Tales to Astonish #79

Title: “When Rises the Behemoth”

Writer: Stan Lee

Penciller: Adam Austin

Inker: Bill Everett

Namor takes cover behind a lamppost. One of the soldiers fires, but the bullet bounces off the lamppost. They are told to hold their fire and that a ricochet could kill one of them. Namor says that there is a time to flee and a time to fight. He says that while life endures that he will always choose the latter. Namor pulls up the lamppost out of the ground and starts swinging it around at the soldiers. The soldiers all dive out of the way. Namor says that all of them are too puny and helpless. He says that he desires worthier foes. He drops the lamppost and flies off into the air. Puppet Master reminds Namor that he can’t return to him so that they will not suspect that he controls him. Confused, Namor just leaps from rooftop to rooftop. Namor leaps up to an electric billboard. The soldiers open fire. One shouts up for Namor to surrender and that they don’t want to hurt him. Namor is hit in the shoulder with a bullet. The bullet bounces off and hits the sign, but the pain causes a rage in Namor. He starts to push the billboard over and the soldiers are forced to scatter. After they take off Namor decides that he doesn’t have to drop the sign. He says that he will leave it there as a reminder of his power. Namor flies off and starts to head for the river. The soldiers say that they will get him sooner or later.

Moments later, Namor is on the George Washington Bridge. He says that he can feel the Hudson river’s icy embrace beneath him. He says that he has gotten there not a moment to soon. He says that he is weak from loss of blood. He says that the water will restore him and leaps off the bridge.

In Atlantis, Vashti asks Dorma why she is still brooding. Dorma says that she fears for Namor’s safety. Vashti says that is with good reason for Namor should have returned by now. Dorma says that if only he hadn’t gone to the surface alone. A guard rushes in and says that they are undone. He says that their worst fears have been realized and that the Behemoth has risen.

In the outlying regions of Atlantis, the people flee as the Behemoth rampages. One woman wonders what would happen if the Behemoth reaches Atlantis itself. A man says that the destruction would be indescribable.

Back in Atlantis, the shockwaves of the Behemoth’s rampages are felt. Dorma says that they have to do something, and that if only Namor were back. Vashti says that their prince must be found and returned to his people in their hour of need. He says that he is too old and feeble, but that she has the strength and courage to reach the surface world. He says that she has to find Namor. Dorma says that she will do it for their land and for her heart.

Seconds later, Dorma takes off in Namor’s monoscout craft. She is following a homing device that is zeroed in on Namor’s heartbeat. Dorma looks at the instruments and sees that if she maintains top speed that Namor is less than a quarter hour away. She adjusts the video coordinates and sees Namor, but notices that he seems weakened and injured.

Fifteen minutes later, Dorma finds Namor. He calls to her and Dorma notices that he sounds weak. She tries to tell Namor of the Behemoth, but Namor tells her to be silent. He says that they are not safe there and that they have to get to shore. Namor clings to the craft and realizes that Namor can’t swim. She wonders how this could be. She says that he seems so weak, but that surely the water has revived him. Namor says that it is not his physical prowess that concerns him. He says that something has happened to his brain. Namor says that he has done strange and unlawful things through no desire of his own. He says that it is as if another controls his will. Dorma asks if he still controls it. Namor says that he can feel that he is trying, but that the shock of hitting the water has momentarily cleared his brain. Namor says that he has to think and free himself completely. He says that his mind must be the equal of his body in strength. He concentrates.

The Puppet Master’s mold of Namor shatters in his hand. Puppet Master says that Namor’s will power is too strong and that he dare never attempt to control him again.

In his home, in exile, Krang uses his visi-viewer to watch Namor. He says that now that Namor has broken his mental hold that maybe he has another use for the Puppet Master. Krang says that soon Namor will be battling the Behemoth, not knowing that he is partly responsible for its awakening. Krang knows that the Behemoth might be stronger than Namor, but that Namor will probably find a way to defeat it by out-smarting it. Krang sets out to find Puppet Master. He says that he will get Puppet Master to make a puppet of the Behemoth that he can control the beast with. He says that with the greatest military mind of all guiding his foe that Namor cannot possibly survive. He says that he has failed in the past, but that this time he will wrest the crown of Atlantis when Namor falls.

Krang walks up to Puppet Master’s house. He says to himself that despite his power that Puppet Master is a coward and will not refuse his command. Krang enters and tells Puppet Master not to cry out if he values his life. He introduces himself and Puppet Master is afraid that he has come to punish him for Namor. Krang tells him to stop whimpering and to obey him or face his wrath. He tells him to build the puppet that he is going to describe to him.

Dorma tells Namor of the Behemoth and they leave for Atlantis at once. Dorma says that the Behemoth is the mightiest of foes, and that Namor’s shoulder isn’t healed yet. Namor says that he still has his wits and stratagems. He says that the Behemoth is nothing but a giant unthinking android.

Namor exits the ship as they arrive at where the Behemoth. Dorma says that the Behemoth awoke to fight an enemy of Atlantis, but that since there is no enemy that it is attacking anything. She says that only Namor can save Atlantis. Namor tells Dorma to get herself to safety.

Prince of the Realm rating: 7.5 out of 10

Nice set up for this highly anticipated fight (at least anticipated by me). Nice angle putting Krang in charge of the Behemoth. Still love the artwork. My only real complaint is that there is no nice big picture of the Behemoth. 4 out of 5 for the art.

