The Leader
Samuel Sterns'
mother told her son that he should become a plumber. One day
while working as a laborer hauling a load of waste material a
gamma ray cylinder exploded, and Samuel Sterns became something
much more than a plumber. It's difficult to say that his mother
would be proud of him though. Since that day the Leader has spent
most of his time trying to take over the world or creating more
gamma spawned people to do his bidding. He's destroyed entire
towns and killed thousands of people on his quest to the top.
Appearances in Chronological Order
Tales
to Astonish #60- behind the scenes- Leader sent the man who
took over Banner's suit
Tales
to Astonish #61- Behind the scenes- Leader sent the man who
took over Banner's suit
Tales
to Astonish #62
Tales
to Astonish#63
Tales
to Astonish #64
Tales
to Astonish #65
Tales
to Astonish #66
Tales
to Astonish #68
Tales
to Astonish #69
Avengers #17- in the Avengers' "Search for
the Hulk" there are a few scenes from Tales top Astonish #69
where Hulk is ruining the Leader's hideout.
Tales
to Astonish #70
Tales
to Astonish #71
Tales
to Astonish #72
Tales
to Astonish #73
Tales
to Astonish #74
Tales
to Astonish #75
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #115
Incredible Hulk
vol. 2 #116
Incredible Hulk
vol. 2 #117
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #123
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #124
Hulk #129-The Leader regresses into his persona
as Sam Sterns. Sam, forgetting who he is, picks up Bruce Banner
as a hitchhiker (he'd been following him). Sterns talks to Bruce.
Bruce mentions the Glob, who may have been stronger than the
Hulk. Sam suddenly runs out with a headache. Sam then turns back
into the Leader. The Leader then returns to the spot where the
Glob was last seen and recreates him. He then sends Glob out
after the Hulk.
Hulk #139- Leader has a plan to overextend the
Hulk causing him to have a heart attack. Leader contacts Glenn
Talbot in order to gain access to the army's Mentallo-projector.
Hulk fights mental images of the Rhino, Xeron, Namor, and the
Missing Link. Talbot and Ross have second thoughts but the Leader
freezes them with a Eldritch mental burst. Hulk then fights
mental images of Night Crawler, Mandarin, Sandman, Glob, Iron
Man, and the Absorbing Man. Jim Wilson then pulls out some wires
from the machine causing the Leader to see many Hulks coming
after him. The barrage of Hulks paralyzes the Leader within his
mind. Just as Hulk begins to fight the mental projection of the
Abomination the image disappears.
Hulk #146-147- Using robot replacements of
General Ross and other soldiers the Leader takes over Gamma Base.
The president and vice president are to tour the base the next
day. The Leader plans to replace them with robot replacements who
will do his bidding. The Leader is posing as Glenn Talbot. The
Hulk escapes from the jet that was bringing him to Gamma Base.
Robotic Ross uses the Leader's sonic gun to hold him. Hulks
destroys the robot. With his plan botched Leader's humanoids form
one gigantic humanoid that holds the thoughts of the Leader.
Leader/Humanoid shoots a gamma ray at the Hulk trying to overdose
him. Samson steps in front of the ray and causes feedback that
causes a short circuit in the humanoid. The Leader goes
unconscious. Hulk defeats the humanoid.
Hulk #157-158-A beam strikes the Rhino while he
is lying comatose in a hospital bed. Rhino rises and goes to the
Leader who was paralyzed during the explosion of his lab. Leader
uses mental bombardment to assume control over the Rhino's body.
Leader/Rhino finds Banner and tells him he is going to go hurt
Betty Ross unless Hulk comes to fight him. Leader manages to down
the Hulk, and leads Hulk on a chase after him. Omnivac warns
Leader that the Rhino's influence is affecting him and that he
should concentrate on fixing his own body. Leader ignores the
warning. Leader/Rhino takes off in a ship that Hulk grabs hold
of. Once in space Leader leaves Rhino's body leaving the brute to
deal with an angry Hulk. Leader is pleased because he hates both
Rhino and Hulk. When the battle is over Hulk has changed back
into Banner.
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #159
Marvel Feature #11- The Leader makes a bet with
Kurrgo. The two pick champions to gfight for their cause. The
Leader chooses the Hulk while Kurrgo picks the Thing (sucker).
The champion's backer will win the right to "enlist"
the services of both champions in their plans. Leader appears
before the Thing as a mental projection. Hetells the Leader he
must fight the Hulk in order to stop the Ultrex bomb, which can
destroy the entire Earth. Hulk an dThing battle until Thing finds
the Ultrex bomb, which happens to be a fake. Thing then confronts
Kurrgo and Leader telling them that Kurrgo was artifically
increasing Thing's strength. Leader figures he wins by default.
