Fantastic Four #12 continues...

Part 4- “The Hulk at Last!”

Ross yells at Thing to get out of the rocket sled. He says that it isn’t ready for testing yet, and that they still have to work out some bugs. Thing tells “Napoleon” to relax and that they just ironed them out for him. Reed says that he saw the problem, and that he thinks he has it licked for him. Torch says that he checked the rail and welded a few weak spots. They activate the rocket sled. The men watch the rocket sled go and say that it wasn’t supposed to be ready for another two weeks. Another says that was before Mr. Fantastic got there, and that he straighten out the electronic circuits like they were nothing. One tech says that the sled is up to fifty g’s. Another says that nothing could stand that pressure and not be flattened. Another with binoculars says that Thing seems to be laughing and whistling. Suddenly, two strange prongs reach out of the ground and twist the rails up. Thing says that he hasn’t had this much fun since his last roller coaster ride at Coney. Thing’s sled hits the mangled rails and sends him flying into the air. Torch quickly flies up and grabs Thing, but he can’t hold Thing and is forced to try and spiral down. Torch finally loses control and Thing lands in Mr. Fantastic as he stretched himself out like a trampoline. Ross says that they just wrecked their rocket sled. Torch says that Ross is “batty” and that the Thing watched it being sabotaged. Sue notices that Dr. Banner is coming over upset. Bruce says that Rick is missing, and that he is afraid that the Wrecker has him. Reed says that they were looking for him too, and that someone just sabotaged the rocket sled. Thing tells Bruce to knock off the “Wrecker jazz” because they all know that it is the Hulk. Thing says that only the Hulk is strong enough to have wrecked that stuff. Bruce says that it was the Wrecker and that if they don'’ give up the case that he could harm Rick. Reed asks what proof Bruce has. Bruce says that he doesn’t have any, but that they have to believe him. Sue says that they can’t give up a case just on Bruce’s say so. Bruce walks off and thinks that it is no use since they won’t believe him without the whole truth. Reed tells Bruce to come back and that he knows that he has more to tell them. Thing says that he doesn’t trust Banner and Torch agrees.

Bruce walks off and says that he didn’t dare show them the note he found where Rick disappeared.

“To the Hulk:

Rick Jones is my prisoner! Unless you drive the Fantastic Four from this area you will never see him again

The Wrecker”

Minutes later, Bruce is in his desert lab again. Bruce says that there is no way that he could make the Fantastic Four leave the area. Bruce says that it is time again to activate the machine that can duplicate the incredible gamma rays of his gamma bomb. Bruce says that he can’t deal with the Wrecker of the Fantastic Four, but that the Hulk can.

Karl Kort has also discovered the underground catacombs beneath the desert testing area. He forces Rick Jones to walk ahead of him through the tunnels. Rick says, “You ain’t gonna get away with this, daddy-o! No matter where you take me, the Hulk will find me!” Kort says that he will handle the Hulk as easily as he handles the Fantastic Four. Kort leads Rick below an old western ghost town, and says that this might be Rick’s home forever.

