Here are the other “Marvel Universe” books published in January, 1963:
Published: January, 1963
I wasn’t going to review any more Human Torch stories, because in general they’re not my favorites. But then it was brought to my attention that Paste-Pot Pete makes his first appearance in Strange Tales #104, so I decided to make an exception. Some Marvel villains are deliciously complicated and evil, a true menace to civilization. And some Marvel villains…are not. But then there’s this third class of villains, those that make you snicker every time you simply think about them, or say their name.
Paste-Pot Pete fits into this group. In fact, to this point, he is the president and charter member of the Marvel’s Most Ridiculous Villains Club. For me, the name “Paste-Pot Pete” has become synonymous with the concept of “Ridiculous Villain.”
Okay, let’s review.
Behold….Paste-Pot Pete! First, let’s consider his appearance: Droopy purple beret. Large Eton collar secured by an enormous bow. Khaki fatigue-inspired jumpsuit gathered at the ankles. Sturdy purple gloves. If the army employed clowns, they would probably look like Paste-Pot Pete.
Now, his weapon: Carries a large bucket of dripping paste, connected by a tube to a makeshift gun. Fond of shouting proclamations like “Crude crooks shoot lead! But I shoot paste!” and “PASTE is the supreme weapon!”
Let’s think about this for a moment. Paste is the supreme weapon.
Is it really? In what universe? I mean, even within the pages of this story, ol’ Pete has to admit that the effects of his paste only last about an hour. He doesn’t kill or injure anyone with his “supreme weapon,” he just slows them down long enough to do his dastardly deeds.
And what are those dastardly deeds? What motivates this criminal mastermind? Does he seek world domination? Does he desire that all the kings and monarchs bow down and worship him? No. He robs banks. Oh yeah, and, in his estimation, he’s about to pull off “the boldest crime of the century” by stealing an American missile, then selling it to the Commies. 
Or, wait! Pete has a better idea: Maybe he’ll sell it back to the Americans. If they’ll give him more money. MWAHAHAHA!
This guy thinks quite a bit of himself, doesn’t he? Well of course, there’s no scoundrel worthy of the title “villain” that isn’t brimming over with bravado. I mean, we’re never going to find a villain named “Dr. Vague” or “The Amazing Maybe Man!” But political disloyalties aside, is this the best Pete can do? Self-serving, egotistical purveyor of paste?
THE SUPREME WEAPON!
But as much as I’m coming down on Paste-Pot Pete, I do have to give him credit for one thing. When I first read this story months ago, I snickered. Re-reading it today, I’m still snickering, but I have to admit that Pete is not a complete clown. As silly as it is, his paste gets the job done. He only needs to immobilize inconvenient busybodies for a short time while he carries out his schemes, and the paste always works. Is this perhaps the 1960’s answer to the stun-gun? I guess it’s nice of Pete to not actually kill anyone. But being “nice” isn’t what makes a great villain.
And I’ve got one more problem with the paste. How much of this stuff can he actually carry around in that pot? Does the paste possess magical qualities wherein it can reproduce itself? No? Then how do you explain the unending supply from a pot no bigger than a pail you would use to mop the kitchen floor? In addition to all the people Pete has pasted, he’s also gluing himself to missiles and airplanes, yet he never seems to run out!
I don’t think there can really be any logical answer to these questions, so let’s move on to another of my concerns, which might not seem quite so incomprehensible.
CLOWN SUIT
Okay. What is it with that outfit, anyway? Why does he dress like that? Why couldn’t he dress like a normal person, maybe like a construction worker, so that when he’s seen walking around with the glue and the gun, he won’t stick out in a crowd? Wouldn’t it be to his advantage to blend into the crowd? The way he looks now, narrators are apt to describe him as a “flamboyant figure.” He appears on the scene and people exclaim “Hey! Get a load of the refugee from a masquerade ball.” Does that really work in his favor?
Well, maybe I’m not being fair to Pete. If I’m going to talk about crazy outfits, Paste-Pot Pete is actually not the best example of flamboyance. However, thinking back over all the villains and heroes I’ve met, Pete’s costume is absolutely the most unnecessary and inexplicable. Dr. Doom wears the mask because his face is disfigured. Loki and Thor appear in tights and capes because they’re from another realm and don’t know any better. Spidey’s mask hides his true identity, while his red and blue leotard clearly identifies his superhero persona. More importantly, his costume gives him the ability to move about freely. As for Hulk…well, he can’t help how he looks.
