Tales to Astonish #76Tales to Astonish #76
Title: "Uneasy Hangs the Head...!”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Adam Austin
Inker: Vince Colleta
Namor tells Krang that it is time to face a
traitor’s fate. Krang says that his armor will protect him
even from Namor’s strength. Namor says that nothing will
save Krang from him because he fights for justice. Namor hits
Krang and knocks Krang into the wall. Namor grabs Krang by his
cape and says that the throne is his by right of blood and right
of birth. Namor says that Krang dared to “tamper with the
line of royal succession as laid down by Imperial Neptune!”
Namor says that fra greater than that is Krang’s crime
against his people. Namor says that Krang was a tyrnat that ruled
by terror, and that just as Krang dealt with the people that he
will deal with him the same way. Namor hits Krang again. Krang
asks for mercy and asks if he did once serve him faithfully and
well. Namor says that there was a time when he would have trusted
Krang with his life, but that it only makes his treason more
heinous to him. Namor says that he has saved Krang’s worst
offense for last. Namor says that Krang used Dorma against him
and that because of Krang Dorma now hangs between life and death.
Krang begs
Namor not to hit him again, but Namor decks him anyway. Namor
says that there is no forgiveness for Krang’s last offense.
Namor turns to Dorma and says that in his rage he almost forgot her predicament. Namor says that he must activate the revitalizer ray. The old man says that he has checked all the controls and that everything is ready. Namor thanks the old man and says that his loyalty and service will not be forgotten for as long as he lives. Namor activates the ray. He says that if this is going to work that they will know in the next few seconds. Seconds pass, but Namor still detects no signs of life. He wonders if he waited too long. Namor tells Dorma that she has to recover because it would make a mockery of his victory if it came at so great a price. Namor says that he will not surrender this battle either. He asks Neptune to let his strength be hers. He asks that his will be hers. Finally, Dorma’s finger moves. Namor’s face lights up. He takes Dorma in his arms and says that now the quest is truly ended and that the true prize has been won.
Coronation Day comes and the people of
Atlantis rejoice. They shout out things like “Long live
Sub-Mariner, Emperor of the deep!” and, “All hail
Namor, the First, Prince of the Blood!” From inside the
palace, Namor’s voice booms to let the citizenry come
forward and that from the highest-born noble to the lowliest
peasant that he will receive them. Seconds later, amidst
unequalled pomp and pagentry, the procession begins. Lady Dorma
is told that it is Namor’s fondest wish that she be the
first to approach him. Namor says, “Advance,
noblewoman… and be recognized!” 
Namor sits upon
the throne of Atlantis holding Neptune’s trident. He says
that he is happy to see her recovering so quickly and that it
pleases him to see her again. He says that it is his wish that
she approach the throne. Namor takes Dorma’s hand and says
that he would be honored if she would stand beside him during the
ceremony. Namor says that it is lonely wearing the crown because
there are those that would seek to deceive and betray him, but
that there are others whose loyalty has been proven. He says that
Lady Dorma is one. Namor looks for the old man that has been
helping him through the quest and when he finds him he says that
Vashti the Elder is another. Namor tells Vashti that because he
risked his life by helping him that he will not find him wanting
in his gratitude. Namor says that from this moment on he is no
longer ‘citizen Vashti’. He tells Vashti to arise and
says that his is now Lord Vashti, grand vizier of Atlantis. Namor
tells his subjects to come forth and that this is a time for
rejoicing.
Krang sits alone in his cell brooding. He says that he was so close to leading Atlantis in an attack on the surface world that he was destined to win. He thinks that if only Namor had failed on the quest as he expected him to. Krang says that is enough idle musings. He says that the game is lost, but that perhaps he can wrest victory from the ashes of defeat. He thinks that Namor’s reputation for mercy is well deserved, and that now that he is helpless that Namor would view it as a weakness to have him executed. Krang says that so long as he lives that he will be able to strike again. The guards arrive at Krang’s cell door and say that they have been instructed to bring him before Namor.
Namor tells Krang that he is exiled from Atlantis. Krang asks Namor where he would go. Namor says that the seas are endless and deep and that he will have to go find a place. Namor tells Krang to get out of his sight forever. As Krang walks off alone he thinks to himself that Namor was merciful as he expected and that he has the rest of his life to plot his revenge. Krang says that he wasn’t Warlord of Atlantis for no reason and that a plan has already begun forming in his head.
The next day, an earthquake shakes Atlantis. The people fall silent, but in the throne room Namor sits thinking. He says that only he knows the real reason for the earth shaking. Namor says that he recalls how their land was gutted and the people were scattered over two decades ago. Namor says that it seemed like an earthquake until he reached the surface and discovered that it was humans testing their bombs. Namor says that now it happens again. Namor says that surface men test their atomic weapons not realizing that his empire floats beneath their flotilla. Namor decides that he must return to the surface world.
Prince of the Realm: 9 out of 10
Very cool story. Krang gets his, Dorma gets saved, Vashti the Elder becomes Namor’s vizier. This story arc sets Namor up quite well for future stories. Namor gets a happy ending, his throne, and the trident of Neptune. Pretty cool stuff. Adam Austin does a fantastic job with the art. More more stylistic that his work before.
Title: “I, against a World!”
