Tales to Astonish #80

Title: “To the Death!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Penciller: Gene Colan

Inker: Dick Ayers

Namor tells Dorma to get herself to safety. He says that he will stop the Behemoth or die trying. Dorma says that if Namor’s life is lost that hers will be forever empty. The Behemoth reaches for Namor. Namor says that though he has unimaginable strength that the Behemoth is virtually mindless. Suddenly Behemoth’s hand turns into a fist. Namor narrowly manages to avoid it. He wonders how a brainless brute think so quickly. Namor grabs the long rope-like hair of the Behemoth and tries to wrap it around him. The Behemoth shifts his weight as if anticipating Namor’s attack. Namor says that this is of no use and that his strength is nothing compared to the Behemoth’s. Behemoth hits Namor and sends him hurtling to the ground. Namor lies on the ground trying not to pass out.

Krang holds the puppet of the Behemoth in his hands. Puppet Master reminds Krang that he promised not to hurt him since he made the puppet he wanted. Krang tells Puppet Master that he is beneath his notice. He asks why he should care about Puppet Master when the throne of Atlantis and the Lady Dorma’s hand is within his grasp. He says that he has had enough of his whimpering and to get out. Puppet Master asks if he is free, and Krang says that he is as free as a coward ever will be. Turning his attention from the Behemoth causes Krang to momentarily lose control.

Namor regains his strength as the Behemoth’s attack. Dorma decides that she can do nothing for Namor there. She decides to head to Vashti so that warriors can be dispatched to help Namor. Namor dodges as Behemoth’s attacks resumes. Namor swims and comes upon the iron gates of Atlantis. He thinks that maybe they will be the weapon he needs. Namor rips up a bunch of iron bars from the fence. He throws them around Behemoth and forms a cage. Namor start to go and get a second layer around, but Behemoth smashes through the bar with nothing more than a forward lunge. Namor says that he isn’t beaten yet. He concentrates hard and summons four gigantic electric eels. Namor orders them to attack. The Behemoth is rocked, but still stands.

Krang is hit with a power feedback. He is forced to drop the puppet of the Behemoth. Krang sees the puppet has been altered and knows that he can no longer use it. He remembers that he let the Puppet Master go and can’t have him make another. Krang says that Namor has a chance again. Krang says that he doesn’t surrender easily. He says that what he couldn’t gain by wizardry that he will take through cunning. He says that Atlantis’ throne may still be his if he can find Dorma in time.

On the surface, seismologists are tracking undersea activity more violent than any ever recorded.

Namor sees that the Behemoth is acting mindless again. He says that if he is going to stop the Behemoth that it must be now. Namor starts swimming around the Behemoth faster and faster. He creates a whirlpool around it and then flies off. The whirlpool drives Behemoth into a thousand year old bog of quicksand and he sinks into it. Namor turns to return to the palace.

Krang heads toward Atlantis. He says that he has to find Dorma before she learns that Namor has defeated the Behemoth. Krang finds Dorma talking to a guard. Krang shoots the guard. Dorma grabs the guard’s gun and looks to try and discover where the attack came from. Krang grabs Dorma from behind and puts his hand over her mouth. He tells her that he will not harm her. Dorma recognizes Krang’s voice. Krang takes her weapon and asks if she really thought he would stay in exile forever. He tells Dorma that he is offering her Namor’s life. He tells her that Namor will never defeat the Behemoth because it is under his control. He says that he will relinquish control over it if she gives her word to marry him. Dorma says to save the man she loves she must lose him forever. Krang tells Dorma to go into his cruiser and he will prove his words true. He shows her the puppet of the Behemoth and tells her how it was created by the one that recently controlled Namor. He says that so long as he holds it that Namor is doomed. Dorma says that she can’t refuse him. She picks up the radio to contact Vashti to say goodbye.

