Featuring: Hulk
Release: August 4, 1964
Cover: November 1964
12 cents
Author: The incomparable Stan Lee
Illustrator: The inimitable Steve Ditko
Inker: The indescribable George Bell
Letterer: The inevitable S. Rosen
10 pages
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|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #61 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #62 |
| Tales to Astonish #61 | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #62 |
Last issue, Bruce Banner built a robot. (They call it a robot, but it’s more like Iron Man’s armor, since somebody needs to be inside to pilot it.) An unnamed spy stole it. Hulk fought the “robot” to a stalemate. The robot escaped. Since the story didn’t end there, it might have been nice to read this next chapter immediately. Except… this Hulk story will basically never end. So we take the breaks where we can.
The robot has now found Hulk’s secret cave laboratory. Ditko really likes the shot of Hulk’s visage standing over Bruce’s shoulder.
Meanwhile, we meet Major Glen Talbot. He’s in charge of security now and suspects Bruce Banner is a traitor due to a pattern of suspicious behavior General Ross had noted. The Pentagon agrees with Ross’ assessment that Banner should be investigated.
Talbot shows an interest in Betty, encouraged by he father, who does not approve of her interest in Bruce Banner. Because he’s a milksop. And also possibly a traitor.
Hulk’s motivations remain unclear. He is both Banner and not Banner. He’s been willing to try being a hero, hence his stint with the Avengers. Sometimes he loses control, a bit. Here, we see the more heroic side of his personality. The robot tries to destroy the base with a missile and Hulk doesn’t hesitate to stop it. He knows he needs to save the base, even though the soldiers there will never stop hunting him.
Last issue, the story was unresolved as the robot was still out there. This time, we really have a cliffhanger, with Hulk a prisoner, perhaps about to change back to Banner in front of the military. So we’ll go straight to the next issue, starting with the Giant-Man/Wasp adventure.
The cover really spoiled the last page, come to think of it.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 57/100
Significance: ★★★★☆
I read this story in The Incredible Hulk Epic Collection vol. 2: The Hulk Must Die. You can also find the story in Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk vol. 2. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Hulk/Dr. Bruce Banner
- Major Glen (or Glenn) Talbot
- General “Thunderbolt” Ross
- Betty Ross
Story notes
- Banner’s pulse quickens, making him change into the Hulk.
- Flirtation between Betty and Talbot encouraged by the General.
- Robot falls into bottomless pit.
- Hulk saves base from missile but is knocked unconscious.
- Hulk restraints built by Tony Stark based on Banner’s theories.
- Talbot’s first name is spelled both “Glen” and “Glenn”.
| Previous | #266 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #61 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #62 |
| Tales to Astonish #61 | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #62 |
