Tales to Astonish #64Tales to Astonish #64
Title: "When Attuma Strikes!”
Writer: Leon Lazarus
Penciller: Carl Burgos
Inker: Paul Reinman
Editor: Stan Lee
Hank Pym is experimenting with a giant robotic replica of an ant. The computer controls seem to be working, but he isn’t getting the right decibel level. He figures that there is difficulty coming from the dial calibrating circuit. Hank tells Jan to hurry up with the tubes. Jan tells Hank not to yell at her, and that she is going as fast as she can. Jan drops the box of tubes on the ground. Jan says, “I’m sorry! I… I guess accidents will happen!” Hank says that her accidents are “beauts”. He says that there isn’t a good diode unbroken. He says that her mistake is going to cost him weeks of work. Jan walks off upset and says that Hank has never talked to her that way. She says that it as if she means nothing to her. Hank doesn’t take any notice. He thinks that maybe he can do without the tube.
In her room, Jan thinks that she can’t help loving Hank despite the way he treats her. Jan says that it is hopeless and that he will never return her love. Jan decides that she needs to leave and thinks things out. She thinks how she knows that he is overworked to the snapping point, but that she can’t go on like this. She decides to try putting him out of her mind, and convincing herself that she doesn’t love him. She decides that she will go get a plane ticket to anywhere, and that she isn’t going to pack her Wasp uniform or gun because it would remind her of him. As Jan boards the plane she gets a feeling that something awful is about to happen.
Back in the lab, Hank manages to successfully complete his experiment. He says that in a month’s time he will learn more information about ants than he would have in years of research with live ants. Hank thinks to himself that he has to go tell Jan the good news. He thinks that they must go out to dinner together to celebrate. He thinks about how hard he has been on her lately. Hank searches all over, but doesn’t find her. He goes to her room and finds the note that Jan left for Hank brushing him off. Hank throws the letter aside. He says that she is gone, and that it is all his fault. Hank involuntarily grows and smashes through to the lab above him where he is electrocuted. Weary from his extensive research, Hank shrinks back down and collapses.
As Jan’s plane flies along, the pilot spots two strange things. An island that he had never seen before, and a fountain of bubbles that is shooting right out of the sea. Unknown to the pilot is that beneath the island, and controlling the fountain of bubbles, is a monstrous underwater ship. Inside the ship, one of the barbarians informs Attuma that a winged craft has appeared on their screen. He asks if it would suit Attuma’s needs. Attuma says that it would suit them perfectly, and orders that the epoxy generators be accelerated to full intake strength. The fountain of bubbles becomes thicker. The plane flies into the fountain of bubbles. Attuma says that its attempts to escape will be futile, and that the first step in his conquest of the surface world has begun. Two of Attuma’s men speak amongst themselves. One says that since his defeat at the hands of the Sub-Mariner that Attuma must have a victory to redeem his honor. The other says that it is fortunate that he learned of a surface world that he can attack. The plane is sucked down to the island below. Jan thinks to herself that this is no natural occurrence, and thinks that if only Giant-Man were there. The pilots decide that they should try to radio for help, but they find that the radio has gone dead.
Attuma says that he will take over all controls from here. He says that the epoxy mist is stronger than steel and more powerful than the greatest magnetic field. Attuma says that soon he will have specimens he needs to study surface creatures so that he can learn their weaknesses. Attuma watches the epoxy bring the plane down while cushioning the landing so that no one is injured. Attuma spots Janet and decides randomly that she will be the one that they study. He orders that a robotron to bring her to him.
On the island, the pilots are inspecting the epoxy when the robotron arrives for them. The robotron tells them not to be frightened with how they were brought to the island and that as long they follow orders that they won’t be hurt. The robotron orders that Jan be the first one brought on board. The robotron’s arms levitate the plane into the air. The robotron orders Jan to get on again. One of Attuma’s men steps forward out of the robotron. The pilot tries to step forward on Jan’s behalf, but Jan says that they had better do as he says since she thinks that he will use force if he doesn’t get his way. The pilot says that nobody is getting on board until he talks with who ever is in charge. The barbarian blasts the pilot and co-pilot with a paralyzing ray. Jan looks in her purse and sees the remnants of a size-changing pill. She swallows the pill. It isn’t enough to let her change size, but it does allow her to send a weak cybernetic message with some flying ants. An ant flies off and Jan goes with the barbarian.
