Featuring: Hulk
Release: March 3, 1966
Cover: June 1966
12 cents
Script: Stan Lee, D.H. (Doctor of Hulkishness)
Layouts: Jack Kirby, M.H. (Master of Hulkability)
Art: Bill Everett, B.H. (Bachelor of Hulkosity)
Lettering: Artie Simek, P.H. (The Pride of Hulkdom)
10 pages
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| Thor #139, Story B | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #81 |
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There is no Banner! Only the Hulk! I’m the Hulk! The Hulk!
At this point, continuity becomes complicated, and things will move fast. Let’s recall where we were.
We read the first half of this issue a while back. Namor had defeated the Behemoth, but returned in victory to find Dorma had fled with Krang, and that they were to wed. She agreed to the marriage only to save Namor’s life. But Namor doesn’t know that. So now he’s angry.
Hulk just had a fight with Hercules.
Thor defeated the Troll army in a war. Spider-Man bought a bike and met a girl named Mary Jane. Daredevil escaped from the Owl’s trap, but had not been around to defend the Rhino. The Avengers have returned from a South American adventure (though this may lead to a small continuity hiccup we’ll discuss). Hank and Jan have recently rejoined the team. Wanda and Pietro remain in Europe recovering their powers. Dr. Strange has defeated Dormammu (well, Eternity did most of the work). Iron Man defeated Ultimo and returned home to find Senator Byrd had closed Stark factories, but not before they were able to make a suit to contain John Jameson’s newfound powers.
The Fantastic Four and X-Men are mostly doing their own thing lately, without much interaction with the other heroes.
Most relevantly, Nick Fury had warned Captain America about the threat of an organization of scientists named Them in Tales of Suspense #78. Meanwhile, in Strange Tales #146, an organization of scientists called AIM was offering to help the US government with weapons technology, but only if they removed Nick Fury as the head of SHIELD.
Our story opens with Hulk moping about not having friends. When Tyrannus pulls him beneath the surface.
We met Tyrannus in Incredible Hulk #5. Tyrannus has long ago been banished beneath the surface by Merlin; there he found the Fountain of Youth, and the race called the Tyrannoids who now serve him. A race similar to those Tyrannoids (but a little different-looking) was also revealed to serve the Mole Man in Fantastic Four #22. Several people claim to rule the underworld, including Kala, and the Lava Men.
Tyrannus is older than when we met him. That’s because the Mole Man has captured his Fountain of Youth. I figured all these subterranean rulers would eventually have conflict. Tyrannus seeks Hulk to be his warlord against the Mole Man.
Tyrannus hopes that kidnapping Betty, Rick, and Talbot will help persuade Hulk to serve him. Hulk has always had a soft spot for Betty, and Rick has at times been his partner. Talbot on the other hand…
Betty and Talbot recently learned the truth about Bruce and the Hulk, but Betty can’t believe it.
Mole Man has this freeze gun. He tested it on… a mountain? And rendered the mountain… immobile? I’m not sure that was the best test to prove your freeze ray would make things not move.
“Look, the mountain isn’t moving! Our freeze ray must work!”
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 52/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I read this story in The Incredible Hulk Epic Collection vol. 2: The Hulk Must Die.
Characters:
- Hulk/Bruce Banner
- Tyrannus
- Mole Man
- Betty Ross
- Rick Jones
- Glen Talbot
Story notes:
- Story starts in the Southwest.
- Hulk reflects on how the world hates and hunts him. He doesn’t understand why.
- Hulk does use first-person pronouns sometimes. He might refer to himself as “me” or “Hulk”.
- A force pulls Hulk into the Earth.
- Hulk barely remembers Tyrannus; Tyrannus reminds him of their meeting.
- Tyrannus offers him sanctuary and honor beneath the surface as his warlord.
- Tyrannus has aged. A statue shows what he used to look like.
- A well kept Tyrannus young, but Mole Man has captured Tyrannus’ well.
- Hulk promises to destroy Mole Man.
- Mole Man and his subterranean legions wish to rule the subsurface of Earth. Tyrannus is his enemy.
- Mole Man deploys robotic Octo-Sapien.
- Tyrannus is mad that Hulk rests while he ages toward death.
- Tyrannus kidnapped Betty from an army base and Rick and Talbot from a plane that had been following Hulk. Tyrannus had been observing Hulk and knew all three had some connection.
- Hulk doesn’t seem to recognize his friends.
- Betty is doubtful he really is Bruce. Betty decides Bruce must be dead.
- Hulk hates all surface people.
- Hulk hates the name Banner.
- Hulk eager to fight something. Mole Man will do.
- Freeze gun with chemical iso-ice used on Hulk. It can hold a mountain in its grip.
- Life reduction ray of Octo-Sapien seems effective.
- Octo-sapien explodes and perhaps takes Hulk with it.
- Bruce Banner emerges.
- Bruce doesn’t seem to know where he is.
| Previous | #564 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Thor #139, Story B | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #81 |
| Tales to Astonish #80 | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #81 |