Paste Pot Pete could look different if he wanted to, but he chooses not to. I don’t understand why he thinks a fatigue-themed jumpsuit and giant bow make him appear menacing. Is he employing the green and purple color combo in hopes that his victims will become confused into thinking he’s the Incredible Hulk?
But wait. Something just occurred to me. Maybe Pete knows that when people catch their first glimpse of him, they will be so astonished by his unusual appearance, 
they will be momentarily immobilized even before he covers them in paste. Perhaps this gives him a strategic advantage. In this story he meets up with a bank security guard, a squad car full of cops, and two military policemen, and even though they are all trained professionals carrying weapons, nobody comes close to ever getting off a single shot against him.
Okay. So maybe the outfit makes sense. I’m willing to give him points for the costume, since it seems to work to his advantage.
BACKSTORY?
Having said that, I’m going to take this discussion one step further. Maybe Pete is not as ridiculous as he first seems. Before we completely dismiss the clown with the glue gun, let’s consider one more issue that could lend further credibility to our silly villain, perhaps even infusing him with some small speck of rascally respectability.
In this adventure, we see what Pete does and how he operates, but we don’t really know why. Sure, he seeks monetary gain from robbing banks and selling military secrets to the highest bidder, but again I ask….why? What has happened to him in his past to make him so self-centered, self-serving and materialistic?
I sense an underlying anger. Perhaps he was wronged by someone in authority? Perhaps the other boys in school laughed at him when he brought his wonderful “super-paste” invention to the Science Fair? I sense an “I’ll show them! I’ll show them all!” attitude beneath his jesterly surface.
Also, I don’t believe the paste he’s using can be normal paste. Therefore, I suspect that Pete may be a scientist, prone to think outside the box. That might explain his unconventional appearance and choice 
of weapon. You’ve got to admit he’s a unique individual.
Torch fights PPP without calling in any help from the other members of the FF. Either Torch is getting better at handling these crises on his own, or Pete is not actually that menacing. Of course, Pete eventually gets away from Torch and the authorities. You’ve got to give him that—not all villains are lucky enough to escape our superheroes.
And with his escape, Paste-Pot Pete lives to refill his paste pot and return to fight another day.
I’ll have Russ alert me when Pete makes another appearance in the Marvel Universe. As silly as he seems, I sense there’s much room for growth and improvement. And so, I will eagerly look forward to following his career.
With snickers.
Next time: Reed waxes eloquent about Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Thing gets a special delivery from a secret admirer, and a visitor from another planet throws a temper tantrum—all this and more for only 12 cents! Impossible, you say? Hey, man, not as Impossible as it sounds.
| Editor’s Note: As much as I enjoy these journeys into the Marvelous Zone, the fall is traditionally an extremely busy time for me, with added work responsibilities, holidays, and all the excitement of college football! So, for the next few months, I’ll be going to a bi-weekly schedule. But never fear! When things calm down in January, I’ll go back to a weekly posting, and the Marvelous Zone will march on! Excelsior! |
| Want to read this comic on your computer? Marvel has a scan! Want to own this story? Buy the Masterworks! |
Published: January, 1963
He’s baaaaaaack!
Yep, it’s everyone’s favorite villain, that irrepressible master of mischief, Loki! After the adventures presented in Journey Into Mystery #85, Odin has forbidden Loki to ever return to Earth, and Loki, head hung low, meekly intones, “Yes, Father…”
But in the very next panel, he’s shaking his fist, thirsting for revenge upon Thor! After a few simple bits of mischief involving the ritualistic burning of leaves and a serpentine quick-change, we find him once again skipping across the rainbow bridge, arriving in Dr. Blake’s office, and making mysterious arrangements for a meeting that will give him the advantage over the noble Thor.
When Loki conjures a tiger that appears to threaten the unsuspecting Jane Foster, Thor abandons Mjolnir in favor of saving his favorite lady. The hammer unattended, Loki immediately wraps it in an impenetrable force field. The 
Thunder God must revert to his unassuming Blake form, and Loki gloats.
