Tales to Astonish #90Tales to Astonish #90
Title: "To Be Beaten by Byrrah!”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Bill Everett
Inker: Irving Forbush
Byrrah says that for years he has lived in
Namor’s shadows biding his time. He says that finally his
plans are complete and that his cousin Namor will be prince no
longer. Byrrah says that he will be ruler of Atlantis because,
even though no one can match Namor’s power, he is
Namor’s master as far as cunning goes. Byrrah says that
while Namor’s trusts him he will destroy him as only he can.
Byrrah says that Namor has no right to rule since he is a mongrel
half breed, but because he is a full blooded Atlantean he should
wear the crown. Byrrah says that he has despised Namor since they
were boys. Byrrah says that even then he challenged Namor’s
right to rule. Byrrah had sought to prove himself through battle
prowess, but even though Byrrah was an expert at all forms of
combat Namor could not be beaten. Byrrah tried again when he
reached the peak of his strength, but Namor’s power
couldn’t be beaten. 
Byrrah says that
it was then that he realized that he would need to go another
route. He says that he waited for years. He allowed Namor to come
to trust him and believe that he was no longer a threat to his
throne. Byrrah says that he didn’t say or do anything when
Warlord Krang and Attuma the Barbarian tried to take control of
Atlantis. He says that silently he prayed for Namor’s
defeat, but that all he got was more evidence of Namor’s
matchless power. Byrrah says however that with each of
Namor’s victories was a valuable lesson to him because he
will never repeat Attuma or Krang’s mistakes. Byrrah says
that soon everything will be his because he has learned how to
beat Namor and that the time has come to begin his plan. Byrrah
says that his greatest weapon is that the people trust him and
that they will unwillingly become his ally. The people all greet
Byrrah warmly as he passes them. He thinks to himself that he can
be gracious now to them because soon they will be groveling at
his feet.
Byyrah enters the weapons factory and says that while Namor was out fighting that he supervised the factory. Byrrah says that the people think of him as a peacemaker because of his making them believe that the weapons were only meant for defense. Byrrah says that night at the council meeting he will put his plan into action. Byrrah says that because he is a blood cousin of Namor that they will let him speak and that by the time he is done Namor’s crown will begin to slip away from him
Byrrah appears before the Council. He points out that Namor has always kept them on the brink of war. He says that they are fighting against the surface, against Attuma, and even against Warlord Krang who was once his trusted military leader. Byrrah says that he thinks that it is time to end the “tyranny of this war monger”. The people are all somewhat surprised that they agree with Byrrah. Within seconds the people are calling for a vote with the intention of giving Namor’s throne to Byrrah. Byrrah thinks to himself that it is so easy for him to “sway the unthinking masses”.
Hours later, Byrrah has walked all over speaking and winning over people. His crowd grows larger and larger. Byrrah thinks to himself that he has to whip the people into a fevered pitch. He says that he has to be sure that the people support him and not Namor. Byrrah tells the people that Namor is a freak. He says that his immense brawn takes the place of the brain that a true leader would possess. The people continue to be swayed by Byrrah’s words. Byrrah’s words get more and more inflammatory as he continues. He says that Namor is a tyrant. He says that he rules by military victories and that the people all live in fear of an invasion. He says that if they are ever to live in peace that they must find a new ruler that will lead them away from battle. He says that whoever they choose he will support that ruler. The people shout that they choose him. Byrrah says that he doesn’t want the glory and that he is happy to be their humble servant. Byrrah says that all is going as planned and that he will make them beg to have him rule them. The people continue cheering on Byrrah and bad mouthing Namor
Vashti rushes to Namor’s side. He tells Namor that there is trouble in Atlantis. Namor asks what the problem is. Vashti says that Byrrah is inflaming the people with talk that he is not fit to wear the crown. He says that Namor only lives for battle and that he would offer peace to Attuma and Krang. Namor is outraged and says that he only fought to save the lives of Atlantis. He says that no one desires peace more than he does and that no one will believe Byrrah’s lies. Vashti says that they do believe Byrrah and that his crowd grows larger. Namor asks Vashti why he is lying to him. Vashti says that may Neptune strike him down if he is lying. Namor asks Vashti’s forgiveness and says that it was his rage that caused him to yell and not his heart. Namor starts swimming for Atlantis and says that a prince must be ready to fight and die. Vashti cautions Namor and says that Byrrah is master of trickery.
