Featuring: Hulk
Release: July 1, 1965
Cover: October 1965
12 cents
Thrills, as only Stan Lee’s story can provide them!
Power, as only Jack Kirby’s layouts can create it!
Drama, as only Mickey Demeo’s artwork can present it!
Sound effects, as only Sam Rosen’s pen point can letter them!
10 pages
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I mustn’t change… I won’t let myself change…!! For… if I change… I die!!
Where were we. Banner has a bullet in his brain. Only alive so long as he stays in Hulk form. He has Banner’s intelligence, but his personality seems darker, more like Hulk’s. The equipment he needs to maintain his Hulk state is in his secret lab, which has been uncovered by the military, who are closing in.
His only way out is to accept an offer of help from his enemy, the Leader.
The Leader is Hulk’s opposite. Both exposed to gamma radiation, Hulk received the world’s most powerful body, while Leader received the world’s most powerful brain. Together, they could be unstoppable.
The Leader transforms Hulk into electro-waves to transport him to Italy. “Matter-portation”, he calls it. Star Trek premieres next year; did the writers read this comic?
I appreciate the Leader’s science experiments; they’ll get this story a higher score. His ambition is to create a new life.
He secretly exposed Hulk to a gas that he himself has built up an immunity to. Similar to what one might do with iocaine powder.
Talbot and Ross discuss their theories about the relationship between Hulk and Banner. Major Talbot suggests Hulk is a product of Banner’s experiments (this is basically true); Ross suggests Hulk is a robot Banner created (this is false, though Hulk once pretended to be a robot in the circus.)
Tying the issue’s two stories together, the Leader gives a casual reference to the Sub-Mariner. Leader’s plans to dominate the world include the undersea world, and he is prepared for a war with Namor. This seems like set-up for a future story, but I don’t think that story ever comes. Correct me if I’m wrong. Otherwise, current Marvel writers: pick up on the plot thread. Show the Leader’s war against Atlantis.
I’ll make an artistic note. With his layouts, Kirby is keeping to the simple panel structure that has been fairly consistent throughout our reading, with pages broken neatly into 3 rows of panels, with each row featuring 1-3 even panels. This is a contrast with what Gene Colan is doing in the Sub-Mariner stories, where each page has a varied panel structure, with large and sometimes non-rectangular panels. Kirby we know has not always used the neat grid structure. It’s a feature of his 60s work, whereas creative panel layouts defined his 40s work.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 57/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Characters:
- Hulk/Bruce Banner
- Leader
- General “Thunderbolt” Ross
- Major Glen Talbot
- Rick Jones
Story notes:
- Hulk under assault in cave from army; Rick Jones has fled; projecto-image of the Leader appears to offer Hulk an alliance.
- Ross still hasn’t figured out that Rick and the Hulk are in league, but Talbot has.
- Military destroys equipment Hulk needs to keep himself from transforming into Banner.
- Gamma-Ray explosion gave Leader the strongest brain on Earth.
- Leader has a network of hidden laboratories throughout the globe serviced by his Humanoids.
- Rick Jones taken into custody for questioning.
- Leader plans to grow amphibious Humanoids for a war against the Sub-Mariner’s kingdom.
- Ends with Hulk on verge of changing into Banner.
| Previous | #384 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #72 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #73 |
| Tales to Astonish #72 | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #73 |