Now, with no one to keep him in check, Loki runs riotously upon the earth, engaging in every kind of monkey business simply because he CAN, and because he knows how much it’s got to irritate Blake that he can’t transform into Thor and administer a sound whooping.
However, let’s remember that in addition to Thor being super-strong, Blake is super-smart, and at last he comes up with a way to outsmart the mischief-maker.
Blake plants a story in the newspaper that Thor swears to defeat Loki by the end of the week. Puzzled and disturbed, Loki returns to the scene of the crime, to make sure the force field is still in place.
Greeted by the sight of Thor holding Mjolnir, he can’t believe he’s been outsmarted, so he removes the force field from around the hammer, just to check, you know…and when the force field is lifted, Blake steps out from behind the “dummy” Thor and grabs the hammer.
Haha! The trickster is tricked! Thor is back, there’s a brief chase, but soon enough Loki is returned to Asgard, once again hanging his head.
THE MYTHOLOGY
We met Odin briefly in JIM #86, but here for the first time, we get a really good look at the King of Asgard. He’s commanding, seated upon his golden throne, with his long white beard, large muscular body and enormous sword. And clearly, he expects his word to be obeyed. But Loki’s not really the obeying type, is he? 
He’s got no intention of bowing to anyone or anything but his own whims.
For the first time, we learn that Loki and Thor are brothers, both sons of Odin. This is big! This is not the case in real Norse mythology, but Stan and company play fast and loose with the facts, and now, especially with the recent Marvel movies, I’m sure most everyone who’s not a Norse Mythology scholar is convinced that these family relationships have always been in place.
I don’t want to take anything away from the Vikings, but personally, I think Stan and company came up with a winning scenario when they made Thor and Loki brothers. This adds a whole new dimension to their contention. We don’t see too much sibling rivalry in this story, but we can well imagine what’s coming.
HEROICS
What we do see in this story is Thor acting precisely as the hero he really is. When Loki puts Thor in the difficult position of having to choose between Jane and Mjolnir, Thor makes the decision to save Jane “without hesitation.” There is no ego in Thor; he’s all about helping others. Well… “helping others” when it’s the girl he’s crazy about. But I’ll bet he would have made the same choice for any of the worried faces on the top of page 10.
I especially like the comment by the balding guy who says that the only way to defeat a super-being is with another super-being…THOR! Well, yes, I’m sure that’s true. But I have to wonder…since Thor is mysteriously absent when most needed, doesn’t anyone think of calling on one of the other “super-beings” available in their universe? I know Hulk is a bit temperamental, but he could get the job done in a pinch. Spidey has only just appeared on the scene, so maybe no one is yet familiar with his abilities. But surely someone must be thinking of contacting the Fantastic Four? I bet they could put a damper on Loki’s fun.
It often amuses me how within a particular title, the general public seems to forget there are other superheroes in their midst. I know this is true for these early stories, but I wonder if this will always be the case. Or will we ever hear, “Well, we could call the Fantastic Four, but you know they’re off in Hollywood right now, making that movie…” Something like that would give more consistency to the universe, as far as I’m concerned.
NARRATIVE ISSUES
Not to say there isn’t consistency in this universe! I’ve been noticing instances of continuity and attention to chronology in the stories I’ve been reading. Here, when Loki uses Asgardian alchemy to conjure images of Thor, he spies him in the middle of last month’s adventure, “Thor—Prisoner of the Reds!” Nice touch.
But I guess Loki didn’t stay on that channel long enough to figure out that the Reds are the mortal enemy of Thor and all good American people everywhere, because later, when he’s making mischief, he reduces a Commie bomb to a mere “Plink!” as it falls in the ocean, causing great embarrassment for the Reds. Inadvertently, Loki has joined the Cold War.
Making political statements, though, is not really part of Loki’s agenda. He’s more interested in turning cars into ice cream and people into “nothings.”
Actually, I think the ice cream cars and candy bicycles were just for fun, but the “Nothings” were probably Jack Kirby’s way of giving himself an afternoon off. Still, you have to admire the imagination.
MAKING SENSE
When Loki is making mischief, it’s okay if things don’t make sense, but in this story there were a few times when I ran across something that didn’t make sense, and it caused me to ask questions.
1. To get to his meeting with Loki, Thor “flies” to the park. Jane walks, apparently, yet they both arrive about the same time. How does that happen?
