Incredible Hulk #4Incredible Hulk #4
Title: “The Monster and the Machine”
“Gladiator from Outer Space!”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Dick Ayers
Colors: Andy Yanchus
The Hulk is strapped into a large gamma ray
machine. Rick says that he has never operated this equipment
before, and that if he messes up that it might mean death to both
the Hulk and to himself. Rick is hoping that the machine will
turn the Hulk back into Bruce Banner, but that if he fails it
could mean the end for both of them. The rays have reached
critical mass so Rick prepares to pull the lever.
Days ago, Betty Ross sits thinking of Bruce Banner and how the Hulk came between them. She says that it was such a thrill when her father introduced them, but then on the day of the test after Bruce rushed out there he seemed different somehow like he was hiding a secret. Betty says that it may be a coincidence, but that was when the Hulk first started to appear. Betty says that for some reason Hulk never tried to hurt her, but that it seems like he was trying to tell her something but she fainted. Betty thinks about how Rick came in when she was in Bruce’s lab and talked to the Hulk. Betty thinks about Rick and the Hulk, and Rick and Bruce. Betty decides that Rick is the key. Betty decides to go to her father and say that they have to find Rick Jones to discover what happened to Bruce Banner. Ross is preparing the “iceberg rocket” for testing. Ross has the facsimile of the Hulk released to fly through the air. The iceberg rocket is then fired. The rocket releases a mist and the mist turns into an iceberg around the Hulk and drops to the ground. Thunderbolt asks Betty what she wanted to say. Betty says that she wants to find Rick so they could figure out where Bruce went. Ross says that he has more to worry about than a troublesome scientist. Betty says that Rick can probably find the Hulk as well. Ross decides that she is right.
Elsewhere, Rick says to the motionless Hulk that they can’t go on much longer like this and they have to find a way to change him back into Banner. Rick sees a group of soldiers looking for him. Rick tells Hulk to leap away to avoid discovery. The military police grab Rick to bring to Thunderbolt Ross.
Ross says that Banner has been missing for days, and that if he doesn’t turn up soon he is going to place Rick under arrest. Betty also pleads that Rick tell them what he knows about Bruce. Rick says that he is sorry, but that he can’t tell them anything.
Hulk leaps along too far from Rick to get anymore mental commands. Hulk is hurtling by as a bus has stalled on the train tracks. The train is coming, but Hulk pushes the bus out of the way before it arrives. Later, Hulk happens by the making of a monster movie. The director is trying to make the actress look more scared. The woman sees the Hulk and starts to scream. The director thinks she is just that good until her spots the Hulk destroying the lighting equipment. Hulk walks to the commissary. Hulk walks up to the other people and says, “Food!” Everyone, including the cook, runs away. Hulk grabs the food and dumps it into his mouth. The group of people start to come back when they realize that they can make the greatest monster movie ever with the Hulk. Hulk claps his hands and the group falls to the ground. Hulk leaps off. Hulk finally hears Rick in his head telling him to follow his thoughts.
Rick is in the back of the military police’s jeep as it drives on the road. Hulk comes hurtling by and grabs Rick Jones right out of the back. Hulk lands over by the cave laboratory. Rick sits Hulk by the gamma ray machine. Rick says that he isn’t sure what to do because if he makes a mistake anything could happen. Rick tells Hulk to think and asks if he should try. Hulk says, “…try… Rick!”
Back in the present, Rick thinks that he has to give Bruce just the right amount of juice. Rick pulls the lever. Hulk slowly turns back into Bruce Banner. Rick pulls Bruce off the machine and into bed. Rick gives Bruce some tonic and revives him.
Minutes later, Bruce is in a wheelchair.
Rick apologizes, but Bruce says that Rick isn’t a scientist.
Bruce says that there is so much to be done. He says that if only
there were a way that he could have the Hulk’s strength and
his brain. Bruce asks Rick to talk him to the machine. Bruce
starts doing some adjustments to the machine. Bruce says that it
may be a one in a hundred chance, but he wants to try to gain the
Hulk’s strength and his mind. Bruce activates the machine.
Bruce is turned into the Hulk. Rick notices Hulk is getting up
and breaking his straps even though he didn’t command him
to. Rick wonders what will happen to him if Bruce isn’t in
control. 
