Avengers
#3Avengers
#3
Title: "Sub-Mariner!”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Paul Reinman
At the monthly Avenges meeting, Iron Man says that they have to find the Hulk and that as long as he is out there that there is no telling what he will do. Thor says that he agrees. Wasp asks how they would go about finding Hulk. Iron Man says that Tony Stark, whose home they are using to have the meeting, is not only a weapons inventor but a master of all transistor-powered devices. Iron Man shows them an image projector. Iron Man clicks it on and it sends an image of himself to the Baxter Building.
Iron Man appears before the Thing. Iron Man says that he has a request, but Thing tells him to send them a letter and that he has a hot date that he isn’t breaking for anyone. Iron Man says that he is looking for the Hulk. Thing asks if he looks like a bloodhound and takes his flowers and walks out. Iron Man thinks that he had always heard that Thing was bad tempered. Iron Man spots Mister Fantastic. Reed is conducting an experiment with the Human Torch’s flame. Torch spots Iron Man and tells Reed. Reed stops the experiment for a second. Iron Man says that they are looking for the Hulk. Reed says that he would like to help, but that he is right in the middle of a flame control experiment and that he can’t stop now. Sue comes in and says that she is leaving for the fashion show. Iron Man says that if they do hear anything to let him know. Reed says that he will, but that he can’t let those ion tubes burn out. He dons his helmet again. Sue says that she will let them know if Hulk is at the fashion show as she leaves. Iron Man leaves the Baxter Building and searches around the city. He spots Spider-Man. Spider-Man says that he must be working too hard as he looks at Iron Man. He says that he is seeing things. Iron Man says that he is just looking for the Hulk. Spider-Man asks Iron Man if he bothers him with him troubles. Spider-Man says that he is busy as he is webbing up some criminals. He tells Iron Man to take it up with the missing persons bureau. Iron Man thanks Spider-Man for nothing, but says that there is one more place to try. At Professor Xavier’s school of gifted youngsters, the X-Men are going through a training session. Beast passes right through Iron Man’s holographic image. Xavier asks who he is to dare interrupting their training period. Iron Man says that he is sorry, but that it will only take a minute. He says that he is looking for the Hulk and that if they hear anything to please contact the Avengers. He says that he barged in because Angel told him to contact them if they ever needed anything. Xavier says that they will notify him if they hear something, but that their training session is still in progress so he would appreciate him leaving.
Iron Man says that he contacted the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and the X-Men, but that they all seemed busy. Iron Man said that at least he got to try his new image projector. Thor says that before they start searching all over the world that they should try to contact Rick Jones. Giant-Man recalls that Rick was the only one who could ever control the Hulk. Wasp mentions that Rick is a short-wave radio ham, and that he might even be on right now.
Across the country in the Southwest, Rick Jones receives the Avengers’ message. He says that he understands and that he will check the Hulk’s “old stamping grounds”. Half an hour later, Rick is walking around. He says to himself that the Hulk is too dangerous to roam out of control. An old man comes running toward Rick. He tells Rick not to go any further and that there is a giant monster over there. The man says that he is going to notify the police right now. Rick thinks that must be the Hulk and that he has to reach him before the police do. Rick spots Hulk reaching into a lake. Suddenly Hulk pulls out a Jeep and says that he knew that he would find it. Hulk says that some fool drove this into the lake and ran off when he saw him. Rick says that the police are coming and that he needs to get out of there and go back to the cave. Hulk asks why he should care and says that he has done nothing wrong. Rick says that people are just scared and that they panic and try to destroy what they fear. Hulk decides that Rick is right and leaps with Rick to the cave. As they walk into the cave, Hulk says that he is sick of running from puny humans and that he could smash them all. Rick says that Hulk doesn’t mean that and that he just needs a rest. Hulk stands in front of the gamma ray machine. Rick flips the switch and Hulk turns back into Bruce Banner. Bruce says that the nightmare is finally over and that he is himself again. Rick says that it is lucky for them because he gets worse each time he becomes the Hulk. He says that Hulk keeps getting harder to control. Rick helps Bruce into bed. Bruce tells Rick, “Lock the cavern door, Rick! And don’t leave me… in case I change again! I don’t dare!” Rick sits and says that he can’t desert Bruce because he owes him his life.
