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Tales to Astonish #76: Review

Feb 1966
Stan Lee, Gil Kane

Story Name:

I Against The World!

Review & Comments

Rating:
4 stars

Tales to Astonish #76 Review by (March 12, 2024)

Review: Story gets right down to business: Hulk arrives in a post-apocalyptic society where tribal battles with huge military weaponry is the order of the day. And so…Hulk smashes soldiers and weapons and the surprise ending is there’s an even bigger and tougher enemy to deal with next issue. All-action (minus the bits with Ross battling the army bureaucracy) is solid thrills from start to finish.

And Subby’s tale wraps up in a satisfying fashion: with Namor whupping the tar out of Krang and then taking his throne. And then disaster strikes, setting up the next story arc. One wishes Gene Colan’s art could have been better, with Krang awkwardly drawn and the parade looking a little empty. But then I recall TOMB OF DRACULA and my heart is satisfied. Everyone has to start somewhere. 

Comments: With this issue, Hulk and Sub-Mariner begin alternating full covers rather than sharing them.

Hulk story: Part two of three parts. Title is a play on “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown” from Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 2. The Executioner is Skurge, introduced as a foe of Thor in JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #103-104, becoming an Avengers foe as one of the Masters of Evil. Artist Mike Esposito credited as Mickey DeMeo; Gil Kane credited as Scott Edwards.

Subby story: Part seven of seven parts. Krang returns in issue #79; that wasn’t long. Penciler Gene Colan credited as Adam Austin.  





 

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Tales to Astonish #76 Synopsis by Julio Molina-Muscara
The Armed Forces from the 25th century manage to capture the Hulk using a gravity weapon.

Hulk asks them for help in returning to his time. But King Arrkam wants the Hulk to defeat their opponent, a villain called the Executioner.

Hulk does not accept this, and goes on a rampage. But he ends up meeting the Executioner and his army, and they clash in fight.
Thunderbolt Ross, Glenn Talbot,

“Uneasy Hangs the Head..!” 3/5 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro.
Writer: Stan Lee. Pencils: Gene Colan. Inks: Vince Colletta. Colors: ? Letters: Sam Rosen.

Synopsis: As the injured Lady Dorma lies in the Revitalizer Ray device, Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner challenges the usurper Krang to battle. Krang is wearing armor but Namor gives him a sound thrashing while listing his crimes: stealing his throne, abusing his subjects, and using Dorma against him, leading to her harm. Namor works the Revitalizer, slowly turning it up to full power before she shows a sign of life. Namor embraces her….

Coronation Day is held in Atlantis, with a huge parade. Namor sits on his throne, wearing a crown and holding Neptune’s trident. He requests that Dorma stand by his side during the ceremony and names the faithful Lord Vashti Grand Vizier. Krang is brought before Namor, hoping that the Sub-Mariner is merciful, as it would give him the option of attempting to seize the throne. And the villain gets his wish, he is banished to fight another day.

Then the city is shaken by an Earth tremor. Everyone thinks it is an earthquake but Namor suspects it is another weapons test by surface men, unaware that there is a kingdom beneath the ocean. And so Namor decides that he must return to the Surface World….



Preview Pages
Click sample interior pages to enlarge them:




Gil Kane
Mike Esposito
?
Gene Colan (Cover Penciler)
Vince Colletta (Cover Inker)
Stan Goldberg (Cover Colorist)
Layouts: Jack Kirby. Letterer: Art Simek.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

> Tales to Astonish: Book info and issue index

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