Bruce grabs Rick
up and says that it worked and he has the Hulk’s body with
his mind. Bruce says that he can do anything now. Hulk lifts the
gamma ray machine into the air. Hulk says that he has worked the
buttons so that he can operate them himself. Rick notices that
seems to have Bruce’s brain, but that he sounds fiercer,
more cruel. Rick says that he still seems dangerous.
Rick and Hulk head out. They spot a house on fire where a family is trapped inside. Hulk rips the burning half of the building right off. The family emerges wiping the smoke from their eyes. They spot the Hulk and start to scream. A local deputy arrives with a shotgun. Hulk says that they are brainless idiots. Hulk grabs Rick and leaps away. The deputy calls in an all points alarm.
Hulk and Rick head back to the hidden lab. Hulk stands before the gamma ray machine and steps on the button. Hulk’s body reverts back into that of Bruce Banner. Rick says that he is glad to have Bruce back, and that the Hulk was starting to scare him. Bruce says that he is too tired to talk. Rick puts Bruce into bed. Bruce says that it must have been too many changes too often. As Bruce falls asleep he thinks that even though Hulk has his brain he is still a raging goliath. Bruce hopes that the Hulk never turns on him. Bruce says that he won’t tell Rick because he has enough to worry about. Rick turns off the light.
“Gladiator from Outer Space!”
A spaceship flies out of the air and lands on the ground in the park. People start to gather around. The spaceship opens and a giant being comes out and says, “I AMM MONGU!”
Rick Jones is watching the television and calls Bruce’s attention to Mongu’s presence. Bruce watches the set as Mongu says that he has come to Earth to make a challenge. Mongu challenges Earth’s mightiest mortal in hand to hand combat. Mongu says that if he beats him that he will leave forever, but if Mongu is victorious then his world’s warriors will descend on Earth to conquer it. Mongu says to bring him an opponent that can wield a two ton ax like he does. Mongu says that he will wait in the Grand Canyon until sunset. Mongu flies off.
Bruce gets changed into his purple trunks
and activates his machine. Bruce turns into the Hulk. Hulk tells
Rick to get moving and that he needs his help. Minutes later, in
a quickly chartered plane hulk and Rick fly to the Grand Canyon.
They land. Mongu says, “It is you! It is the one I’ve
been waiting for!” 
Hulk says that
something is fishy. Hulk grabs Mongu’s ax and crushes it.
Hulk says that it is nothing more than cardboard and cork. Mongu
says that it is indeed a trap. A bunch of Russian soldiers jump
out of the “spaceship”, and Mongu’s body opens up
to reveal another. “Mongu” says that he is Boris
Monguski and that he is going to take him behind the Iron Curtain
where their scientists will figure out how to make an army of
Hulks. Hulk tells Rick to go flat while he pulverizes “these
crumbs”. Hulk leaps up and then comes right back down. The
impact knocks them all over. One soldier throws a grenade at
Hulk. Hulk catches the grenade and squeezes it until it explodes.
From the ship a soldier uses a sound gun on Hulk. Hulk grabs his
ears, but also digs a hole in the ground to protect himself. Hulk
tunnels under the ship and then breaks up and grabs the soldier.
Hulk then starts ripping apart the “spaceship”. The
soldiers grab Rick to threaten Hulk. Hulk says that their ship is
destroyed and there is no way for them to escape. The
Russian’s helicopter starts to arrive. Hulk takes a piece of
the destroyed ship and throws it. The piece clips off the
copter’s landing gear. The Russians surrender. Hulk tells
them to take off their belts. Hulk hooks them all together. Hulk
leaps and hooks them onto their helicopter. Hulk says that he is
leaving, but that they better leave.
Later the army arrives to find the destroyed spaceship and the empty Mongu suit. The army decides that it was a hoax by the Hulk to make people think he was a hero.
Back in the lab Hulk turns into Bruce again. Rick lets Bruce lean on him as the transformation has left him weak.
No Excuses rating: 8.5 out of 10
The continued evolution of the Hulk is seen here as he goes from thug to mindless slave to having Bruce Banner’s intelligence (though still talking like a thug). The Mongu story got me a little upset though. Where are Hulk’s villains? Spider-Man by his fourth issue had Vulture, Doctor Octopus, and Sandman. Fantastic Four had Mole Man, the Skrulls, and Namor. X-Men had Magneto, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and the Blob. The Hulk has commies, Toad Men, and a hypnotist. I want a fight! Jack Kirby keeps his prefect record as his art continues to astound.