Tales to Astonish #74 continues...
Hulk smashes
Amphibian into some of the Watcher’s machinery. Amphibian
leaps back and grabs the Hulk. Hulk says that no one ever bounced
back from one of his punches like that. Hulk says that Amphibian
is as powerful as he says he is. Amphibian says that his people
bred him for battle. He says that he can survive the winds of
Andromeda and the storms of Saturn, but Hulk cuts him off and
says that now he is going to be pulverized by the punches of the
Hulk. Watcher watches the fight, but thinks that even though he
is pledged never to interfere that if he allows the battle to
continue here that his devices will be smashed and his power will
be diminished. Watcher waves his hands and transports Hulk and
Amphibian to a place where they can only hurt each other.
Hulk says that it looks like Watcher sent
them somewhere where no one will hear Amphibian call for help.
Amphibian says that it is believed that the people of Earth think
they are superior to everyone else, and that Hulk is proof that
they do. Amphibian says that he will shatter than belief by
crushing Hulk. Amphibian rips off a chunk of rock. Hulk says that
he doesn’t like threats. He thinks to himself that even
though he has the brain of Bruce Banner that he finds himself
thinking like the Hulk. He says that it is like the savage part
of me is taking control. He says that he revels in battle and
longs for the excitement of fighting. Amphibian says that he
wants to end this quickly and throws the rock at Hulk. Hulk
punches the rock and shatters it. He says that if that is the
best Amphibian can do that he can forget it. The rubble from the
exploding rock is showering over Amphibian. He wonders what
manner of creature the Hulk is and says that there seems to be no
limit to his strength. He thinks how it took his people countless
ages to breed one like him, but that Earth is too young a planet.
He wonders how the Hulk was created.
Amphibian says that Hulk actually seems to
be his equal in strength, but that he was given the ability to
equally destructive underwater. He says that Hulk is clearly not
amphibious and so he will have the advantage in the water. 
Amphibian
tackles Hulk and takes him into the water. Hulk holds his breath
as he goes under. Amphibian says that he is supreme underwater
and that the Watcher’s treasure will be his. Hulk grabs up a
giant clam and tries to trap Amphibian inside it, but he swims
too fast and gets out. Amphibian says that even if the Hulk had
trapped him that he could have broken out with ease. He says that
his people have longed to possess the treasures of the Watcher
for eons, and that they will not be cheated of them now by a
brainless freak from Earth. Amphibian says that only he can
attack without being hampered by the water pressure. Amphibian
takes a thick rope of seaweed and ties a large rock around it. He
swings it around and around and wraps it around the Hulk.
Amphibian says that this is the end for Hulk. Amphibian takes
Hulk and wedges him between two large rocks. Amphibian says that
he will be trapped there until he can no longer hold his breath
and dies. Amphibian says that even if Hulk does get free that it
will be too late to stop him from getting away with the
Watcher’s machine. Amphibian swim away and says that they
will sing about his victory long after Earth is a forgotten
memory. Hulk says that he doesn’t care about Earth, victory,
or who they sing about, but that nobody is getting the best of
him. He says that the part of him that is still Bruce Banner
isn’t going to meet his end “in some forsaken mudhole
in the middle of nowhere”.
On the surface, Amphibian walks onto the
land and says that nothing can stop him now because Watcher is
pledged not to interfere. He raises his arms in the air and calls
for the Watcher to show himself and that he has come to claim his
prize. Suddenly the lake erupts with a violent roar. The force of
the water rushing knocks Amphibian off his feet. Amphibian
suddenly realizes that it is the Hulk and that Hulk is ripping
apart the very ground beneath him. Hulk stands up as he holds
Amphibian above him on the rock. He says that Amphibian did his
worst, but that he wasn’t able to stop him. Hulk says that
it is now his turn. Hulk throws the rock and says that he put
enough muscle behind that to keep it flying for days. Before he
gets much further however, Amphibian and the rock both disappear.