As the night goes on, Bruce finds that he cannot sleep. He says that he can’t stop thinking about the Hulk. He says that Rick didn’t give him a strong enough dosage of gamma rays and that he can’t remain as Banner. Bruce turns into Hulk and Hulk asks why he should remain as Banner. He asks why he should be a weak scientist when he can be the most powerful man walking the Earth. Hulk plows right through the wall. Rick dodges the falling rubble. He calls out to Hulk and tells him to stop. Hulk doesn’t even hear him and keeps plowing on.
Rick rushes to the local Teen Brigade room. Rick tells them to let him have the set. Rick calls the Avenges and says that the Hulk can be located in New Mexico, sector B, and that he is on the rampage. He tells them to come at once.
Tony Stark gets the message. He says that this is it and that the Hulk must be stopped. He says that just as the other Avengers do not know his secret identity that he do not know theirs. Stark says that he has to notify them as he gets changed into his Iron Man armor.
A private phone rings in the lab of Giant-Man. Wasp answers the phone and says that Iron Man says that they have found the Hulk. Hank says that they will meet him there and that Wasp should get the location from him. Hank says that they can travel faster in small size and tells Wasp to take pill to shrink. Wasp reminds Hank of his manners and tells him to say please.
Iron Man flies into the sky and says that Giant-Man and Wasp are on their way, and that he left a message on Thor’s private line.
Ant-Man says that they will be at the airport in ten minutes and that they will hitch a ride on the fastest jet. Wasp says that he looks like a poor man’s Ben Hur on his silly ant.
Donald Blake tells Jane Foster that it has been a busy day and that he is tired. He says that he is closing the office early. Jane Foster thinks to herself that if only he didn’t pamper himself so much and was more rugged. Inside his office, Blake strikes his walking stick on the ground and transforms into Thor. He says that now it is time for the Hulk. Thor goes up to the roof and twirls his hammer in order to fly to New Mexico.
Iron Man is the first to arrive. He spots Rick Jones, but wonders why Rick is trying to wave him away. Suddenly Hulk nails Iron Man. Iron Man blasts the rocks in front of Hulk and sends them hurtling at Hulk. Hulk ducks under the rocks and then pulls up a cactus. Hulk squeezes the cactus and sends them shooting at Iron Man. Hulk says that maybe some of the needles will get in the openings in his suit and put him out of action. Iron Man picks up a rock and blocks all the needles. He says that Hulk is wasting his time and that they should stop fighting and talk.
Ant-Man and Wasp arrive just as the cactus needles are speeding through the air. Ant-Man tells Wasp to head for the anthill. Before they get there, Wasp says that Hulk is out of needles and that they don’t have to take cover anymore. Hank tells Wasp to get in anyway and that there was another reason he wanted to get to the anthill. Wasp asks why he doesn’t take a pill and grow into Giant-Man. She says that Giant-Man could do much more against the Hulk. Hank says that Giant-Man’s strength is no match for the Hulk’s. He says that this causes for cunning. Hank orders the ants to drop countless pebbles into an underground stream.