Writer: Stan Lee
Layouts: Jack Kirby
Penciller: Scott Edward
Inker: Mickey Demeo
Hulk holds a giant boulder and warns the army to stay back. He tells them that they are just men, but that he is the Hulk. Hulk smashes the boulder against the ground shattering it into pieces. Hulk says that he is done running and being hounded. Hulk says that no one is attacking him again. The commanding officer tells the troops to protect themselves. He says that force alone cannot stop him, but that they have other means. He says that they cannot allow a destructive rampaging brute to run amok in their land especially now that they are faced with fighting the “Evil One”. He tells the exploso-ray gunners to fire at will. After a time, the officer tells them to hold their fire as he realizes that they are only managing to make the Hulk angrier. Hulk says that he is going to smash all of them. All units are ordered to withdraw as they prepare to fire the Delta missile. They fire the missile. Hulk sees it coming and says that no missile can hurt him. The missile hits, but when the smoke clears the Hulk is standing there only somewhat dazed. He repeats that no missile can hurt him. The commander says that the Hulk is too wondrous to be destroyed and says that Hulk should be captured and studied. He sends for the Captivator.
A strange machine lumbers towards the Hulk as it is being controlled by remote control. Hulk says that this thing won’t stop him and that he will tear it apart with his bare hands. The commander says that he will not because even he cannot withstand concentrated gravity. The machine blasts Hulk and the commander says that Hulk is dealing with the 25th century technology. Hulk stiffens and falls over. Hulk can still think, but he can no longer move. Hulk thinks to himself that this can’t last forever and that when it stops he will get up and smash them. The men rush over to secure the Hulk so they can take him back to the fortress.
Back in the “present”, the soldiers are looking around for some trace of the Hulk. One soldier reports in that he thinks that the T-Gun was a kind of disintegrater. He is told that it is known that Banner was not working on a disintegrater. Another soldier says that if they don’t find the Hulk that Ross is going to “be in the soup”. He says that the Chief of Staff will have Ross’ hide.
Inside, Talbot says that if the T-Gun had atomized the Hulk that there would have been some damage done to the surrounding terrain, but that the ground is all intact. Ross barks that he knows that and tells Talbot to be quiet while he thinks. Ross says that until they know what it does that they dare not try the T-Gun again. Ross is told that the Deputy Chief of Staff is on his way to see him. Ross wonders what he is going to tell him. The Deputy Chief os Staff enters and wants to know where Ross is. Ross calls out to him and says that he wasn’t expecting him so soon. The Deputy asks what that has to do with anything. He starts yelling at Ross, but Ross interrupts him and tells him not to let that one extra star go to his head. Ross says that this is his assignment and that he will run it his way. The Deputy says that they were classmates together at the point and Ross’ “division has pulled plenty of chestnuts out of the fire for the Pentagon till now!” He says that Ross has some more time, but that the high command wants to know what happened to the Hulk and if he can’t deliver the Hulk that they are going to find someone that can. Ross says that he understands and that the Hulk will be found.
The army is taking Hulk into a stone fortress. One says that when they get him inside that he will be forever within his power. Hulk says that it what they think and that he can feel the gravity stuff starting to weaken. They put the Hulk into the dungeon and say that it was designed to withstand the strongest weapons of man. Another soldier says that Hulk is not merely a weapon, but that his strength exceeds anything known to man and that he guided by a human brain.
As soon as they close the door, Hulk gets up. Hulk says that the future is a big nothing, and that they all seem scared of their own shadows. Hulk says that he can beat them all and that he has a lot of paying back to do. Hulk decides that before he starts wrecking the place that he needs to figure out a way to get back to his own time. Hulk decides to play along, but really he will just be looking for a time machine.
Guards come for Hulk and find him awake.
They say that Hulk will follow the path they are taking or they
will kill him. Hulk says that he could stuff their guns down
their throats, but that he will string them along a little bit.
Hulk is taken before the King. He tells Hulk that despite their
technogical and scientific knowledge that their age is in dire
peril. Hulk says that the “Evil One” threatens liberty,
their civilization and their very lives. Hulk says that is the
king’s problem and that he has troubles of his own. The
guard tells Hulk to be quiet and reminds him that he is
addressing the king. 
Hulk says that
he already knows where this is going. He says that they are
having some kind of war and want him to fight for them, but that
they can forget it. Hulk says that he doesn’t care who the
good guys or bad guys are. Hulk starts walking through the guards
toward the king. Hulk says that he wants out and that he wants
out now. Hulk says that if they have a way to send him back to
his own time to use it or he will cause more damage than a
hundred “Evil Ones”. King Arrkam says that he
doesn’t yield to threats and tells his loyal legions to
attack. He says that they can overcome him with sheer numbers.
The legions start to rush Hulk, but Hulk grabs up giant slabs of
ground and tosses the charging troops backward. The troops
prepare to fire a high intensity paralyzer howitizer at Hulk, but
Hulk says that nobody is firing any more shells at him. Hulk
leaps over the weapon and into a 20-foot thick wall. Hulk smashes
right into the wall and says that they probably thought that he
would knock himself out by doing that, but that is why he always
wins because no one can believe how strong he is. Hulk then tears
the wall apart. When Hulk digs through the wall he sees that he
is high above the ground. He says that he could leap down, but
instead he digs his fingers and toes into the wall as he climbs
down. As he climbs down the siren starts to blare. Hulk realizes
that the sirens aren’t for him when he sees “some
walkin’ pillboxes invading the city!” Hulk figures that
maybe the enemy might have something to send him back to the
past. Hulk leaps onto the walking metal construct. He lands with
a loud “THANNG!” Hulk figures that whoever is inside
had to have heard that. The hatch opens and Hulk tells them to
come out or he is coming in after them. Executioner’s head
pops out and says, “Silence, you brainless fossil! No one
gives orders to… the immortal Executioner!”
No Excuses rating: 7 out of 10
Not a bad story, it just doesn’t do much for me. Hulk goes to future, Hulk fights with those in the future, Hulk meets super-villain. Not much there. The art is decent and the action flows pretty well. It’s a fine issue, but by no means a “must not miss” book. Art gets 4 out of 5