Featuring: Hulk
Release: January 4, 1966
Cover: April 1966
12 cents
Story by: Stan Lee (Certainly!)
Layouts by: Jack Kirby (Naturally!)
Artwork by: Bill Everett (Surprisingly!)
Lettering by: Sam Rosen
10 pages
| Previous | #489 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #78 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #79 |
| Tales to Astonish #78 | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #79 |
Everett is on art now. We know him as the creator of Sub-Mariner, who told Namor’s original stories. And as the co-creator of Daredevil with Stan Lee, who worked on that series for a single issue. He was removed for being very over-deadline. I think a full-length comic for an entirely new character takes longer than a 10 page Hulk story.
Nonetheless, Kirby is brought in for layouts. Though Everett is the more senior of the two and has long been a writer/artist.
Hulk’s story hasn’t had a pause to breathe since he got his new title. No sooner had the Leader finally been defeated than Hulk was transported into the future. Thinking him dead, Rick revealed Banner’s secret to Major Talbot. But Hulk lives, and has returned from the future.
Has Talbot not told anybody his news yet? Not even Ross?
Dr. Zaxon is the new top scientist to replace Banner. Note, Dr. Zaxon should not be confused with the Thor villain, Dr. Zaxton.
In another big moment, Rick tells Betty the truth! Now Betty and Talbot both know the secret! Will they both die or come down with amnesia?
Rick couldn’t have waited 5 minutes to learn Hulk was in fact alive. Oops.
Hulk’s rage softens at the sight of Betty, but only briefly.
Unlike Banner, Zaxon actually is a bad dude. He plans to siphon Hulk’s power for himself. His plans include racist/colonial desires toward the nations he deems primitive. (A bit of a rough touch, Stan and Jack.)
He imagines himself as Zaxon the First. His imagination matches that of other villains we have seen.
Does his suit look like it’s ripped off Iron Man?
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 52/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Characters:
- Hulk
- Major Talbot
- Dr. Konrad Zaxon
- Betty Ross
- Rick Jones
Minor characters:
- Charlie (soldier)
Story notes:
- Brain of Banner becoming dulled, bestial savage mind of Hulk taking over.
- Talbot had troops on alert, and they spotted Hulk.
- Major Talbot welcomes Banner’s replacement, Dr. Zaxon, to Southwest Missile Command
- Zaxon specializes in organic energy, whereas Banner specialized in Gamma Rays.
- Talbot orders Plan H activated.
- Hulk shot into hole where pore gas is released
- Hulk makes it out of the hole dizzy and falls into another.
- Talbot orders continued gas bombardment, then orders men to Project Control.
- Talbot goes to tell Betty and Rick Hulk is alive.
- Rick tells Betty the truth; he compares Banner and Hulk to Jekyll and Hyde. Notes that Banner saved him from Gamma Bomb explosion and took brunt himself.
- Talbot tells Betty and Rick he’s trapped the Hulk and Rick realizes his mistake.
- Hulk trapped by anti-matter tripwires.
- Hulk’s rage briefly softens at the sight of Betty.
- Dr. Zaxon wants full authority to experiment on Hulk.
- Zaxon plans to siphon Hulk’s power into machine to make himself most powerful man on Earth; he’ll be able to control weather, surface transportation, volcanos, apparitions, which will conquer primitive nations with superstitious natives.
| Previous | #489 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #78 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #79 |
| Tales to Astonish #78 | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #79 |
Everett’s Hulk was my favorite rendition of the character at that time. His inking only added to Hulk’s bulky musculature, a plus in my opinion. The next issue #79, has what I consider to be the best cover in the TTA run, and an epic battle against a “disdainful strongman”! lol!