2. I thought that Loki was perhaps too easily tricked by the plastic dummy of Thor. Maybe his eyesight is not so good? Or perhaps he simply doesn’t anticipate that anyone would be able to turn the tables on such a master trickster as himself, and thus he’s grown lax and over-confident?
3. At the end of the story, when Thor captures the bird incarnation of Loki in a net, why doesn’t Loki simply exercise his amazing powers to change into a smaller bird—say, a hummingbird, that could slip through the holes of the net? Or why not a mosquito? He would be so small, Thor might not even see him. Or better yet, why doesn’t he turn into a cloud and dissolve? It seems when he most needs his amazing abilities, they’ve deserted him.
4. Now that Thor has seen some of the tricks Loki has up his sleeve, how will he prevent a repeat performance? Yes, we know that at the end of this story, Loki has been re-banished to Asgard, but I’m sure nobody reading this thinks for one moment that we’ve seen the last of him. And Thor shouldn’t think that either. If he’s smart (and he is), he 
should be anticipating Loki’s next appearance, and planning ways to thwart the God of Mischief before he can even get started.
In particular, I’m wondering about Loki’s use of the force field to keep Mjolnir out of Thor’s grasp. Will Loki use this bit of magic against Thor again? And if so, how will Thor stop him?
Every new story I read opens up more questions than it answers. The Marvel Universe grows more complex and elaborate with each passing tale. Now we see more of Asgard, and begin to understand the family relations that fuel this rivalry of gods. One would hope that this time, stricter measures will be put in place to keep Loki under control, keep him from returning to Earth. One would think Odin will recognize what an unstoppable menace his unfavorite son can be, and keep him under tighter reigns. One would expect this….but one does not actually desire it. Because even though a certain part of the brain likes it when things “make sense,” the other, more fantastical part wants to see Loki again, wants him to keep coming back to earth, causing Thor all kinds of trouble, so we can continue to have more great stories here in the Marvelous Zone!
One more thing before I go: I understand why Thor chose to save Jane rather than grab the hammer. I understand that he is a hero and this is what heroes do; also, he needed to face this dilemma so the story could evolve. But personally, I don’t really think Thor needed to make a choice. I have every confidence that somehow, Thor could have saved Jane and retrieved the hammer in time. Thor is a hero of the greatest proportions, and I wouldn’t put anything past him.
Our hero next time is also outstanding, but the villain he faces, in my opinion…well….not so good. In fact, just plain AWFUL. So be sure to tune in next week, when I step outside my comfort zone to tackle one of the biggest jokes in Marvel history!
| Want to read this comic on your computer? Marvel has a scan! Want to own this story? Buy the Masterworks! |
Published: January, 1963
“The Hordes of General Fang!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Dick Ayers
Letters: Art Simek
In our spare time, when we’re not reading, reviewing and chronicling Marvel Comics, Russ and I produce and host a podcast on the 1960’s TV gothic soap opera Dark Shadows. We’re always looking for ways to make our podcast better, and one of the things we’ve been working on lately is getting the “Synopsis” segment of the show to be more precise and efficient.
Writing this blog, I also feel it would behoove me to find ways to slenderize the synopses of the comics I read. After all, if you’re a longtime Marvel fan, you already know these stories, and only need a quick refresher. And if you are a first time customer, no synopsis, no matter how detailed, can capture the depth and beauty of the actual printed story.
Remember, you can always visit the link at the bottom of each post to access Marvel’s website, where for a mere $4.99 a month you can subscribe to oodles and oodles of comic scans online. Or, if you’re lucky enough to have a crazy uncle who collected comics as a kid, maybe you can ask to borrow some. But for the time being, I’m going to spend less time on the synopses and more time delving into details in my commentary.
This issue of The Incredible Hulk, like the previous issues, has two separate stories. So let’s get straight to the synopses, and then I can rattle on for a while, letting you know what I think.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: A SHORT SYNOPSIS
Banished to the underworld centuries ago by Merlin the Magician, Tyrannus relies on the Fountain of Youth and a race of loyal, scientifically advanced beings to assist in planning his revenge on the surface world.
