Tales to Astonish #85

Title: “…And One Shall Die”

Writer: Stan Lee

Penciller: Gene Colan

Inker: Bill Everett

Confusion Compounded: Irving Forbush

Krang’s ship starts to fly away as Namor hurtles out of the water. Namor figures that Krang must think he is dead or he would never run so long as he possesses a weapon. Namor says that he could have caught Krang in the water, but that in the air he can’t match the ship’s speed. He says that he must bide his time. He says that Krang will not escape his royal vengeance.

Krang says that the final victory is his. He says that the crown of Atlantis will be his and that there is nothing to prevent his and Dorma’s wedding. Dorma says that Namor can’t be dead. Krang orders her to never mention Namor’s name again. He says that is the will of her master.

Namor dives into the water again and restores his strength. He comes out and looks at the radio device that Number One gave him and crushes it in his hand. Namor says that he will now plan his counter attack against Krang and perhaps against humanity as well. He says that despite his efforts of friendship with the air breathers that they have proven to be his enemies.

Number One tries to contact Namor, but finds that the circuit is dead. He shouts that he must reach Namor and that only Namor has the strength to kill the Hulk. He says that the Hulk must die for destroying his Secret Empire. He says that this isn’t fair. He says that he must find Namor and have him destroy the Hulk for him so that he can claim full credit. He says that all his life he has been an anonymous nobody scientist. When he turned to crime and formed the Secret Empire that he remained an unknown under his hood. He says that his empire has been reduced to ashes, but that he can still claim fame if he can be responsible for the death of the Hulk. He says that when he unmasks that he people will look at him with awe. He says that they will learn his name and remember it. He decides to look for Namor on his video scanner, but instead he finds the Hulk coming toward his location. Number One wonders if the Hulk has figured out his plan to destroy him. Number One says that he has to find Namor now. He says that he only has one chance and that the vibra-disc he placed in Namor’s ear might drain his willpower. Number One activates an inaudible ultrasonic sound beam that will drive Namor back to him without fail.

The concentric circles of pulsating energy travel across the city.

On the other side of the Hudson River, Namor lands on a roller coaster. His ear feels like it is on fire and his skull begins to ache. Namor realizes that someone must be using a strange weapon against him. He wonders if it is Krang. Suddenly the roller coaster is about to smash into Namor. He says that all he has to do is brace himself and that they will be doomed, but then at the last minute he leaps over the roller coaster. He knows that they are enemies and that they will fear and hunt him, but that he can’t bring himself to harm them. He says that he only feels pity for them. He wonders if Krang was right about him being too weak to wear the crown of Atlantis. He wonders if he is not resolute enough to rule. Namor flies off hoping the pain in his head will end.

Namor is forced to land and says that he has to learn what is happening to him. The pain gets worse and worse, but Namor sees people about not affected at all. He wonders why he is the only one affected. He feels the pain coming from his ears and pulls a metal disc out of each of his ears. The pain leaves Namor.

Number One sees that the signal has stopped. He panics and shouts that the Hulk is after him. He shouts at Namor to obey him and asks why he doesn’t answer. Number One decides that he has to face the Hulk alone. He sees the Hulk and says that there is still one last plan he can execute.

Namor says that he is himself again. Namor says that he feels that his destiny is calling him to the great sea of skyscrapers.

The people flee from the Hulk. The police arrive and Hulk says that he must escape. Hulk runs toward a park tower apartment house. Hulk starts to leap up the building.

Number One looks out the building and thinks that the Hulk is coming up after him. Number One says that he has a specially prepared explosive and sets it off to go off in 45 seconds… figuring that the Hulk will be there by then. He runs out of the room, but as the door closes behind him his cloak is caught in the door. He tries to pull the cloak free but can’t. He knows that he doesn’t have the time to take the cloak off, but he can’t pull it free because of the bulletproof mesh. The bomb explodes destroying Number One’s entire penthouse, but barely affecting the Hulk at all.

Hulk leaps away. The police find that someone was caught in the explosion. One asks who it was, but the cop says that they will probably never know since the man is beyond recognition.

A Hydra agent crosses off “Secret Empire” along with “AIM”. He says that they have served their purpose, and that soon it will be time for Hydra to live again.

Krang tells Dorma that they will wait there until news of Namor’s death has reached every corner of their empire… until they all acknowledge Krang as Lord of the Realm. He says that while they wait that he will toy with the human race and that they too will one day call him king.

Prince of the Realm rating: 5 out of 10

Man what a waste of paper Number One and the Secret Empire were. Another issue of not much. It’s even a little ridiculous considering that Number One was never really much of threat. Still like the art… though there isn’t much to see. 3 out of 5 for the art.

Title: “The Missile and the Monster!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Penciller: John Buscema

Inker: John Tartaglione

Hulk’s pants-pressing: Irving Forbush

The people run and scream from the Hulk. Hulk asks why they all yell and run. The police tell Hulk to give up and not to make them shoot. Hulk says that nobody shoots him. Hulk leaps off.

As Rick Jones approaches the Lincoln Tunnel, he wonders why the man who hired him to drive to New York was so adamant about him not looking in the trunk.

