In this episode:
Mike and Ed discuss the ramifications of Ant-Man eavesdropping on everyone in the city through his network of ants and insects.
In this issue:
The criminal underworld is petrified of Ant-Man. They resort to hiring Egghead, a brilliant but corrupt scientist, to figure out how to defeat their tiny nemesis. Egghead studies ants and figures out how to communicate with them much like Ant-Man. He then sets up a fake robbery and spreads the word to Ant-Man through the ants, who lead Ant-Man into a trap. Ant-Man escapes the trap and takes the fight to Egghead and his accomplices, easily besting them. It turns out that Ant-Man knew of Egghead’s plans - the ants were loyal to Ant-Man and told him all about it. Defeated and disgraced, Egghead wanders away towards a life of irrelevance.
Assumed before the next episode:
The public, having learned that Ant-Man is spying on the entire city, is wrestling with the notion of security vs. freedom, and considering whether living in a city effectively run by a masked vigilante working with the police is a good idea.
This episode takes place:
After the public has learned of Ant-Man’s extensive spy network throughout the city.
Episode 30: Yes, the ants are listening to you - Ant-Man and the police state (Tales to Astonish #38) - Dec 1962