Len Wein
Notes Indicia title is Astonishing Tales & Deathlok.

Cover Details - "My rifle is jammed! The odds are five-to-one against me..."

Characters Deathlok [Luther Manning]
Genre Science Fiction
Pencils Rich Buckler (signed)
Inks Rich Buckler (signed)
Letters Gaspar Saladino
Notes Letters credit from George Olshevsky's Marvel Comics Index #7B.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Deathlok (Marvel, 2009 series) #1

16 page Deathlok story "Five To One, Deathlok...One In Five...No One Here Gets Out Alive!"

Characters Deathlok [Luther Manning]; Major Simon Ryker (Villain); Nina; Janice Manning (Flashback); Mike Travers; Linc Shane (Introduction, named in next issue)
Synopsis Deathlok wanders off from his home with no particular plan except to find Major Simon Ryker and kill him. In the meantime Major Ryker sends his men and a super-tank powered by Nina's mind functioning in rapport with his omni-computer to intercept and kill him. The story ends in a face-off of these forces.
Genre Science Fiction
Script Rich Buckler
Pencils Rich Buckler
Inks Rich Buckler
Colors Linda Lessmann
Letters Gaspar Saladino (page 1); Karen Mantlo (as Karen Pocock)
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Deathlok (Marvel, 2009 series) #1

Half page The Origins of Marvel Comics promo (ad from the publisher) "The Origins of Marvel Comics!"

Characters Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Spider-Man; Silver Surfer; Dr. Strange; Thor; Sub-Mariner; Hulk [Bruce Banner]; Thing
Genre Superhero
Script ? (promo copy)
Letters Typeset
Notes Promo for the book The Origins of Marvel Comics using a reprint of the cover ($9.95 for cloth, $5.95 for paper), appears between pages 3 and 4 of the story sequence.

Half page Mighty Marvel Calendar for 1975 promo (ad from the publisher) "The Mighty Marvel Calendar for 1975!"

Characters Thor; Spider-Man; Dracula; Hulk [Bruce Banner]; Captain America [Steve Rogers]; Mr. Fantastic; Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Thing; Conan
Script ? (promo copy)
Letters Typeset
Notes Promo for the Mighty Marvel Calendar for 1975 using the cover (cost $3.95, Spiral-Bound), appears between pages 11 and 12 of the story sequence.

1 page Mindlocks; Marvel Value Stamp letters page "Mindlocks"

Characters Deathlok [Luther Manning]; Dr. Doom
Pencils Rich Buckler; ?
Inks Pablo Marcos; ?
Letters Typeset
Notes Letters from (and replies to) Dave Kalis, David Hogan and M. Also includes a partial reprint of a panel from Astonishing Tales #26 and Marvel Value Stamp #84 featuring Dr. Doom. Appears between pages 12 and 13 of the story sequence.

Half page Marvel Comics Subscriptions promo (ad from the publisher) "Be A Mighty Marvel Salesperson!"

Characters Spider-Man; Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic; Invisible Girl; Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Thing]; Hulk [Bruce Banner]
Script ? (promo copy)
Colors ? (line art & water-color, painted)
Letters Typeset
Notes Promo for Marvel Comics subscriptions where you can 12 comics for the price of 8 (if you buy $10 worth you get a poster with Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and the Hulk as a bonus). Appears between pages 12 and 13 of the story sequence.

Half page 3 Dimensional Marvel Superheroes Action Scenes promo (ad from the publisher) "3 Dimensional Marvel Superheroes Action Scenes"

Characters Spider-Man; Kraven; Hulk [Bruce Banner]; Hydra
Genre Superhero
Script ? (promo copy)
Letters Typeset
Notes Promo for 3 Dimensional Marvel Superheroes Action Scenes featuring Spider-Man versus Kraven and Hulk versus Hydra ($2.70 each). Appears between pages 12 and 13 of the story sequence.

Half page Spider-Man Toys; Super-Heroes promo (ad from the publisher) "Spider-Man Toys"

Characters Spider-Man; Captain America [Steve Rogers]
Genre Superhero
Script ? (promo copy)
Letters Typeset
Notes Promos for Spider-Man toys and Marvel Superhero figures Spider-Man and Captain America, appears between pages 12 and 13 of the story sequence.

1 page Marvel Bullpen Bulletins; Stan Lee's Soapbox promo (ad from the publisher) "Marvel Bullpen Bulletins: Paeans and Self-Plaudits From the Pundits of Pandemonium! [February 1975]; Stan Lee's Soapbox"

Characters Thor
Synopsis Stan Lee says that Roy Thomas wants to write more so he will become Editor Emeritus which will let him script more Marvel Masterworks. Next issue will list the new editorial lineup in detail. Stan also announces that the first Marvel Con will be in New York over Easter and he is frantically trying to juggle his schedule so that he can do as many college lectures as possible. Items about welcoming Frank Robbins (the artist and writer of the Johnny Hazard newspaper comic-strip) who will follow up his Morbius work in Adventures Into Fear with work on Captain America (giving Sal Buscema a rest) and The Invaders (a brand new 50 cent comic), Gene Colan will swap comics with Frank Brunner (Gene will now work with Steve Englehart and Klaus Janson on Dr. Strange and Frank will be the artist for Giant-Size Man-Thing), Giant-Size Kid Colt will feature western team-ups, Giant-Size Chillers #1 features art by Alcala Alcazar, Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #1 features Dr. Doom and Sub-Mariner, the X-Men are returning in a giant-size comic, Marvel Preview #1 (featuring "Man-Gods From Beyond the Stars") was delayed but should be on sale in a few weeks and Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #1 is on sale complete with comic-strip versions of stories like Wyndham's Day of the Triffids masterpiece, Bob Shaw's stunning "Slow Glass" tales plus art and story by the likes of Colan, Conway, Freas, Adams, Williamson, Isabella and Kaluta plus an exclusive, photo-filled interview with Ray Bradbury. Also has a small promo for a Thor Treasury Edition using an illustration of Thor.
Script ? (promo copy); Stan Lee
Letters Typeset

1 page Marvel Treasury Edition #2 starring the Fantastic Four promo (ad from the publisher) "You Wanted It...You've Got It!"

Characters Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic; Invisible Girl; Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Thing]
Genre Superhero
Script ? (promo copy)
Pencils John Romita
Inks John Romita ?
Letters Typeset
Notes Promo for Marvel Treasury Edition #2 starring the Fantastic Four (100 pages, 10" x 14", stories by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby), using a reprint of the cover.

1 page Marvel Treasury Special, Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag promo (ad from the publisher) "Guess Who's Coming To Christmas Dinner?"

Characters Hulk [Bruce Banner]; Thor; Captain America [Steve Rogers]; Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Thing; Spider-Man
Genre Superhero
Script ? (promo copy)
Pencils John Buscema
Inks John Buscema
Letters Typeset
Notes Promo for Marvel Treasury Edition, Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag (100 pages, 10" x 14", 14 Marvel Super-Stars), using a reprint of the cover.

Half page Strange Tales; Warlock promo (ad from the publisher) "You Demanded Him...You've Got Him!"

Characters Warlock
Script ? (promo copy)
Pencils Jim Starlin ?
Inks Jim Starlin ?
Colors Jim Starlin ?
Letters Typeset
Notes Promo for Strange Tales #178 starring Warlock using an illustration of Warlock.