Tyrannus presents himself to Betty Ross as an archeologist requiring a guide to explore local caves, and Betty goes with him in an effort to make Bruce Banner jealous. Not trusting Tyrannus, Banner and Rick follow, and when they realize Betty is being kidnapped, Banner hulks up and comes to Betty’s rescue.
However, Tyrannus disables Hulk with volcanic gas, and Hulk agrees to be his slave in exchange for Betty’s safety. When Tyrannus decides Hulk no longer “amuses” him, he orders his death, but Rick disguises himself as a guard and rescues Betty, taking her to Hulk. Realizing Betty is now safe, Hulk fights and destroys Tyrannus and his army.
On the return to the surface world, Betty conveniently develops amnesia.
Hey! That was pretty good. Nice and concise! But how about this synopsis of the second story:
THE HORDES OF GENERAL FANG: AN EVEN SHORTER SYNOPSIS
Asian Commie General Fang plans to conquer the peaceful land of Llhasa. Hulk comes to the rescue by disguising himself as the Abominable Snowman, thus terrifying Fang’s army. Fang uses trickery to capture Hulk, but Rick Jones frees Hulk in time to stop Fang’s missiles aimed at Llhasa. Hulk uses his strength and wit to immobilize Fang’s forces, then drops the evil General in the midst of his deadliest enemies.
SUB-PLOTS
Of course, these short synopses leave out a lot of juicy details, so that’s what I want to talk about now. In addition to the main plot, each of these stories contains a sub-plot about additional dilemmas faced by Banner/Hulk. The first story begins in the home of General Ross, where the General is meeting with Bruce Banner, “top scientist” on his staff, in an effort to devise new strategies for capturing Hulk. Rick picks up on the irony of the situation by observing, “Man, what a gasser! Imagine ol’ Thunderbolt Ross ordering you to capture yourself!”
I had to get that in, because I was amused by Rick’s use of the word “gasser,” and in the next panel he calls Bruce “Daddy-O.” In both these stories, I couldn’t help but be aware of language. It seems an effort is being made to have Rick Jones sound more like a teenager. Hanging out at home with his buddy Banner, he’s still wearing a tie and collared shirt, so I guess if he doesn’t actually look like a teenager, at least he can sound like one.
I also noticed that Hulk is being written to sound more angry and abrupt than before. Hulk is still maintaining Banner’s intellect, so he continues to be extremely “chatty,” but now, he’s also downright rude! He tells Rick to “Shaddup!” and “Clam Up,” and calls him a brat, 
a puny fool, and stupid. At other times he calls him squirt, peanut and kiddo, which almost sound endearing, so that sort of evens out his comments. But I still don’t see why he has to be so rude to the only person he can call “friend,” the only person he can rely on.
But that’s not all! On a commercial flight, Hulk wallops an accommodating stewardess with a hearty “Ya Lamebrain!”
What’s going on here? Well, I have two “What’s going on heres?” actually. One: why is Hulk suddenly so irate? Is Stan trying to make him appear more menacing? What? He was not menacing enough, now he has to be rude and mannerless, as well?
LEAVING ON A JET PLANE?
But Two (and more importantly): what is Hulk doing on a commercial flight? When I reviewed Hulk #4, I jested about how Rick chartered a plane to take him and Hulk to the Grand Canyon. I wondered who would be willing to charter a flight for the Hulk, and whether or not the plane would be able to get off the ground. Here, seeing Hulk and Jones on a commercial flight, I wondered if this scene was added in response to readers who asked, as I did, if Hulk could actually fit on a plane, and this was Stan’s way of saying “Sure! No problem.”
But then, in this very same issue of Hulk, on the “Let’s Talk About the Hulk” page, John Jones writes in, wondering how much Hulk weighs, and the answer is “We’ve never been able to get him on a scale, but we’d guess he comes close to half a ton.” That would be a thousand pounds! So now the question becomes: how does a thousand-pound passenger fit in an airline seat? And sorry, but there’s no hat and coat that would fit a creature of that size!
Now that I know Hulk’s weight, I fear I’m going to be very critical of storylines where “that could never happen.” I guess I have to remind myself that none of this could ever happen—though in another letter to the editor, Douglas Brady says he likes the Hulk because he feels “it is very possible that there could really be a Hulk someday.” Don’t know if I agree with you on that one, Doug. But in the meantime, regarding what is or isn’t “possible,” I think I should probably just shut up and enjoy the music.