Kurrgo's robot comes out, but when Hulk and Thing paste him he
starts the ship on fire. Thing and Hulk jump off before the ship
explodes.
Wolverine #144- flashback- Leader teleports
Wolverine aboard his ship. When Wolverine wakes up he is strapped
to a steel cross. Leader asks Wolverine if he had a pleasant
sleep. Wolverine says he hates that people ask him if he is
having fun being captured. Wolverine tells him to get to the
point. Leader tells Wolverine about his gamma enhanced mind, and
(unlike the revealed way that Leader really cured himself Erik
Larsen decided that it didn’t happen that way) cured himself
of his paralysis. Leader says that even if Wolverine could escape
his prison he is miles below the ground. Leader shows Wolverine
that he also has Hercules and Karkas, of the Deviants. Leader
says he has captured them all to help him capture the Hulk.
Leader and Hercules argue about the nature of the Hulk. Leader
says that he intends to submerge the Hulk in gamma-nullifying
plasma bath that will transform the Hulk into Banner permanently.
Leader looks over to see that Wolverine has escaped his bonds (no
explanation, but he is out). Wolverine frees Hercules and Karkas.
Leader sicks his humanoids on them. Leader tries to escape to a
secret weapon, but Wolverine catches up and slices his omnichair
up. Leader was trying to get a big robot, but when the chair
slams into it the plasma bath that the Leader had intended for
Hulk tips over and washes Leader away (perhaps causing his
reversion of 223-225).
Incredible Hulk
vol. 2 #208
Incredible Hulk
vol. 2 #209
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #213- Dr. Samson brings in a man
who he found collapsed in the desert. The man wakes up without
any memory. Samson finds the man looking at some equipment. The
man thinks to himself that a voice deep within him is trying to
tell him something.
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #216
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #223
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #224
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #225
Hulk Annual #11-With the help of Rikki Keegan
the Leader obtains a blood sample from the Hulk. Ricki tries to
sedate Bruce, but he hulks out and escapes. All of New York
starts to turn green with the "Green Flu". Leader
manipulated Dr. Keegan, an old schoolmate of Bruce's, into
thinking he was looking for a cure. Leader does want to cure
Bruce, but only so that Hulk won't be able to stop him. Leader
polluted the water system with Hulk's blood. While Hulk battles
the Avengers, Rikki Keegan turns into a Leader-like creation.
Leader reveals his plot to Keegan. Leader wants to turn the whole
world gamma, and those who transform will serve as his advisers
and army. Keegan destroys Leader's equipment using telekinesis.
Since she was smarter than Samuel Sterns to begin with she is
transformed with greater powers. The Leader shoots hr in the back
with the antidote to cure her. Hulk knocks Leader into the water
supply. The Avengers use Dr. Keegan's antibodies to duplicate the
cure for the rest of New York.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #275-behind the
scenes-The Leader sends Jackdaw out to bring him the secrets
within Gamma Base. Jackdaw is distracted by Monolith, a remote
control monster. She uses it to confront the Hulk, and is beaten.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #278- After Bereet
jettisons her alien camera that creates images instead of just
projecting them the Leader snatches it up. As the Hulk is on the
White House lawn the Leader, after having Omnibus fix the camera,
uses it to create the illusion that there is an alien invasion.
Leader watches it all from a distance. Eventually he ends the
transmission and the fleet disappears.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #279- Leader watches as
the world and other worlds pay homage to the Hulk because he
finally has Bruce Banner's brain controlling the Hulk's body.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #280- Leader's minion,
the Jackdaw, drops a canister containing thousands of microscopic
humanoids. Bruce and Bereet return to Bruce's hotel. When they
get up to the room they find it filled with humanoids. Bruce
powers up and starts fighting. Rick and Bereet are taken captive.
Dozens of humanoids hold Bruce as one of the humanoids suddenly
projects an image of the Leader. Leader says he wants to test his
new opposition. He tells Hulk that Rick and Bereet are aboard his
ship Omnivac. Leader's humanoids reduce to dust leaving Bruce
alone in his room.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #281- Bruce borrows a
ship from the Avengers. Bruce is trailed by the Leader's ships
with lasers. Since the quinjet has no weapons he has to out fly
the other ships. Bruce does okay, but the second assault are
"jellyfish" that latch onto the ship and electrify it.