Title: “The Titan and the Torment!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Layouts: Jack Kirby

Artwork: Bill Everett

Dr. Zaxon fires his organic energy attractor at Hulk. After a while Zaxon thinks that Hulk is beginning to weaken. He says that he knew Hulk’s power had to have a limit, and that he bet his life on it. He asks Hulk why he hasn’t fallen and that he should be drained of all his power by now. Zaxon looks and sees the fury in the Hulk’s eyes. He realizes that Hulk is getting stronger. Hulk shouts that nothing stops him and swats Zaxon’s weapon out of his hands. Zaxon dives for his weapon, but it bounces off the wall and, now aimed at him, sucks his organic energy from him. Zaxon lies dead on the floor. Hulk tells him that he can’t escape that easily and for him to get up. Hulk says to face him, but then some of Banner’s intelligence gets through and Hulk realizes that Zaxon is dead. Hulk says that men are so puny, but that they still hound him. He wonders why, but then he hears the voices of approaching soldiers. They go to sound the alarm, but Hulk leaps away. The soldiers find Zaxon dead and figure that the Hulk must have killed him. They go to notify Talbot. They say that they know the Hulk is a killer.

On a train headed toward Hollywood, Hercules’ publicity agent tells him to eat all he wants and that he has to be in top shape when he meets the head of the studio in Hollywood. Hercules says that he is always in top shape, and that he eats because it gives him pleasure. The publicity agent tells Hercules that the studio has been looking for someone to play Hercules for months. He says that this will be the biggest bonus of his career. Hercules tells the man to shut up and that he wants to listen to the music from the magic box. The man tells Hercules that he is really starting to live the part. The music is interrupted with a report about the Hulk killing a scientist and escaping. Hercules, upset over the loss of his music, smacks the radio to try and get it to work. He smashes the thing and the man tells Hercules to relax and that the studio is going to have to pay for that. The man muses that he would hate to be the Hulk’s next victim and says that he has heard that the Hulk can’t be hurt. Hercules says that he doesn’t understand the word “Hulk”, but that if he is mortal that his power can stop him. The man says that it would be a press agent’s dream if the two of them met.

Back at the missile base, Talbot tells Betty that she will be safe there. He says that he won’t be returning until he has recaptured the “green-skinned killer”. Rick asks how he knows the Hulk killed him and that no one saw it. Talbot tells Rick not to be a fool and that it had to be the Hulk. Betty asks what if Rick was right about Bruce being the Hulk. She asks if Bruce has to die for the Hulk’s crimes. Talbot says that he will try to take the Hulk alive if possible. He says that is why he is bringing Rick since he is the only one that the Hulk might trust. The plane takes off and Betty says that this is like a nightmare.

As Hulk leaps he notices a group of planes following him. Hulk says that he is through running and that now he is going to fight back. Hulk lands near some railroad tracks. He says that they think he is helpless, but that he can make anything into a weapon. Hulk pulls the rail for the railroad up and throws it at the diving planes. Hulk hits a few of the planes and the others turn up. Hulk says that he wins. The train is forced to stop because of the ripped up tracks, but Hulk thinks they have stopped to fight. The conductors tell Hulk that no one is looking for a fight with him. Hercules gets off the train and says that anyone that interferes with his journey must be prepared to answer him. The publicity man thinks to himself that he will be able to write his own ticket in Hollywood after this. Hercules sees the “green-skinned brute” and asks if there is any end to the wonders in the world of mortals. Hercules tells Hulk to prepare himself for a lesson. Hulk sees Hercules and says that at last there is someone big enough for him to smash. Hulk grabs Hercules and throws him into some rocks. Hulk says that no more will he be hunted. He says that from now on he will be the hunter. The one who threatens and attacks. Hercules says that Hulk’s power is greater than any mortal should possess, but that Hercules’ power will be his undoing. Hercules grabs a large rock. Hulk says that it is good that Hercules can still fight. He says that this is what Hulk needs and understands. Hulk smashes the rock right in Hercules’ hands. Hercules says that it is his turn and rams into Hulk’s stomach. Hercules hits Hulk and tells him to be honored by his smiting. Hercules starts swinging Hulk around by the foot. He says that it is time to end this and that this is beneath him. Hulk curls into Hercules and hits him with both fists coupled together. Hulk says that no one defeats him. On the ground, Hercules is amazed by the punch. He says that he is beginning to understand why Thor likes this planet so much. Hercules says that is enough of empty words. He hits Hulk, but Hulk grabs Hercules from behind in a kind of bear hug. Hercules says that Hulk must be punished for the insolence of thinking he could be subdued with only a bear hug. Hercules flips Hulk over and into a rocky wall. Hercules rips open the wall to imprison the Hulk inside. Hercules slams his crevice closed, but Hulk smashes out of it seconds later. Hulk says that now it is his turn. He lifts up a giant rock. Hercules says that he is getting angry and that a vanquished foe should stay vanquished. Hulk says, “Talk! Talk! Talk! Only action counts! Words can’t stop Hulk!” Hulk hits Hercules with the giant rock. Suddenly a barrage of artillery shells come down. The giant boulder Hercules is holding is smashed. Hulk realizes that the army is getting close. He decides that he doesn’t have enough power to fight everyone. Hulk leaps away. The publicity agent asks Hercules if he is okay. Hercules says that he has never had such an antagonist or fought such a mortal. The agent asks Hercules how he is going to get him to Hollywood in time and that it will take a week to fix the rail. Hercules says that he is ready to leave now. He picks up the individual train cars and puts them on the tracks on the other side of the wreckage. Moments later they are on their way. The press agent asks Hercules what gimmick he used to do that. Hercules tells the man that his voice offends him and to be silent. He tells the man to bring him more food and asks if there is no ox in the kitchen.

Hulk lands and says that they will never catch him now. He sits thinking lonely and dark thoughts.

No Excuses rating: 7 out of 10

Review and pictures by the Leader

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