Tales to Astonish #81, Story B

The Stage is Set!

Featuring: Hulk
Release: April 5, 1966
Cover: July 1966
12 cents
Hulkable script by: Stan Lee
Hulksome layout by: Jack Kirby
Hulkorious art by: Bill Everett
Hulkated lettering by: Sam Rosen
Costumes by Tibor of Transylvania!
10 pages

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Tales to Astonish #81Reading orderTales of Suspense #79
Tales to Astonish #81Tales to AstonishTales to Astonish #82

“His boomerang is causing a rock slide!”
“It’s returning to him like an arrow!”

A lot happening in this issue. For Hulk, he’s finishing up his encounter with Tyrannus and Mole Man from last issue. But in the background, important villains are being introduced. They will set up a confusing mess of coming issues.

The secret empire known as Hydra has fallen. Nick Fury and Captain America have been having trouble with a new secret empire called Them, which may be connected to AIM. Now we meet a new secret empire, known as, er, the Secret Empire.

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Incredible Hulk #5

Beauty and the Beast!
Featuring: Hulk
Release: November 1, 1962
Cover: January 1963
12 cents
Script: Stan Lee
Art: Jack Kirby
Inking: Dick Ayers
11 pages

I read this story in Incredible Hulk Omnibus vol. 1.

In a twist from the usual, the titular “Beauty” in this story is likely a man: Tyrannus by name. At least, that’s my interpretation of the title, given how beautiful he is. Though I guess he’s more of the Gaston character in the story. So maybe Betty is the beauty. Hmm… well, let’s read on.

Who is the Beauty in the picture?

Dr. Banner is the top scientist on Ross’ staff, assigned to help capture the Hulk. Rick Jones is his assistant. But Rick is known to have connections to the Hulk: they have been seen together often; Rick has been seen riding on Hulk’s back; in fact, the military once asked Rick to bring the Hulk to them and he did; then, Rick took over the controls of a military rocket and helped Hulk escape. Ross is well aware of all this. And yet Rick is still part of the government team to help capture Hulk.

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