Featuring: Hulk
Release: September 1, 1966
Cover: December 1966
12 cents
Superlative script: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Ameliorative art: Jovial John Buscema
Imaginative inks: Mirthful Mickey Demeo
Lucrative lettering: Adorable Artie Simek
10 pages
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| Tales to Astonish #86 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #87 |
| Tales to Astonish #86 | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #87 |
Though I’ve lived as the monstrous Hulk– I’ll die as Bruce Banner– I’ll die as– a man!
John Buscema still on art.
The Secret Empire stands defeated, but their agent Boomerang remains at large. The Orion Missile is heading for New York. Hulk leaped at the missile, and somehow this calmed him down. So now Bruce Banner is riding a missile.
The transformation here is really badly storyboarded; just Bruce one panel and Hulk the next. Stan compensates with narration to make up for the artistic failings. Come on, Big John!
Hulk has fought Leader’s Humanoids before. Leader is dead, but Ross has tracked down Leader’s lab and his final Humanoid, designed to kill the Hulk. I assume Ross is smarter than to activate the thing and unleash it on Manhattan…
Boomerang is mad the Secret Empire never paid him. But the Secret Empire no longer exists. And he never actually stole the Orion missile, which is what he was hired to do.
Boomerang has improved his arsenal and skills, but not his outfit, and is ready to fight Hulk again.
Really, you’re not. No matter how good you make your boomerangs, you won’t be. Have you heard of Spider-Man? He’d be a much better arch-enemy for you.
Unsurprisingly, now it’s the Humanoid not the Hulk that is a threat to the city. And again Hulk is Manhattan’s last hope.
Except for the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Dr. Strange, Spider-Man, but none of them seem to be around.
The Humanoid appears to be winning…
I assume this is all taking place before Krang floods the city.
Mails to Astonish…
I currently find myself in Atlanta for the first time for Dragon Con. Picked up my badge this morning at the end of an endless queue. Also stopped by the World of Coca-Cola, from which the blog takes half its namesake.
Picked up a couple cans themed for the blog.
Wearing my Coke hat and Ghost Rider t-shirt seemed the appropriate combo.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 50/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Characters:
- Bruce Banner/Hulk
- Humanoid/Hulk-Killer
- General “Thunderbolt” Ross
- Major Talbot
- Betty Ross
- Rick Jones
- Boomerang
Story notes:
- Bruce designed the Orion missile, so can mess with its circuits to change its course.
- Bruce is ready to die, but then his pulse quickens and he becomes the Hulk.
- Pilot blames Hulk for Orion missile.
- Local police find Leader’s lab with his last Humanoid, specifically built to be able to defeat the Hulk.
- Ross has scientist activate the Humanoid.
- Rick tries to have Hulk hide while he gets food, but Hulk is impatient.
- Atomic flame thrower and atomic sound cannon fail against Humanoid.
| Previous | #602 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #86 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #87 |
| Tales to Astonish #86 | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #87 |
“Hulk-inued” is a big stretch as far as puns go.
Everything Hulk does is big.