Iron Man tells Hulk that they don’t want to fight him, but that they can’t let him to run amok along the countryside. He tells Hulk to stay with the Avengers and work as a team. Hulk says that they all fear him because he is the strongest, and that if he stays with them that they will find a way to destroy him. Under the Hulk’s feet, the underground stream has been completely dammed up. The water bursts up and hits the Hulk. Hulk leaps into the air but Iron Man grabs him. Hulk says that he is going to snap his armor plate like a tincan. Iron Man says that he isn’t exactly helpless. Iron Man uses his magnetic repulsers to spin Hulk around and around by the iron in his bloodstream. Hulk grabs a rock and manages to stop spinning just as Thor arrives. Thor says, “Hear me, Hulk! I am not as merciful as Iron Man! I order you to return with the Avengers, or suffer my wrath!” Hulk says that as soon as his head stops spinning that they will see which one of them will suffer. Iron Man tells Thor to be careful. He says that Hulk is capable of anything. Hulk says that Iron Man doesn’t know how capable he is. Hulk says that if they want him to come and get him. Hulk leaps into the air. Thor and Iron Man fly up after him, but Hulk fakes them out and drops back to the ground. He breaks through the ground to a mineshaft below. Hulk says that no one knows this area like he does and that by the time they figure out where he is that it will be too late. Hulk pops up because he heard a train. As Hulk is holding onto the train with one hand he looks back and sees that Thor and Iron Man are right on his tail. He says that they are faster than he thought. He says that there has to be a way to stop them from hounding him. Hulk throws the empty caboose at Thor and Iron Man. Thor’s hammer smashes the caboose to pieces. As Hulk is grabbing a crane hook and Iron Man says that Hulk keep this up forever. He says that Hulk can’t fight all of mankind. Hulk asks who says that he can’t. Hulk hurls the crane at Iron Man. Iron Man fades back, but Thor is still after Hulk. Hulk grabs hold of a steel cable and throws it at Thor. The cable wraps around Thor and Hulk says that Thor’s hammer doesn’t help him if he can’t swing it. Thor says that this cable will be broken as soon as he flexes his muscles. Hulk says that may be but that he isn’t sticking around and waiting. Suddenly Giant-Man appears. Hulk asks where he came from. Giant-Man thinks to himself that Hulk doesn’t know that he was there as Ant-Man all along and that he just grew large. Hulk grabs some sacks of flower. Giant-Man says that those sacks won’t do him any good and that he can’t get away from him. Hulk says that everyone says that but that no one has caught him yet. Hulk leaps over Giant-Man and then stuffs the sacks of flour into the smokestack of the train. The flour is everywhere and acts as a smokescreen. Giant-Man can’t see and gets hit in the face as the train goes into a tunnel. He falls to the ground. Giant-Man says that Hulk is gone and that he has failed. Iron Man tells Giant-Man not to beat himself up too much and that they were all failures against the Hulk. Thor says that they failed because they are all holding back against the Hulk because they don’t want to hurt him. Giant-Man says that Thor is right and that Hulk is using every dirty trick in the book while they are trying to reason with him. Wasp returns and says that she saw the train speed through Centersville that the Hulk was no longer on board.
Later on a truck is stopped at a roadblock to see if he has seen the Hulk. The guy says that he hasn’t, but later on when he dumps his gravel into the stream he isn’t aware that he is also dumping the Hulk into the stream. Hulk holds his breath and swims underwater to the Gulf Stream. After days of swimming the Hulk is finally worn out. Hulk floats aimlessly in the Atlantic until a ship spots him. They pull him aboard. One sailor says that the Hulk will drown them all, but the Captain says that the Hulk is more dead than alive. He says to put the Hulk on the deck and to alert Washington.
In a secret underwater chamber, Namor watches the Hulk being pulled aboard the ship. He says that the Hulk’s strength will return sooner than the humans suspect and that when it does and the Hulk abandons the ship that he will be waiting for him.
Just as Namor predicted, Hulk’s
strength returns in a short time and he spots a small deserted
island. Hulk says that island is a good place for him. As Hulk
swims there he says that he can grab a passing ship anytime he
wants to, but that for now he wants to be alone to plan his next
move against the human race that hates him. When Hulk gets there
he sees the Sub-Mariner waiting for him. Namor says that he has
been waiting for the Hulk, and that Hulk should be flattered
because normally he doesn’t wait for anyone. Hulk tells
Namor to get off the island and says that he is sick of looking
at puny humans. Namor says, “Brainless dolt! You call me
human? I am Namor, Prince of Atlantis!” Hulk says that he
doesn’t care who he is. He says that he looks like a human
and that is enough to make him want to throw him back to the
mainland. Hulk grabs Namor, but Namor knocks Hulk off and asks
Hulk how dare he put his hands on his royal personage. Namor says
that Hulk has much to learn and that this is his first lesson.
Hulk says that Namor shoots his mouth off too much. 
He grabs
Namor’s torso and slams him against a rocky wall. Hulk grabs
a slab of rock and says that this will shut Namor up permanently.
He presses the rock down trapping Namor underneath. Namor says
that Hulk still thinks that he is dealing with a helpless human.
Namor shatters the rock. He says that it is said that the Hulk is
the strongest living creature on the surface of the Earth. Namor
says that he is the strongest at sea. Namor tackles Hulk and
drives him into the water. Namor says that in the water his power
will exceed the Hulk’s. Hulk says that he is the strongest
on land or sea. Namor says that in the water that the Hulk is at
his mercy. He says that in the water he is supreme. Namor hits
Hulk and while Hulk is reeling, Namor swims around him so fast
that he creates a whirlpool around Hulk. 