Namor appears on Atlantis television and tells the people that Byrrah has lied to them. He says that he desires peace, but that when the realm is threatened that he must defend them. The people think that Namor makes sense, but that they want to hear from Byrrah.
Byrrah punches in his television screen as Namor says that they cannot surrender to Krang and Attuma. He says that Atlantis can’t become a nation of cowards. Byrrah says that Namor took the bait and that it is time for him to issue his challenge. Byrrah says that Namor has played into his hands.
Byrrah appears on television and says that Namor has accused him of cowardice. He says that by prerogative of his royal birth that he demands satisfaction. Byrrah says that he will meet Namor in battle in view of all of Atlantis.
Dorma listens to Byrrah’s challenge and wonders what trickery he is about to unleash. Dorma rushes to the castle and says that no matter what happens to Namor that he must know that he will always have her trust and her heart.
Dorma tells Namor that he must not accept Byrrah’s challenge. Namor says that the people would think he was a coward. Dorma says that Byrrah knows that he is no match for Namor and that he must have a trap set for him. He says that Byrrah will stop at nothing to gain the crown.
Byrrah confronts Namor and says that when the people see that his power is greater than Namor’s that Namor’s reign will come to an end. Namor realizes that he must be on his guard. He tells Byrrah that no battle was ever won with words. He says that he will learn the price of taunting his monarch.
Byrrah and Namor square off with the others watching on. Namor reminds Byrrah that the ancient code demands that they fight weaponless. Byrrah reaches for a conch shell and tells Namor that the rules just say that they were to be weaponless when they met. He says that any nearby object can be turned into a weapon after that. Byrrah tosses the shell at Namor, but Namor dodges it. As Namor suspected, Byrrah had planted the shell before and as he leaps over the shell the shell explodes from the explosives Byrrah put in it. Byrrah picks up a battle lance and throws it towards Namor. Namor grabs a nearby eel and uses it to whip the lance to the ground from mid-air. Namor suspects that Byrrah is just stalling for time and that he must know that he can’t defeat him this way. As Namor is distracted releasing the eel, Byrrah grabs a swordfish. Byrrah had previously treated the swordfish with a chemical that, when it touches Namor, will sap his strength. Namor doesn’t have the time to dodge Byrrah’s attack and deflects the swordfish with his arm, but he is still scratched. Namor swims around and around into a cyclone. At maximum speed, the pressure and salt cauterize his wound. Namor hurls himself at Byrrah to knock him out. Suddenly Namor feels very weak. He rams Byrrah, but the force of the hit doesn’t affect him at all. Byrrah says that now he will show Atlantis who deserves to rule. He grabs a squid and causes it to shoot its ink onto Namor. Now that his power has left him, Namor can no longer escape the attack. Byrrah punches Namor and claims victory.
The crowd carries Byrrah off on their shoulders proclaiming that he should and will be the new ruler of Atlantis. Dorma rushes to Namor’s side. She tells him that no matter how the “mindless multitudes vote” that he will always be her prince. Dorma says that Byrrah has used some trickery to beat him. Namor says to forget Byrrah and asks if she heard the way his people have turned on him so quickly. Vashti says that the people must be the victims of some kind of sorcery and that they don’t know what they are doing. Namor says that isn’t it and that if it were the case that Vashti and Dorma would be affected as well. Namor says that he doesn’t know how Byrrah beat him, but that tomorrow the people will take his crown and give it to Byrrah. He says that if Byrrah opens Atlantis’ gates to Attuma and Krang that Atlantis is doomed and that the surface world will follow. He says that he no longer has the strength to stop him.
Prince of the Realm rating: 7 out of 10
I like Byrrah as a villain and I have to say that I’m a little disappointed that he never became much of a Namor villain. He’s obviously cunning enough and his royal blood kinda gives him an eerie connection. Bill Everett does a good job with the penciling, but I’m not real crazy about Forbush’s inking.
