Fantastic Four #12Fantastic Four #12
Title: “The Incredible Hulk”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Dick Ayers
The audience leaves the City Symphony Auditorium. Alicia and Thing walk out together. Alicia asks Thing if Beethoven’s Fifth isn’t the most beautiful symphony he has ever heard. Thing says that if she says so it is, but that he prefers listening to New Orleans jazz. One of the other members of the audience points out a company of infantrymen to his wife. As his arm goes up in knocks Thing’s glasses and hat off. Thing tells the guy to watch where he is poking. The guy starts telling Thing not to raise his voice to him, but starts panicking when he sees Thing’s face. He says that Thing is a monster. Thing says that he is going to insult him now too. Thing grabs the man’s feet and says that if he wants to see the troops to get a good look. The soldiers spot Thing lift the man into the air and put him down again. One says that he is strong enough to be the one that they are looking for. He shouts to surround him. The troops gather around Thing and Alicia. Alicia asks Ben what is going on, but Ben says that he can handle it. As the troops grab hold of him, Thing rips open a fire hydrant. He shakes off the soldiers grabbing him and jumps on the water that it rocketing out. Thing directs the water at the troops and sprays them away. Off in the distance, two other soldiers fire a specially prepared bazooka at him. Thing says that he doesn’t know what is going on, but that somebody had better have a good explanation. The shell from the bazooka suddenly grows several steel cabled tentacles. The cables wrap around Thing and trap him. Thing flexes his muscles and snaps the steel cables. His clothes are shredded. Thing asks if they think that they are dealing with kids. Thing says that fun time is over, and that now it is his turn to get rough. As Thing advances the soldiers fire gas pellets at Thing. A soldier comes along and tells the sergeant to drop their weapons and recall his men. He says that they have made a terrible mistake.
Minutes later, Thing comes back to. Alicia asks Thing if he is okay. Thing says that it takes more than a whiff of gas to put him down for the count. The soldier apologizes to Thing. He says that his men mistook Thing for the Hulk, and says that there is a national alarm out for him. Thing flips and yells at the guy for mistaking him for “that brainless lump”. Alicia holds Thing back from going after the guy. The sergeant tells his men that they had better stay back until Thing cools off. Thing storms off and says that it is bad enough being the Thing, but now the lamebrains are mistaking him for the Hulk. Thing says that he will take Alicia home.
Thing gets back to the Baxter Building and realizes that he must have lost his electronic key that opens the elevator door. He says that he is in no mood to go back and look for it. Thing rips the doors open and starts climbing the thirty-five floors to the top up the steel cables.
Minutes later, Human Torch says that here is lover-boy and asks Thing how his date went. Reed tells Torch to knock it off, and that Thing doesn’t look like he is in the mood to kid around. Sue asks what is wrong. Thing tells them the story. Reed says that this is a coincidence because they just got a call about the Hulk. Sue says that a General Thunderbolt Ross is coming to see them. Thing is saying that he never wants to hear about the Hulk again. He says that neither of them has even seen the Hulk. Reed says that Ross claims that he has seen him. Sue hears the buzzer and goes to answer it. Ross shakes Reed’s hand and introduces his aide Captain Nelson. Ross asks if there is somewhere that they can talk in private. Reed says that he has no secrets from the others and that they can talk here. Ross apologizes to Thing again for what happened, and says that one of the ways to recognize the Hulk is by his immense strength. Thing says that he would probably make mincemeat out of the Hulk. Ross says that he may get a chance to back that up. Ross holds up a picture of the Hulk for Thing. Thing says that Hulk is no beauty contestant winner. He asks Ross what makes Hulk “number one on your hit parade”. Ross says that their missile installations in the desert have been sabotaged, and that only the Hulk could have done it. Thing asks where they come in. Ross says that he wants them to find and destroy the Hulk.
Part 2: Mission: Stop the Hulk!
Ross shows the
Fantastic Four the latest footage of the Hulk that was filmed by
an automatic camera placed in the sight of a special cannon. Reed
says that this is proof positive that the Hulk exists. Ross then
shows them the cannon seconds later. The cannon lies in ruins on
the ground. Ross says that only the film cartridge remained
intact. Reed turns to talk to Sue, but can’t see her. Sue
tells Reed to forgive her, but that the Hulk unnerved her so much
that she lost control of her power. Sue says that he is the most
horrifying thing that she has ever seen. Thing says that he is
insulted since she has seen him as well. Thing says that if he
ever gets the chance that he will show Sue that there is nothing
to worry about. He says that Hulk may be big and brainless, but
that there is only one Thing. Torch says that Thing probably
won’t even get close enough to the Hulk to reach him. He
says that no matter where the Hulk goes that he would encircle
him in flame, and that he would leave him in a fiery maze that he
would never get out of. Reed says that he is glad they are so
enthusiastic, but that he will be there as well, and that he is
not exactly powerless himself. Reed says that if they get by them
that he has been wanting to try something. Reed says that he
wants to try stretching himself across the ceiling of a room so
that when the Hulk walks through that he can drop on him like a
net. Sue says that she will come along, but that she isn’t
sure what she can do. Ross says that a pretty young lady can
always be helpful just by keeping the soldiers’ morale up.
Reed says that is how they feel about Sue.