Back in Cape Kennedy, the sleazy man that hired Rick says that the “fool boy” should be reaching his destination any minute now. He says that he has to make sure that all is in readiness. He says that he planned too carefully for anything to go wrong. He says that after he warned him like that Jones wouldn’t dare open the trunk. He says that no one suspects, but that one day the world will know. He says that by then it will be too late for the greatest city on Earth to save itself from instant annihilation. The man says that timing has been perfect. He says that the car will reach New York at the precise moment that General Ross gives the order to launch the Orion missile. He says that Jones has no idea that his ultra-wave scanner allows him to monitor Jones’ every movement. He says that he has left nothing to chance. He says that he just has to wait for when the Orion missile blasts off and then nothing will be able to save New York.

In Cape Kennedy, Talbot tells Ross that they are ready for the countdown. Ross says that it is about time. Ross tells Talbot and Betty to come with him to operations. Betty asks why the Orion missile is so important. Ross says that it is anti-missile proof and that no other missile can destroy it once it is in flight. He says that if the launch test checks out that they will have the greatest weapon of all. As they walk into operations, a man tells Ross that he is right on time. Ross says that of course he is on time, and that he is always on time which is why he is in charge. The men know that Ross being all fired up means that everything is okay. Talbot says that the Secret Empire tried to stop them, Boomerang tried to stop them, and the Hulk tried to stop him, but that the missile is right on schedule. Betty says that it is an impressive sight. Ross says that he will breathe easier when it lands in mid-Atlantic. Ross says that if it goes off course that it can’t be destroyed and that it is powerful enough to level an entire city. Talbot says that there is nothing to fear as the trajectory is perfect. Ross says that the flight will last for seven minutes and that is why they are testing over the ocean for safety.

Hulk stands on the roof as the police attack him. Hulk shouts that nothing can hurt him. The police tell the crowds to get back. One of the cops says that he feels sorry for Hulk and that he is always so alone and outnumbered. A jet flies by and sees the Hulk standing there daring him to attack. The pilot says that he doesn’t want to do it, but that the city is in panic and that he has his orders. Hulk prepares to leap and the pilot fires. The shells just bounce off the Hulk, but he loses his footing and falls off the roof. The cops below run out of the way as Hulk hits the ground. Hulk gets up. He says that men won’t let him live and that everyone everywhere is his enemy. Hulk says that he can’t take it anymore and that now he strikes back. Hulk picks up an empty car and slams it into another empty car. Rick drives up and tells Hulk to get in and that he can get him to safety. Hulk is stunned that someone wants to help him and says that Rick is the only one who wants to help. He says that everyone else is his enemy. Rick says that they aren’t really his enemy, but that they just don’t understand. Rick says that he just wishes that they would stop harming Hulk. Hulk says that nothing can harm him and that if Rick tricks him that he is going to die. Rick asks Hulk if he isn’t ever going to trust him and asks Hulk if he remembers how they used to be friends. Rick says that he just wants to help him the way Hulk helped him once.

Minutes later, Rick and Hulk are in a deserted section of the city. Rick tells Hulk that he will never be safe so long as he is the Hulk. He says that they have to find a way to change him back into Dr. Banner. Hulk says that Banner is a weakling and helpless. Hulk says that he is strong and can do anything. Hulk says that no one changes him and that he has to fight. Rick thinks to himself that Hulk always thinks that Banner is someone else and doesn’t realize that they are the same guy.

In Cape Kennedy, at the apartment of the sleazy man that hired Rick, army intelligence burst in and tells Gorski to reach for the sky. Gorski says that only his mission matters. He pushes a button and says that now nothing on Earth can save New York City from the Orion missile.

The car’s trunk opens by itself and a large robot steps out. Hulk says that at last there is something to fight. The robot gets bigger and bigger and electrical energy bursts out of it. Rick says that they don’t know the robot’s power or purpose. The energy bolt hits Hulk and knocks him to the ground. The robot turns and fires a beam into the sky. Hulk says that the robot tried to kill him. Hulk slams into the robot from behind. The robot fires another bolt, but this time the Hulk is ready. Hulk says that nothing can hurt him twice and he hits the robot. He hits the robot again and says that it is nothing but a machine and that no machine can beat the Hulk. He says that nothing is as strong as the Hulk and he lifts the robot over his head. Rick tries to stop Hulk until they can learn the purpose of the beam fired into the sky, but Hulk slams the robot against the ground and destroys it.

Hulk’s destruction of the robot comes too late however as the Orion missile has already turned toward New York.

The people in Cape Kennedy start freaking out when they realize that the Orion missile is headed toward New York. They say to contact the Pentagon, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, or anybody that can stop the missile. A man says that it is too late and that there is only seconds left.

Hulk and Rick spot the missile overhead. Hulk leaps into the air and says that the missile could blow up the whole city. As Rick watches Hulk leap off he figures that Hulk recognizes the missile since Dr. Banner designed it. Hulk catches the missile, but can’t remember why he leapt after it when he gets there. With his purpose forgotten the Hulk’s rage passes and he transforms into Bruce Banner. Bruce wonders what he can do to stop the missile.

No Excuses rating: 6.5 out of 10

Review and pictures by the Leader

RETURN TO HULK ISSUES

RETURN TO NO EXCUSES

RETURN TO NAMOR ISSUES

RETURN TO PRINCE OF THE REALM

RETURN TO LEADER'S LAIR