Bruce powers up. He dives into the atmosphere and burns up the
jellyfish. Finally Leader's ship deploys some humanoids. The
humanoids start tearing the quinjet, and Bruce is forced to go
fight them. One of the humanoids cracks Bruce's helmet. Bruce
fights off the humanoids and leaps towards Leader's ship. Bruce
realizes that he forgot to hold his breath. When Bruce wakes up
the Leader recommends having some of the wine with dinner. Bruce
asks what Leader's game is. Leader says he merely wants to test
his foe. Leader tries to corrupt the Hulk to join him, but Hulk
says that he wants to live in peace on Earth, not rule it. Leader
sics his humanoids on Hulk. Bruce does okay until he starts to
realize that nothing he is doing is defeating the humanoids.
Leader realizes that when Bruce stops to think he is slowing his
strength increase. He realizes that this Hulk, unlike the Savage
Hulk, is one he can plan for. The humanoids overtake Bruce and he
collapses on the floor. Leader pours Bruce's wine over his head.
Leader says they are free to go since this new Hulk doesn't seem
to be any threat to him. Leader teleports them back to Bruce's
hotel room patio.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #282- behind the scenes-
Bruce uses the Avengers' equipment to locate Omnivac.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #283- flashback- Leader
wants to travel back in time to alter the evolution of mankind to
make everyone a gamma person. Jackdaw tries to interfere with
Leader building his time machine. She knocks Leader down. Leader
calls for Omnivac to discipline her. As the robot forms and
begins beating Jackdaw Leader stands on his time machine bidding
her farewell.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #283- behind the scenes-
The Avengers arrive at Omnivac. Wave after wave of humanoids come
out of the ship. When it's clear that the humanoids are no longer
a threat (as Photon has found an energy that makes them brittle)
they stop coming out. The Avengers come on board and are greeted
by the humanoid form of Leader's ship- Omnivac. Omnivac leads
them into a room and starts to play a song that the Leader
composed for them. Omnivac reveals Leader's plan, but as he does
so the Avengers suddenly disappear. Hulk and She-Hulk are not
affected. Omnivac says the Leader had the Avengers sent back in
time so they couldn't interfere with his plan. He forgot to
account for Hulk and She-Hulk's gamma radiation that kept them
from being teleported.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #284-
Omnivac is forced to tell Hulk that the organ activates
the time machine. When they disappear Omnivac decides that maybe
he can still serve his master by making sure Hulk and She-Hulk
can never return. After Hulk and She-Hulk find all the other
Avengers they are brought to the beginning of man's evolution.
There they find Captain Marvel and Wasp in the Leader's thrall.
Captain Marvel stands besides the Leader on top of a volcano. She
is emitting immense gamma radiation. She-Hulk grabs the Wasp, and
the other Avengers charge at Leader. Captain America throws his
shield and hits Leader in the chest. As Leader falls backwards
into the volcano he shouts, "What's wrong with being like
me?" Iron Man tries to save Leader, but admits to himself
that he might not have tried real hard. Omnivac seems to be
following commands from Jackdaw.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #332- flashback
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #331
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #332
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #333- flashback- As Hulk
pieces together the gamma machine Sterns tells him about how the
moon affects Hulk's strength. The absence of light makes Hulk
stronger. So during a full moon the Hulk has the most influence
on Bruce Banner.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #342- flashback- A newly
transformed Leader emerges from the rubble of the cave.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #400- flashback- The
newly reborn Leader takes Thunderbolt Ross' body with him out of
a sense of history and for fresh material for his revivification.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #334
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #338
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #339
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #340
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #341
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #342- flashback- Leader
sits drawing the armor that will become Redeemer when Half-Life
asks why he needs a new agent to steal a bomb. Leader says that
Half-Life's only mission so far was a failure. Half-Life asks for
another chance. Leader attaches a camera to Half-Life and
teleports him away.
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #342
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #343
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #344
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #345
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #346
Cloak and Dagger vol. 3 #9- Leader sends Rock
as his personal representative to join the Jester's Assembly of
Evil. Thor defeats Rock.
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #364- behind the scenes
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #366
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #367
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #397
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #398
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #399-
flashback- Agamemnon says that they have agreed to help the
Leader against the Hydra to protect innocents that Leader has
depending on him. Leader says farewell tot he Hulk for maybe the
last time. Leader teleports away as Hulk jumps through his body.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #399-
flashback- behind the scenes- The doctor that is supposed to do
the autopsy on Marlo arrives and has to shake the man watching
over the bodies from a trance. They open the drawer to find that
Marlo’s body is missing.
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #399
Incredible
Hulk vol. 2 #400
Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #31- flashback
Incredible
Hulk vol. 3 #30
Incredible
Hulk vol. 3 #31
Incredible
Hulk vol. 3 #32
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