The Hulk also walks through the tunnels. Hulk says that he is beneath Project 34, and that the Fantastic Four are sure to be around there somewhere, but that they won’t be for long when he gets thru with them. Hulk hears the Fantastic Four coming towards him and hides behind a cave wall. Thing says that he had a feeling there were tunnels beneath the rocket sled. He says that the Hulk must hide down there. Thing says that he hopes they find him soon because he is itching to tangle with “that over-rated creep”. Hulk pops up from behind the wall and says that he will crush Thing like a flea. Hulk gets in the first shot and lands a left that knocks Thing off balance. Hulk says that it is like hitting a brick wall. Hulk says that Thing is stronger than he thought. Human Torch flies at Hulk. Hulk quickly scoops up a mountain of sand and hurls it at Torch. Torch’s flame is doused from the sand. Hulk says that he doesn’t have any time to waste and that he has to find Rick. Hulk smashes through the top of the tunnel to the surface. Hulk fills in the hole so Thing and Torch can’t follow. Mr. Fantastic stretches his hands through the opening and wraps them around Hulk. Hulk swats Mr. Fantastic off of him. Thing digs through to the surface and Torch and Sue get out with him. Hulk goes and picks up a house to crush them with. Thing swats the house away and says that doesn’t impress him. Hulk says that to save Rick he has to get rid of the Fantastic Four, but that they are too powerful to beat together. He says that he has to separate them. Hulk leaps into the air, but Reed catches him in mid leap by wrapping himself around Hulk. Hulk spins himself in the air like a tornado and unwinds Reed’s body off of him. Torch flies at Hulk, but Hulk claps his hands together. The force acts like a supersonic boom shock wave. Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, and Human Torch are all knocked unconscious. Hulk turns to look for the Thing, but Thing punches Hulk into a building. Hulk throws an old wagon at Thing. Thing says that throwing things isn’t going to help him. Hulk says that anyone can fight with their mouth, but that it will be different when he gets his hands on him. Hulk and Thing collide and the ground shakes. Hulk starts to lift Thing off of his feet, but then as the battle is about to reach its climax a “strange atom-powered ray shoots out from the tunnel below…” The ray knocks the Hulk unconscious. Thing says that he didn’t even get to land his punch, and that he must be better than he thought. Sue says that she saw a ray coming out of the ground and strike the Hulk. Thing pulls the ground apart and says that someone was trying to cheat him out of his victory.

Beneath the ground, Thing finds a giant robot. Thing says that Banner was right, and that the Hulk didn’t do the damage. Thing says that this robot must be the Wrecker’s. Thing smashes the robot into pieces. Thing smashes down an iron door and Invisible Girl turns invisible and follows Thing in. Karl Kort is there with his atomic-powered weapon and says that he now has it set to full intensity. Thing sees Rick tied up and says that he will be okay now. Rick says that Kort has the gun that he hit the Hulk with. Invisible Girl knocks Kort’s aim off and causes him to shoot the ground. Thing grabs Kort, but as Sue unties Rick she tells Thing not to hurt Kort because Ross will want him for questioning. Thing says that he just wants two minutes with him. Rick says that Thing is a “pretty right guy after all”. Torch and Reed arrive. Reed asks what they are doing with Dr. Kort. Thing tells Reed to meet the Wrecker. Reed says that Kort threw everyone onto the Hulk by using that giant robot. Thing says that no one but him could do that much damage. Sue wonders what happened to the Hulk.

Hulk wakes up. He hears them talking below his feet so he knows that Rick is safe. Hulk says that he is still weak from the ray, and since there is no reason to hang around he leaps back to the lab.

Sue says that there is no sign of the Hulk. Reed says that in a way he is glad because it means he recovered from the ray and left under his own power. Rick says that he must have gone to transform back into Banner.

Bruce finds Rick and says that he is glad that Rick is alright. Ross says that he sees that the Fantastic Four has caught the saboteur. Reed says that Banner was right, and that it wasn’t the Hulk. Thing asks what the heck he was fighting the Hulk for. Bruce shakes Reed’s hand and says that he is grateful for his help and hopes that they can meet again under better circumstances. Reed says that he has a feeling they have a lot to talk about like him, Rick, and the Hulk. Rick asks Bruce if he thinks Reed suspects. Bruce says that it is hard to tell with a brain like Reed’s. Torch says that they should get going, but Ross asks them to stay for a little ceremony in their honor. For the first time, an Honor Guard of the nation’s top men passes in a review for a group of civilians.

The next day, Hulk watches the Fantasti-car fly away. He says that he has a feeling that this won’t be the last time they meet.

Leader’s Lair rating: 9.5 out of 10

This is it fight fans. The first battle between two of the strongest beings in the Marvel Universe. The first fight between the Thing and the Hulk. They were really it as far as immense strength went in the Marvel Universe. Thor and Namor of course were known as powerhouses as well, but not known as the monsters that Hulk and Thing were. Jack Kirby, of course, does such a phenomenal job with the issue. There is no big shot of the Hulk and Thing battling, but he makes up for it in the next match up. The writing doesn’t get a perfect score, despite the immense scope of this tale, simply because of all the bizarre tangents within the issue. Why wouldn’t Bruce Banner show the Fantastic Four a letter written to the Hulk that he found as Bruce Banner? It didn’t implicate him at all. Speaking of implicating, what commie spy carries a card identifying himself as a commie spy?

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