Hulk wonders what happened and says that he didn’t throw him
that hard. Watcher appears behind Hulk and says that Hulk did
enough to prove that he was the victor and so he took the liberty
of sending Amphibian back to his own planet. Hulk says that he
has never seen anyone that he couldn’t beat, and that he has
never seen anyone that he didn’t want to fight with, but
asks what is so different about the Watcher. Watcher says that he
is the Watcher, and that is enough to answer all. Hulk says that
he came there to get something and that he can’t let Watcher
stop him or he will never be free of the Leader. Watcher says
that he isn’t going to stop him and to go about his quest.
Watcher says that in fact, because he cannot stand to be around
alien races for too long, he will help Hulk. Watcher teleports
them right back to the hall. He tells Hulk to complete his
mission and begone. He says that he knows what the Hulk is
thinking, but that he is not all powerful. Watcher says that he
is doing all this by means of a science that mankind’s
brains couldn’t remotely comprehend.
Hulk hears Leader’s voice inside his
head. He says that the supreme moment has come and that he can
see what Hulk sees by mentally viewing all through Hulk’s
eyes. Leader says that Hulk must only select the one object that
has value above all else. Hulk sees a radiant sphere hanging in
the air and the Leader says that is the one. Leader says that he
must have it and says, “Take it you lumbering fool! It must
be mine!” Hulk thinks to himself that he could crush the
Leader with one finger, but that he owes him his life. Hulk says
that this will make them even and that then the Leader had better
watch out. Hulk shows Watcher what he wants and Watcher says that
is the Ultimate Machine. He says that it is the most powerful and
dangerous device of all. Leader says that he can’t take the
chance that Watcher might try to stop him. Leader reverses the
mental thought pattern and returns Hulk to Earth immediately. As
Hulk is on his way back to Earth he hears another voice in his
head, “The Leader believes he has beaten me! So be it! I
choose to allow him to keep that belief! But the final gambit has
not yet been played!”
As Hulk appears
in Leader’s lair he realizes that was the Watcher, but
wonders what it meant. Leader says that Hulk is back with the
machine and that he has won. Hulk looks at the Ultimate Machine
and says that Bruce Banner would have given his eyeteeth to know
what this thing is, but that he just wants to get rid of it along
with the Leader. Leader tells Hulk to give it to him and that
only he is fit to possess it. Leader snatches it from Hulk and
says that his brain is the most brilliant, just as Hulk’s
muscles are the strongest, but that once he possesses the machine
that even Hulk’s muscles will be useless to him. Hulk says
that he is glad to hear Leader say that because this evens the
score between them. Leader says that it is finished when he says
so, and that the Ultimate Machine makes everything that lives his
slave. Leader says that within the sphere is “recorded all
the knowledge of the known universe!” Leader says that when
the knowledge is his that he will be supreme and master over even
the Watcher himself. Leader tells Hulk to stand back and that the
moment has come. Hulk says that he should smash that thing before
the Leader can do this, but he says that something is stopping
him. Leader says that he knows what Hulk is thinking, but that
the Ultimate Machine can defend itself. 
Leader dons the
Ultimate Machine and says, “At last! I can feel the
knowledge teeming into my brain! The knowledge of a thousand long
dead civilizations… a million planets… a billion
years…” Leader suddenly stops he thinks, “No! Not
that! No more! No more!” Hulk says that something terrible
is happening to him. Leader shouts, “No more!” The life
drains out of Leader’s face and he falls over. Hulk catches
him, but after checking on him Hulk finds that Leader is dead.
No Excuses rating: 10 out
of 10
Once again this is fantasy as I like it!
Amphibian is Hulk’s first real super strong supervillain. He
had the Abomination’s scales before there was an
Abomination. Hulk dukes it out one on one with someone that can
actually give him a fight. The story with the Watcher and Leader
is also spectacular. The fantasy within this issue is something
that is missing from most comic books. Great story and amazing
art. I don’t know what portion of the art is Jack
Kirby’s and what is Bob Powell’s, but this looks
fantastic. Leader’s facial expressions as he dies in
outstanding. The battle sequences were also outstanding. I wish
that there were more issues like this one.
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TO NAMOR ISSUES
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PRINCE OF THE REALM
RETURN
TO LEADER'S LAIR