Namor drags
Hulk back onto the island and says that he trusts that he has
made his point. Namor says that Hulk is strongest on land, but
that he is invincible at sea. Namor says that they both share a
burning hatred for humanity and that if they act together that
they can bring humanity to its knees. Hulk says that teaming up
isn’t a bad idea. Hulk says that Namor is pretty tough for a
little guy. Namor says that humans are his sworn enemy and that
because of humans he has lost his birthright, his people, and
everything he holds dead. Hulk says that he doesn’t go for
that flowery talk, but that he also hates humans. Namor says that
their first mission will be to defeat the Avengers. Namor
electrically summons his ship to take them to their destination.
Aboard the ship, Hulk is thinking, “I’ll string along
for a while, then smash him when he is off guard!” at the
same time Namor is thinking, “He’s too strong! Too
undependable! When he’s served his purpose, I’ll
destroy him!” Hour later, Namor’s ship pulls up to
Gibraltar. He says that this is where they will battle the
Avengers. He says that they have both land and water so they can
use their strength to their best advantage. Hulk says,
“Sure, sure! If you say so, Fish-Man!”
Later at Avengers headquarters, Iron Man receives a message that Namor and the Hulk have teamed up and that they have challenged them to a battle. Thor says that there can be no pulling of punches asked or given. He says that this time they fight to the finish. Wasp says that she hopes that it isn’t Thor’s finish because she is still waiting to see what he would look like in an ivy league suit and a crew cut. She starts talking about his shoulder and his eyes when Giant-Man picks her up into the air by the seat of her pants. He asks her if she is ever going to grow up and if she ever has anything else on her mind. Wasp asks if she is finally seeing some green in his blue eyes. She tells him to put her down because this is very undignified.
The Avengers head to Gibraltar in a submarine built by Tony Stark. Wasp says that they could use talent like Tony in the Avengers. Tony thinks to himself that they do have Stark. Later they are walking through the tunnels. Thor says to be careful as they could be waiting in any of the caves. Giant-Man says that the caves were used by the British in World War II and then abandoned. Iron Man wonders if any weapons were left behind. Wasp says that she sees one now. Hulk tells Namor that a Howitzer shell is not going to stop the Avengers. Namor says that he is trying to get Thor to throw his hammer, and that once he does that they will attack. Thor winds up to smash the shell, but Iron Man says that the explosion might hurt Wasp. Iron Man reverses the shell’s trajectory by using his magnetic repulsers. Wasp says that was very gallant of Iron Man. Hulk and Namor dodge the shell as it returns. Namor insults Hulk and says that nothing must happen to him while he still needs his strength. Hulk thinks that Namor thinks that he is just a stooge, but that he will regret that before he is done. Namor says that no one knows how many transistor-powered weapons Iron Man has and so he will take him out of action first. Namor draws a gun and fires an emery dust pellet. Iron Man’s armor goes stiff and Giant-Man is forced to catch him as he falls over. Thor says that he will keep Namor and Hulk busy with his hammer. Giant-Man tells Wasp to quickly fly around and look for any oxygen equipment that might still be functional.
Hulk and Namor withdraw as Thor’s mallet ricochets from wall to wall. Namor says that he has never seen such an awesome display of naked power. 58 seconds later, Thor’s hammer returns to his hand. Giant-Man hooks the equipment that Wasp found up to Iron Man’s armor and it starts to pump out the emery dust.
Wasp follows Namor and Hulk to see what they are up to. Hulk tells Namor to watch what he can do. Namor thinks to himself that he will humor him until he no longer needs him as a partner. The noise from Hulk hitting the wall is so loud that Wasp loses control of her flying and falls to the ground. Thor, Iron Man, and Giant-Man are following the sound and almost step on Wasp, but she hides in a crack on the ground. Wasp flies to Giant-Man’s shoulder and says that she isn’t leaving until they leave. Namor tells Hulk that his fists are too slow and that he has modified an old air raid alarm so that its blast will destroy any living being that comes too close. Giant-Man reaches over a wall behind Namor and pulls him away from the air raid alarm. He says that he is too little to be playing with such dangerous toys. Namor says that though Giant-Man is twice his size that his strength is still far greater. Hulk decides not to help because he wants to see how Namor fares without him. Giant-Man throws Namor for Thor, but Iron Man says that Thor’s temper is too great. He says that he doesn’t want to kill Namor and that he will try to stop him with his magnetic repulser. Namor grabs Iron Man’s foot and says that was his first mistake. Namor says that he doesn’t expect any mercy and that he doesn’t give any. Namor pastes Iron Man and damages his chest device. Iron Man has to stop fighting and repair his chest device.
