Featuring: Hulk
Release: June 2, 1966
Cover: September 1966
12 cents
Script: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Layouts: Jolly Jack Kirby
Art: Wild Bill Everett
Lettering: Whammy Sammy Rosen
Applause: Honest Irving Forbush
10 pages
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If the man I love really is behind that grotesque face… does this mean I’ve lost him… forever?
“Less than Monster, More than Man!” A good title. Very Hulk.
These interactions between Betty and the Hulk give very significant insights into his character and their relationship.
She is afraid at first, but then he tries to help keep her dry. She asks to be taken to her father, but Hulk hates her father. And she realizes how unfair her father has been to Hulk.
She begins to accept that he really is Bruce Banner.
Hulk is speaking in choppy sentences and refers to himself in the third person pretty consistently this issue. And he likes to talk about how much he hates Bruce Banner. His speech patterns are starting to cement.
In the first half of this issue, the Secret Empire had already fallen. They clearly haven’t fallen yet. So the second story in this issue must take place before the first part. Recall what we learned last time. Hulk had frustrated the Empire’s plans and made their leader a fugitive. Maybe we’ll see that happen in this story.
The Secret Empire is angry at Boomerang for failing to get the Orion Missile. But he really hasn’t failed yet.
Let’s peer into the mind of a random soldier on the scene.
Strong as he is, I wouldn’t wanna be in the Hulk’s shoes now! Not with Thunderbolt Ross out to get him!
He’s betting on Ross over the Hulk. I would gladly take that bet, soldier. How much you want to wager?
Let’s check in with the still-active Secret Empire. Number 2 thinks Boomerang must be put to death for his failure. Whereas I’m still not convinced he has failed yet. Number 9 disagrees. But 9 is accused of the murder of 5. A battle breaks out.
Now, obviously the thing for 9 to do is kill the others. But the dialogue informs us and the censors that this is a stun grenade.
So perhaps that is how the Secret Empire fell. Not sure what Hulk had to do with it. So I understand why there is no Secret Empire and why 1 is on the run. Why he wants vengeance on the Hulk is still unclear, as it’s 9 he should have a beef with.
I admit I am confused on the naming schemes. 9 had killed 5 last issue. Which I thought meant that 9 would now be 8. But he’s still 9. Maybe promotions aren’t automatic.
I’m reminded of a joke. Why was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 8 9.
After a battle, Hulk, Rick, General Ross, and Betty all end up in the cave for a heart to heart. Ross thought Hulk had kidnapped Betty, but Betty explains he has it backwards. Ross still doesn’t believe Hulk is Bruce Banner.
The strongest… most dangerous being on Earth… but my daughter tells me he rescued her… tells me she loves him…! And yet… somehow… I find myself beginning to understand…
Perhaps General Ross is beginning to have a change of heart.
Spoiler: he’s not.
As per usual, the issue ends with Hulk alone and brooding.
Though the Secret Empire has fallen, their story isn’t done. Number 1 is still plotting to use Namor as his weapon of revenge against the Hulk for some reason. And there are secrets behind the fall of the Empire that will be revealed in the pages of Strange Tales. And, even though he seems to have no more employer, Boomerang will still be trying to steal the Orion Missile in the coming issues.
The letters page:
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 52/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I like Everett’s work here and this is a central issue in Hulk’s character development. But the Boomerang/Secret Empire stuff is just nonsense.
My copy of this comic is the British version.
Characters:
- Hulk
- Betty Ross
- Boomerang
- General Thunderbolt Ross
- Major Glen Talbot
- Number 2
- Number 9
- Rick Jones
Story notes:
- Hulk has rescued Betty from Boomerang.
- Hulk digs cave in hillside to get Betty out of the rain.
- Betty asks Hulk to take her to her father, but Hulk notes that her father is the General who hates and tried to kill him.
- Betty feels he really is Bruce. She notes his thoughts seem clouded. She thinks of Hulk as unpredictable but not evil, and that he may just need one person to show him some faith, some trust.
- Ross has marshaled task force to find Betty. Boomerang will use the opportunity to steal the missile.
- Hulk referred to as Target H.
- Hulk wants to build a fire and get food.
- Talbot would rather be searching for the woman he loves than guarding the Orion Missile.
- Talbot hit by shrapnel in leg. Guarding the missile more important than medical attention or his life.
- High level cabinet meeting of leaders of Secret Empire…
- Number 2 says Boomerang should be killed for his failure. Number 9 disagrees.
- Number 9 under suspicion for murder of Number 5. 2 accuses 9 of treason.
- 9 hits them all with stun grenade. 9 wears protective armor under robes.
- Ross and Hulk face off.
- Rick tries to reason with Hulk.
- Hulk hates Bruce Banner.
- Hulk brings Ross to Betty.
- Betty is convinced Hulk is Banner, the man she loves; Ross rejects this.
- Hulk broods on mountaintop.
| Previous | #575 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #83 | Reading order | Strange Tales #147 |
| Tales to Astonish #83 | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #84 |
Secret Empire’s confusingly brilliant plot aside, the best part of this issue was the scenes of Hulk and Betty in the cave, taking cover from the rain. It’s interesting how they tried to replicate that scene in the already-released Hulk movie.
Yeah, the issue is a mixed bag. It’s a fairly pivotal issue for the Hulk/Betty relationship. The Secret Empire plot is just in the background. They never even meet the Hulk!