Astonishing Tales 1970 #25 - 8.5 - $225.00

Deathlok is shown to be a cybernetic organism with a human mind that has the ability to override its internal computer. Deathlok has a flashback showing that his old army buddy Major Simon Ryker is responsible for his creation. The conclusion of the story reveals that Simon Ryker is also a cyborg.

This sequence features preliminary Deathlok sketches by Rich Buckler along with a purported conversation transcript between Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler, and Doug Moench.

After the writer and artist keep throwing discarded ideas for a new character in the waste basket, Deathlok rises from it.

On-sale date from Comic Reader (Street Enterprises, 1973 series) #106, May 1974.

• Is He Man -- or Machine -- or Monster? - The cover copy evokes that of Incredible Hulk #1.
• A Cold Knight's Frenzy - Inking information from the text article in the issue.
• Marvel Bullpen Bulletins: Of Mix-Ups, Monsters, and Matrimony! [August 1974]; Stan Lee's Soapbox; Mighty Marvel Mini-Checklist - Stan Lee talks about the new "The Origin of Marvel Comics" book and some of its contents. He also thanks Worcester Polytech University for the rollicking reception they gave him. Items about how they are discontinuing the 35 cent and 60 cent comics and replacing them with 68 page 50 cent comics with feature-length 30 page stories (starting with Giant-Size Spider-Man #1 (co-starring Dracula), Giant-Size Defenders #1 and Giant-Size Avengers #1), a promo for Deathlok, the Demolisher conceived and drawn by Rich Buckler and scripted by Doug Moench starring in Astonishing Tales #25, 1974 is the Marvel Age of Comics-Phase two!, for the first time in many moons they are not debuting any new comics this month (except for new Giant-Size comics and the Deathlok premiere in Astonishing Tales) but they are just slowing down to catch their breath, Murray Friedman (Assistant Production Manager) married Adrienne, Gerry Conway married Carla Joseph (Roy Thomas' super-secretary and an off-broadway playwright) and next time they will tell us of more bargains we can get with a complete set of Marvel Value Stamps. Mighty Marvel Mini-Checklist for comics now on sale! listed with a synopsis are Giant-Size Spider-Man #1, Giant-Size Man-Thing #1, Giant-Size Fantastic Four #2, Dracula Lives #7, (Tales of the) Zombie #6, Haunt of Horror #2 and Savage Tales #5. Also includes a small illustration of Deathlok from Astonishing Tales #25. Appears between pages 13 and 14 of the main story sequence.
• - Promo for Giant-Size Spider-Man #1 using a reprint of the cover. Also plugs the upcoming Giant-Size Avengers and Giant-Size Conan comics.
• - This two-page humor strip is George P?rez' first published work.
• - Letters from: Brian Wilkes Prescott, Gil Johnson, and Tom Garland.
• Marvel Value Stamp #68 - Son of Satan [Daimon Hellstrom] - Illustration from Marvel Spotlight (Marvel, 1971 series) #13 cover.