Suddenly, Human Torch’s flame goes out because he kept it on too long. Thing catches Johnny as he falls. Ross asks if Johnny isn’t a little young for a mission like this. Reed says that Johnny’s flame is one of the most potent weapons, and that his mechanical skills make up for his young age. Reed shows Ross the modifications that Torch just made on the Fantasti-car. Ross says that it is very impressive. Reed says that many fans wrote them and said that the old Fantasti-car looked like a flying bathtub, and Johnny agreed with them. Ross asks what the top and cruising speeds are. Johnny says that the top speed is a secret, but that the cruising speed is three thousand. Thing says to show Ross how it separates into four separate sections that all fly. Sue says that they should use the Fantasti-car now to go to the missile area. She says that they can take Ross with them.
As they’re flying, a rainstorm breaks out. Ross is riding with Sue and says that the they didn’t count on this. Sue shows that they did by having a bubble cover up the passenger area. She says that it is also bulletproof. Ross says that he has to tell ordinance about this. As they’re flying over, Ross points out some of the “Hulk’s work”. He says that is Project 34- Anti-grav missile destroyed. Sue asks how Ross can be sure that the Hulk did it. Ross says to look at all the twisted steel and asks who else could have the strength to do that.
As soon as they land, Ross calls a high level conference. Ross introduces Reed to the others. Bruce Banner introduces himself as the civilian scientific exec of the base. He introduces his assistant Dr. Karl Kort and his young helper Rick Jones. Karl asks how the Fantastic Four propose to catch the Hulk. Ross says that he likes that kind of talk and suggests planning their campaign. Bruce says that he still doesn’t believe that the Hulk is responsible. Bruce says that all of missile apparatus were destroyed from the inside out. Bruce says that the Hulk would have destroyed them from the outside in. Ross says that their mission is to stop the Hulk, and that they will listen to his theories once he is stopped. Ross tells Bruce to get together with Reed and think of something. Reed stretches his hand over to shake Bruce’s as he says that it will be a pleasure to work with him. He says that he has long admired his atomic research. Bruce says that he is flattered that the most brilliant scientific brain of their time should say that to him. Dr. Karl Kort says that if they won’t be needing him that he will go back to work. Outside the door, Thing asks Karl how long they are going to keep them cooling their heels out there. Karl nervously says, “What are you?” Thing gets up in Karl’s face and asks him if he has never seen a Thing before. He says that he is getting sick of guys doing double takes everytime they see him. Kort runs off. Torch notices that he dropped his wallet. Torch tries his new flame lasso trick, and manages to pick up the wallet without even singeing the wallet. Thing says that he is sick of this and smashes down the door. A soldier points a gun at them. Reed asks Thing if he has lost his senses.
Part 3- Who is the Wrecker?
Ross orders everyone to come to attention. Reed tells Ross not to worry and that he will quiet them down. Thing says that they are the Fantastic Four not the Fantastic One. He says that he doesn’t like being kept outside. Invisible Girl takes the gun off the soldier before he hurts someone. After the excitement subsides, Ross says that if they weren’t civilians that he would throw them all in the guardhouse. Bruce tells Ross to go easy, and reminds Ross that they are here to help them. Thing says that if they take off who will he get to fight the Hulk. Ross says that so far Thing has done nothing but talk. Ross says that he thinks that he is afraid of the Hulk. Thing grabs hold of eight of Ross’ bound telephone books and rips them in half. Thing says that is what he will do to the Hulk when he gets hold of him. Ross starts freaking, but Reed says that they will pay for the books, but that he has to watch what he says to the Thing. Ross says that he has hired himself a bunch of prima donnas. Bruce tells Reed that if there is anything he can do to help find the Wrecker to let him know. Reed asks what he means, and Rick explains that Wrecker is what they call the saboteur. Sue says that Bruce and Rick seem so sure that the Hulk isn’t guilty. Torch says that he has a wallet for them to return. Torch swoops in and grabs Rick’s hand. Rick freaks for a second, but Torch says that he fooled him and doused the flame on his hands. Rick says that Torch is a barrel of laughs. Torch shows off by showing his flame powers. Torch thinks to himself that Rick is green with envy, but Rick thinks to himself that Torch wouldn’t be so swell headed if he knew that he was the Hulk’s partner.
Later, Bruce and Rick go to Bruce’s hidden lab. Bruce says that it is going to be up to them to catch the Wrecker. He says that he can’t convince the others that the Hulk is innocent. Rick says that if only Bruce could take the Fantastic Four into his confidence. Bruce shows Rick a model of Project 34 that the Wrecker destroyed. Rick asks what it is supposed to do. Bruce says that it emits an electro-magnetic wave that would make an US city completely invulnerable to enemy missiles or rockets. Bruce says that it will be the prefect defense, but that the Wrecker has managed to convince Ross that the Hulk is responsible. Rick mentions that Human Torch gave him Karl Kort’s wallet. Rick says that he is going to go take it back to him.
As Rick walks to Kort’s place, he says that he hopes that the Hulk doesn’t appear while the Fantastic Four are around. He says that they might be too much even for the Hulk. Rick notices a card sticking out of Kort’s wallet and looks closer. Rick sees that the card is a membership card in the subversive communist-front organization. Rick says that he has to tell the Hulk that Karl is a red. Kort pulls a gun and says that Rick isn’t telling anyone. Kort says that Rick is in league with the Hulk, and that now he will be able to destroy him as well as Project 34. Rick realizes that Dr. Karl Kort is the Wrecker.