Hours pass and the flying ant finally
reaches Hank. Hank shrinks down and gets on board his
converti-car and lets the flying ant guide him back to the
island. Giant-Man spots the guards. He lands right down next to
them and instantly grows from ant-size up to fifty feet high.
Giant-Man hangs the two of them from trees. He says that he has
to find out what these blue skinned strangers are doing on an
island that wasn’t there days ago. The ants lead Giant-Man
to Attuma’s base, and Giant-Man punches the thick steel door
down. Giant-Man spots Janet standing there. He says “thank
goodness” that she is safe. He throws her costume to her,
but Jan doesn’t move. She is being held by a paralyzing ray.
Giant-Man smashes the devices creating the ray freeing her.
Attuma’s forces go to attack, but Attuma tells them to hold
on. He says that he has never seen anything like Giant-Man before
and offers to let Giant-Man join him as the warlord of his realm.
Giant-Man says that he doesn’t make deals with petty
tyrants, and adds that soon they will be headed back for the
water. Attuma says that he makes boasts that he can’t back
up. Hank thinks that he may be right, and that he is feeling weak
from being at 50 feet for so long. One of Attuma’s men is
about to sneak attack Hank from behind, but the Wasp blasts the
guard. Giant-Man shrinks down to ant-size. The men ask Attuma how
they are supposed to fight this kind of power. Attuma says that
it must be an illusion, but says that if it breathes and speaks
that it can be destroyed. Attuma realizes that this is just a
distracting technique. One of Attuma’s guards recognizes
Wasp as the prisoner that they held before. He hits her with
another paralyzing ray. Wasp starts to fall to the ground, 
but Giant-Man
grows back up to giant size and catches her in his hand.
Attuma’s men all start saying that they have lost, and that
they can’t fight him. Attuma says that he has a plan and
tells everyone to clear the room.
They all exit and Attuma has Giant-Man and Wasp sealed in the chamber “like a tomb”. Attuma then orders that the chamber be filled with water. Giant-Man and Wasp shrink down to ant size and get into an air bubble that was created by the flow of water. Wasp notices that the bubble has the same odd texture and the ones that brought her plane down. After a while, Attuma empties the room. The guards go back into the room only to find that Giant-Man and Wasp are still alive. The guards shout that they are invincible. Attuma decides that if Earth creatures can change size, fly, and can survive a flood that he has made an error in trying to invade. He says that if they let him go that he vows never to return. Attuma takes off. Jan tells Hank that Attuma let the others go before, but that he was holding her for further study. Hank says that he knows that he doesn’t deserve it after the shabby way he has treated her, but asks if she can forgive him and come back. Wasp says that it took going away from Hank to make her realize that she could never really leave him.
Avengers Files rating: 5 out of 10
Giant-Man finally fights a decent villain, but the writing is very off. Attuma is portrayed as some type of scientific genius when he is supposed to be a barbarian. I can still see Giant-Man outsmarting Attuma obviously, but the match up is a little off. Burgos isn’t as impressive in this issue as he was the last. His Attuma might be the worst I’ve seen. 2.5 out of 5 for both writing and art.
Title: “The Horde of Humanoids!”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Steve Ditko
Inker: George Bell
Glenn Talbot stands at the cell door while General Ross throws Bruce the tranquilizers that he asked for. Ross says that with the evidence they have against him that he is going to need them. Bruce asks why he would steal his own invention. He says that he was just trying to save it. Bruce thinks to himself that the only way to clear himself is to tell everyone that he is the Hulk. Talbot says that those pills won’t stop him from cracking on the stand. Bruce wonders what Talbot would say if he knew that he was taking them to prevent himself from becoming the Hulk.
