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Tales to Astonish #81

Jul 1966

Stan Lee, Bill Everett

Story Name:

The Stage Is Set!

Synopsis

Tales to Astonish #81 synopsis by Julio Molina-Muscara

Rating:

The Secret Empire hires the Boomerang to steal the Orion missile from Thunderbolt Ross‘ base.

Tyrannus returns Betty Ross, Rick Jones and Glenn Talbot to the surface. Boomerang kidnaps Betty and asks for the missile documents in exchange.

Beneath the surface, Tyrannus finds the Enchanted Well.

Finally, Bruce Banner turns into the Hulk when caught by subterranean men. Hulk uses Tyrannus’ matter transmitter machine to return to the surface.

Review / Commentaries

Tales to Astonish #81 Review by Julio Molina-Muscara (May 15, 2024)

Comment: There is a typo when a spy say Secret Emire instead of Empire.

Reviews and additional comments by Peter Silvestro

Review: So the battle between Tyrannus and the Mole Man continues—but no one cares, not even Tyrannus who is only interested in reaching the Fountain of Youth. Bruce doesn’t care, he just wants to get back to the surface. Betty, Rick, and Talbot don’t care, they are back on the surface. And Stan and Jack don’t care, they’re already introducing the new baddies who will be bedeviling Hulk for the next several issues. We have the Secret Empire to be the shadowy behind-the-scenes motivators, like the Leader was for a good long while. It’s Boomerang who stands out, largely because of the silly costume. And here I was thinking he vanished when they created Bullseye, more-or-less the same guy with the same skill set, only interesting. Imagine my surprise when I discovered Boomerang was around until 2021—when he sacrificed his life to save Spider-Man. I almost feel guilty for laughing at this guy in 1966. Almost. Because things grow sillier for a while.

And so Subby, his will thwarted, throws a royal tantrum for several pages. That’s about it and I thought it hilarious though others of a more serious frame of mind may find it frightening how easily this monarch can turn into a sadistic tyrant. But it’s still funny. And then Namor runs into Iron Man for another random guest appearance.

Comments: Hulk story: Part two of two parts. First appearance of Boomerang. First appearance of the Secret Empire.

Subby story: Part one of eight parts.

> Tales to Astonish comic book info and issue index

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This comic is in the following collection:

Collecting INCREDIBLE HULK (1962) #1-6, TALES TO ASTONISH (1959) #100, INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #102, and material from TALES TO ASTONISH (1959) #59-99 and #101.

Excelsioring your collection:

Statue Hulk (Battle of New York) 1/10 - Infinity Saga - BDS Art Scale - Iron Studios

Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Main/1st Story Full Credits

Stan Lee

Bill Everett

Unknown

Jack Kirby (Cover Penciler)
Bill Everett (Cover Inker)
Stan Goldberg (Cover Colorist)

Additional Credits

Layouts: Jack Kirby. Letterer: Sam Rosen.

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Betty Ross
(Elizabeth Ross)

Bruce Banner
(Robert Bruce Banner)

Glenn Talbot

Hulk
(Robert Bruce Banner)

Sub-Mariner
(Namor McKenzie)

Thunderbolt Ross
(Thaddeus Ross)

Tyrannus

Warlord Krang
(Krang)

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