Tales to Astonish (1959 series) #70

Review: Attack of the 500-foot Humanoid! And Banner-smart Hulk has to fight it while the dimwitted Ross and Talbot try to kill both of them. Another adrenaline rush of a comic book tale with Hulk sneaking onto the missile base in broad daylight without being seen! All so’s he can get one last look at Betty! Awww! And then the violence takes over the tale! The object lesson: Rick Jones is a handy guy to have around. We all should have one.

And Subby receives his first solo series. It’s a bit rough. The story is in the form of a quest—meaning a series of loosely linked episodes building up to an exciting climax. Characterization is a bit simple too: Namor, hostile anti-hero, is okay, his character established in his FF appearances but Dorma is a weepy love interest, agonizing over his safety and Krang is just Ming the Merciless, a one-dimensional villain. The biggest surprise is Gene Colan (credited as Adam Austin to hide from DC) in his earliest Marvel work: his style is rough and unformed and he cannot draw a convincing squid. But he would improve very quickly: in only a couple of years he would be doing Iron Man in TALES OF SUSPENSE and Daredevil in DAREDEVIL and they would be great. Everybody’s gotta start somewhere.

Comments: Hulk story: First mention of “the madder Hulk gets, the stronger he gets.” Hulk retains Bruce Banner’s intelligence for the first time; this lasts until issue #75. And Hulk does not return to his Bruce Banner form until issue #80. Inker Mike Esposito credited as Mickey DeMeo.

Subby story: Sub-Mariner’s first solo series starts in this issue. Part one of seven parts. Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner was introduced in MOTION PICTURE FUNNIES WEEKLY #1 (1939), making him the first Marvel Comics character; his first Silver Age appearance was in FANTASTIC FOUR #4. Dorma was introduced along with Namor, in MOTION PICTURE FUNNIES WEEKLY #1, and appeared with him throughout the 1940s and 50s; her first Silver Age appearance was in FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1. Bad guy Warlord Krang skipped over the Golden Age, making his first bow in FF ANNUAL #1. Penciler Gene Colan credited as Adam Austin. The letters page includes one by future Marvel/Warren writer Don McGregor (Killraven, Black Panther).