Namor charges Thor. Thor tells Namor not to
force him to hit him with his “all-powerful mallet”.
Namor says that he is going to show just how overrated Thor is. 
Hulk says that
Namor can’t beat Thor alone, but now that he has proven that
he can fight he will help him. Hulk is trying to pull Thor’s
hammer out of his hand, but Thor says that no one but him can
possess his mallet. Hulk says that he can do anything. Hulk is
pulling with both hands against Thor’s one but still the
hammer doesn’t budge. Suddenly Thor releases his hammer and
the thing starts flying around. Thor says that he is weary of
this game. He says that if Hulk wants his hammer that he can have
it if he can grasp it. Thor says that his muscles ache for battle
and not tests of strength. Namor says that he is faster than Hulk
and that he will get the hammer. Thor asks if Namor doesn’t
yet understand that no one but him can possess the mallet. Thor
reaches out for his hammer and says that no one must learn that
he turns back into Donald Blake if the hammer is out of his hand
for 60 seconds. Giant-Man dives at Namor and says that he wants
another crack him. Namor calls to Hulk and says, “I need you
now! To my side, you lumbering oaf!” Hulk says that he will
help against the Avengers, but that when they are done that Namor
is next. Before Hulk can help Namor, however, he transforms back
into Bob Banner. “Bob” covers his face and runs while
they battle Namor. He says that now they will never know if they
would have won or lost, but that it is better this way because he
holds no hatred for the Avengers. Giant-Man has Namor pinned and
asks if he still thinks that he is stronger than him. Namor
realizes that his strength is leaving him because he has been out
of the water for so long. 
He wonders where
the Hulk has gone and if he deserted him. Thor says that he is
going to go get the Hulk, but Namor uses his winged feet to spin
himself around. He kicks Giant-Man off of him and says that this
will prove that no one can defeat him. Thor sees that Iron Man
has finished his repairs and drives him towards him with his
hammer. Iron Man uses his magnetic repulsers to pin Namor against
a wall. Thor says that he is free to fight the Hulk but that
there is no trace of him. Namor says that now he knows that no
human can be trusted. Namor says that he despises them all, but
Iron Man says that the feeling is mutual. Iron Man says that
Namor is getting weaker by the minute. He asks Namor why he
doesn’t give up so they can talk this out. Namor says that
he will never give up, and that as long as life remains in him
that he will fight. Namor finally cracks the wall he is pinned
against and some water falls on him. With his strength renewed,
Namor shatters the wall behind him and flies away. Wasp says that
he is escaping and that only Thor’s hammer can stop him.
Thor says that he has too much respect for Namor’s valor and
that he has earned his escape. Giant-Man says that Thor is right
and that it is too bad that Namor isn’t on their side. Iron
Man says that this is a mistake and that Namor doesn’t fight
by their rules.
Namor dives into the water and says that he could defeat them all on land, but that he hopes that they meet again at sea because there would be a different ending.
Avengers Files rating: 9 out of 10
Great all around issue. You can really see why the Hulk feels that he is being hunted and hounded. The Avengers just decide to go bust him when he wasn’t doing anything wrong. The old man goes and calls the police, but he did nothing wrong then either. One can’t help but wonder if this fight could have been avoided had Iron Man really meant it when he said that he wasn’t looking for a fight. This issue marks the beginning of Thor’s excuse of why he never does very well against the Hulk. He also uses his line that this time he isn’t going to hold back. It’s odd to see just how sexist these books are. Thor, Iron Man, Giant-Man, and Wasp go to fight Hulk and Namor and “THREE of the world’s most colorful evil-smashers” are listed. Hulk turns into Bob Banner here, but at least he isn’t Donald Blake anymore. Kirby does another fantastic job drawing the superhero battles. Each battle is more visually interesting as the last.