And, I am “enjoying the music,” but I still have questions. For instance, at one point, General Ross wonders why Banner insists on having “that insolent teen-ager” as his assistant. You know, I was kind of wondering that too. I mean, how does Banner explain to the world that this orphan boy is always hanging around with him? Betty mentions that the Defense Department has given Dr. Banner the right to select any aide he chooses. Yes, I’m sure they have. But I’m also sure they intended him to choose an assistant who is competent, at the very least a high school GRADUATE.
THE INVISIBLE BOY
However, having Rick as Banner’s assistant opens up many plot possibilities. In fact, in both of these stories, Rick is able to assist Hulk because, as a mere kid, nobody is paying attention to him. Nobody takes him seriously, nobody thinks he can do any harm (or good). In fact, not only is Rick able to help Hulk, but he also orchestrates a plan that rescues Betty from the evil Tyrannus. When Rick removes his costume, Betty exclaims, “Oh! I should have guessed! It’s YOU!”
Now what does she mean by that? She should have guessed it was Rick because…?? Well, because in a previous issue she made the connection that Banner and Hulk and Rick Jones always seem to be involved in the same adventures? In this adventure, Banner is nowhere in sight, but Hulk is, so I guess that’s why she says “I should have guessed.” But I’m still waiting for her to get that light bulb over her head and say, “Wait a minute! That Rick Jones is always hanging around Bruce, and Rick Jones is always hanging around the Hulk, but I’ve never actually seen Bruce and the Hulk together at the same time. Hmmmm…..”
SECRET VIEWING DEVICE
Regarding the confusion between Banner and Hulk, I have another issue. Am I misunderstanding something, or is Stan himself getting confused? We know that Tyrannus can see the earthlings on his “secret viewing device,” but I don’t think he’s able to read minds. 
We know that Betty has a crush on Bruce, but as far as I can see, she hasn’t expressed it in words, only in thought bubbles.
Yet somehow, Tyrannus seems privy to the fact that she loves Bruce Banner, and vows he will use that as “the weapon with which I will conquer the earth.” Now, first of all, he couldn’t really know about Betty’s crush (unless another one of his attributes is that he’s incredibly intuitive about human nature), but more importantly, when he attempts to conquer the Earth, that’s NOT the bargaining chip he uses at all! Instead, he calls up General Ross on his viewing device and says, “I’ve got your daughter, and if you do anything to defy me, it’s curtains for her!” (That’s not actually what he says, I paraphrased, but you get the idea.)
So it’s not Betty’s crush on Bruce that he uses, it’s Ross’ love for his daughter. And later, Tyrannus uses Hulk’s love…or concern…for Betty to get Hulk to do his bidding. How did he know Hulk would value Betty’s life? He didn’t happen to see any of that on his secret viewing device, did he? I know Hulk’s been exceptionally chatty these last few issues, but as far as we know, he hasn’t been verbalizing his feelings about Betty.
I’VE GOT A CRUSH ON YOU, SWEETIE PIE…
And as long as we’re at it, what are Hulk’s feelings for Betty? Are they the same as Banner’s feelings for Betty? Earlier I wrote that Tyrannus uses Hulk’s “love” for Betty, but then I changed it to 
“concern,” because I’m not really sure where Hulk stands in this most unusual love triangle.
But I do know where Betty stands. She’s convinced she must keep her love for Bruce a secret because she fears what her father will think. But more significantly, she is also afraid that Bruce “doesn’t even know I exist.”
Of course, she takes advantage of the sudden visit by Dr. Tyrannus to test her theory and is delighted when Bruce actually appears jealous! You work it, girl! I think all Betty needs is a little self-confidence, and she’ll see that she can land that big lunk. (Banner, I mean. Not Hulk.)
THE VILLAINS
How do our villains fare at the hands of the Incredible Hulk? Tyrannus is crushed by pillars, and Fang’s fate is left to the discretion of his mortal enemies. I started out thinking that it would be more likely that Tyrannus is a one-time villain and Gen. Fang makes another appearance, but after talking with Russ, I found out I was completely wrong! Turns out, it’s the exact opposite. However, I’m adding both to my Villain Valuation chart.