Dorma tells Vashti that this will be the last time they speak. She says that she has consented to marry Krang. Vashti says that she must reconsider, but Dorma says that she has given her word. She tells Vashti to tell the true prince that she did what she had to and that there was no other way. Vashti tells her to wait, but Dorma says goodbye and goes. Suddenly, Namor is back and says that he has defeated the Behemoth. Vashti tells Namor that Dorma has fled the realm with Krang and that they are about to be wed. Namor turns and Vashti can sense the rage in him.

The puppet of the Behemoth lies on the ground as Dorma and Krang leave in his cruiser. Krang says that they will return to Atlantis and write “finis to the reign of Namor!”

Prince of the Realm rating: 7 out of 10

I do like the new art team. They made Behemoth look really cool- kinda fishy and yet still monstrous. Not quite as good as the last team, but a nice continuation. The fight itself was a pretty big disappointment, but Krang’s last minute villainy saves the story. That Lady Dorma sure is a gullible one. Not real confident in Namor’s abilities either. Stan Lee’s women of the 60’s… I think every single one of them must say that she has “found her love again only to lose him forever” line in practically ever book.

Title: “They Dwell in the Depths!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Layouts: Jack Kirby

Art: Bill Everett

Hulk sits alone under a full moon in the southwest. He thinks about how he has no place to go. How the world hates, hunts, and hounds him. He wonders why it is that the world tries to destroy him. Suddenly a change comes over the Hulk. He says to let them fight him, and that nothing can hurt or beat him. Hulk says that everything that lives is his enemy, but that he isn’t hiding anymore. He says that he will give them a reason to fear the Hulk. Suddenly Hulk hears a noise. He feels a force pulling him to the ground. Hulk is about to use the full force of his muscles, but then there is a flash and Hulk is gone.

Hulk reappears inside a glass container, hundreds of leagues beneath the surface of the Earth. A hooded figure says that after all this time searching that they have him. He says that Hulk is the only mortal mighty enough to do what he needs done. One of the subterraneans ask what if the Hulk turns on them. The hooded figure says that none have the power to turn against Tyrannus. Suddenly Hulk smashes out of the cylinder that transported him there. Hulk says that no one captures him. Subterraneans aim their weapons at Hulk, but Tyrannus says that he needs him unharmed and that he will face him alone. Tyrannus tells Hulk that he means him no harm. He says that he brought him there to help him and make him an offer. Hulk says that he lies and that no one helps him. Tyrannus says that he does not lie. Hulk seems to remember the name Tyrannus. Tyrannus tells Hulk that they met once as enemies, but that now they can be allies. He says that they need one another and can help one another. Hulk says that he needs nothing and nobody. Tyrannus tells Hulk that before he answers he should look at how he has changed. Tyrannus pulls back his cloak to reveal an old man. Tyrannus shows Hulk a statue of how he used to be and says that with Hulk’s help he can be that way again. Hulk remembers Tyrannus from the past, but says that he doesn’t care. Tyrannus says that he has been watching Hulk and that he knows how men never give him any peace. Tyrannus tells Hulk to join him as his warlord, and that he will offer him sanctuary and honor in his underground empire. Hulk says that he would belong and asks what he would have to do. Tyrannus tells Hulk that there is a body of water that can make him young again, but that another has captured that well. Hulk says that he will destroy him and that he can do anything.

Mole Man looks at Tyrannus’ fountain of youth. He says that he dare not touch it himself, but that he must keep it from his enemy Tyrannus. He says that so long as he has the well that Tyrannus gets older by the hour. He says that soon all the sub-surface of the Earth will be his to command. Mole Man says that he has tried to conquer the surface world before, but that each time he struck too soon. He says that this time he will be patient until Tyrannus’ forces are also his to control. He says that then nothing will be able to stop him. A subterranean runs up to Mole Man with news. Mole Man tells the “witless non-entity” to report. He tells Mole Man that Tyrannus is using the Hulk. Mole Man says that he doesn’t need to fear a hundred Hulks and summons his “robotic, multi-powered octo-sapien!!”