At the Leader’s base, the Chameleon
checks in to inform Leader that they have placed Banner under
arrest, but that the army still plans to test his nuclear
invention. 
Leader thinks
to himself that he still has a chance to learn the secret of
Banner’s invention. He decides to attack it again. Leader
thinks to himself that what is more important to him is to study
the Hulk. Leader says that his skin is green like his and wonders
if he is a victim of gamma radiation the way he was.
In the nation’s capitol, Bruce Banner is meeting with his lawyer. His lawyer tells Bruce that he can’t win if he doesn’t talk to him. Bruce says that there isn’t anything else to tell him, and that he doesn’t know how to prove that he isn’t guilty. The lawyer says that he doesn’t have much of a chance then. Suddenly Rick Jones enters the room. Bruce asks what he is doing there. Rick says that he came because Bruce was in trouble. The lawyer leaves and Rick asks Bruce why he doesn’t just admit that he is the Hulk so that they know that he is not a spy. Bruce says that they can’t know because then other nations would try to capture and study him so that others like him could be made. Rick understands and realizes that they could grab him up easily when he was Bruce Banner. Bruce says that he could only confess to someone that would never reveal his secret. Rick gets an idea.
Rick leaves Bruce and goes to see the President. Two men say that Rick can’t get in without an appointment, and that are four ambassadors and six congressmen waiting to see him. Rick says that this will change his mind and shows them his Avengers priority card. They let Rick in. Rick tells the president the whole story. The president says that Rick was right to come to him, and that Bruce is right to keep his secret from public knowledge. He says that Bruce’s scientific mind must be lost, but that it will take all the power and prestige of his office to intercede on Bruce’s behalf. Rick says that he doesn’t know what to say. The President tells him to say nothing and keep the secret. He tells Rick to say hi to the Avengers for him the next time he sees them.
Talbot is furious and is forced to tell Bruce that he has been cleared by the Pentagon. Bruce realizes that this was Rick’s doing, but wonders if his freedom will last. Bruce wants to go talk to Rick, but Talbot shuffles Bruce into a car and says that he has been ordered to Astra Island where he will conduct the first test of his new atomic device. Rick gives Bruce the “OK” sign with his hand as he is being led away. On Astra Island, Bruce Banner’s Absorbatron, a device designed to absorb the impact of an atomic bomb blast, waits for Bruce. Talbot says that this time he won’t let Bruce out of his sight so that he can signal the Hulk to do his dirty work for him.
Before Bruce and Talbot reach the isle, the Leader has launched his own plans. He figures that where one humanoid failed to capture the invention that a horde of them cannot fail. He watches as the humanoids leap out of the helicopter into the water near the isle. He says that they are the prefect fighting machines as their plastic composition bodies means that almost nothing can harm them. He says that they don’t need to breathe, eat, or rest, and that through his spectroscopic transceiver that he can see everything that the humanoids see.
Talbot and Bruce land on Astra Isle. Talbot says that as soon as Bruce is sure that the Absorbatron is ready that he will give a signal and an atomic blast will be set off. Talbot says that if the device doesn’t work that they will both pay with their lives. Bruce says that only he can operate the machine properly and asks Talbot why he insists on risking his life. Talbot says that his country’s safety is more important to him than his own life, and that while Bruce has been given security clearance that he still doesn’t trust him. Bruce thinks that if only he and Talbot could work together. Talbot yells at Bruce and says that he wants to know what the dials do before Bruce starts turning them. He says that he wants to make sure that Bruce isn’t calling the Hulk again. Bruce says that he has never called the Hulk. Bruce says that he fears the Hulk more than Talbot does. Talbot points out that Bruce is never far when the Hulk appears, and that Bruce is never around while the Hulk is rampaging. Bruce says that he hates the Hulk. Bruce starts freaking out. He thinks that he can feel another change coming on, but that it can’t happen now. Bruce looks down at his tranquilizers and sees that he is all out. Bruce starts running and thinks that Talbot wouldn’t stand a chance against the Hulk. Talbot chases after Bruce, but Bruce gets behind a rock before he transforms into the Hulk. Hulk hears Talbot shouting out to Banner. Hulk thinks, “There is no Banner… there’s only… the Hulk!” Talbot spots Hulk coming at him. Talbot says that Banner must have contacted Hulk after all. Talbot realizes that his gun isn’t going to stop the Hulk. He withdraws into the cement lead lined bunker and lowers the ten-ton door. Hulk starts pounding on the door and finds that the Hulk is actually loosening it. Hulk gets bored with pounding on the door and starts looking around trying to figure out where he is. Hulk knows that it is Banner’s fault that he is there, but doesn’t know where Banner is.