General Ross is not exactly a villain, but he does deserve some mention here for villainous acts. Well, not exactly villainous, but highly antagonistic. Still, when we see him trying to destroy our hero, we should give him the benefit of the doubt, that he’s only trying to do what’s best for the public interest. Previously I speculated that Ross might be trying to develop weapons specifically to be used on the Hulk, and we have confirmation of that with the “iceberg rocket.” I must say, though, what a wimpy weapon! Did Ross really think that turning Hulk into the chewy center of a popsicle was going to keep him down for long? He would’ve been much better off trying the Cobalt Bomb from the Tomorrow Man story—but I have a sneaking suspicion that’s what we’re seeking here:
As for Tyrannus, he at least is one step ahead of Ross, as he stumbles upon the only thing that can apparently weaken the Hulk: GAS! Yep, that’s what it says, right here in the middle of page six. Who knew?? I wonder if this is one of those developments that will later be conveniently forgotten, or if we’ll have further storylines exploiting this weakness? And now, the one opponent who knows how to tame the Hulk, has been crushed under a pile of pillars, so there’s no telling how long it might take to get back to this development.
But getting back to Ross, perhaps he was on the right track after all in focusing an iceberg rocket on Hulk. He just made the liquid way too cold, rather than way too hot. I wonder if someday he might figure it out…
Well, the Iceberg Rocket was a colossal failure, but it did get Hulk angry enough to swear revenge. And now, officially, we have a rivalry, an enmity, a contest. And oh, the irony! Because of course, General Ross has no idea that it was the Incredible Hulk that saved his daughter’s life. Even if Rick Jones were to tell him the entire story, I’m sure he would never believe “that insolent teen-ager.” And Betty’s had an attack of Convenient Amnesia, so we won’t have to worry about her doing anything to mess up this marvelous misunderstanding.
POINT OF NO RETURN
In the Fang story, Bruce worries that each time he changes into the Hulk, the Hulk is more resistant to changing back. I wonder what’s going on here. Is Stan trying to inject back into the mythology some of the suspense that was lost with the introduction of the machine that controls the transformation? In order for Hulk to be fearsome, he needs to be unpredictable, and the possibility that Hulk may be unwilling to turn back into Banner is chock full of unpredictability.
It was rather amusing when Banner tells Rick, “You must never let me REMAIN the Hulk—not if you can help it!” Yeah, right…as if Rick could stop the Hulk from doing anything! But ever-loyal, Rick replies, “Don’t worry, Bruce! I understand!” There’s a good friend for you. At the very least, Rick would try to do anything Banner asks.
I think in the future the relationship between Bruce and Betty will become more interesting, but right now, I find myself intrigued by the all-consuming friendship that Rick Jones has developed with Banner. 
As an orphan, Rick has no ties, and he’s looking for a family, for someplace to “belong.” Probably for the first time in his life, here’s someone who actually needs him, someone for whom his existence actually makes a difference. For these reasons alone, I understand why he’s so devoted to Banner, but then, throw on top of all this the extraordinary circumstance of Banner periodically turning into a superhero who fights Commies and other criminals, and what kid could resist being part of something so fantastic and important?
At one point, Rick is hurrying back to their secret lab in the caves, worrying “The Hulk’ll blow his top if I ain’t there waitin’ for him!” Really? Blow his top? Again, I feel this is just to create additional, uncalled for drama. True, the Hulk has been a little short with Rick during these stories, calling him “stupid,” and a “brat,” but I don’t know if he would actually “blow his top.”
Besides, if Hulk should get back to the cave and Rick isn’t there, no biggie. Apparently, Banner has installed buttons on the floor of his Morphing Machine so that he or Hulk can control the transformation process, without having to rely on Rick Jones. When Rick imagines that Hulk will “blow his top” if he is not there, maybe he’s simply projecting his wishes into the situation, hoping that Hulk will be upset and devastated if his little buddy isn’t there. Rick wants to be important to both Banner and Hulk. I’m sure he wishes that Banner/Hulk would rely on him for everything. The power in his unique position is probably going to his insolent teenaged head.
Rick’s “insolence” may be the result of being raised without a family, but the next time we travel to the Marvelous Zone, we’ll discover that having a family can sometimes be the catalyst for insolence on a Shakespearean scale. Join us next time, for “When Brothers Collide!”
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