Tyrannus sits looking at old pictures of himself. He says that he must be what he once was. A subterranean reports to Tyrannus that the Hulk has eaten and that he now rests. Tyrannus says that there must be no rest for anyone until the life-giving well is his again. He says that each passing second brings him closer to his doom. He says that until he bathes in the well’s waters that each moment could be his last. Tyrannus tries to wake up Hulk, but even his sleep is too powerful to shatter. He says that he must wake him before his time runs out. Hulk grumbles at Tyrannus to get out of he will break him like a twig. Tyrannus says that he is beyond all threats, and that if he perishes that so will Hulk’s fellow surface men. Tyrannus pulls a rope to reveal that he has also captured Betty from the army base, and Rick and Talbot from a plane that had been following Hulk. Rick says that the Hulk doesn’t seem to recognize them. Talbot says that it wouldn’t matter if he did. Betty tells Hulk that he must help them get free. She asks Rick how he can claim that Hulk is Bruce Banner. She says that he doesn’t recognize her or care. Rick tells Hulk to try and remember how he saved his life once. Talbot tells Rick to shut up and that he is just angering him. Hulk says to let him talk. Hulk says that he has no friends, except Tyrannus. He says that they come from the surface where men try to kill him, but that they aren’t fooling him. Rick says that they aren’t trying to trick him and that Tyrannus captured them. Betty says that if Hulk isn’t Bruce Banner that Banner must be dead. Hulk freaks out. He smashes through the bars that hold Betty, Rick, and Talbot. Hulk shouts, “Banner! Banner! Banner! I hate that name… do you hear? Hate it! Hate it! Hate it! There is no Banner! Only the Hulk! I’m the Hulk! The Hulk!” Betty says that he is going mad. Rick tells them to get back and that Hulk doesn’t know what he is doing. Suddenly, the Mole Man’s artillery hits Tyrannus’ realm. Tyrannus tells Hulk that it is Mole Man and that he has to go smash him for him. Hulk says that at last he has something to fight.

Advance shock troops fly over Hulk in speedy air cycles. Hulk says that they think he can’t catch them, but that he can catch anything. Hulk leaps and smashes through the air cycles. Hulk lands, and though he has forgotten why he is attacking the Mole Man, he continues the attack. Hulk grabs one of their big guns and starts smashing things. One of Mole Man’s forces hits Hulk with a freeze gun. Hulk is encased in a large block of ice. Hulk struggles and crashes his way out of the ice. The subterraneans start running away, but Hulk says that there is no where they can run that he can’t follow.

Mole Man shouts at his forces that they are cowards. He says that they are fools to run and that their punishment will be beyond description. Mole Man summons the octo-sapien. The octo-sapien grabs Hulk from behind. Mole Man tells it to apply maximum force. He says that the Hulk must not escape. Hulk says that nothing can hold him. Mole Man tells him to rage on and that he has met his match. Hulk says that he is as strong as anything. Hulk flips the octo-sapien off him. The octo-sapien pins Hulk against the wall with its gravity ray. Mole Man tells the octo-sapien to use its other arms to deliver shock blasts while the gravity rays keep Hulk immobile. Mole Man says that each new blast makes the Hulk weaker. Hulk says that no one beats him. Hulk starts advancing off the wall. Mole Man shouts for more power. Mole Man tells octo-sapien to use its life-reduction ray. Octo-sapien blasts Hulk and Hulk starts to go down. Mole Man tells octo-sapien to create one final burst by combining all its rays into one cataclysmic onslaught. He says that merged together they are the most deadly single element in existence. Hulk lunges into the octo-sapien causing it to miss. Hulk and the robot fall into the water and octo-sapien’s start to explode. A giant explosion hits. For a long time nothing moves, but then Bruce Banner emerges. He says that the Hulk is gone and that he is normal again. He wonders where he is, why he is there, and for how long.

No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10

Review and pictures by the Leader

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