Leader watches through his humanoids as they approach the isle. They emerge and he sees that the Hulk is there as well. Leader says that this is working out better than he had hoped and that this is his chance to capture the Hulk and learn his secret. Temporarily ignoring the Absorbatron the Leader orders his humanoids to bring the Hulk to him alive. The humanoids start piling on Hulk. Hulk says that at last he has something to smash. Hulk says that no one can beat him, and then he flexes his muscles and shakes them off like rain. The humanoids aren’t hurt however and they continue leaping onto the Hulk. The Leader watches the entire time and keeps controlling the humanoids through sheer mental power. Leader tells them that they must not stop and that the Hulk cannot harm them. Leader says that they must conquer him.
Inside the bunker, Talbot works quickly to protect the Absorbatron. He pushes the correct buttons and the entire complex machine is slowly lowered into the underground shelter. Talbot then contacts the waiting cruiser. He tells them that the Hulk is trapped on the isle, and that the Absorbatron is no longer in immediate danger. He tells them to contact General Ross for further instructions.
The fighting
rages on for a full four minutes before the Hulk realizes that
the humanoids are not alive. He realizes that they are just some
sort of fighting machines. Hulk decides to try and finish them by
smashing them into something. He rams one into a rock, but the
humanoids keep coming. Hulk keeps fighting and fighting. He says
that nothing can stand up to him. Hulk tries to leap up, but the
humanoids grab his feet and drag him back down to Earth. Leader
tells his humanoids that he is proud of them. He says that sooner
or later the Hulk will realize that he cannot harm them, and that
the thought will cause panic in his confused brain. Hulk refuses
to admit defeat. He grabs a giant boulder and hurls it at the
humanoids. The humanoids just let it bounce off of their bodies
and back at the Hulk. Hulk is forced to smash his own weapon.
Hulk asks himself why they won’t fall.
On the cruiser, the officers there tell Talbot that they have been ordered to deploy a large fighting force to the isle. They ask if Talbot can hold on. Talbot says that he is in no immediate danger, but tells them not to let the Hulk get away.
The Leader also doesn’t want the Hulk to get away. Leader continues watching the fight. He says that soon the Hulk will be defeated, and that he will discover the secret to his inhuman strength. Leader thinks that perhaps he will find a way to make Hulk his ally. Leader says that they would be an unbeatable team with his brains and the Hulk’s strength. Hulk keeps fighting getting more and more savage. His pulse is changing and the Hulk is about to transform back into Bruce Banner.
No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10
Now this is what the Hulk is all about. This is the Incredible Hulk versus the Lethal Leader. This isn’t a testing the water with a toe this time, this is diving right in. Leader’s humanoids provide the Hulk a great fight. And Steve Ditko’s art is fantastic this issue. His Leader is extremely creepy looking. I don’t think that his creepiness has been matched to date. Maybe more sinister, but Ditko’s Leader creates a feeling of the unknown, the unfamiliar… the creepy. The one thing that I never got about this issue is that Talbot was told by the Pentagon that Banner is clear, but because he doesn’t trust Banner he gets to keep riding him. If Talbot was the good soldier that he is supposed to be wouldn’t he do as he was told. Banner should have gotten Talbot fired.