Featuring: Hulk
Release: June 1, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Stunning story: Stan Lee
Lavish layouts: Jack Kirby
Awesome art: Mickey Demeo
Luscious lettering: Artie Simek
10 pages
| Previous | #382 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #71 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #72 |
| Tales to Astonish #71 | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #72 |
Don’t ever call me “Doc”! Dr. Banner is dead! From now on, I’m just the Hulk!
Notice Kirby is only credited with layouts. Mike Esposito (alias Mickey Demeo) is the credited artist.
We get a scene with a poetic callback, perhaps intentional. Rick rushes into the path of a blast to save Hulk just as Banner had once raced into the path of an explosion to save Rick.
Are they using nuclear weapons on American soil? That seems like a big deal. Oh, I guess this is a “clean bomb”, which leaves no radioactive fallout. I feel better, I guess.
The new status quo is pretty confusing. Hulk apparently has Banner’s mind, but also insists Banner is dead. And his speech reminds us more of Hulk’s.
Rick notes this, that his personality is not really Banner’s, even if he has Banner’s intelligence.
The story ends on what is perhaps a major turning point. Hulk’s lab which he’s used since the beginning stands exposed. The military have found the location. They used to lock Hulk up here, and it’s here that Banner built machines to keep Hulk under control. And now Hulk depends on that machinery to stay alive, due to the bullet lodged in Banner’s brain.
Rating: ★★½, 48/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I read this story in The Incredible Hulk Epic Collection vol. 2: The Hulk Must Die.
Characters:
- Hulk/Dr. Banner
- Rick Jones
- Major Talbot
- General Ross
- Leader
Story notes:
- Hulk leaps out of reach of mushroom cloud with Rick.
- Leader destroys Humanoid to keep it from being analyzed. He has failed in his demonstration to the Soviets.
- Leader watches Hulk with TV scanner (a common device).
- Hulk gives Rick CPR.
- Bullet will kill him if he changes back; must use machines every 48 hours.
- Leader can project himself and transport Hulk to him by his ray.
- Leader will rescue Hulk in exchange for his service.
| Previous | #382 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #71 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #72 |
| Tales to Astonish #71 | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #72 |