Title: “The Abomination!”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Gil Kane
Inker: Gil Kane
Stranger watches as the Hulk continues his rampage. Hulk rips apart the steel cables that are supporting a bridge. Hulk leaps off and Stranger says that humanity has proven that it is unfit to rule the planet. He says that by affecting the Hulk’s primitive brain that he has made the Hulk his agent. Stranger flies off the planet. He says that other galaxies require his presence, but that when he returns that the Hulk will have destroyed vital installations softening humanity for the kill.
The Hulk leaps along following a “half-buried instinct” to a distant missile base. Hulk says that he has to smash everything he sees. He says that he must destroy weapons so that humanity can’t fight back. Hulk arrives at the base. He says that he has to destroy the most powerful weapons first. Hulk gets confused as to which weapons are the most powerful. Suddenly his head starts to spin from the strain of trying to think. He realizes that he is changing into Bruce Banner. He lands while he still has the strength to cushion the fall. Banner stands exhausted in the alley. He says that his head is clearing and he remembers everything. He says that now that he has become Bruce Banner that it seems that the Stranger’s control is broken. He says that the world is safe, but he wonders what will happen the next time he changes into the Hulk. Bruce says that he can’t take the chance that the Hulk will still be under the Stranger’s control. Bruce says that the Hulk has to die even if it means that he has to die as well. Banner realizes that there is a potent gamma ray machine on the base that he created. He says that he has to get to it before he transforms into the Hulk. He says that with a single overdose of the fatal rays that he can end the menace of the Hulk forever.
At another part of the base, General Ross has called an urgent meeting with his top security officers. Betty stands behind him. Ross says that there has been an attempt made on the life of his daughter by an unidentified assailant. He says that there have been three narrowly stopped attempts of sabotage against their most vital missiles. Ross says that they know that there is a foreign agent on the post, but that he has escaped capture time and again. Talbot says that he can’t evade them much longer and that it is only a matter of time. Ross yells that they are out of time. He says that he wants the spy caught and that he wants him caught right now. Ross says that if he doesn’t get some results that he is going to take it out on them. The officers follow their orders and disperse to catch the spy. One of the men says, “We’ll get ‘im, General! You can count on it!” Betty collapses to her arms. Talbot asks her what is the matter. Betty says that Bruce has been missing for days. She wonders if Bruce or the Hulk is mixed up in this. She wonders if she has lost him forever. Talbot asks her if it wouldn’t be better if she had lost him. He says that all Bruce has ever done is break her heart.
Inside Bruce Banner’s deserted lab, a
“steely-eyed intruder” in his stolen MP uniform thinks
his dark thoughts to himself. He thinks that if he had managed to
capture the general’s daughter that his task might have been
easier since he could have held her hostage for what he wanted.
He says that he can’t wait any longer and that he has to get
pictures of the gamma ray machine. He says that there are people
behind the bamboo curtain that would pay any price for
Banner’s invention. The spy walks out into plain sight and
says that if anyone finds him there that he will claim that he is
looking for the spy. He thinks of the irony of using himself for
a defense. He starts snapping away with his miniature camera.
Suddenly he hears footsteps. Since he isn’t done taking
pictures yet he hides. Suddenly Banner walks into his lab. He
says that he is in luck and that the lab is empty. Banner starts
preparing the gamma ray machine by turning the safety off. He
says that he can’t hesitate for a minute and that he might
change into the Hulk at any moment. Banner gets into position,
but just then Talbot and the M.P.’s rush into the room.
Talbot tells them to grab Banner before he can use the machine.
Banner tells them that they don’t understand and that he has
to be left alone with the gamma rays. Talbot says that he
isn’t going to get the chance to turn back into the Hulk.
Banner says that this is for their own safety, but Talbot just
says that they have their orders and that Banner is wasting his
breath. The spy watches from his hiding place and says that
whatever Banner’s plan was that it was nipped in the bud. He
thinks about how much Banner wanted to get in front of the
machine and wonders why. He reasons that since Banner is the
greatest atomic scientist ever that it must have been something
big. He thinks that he has to check this out and that it could be
the greatest thing he ever stumbled into. The spy stands where
Banner was when the M.P.’s entered. The spy spots the
activation button near his foot and steps on it. Suddenly the spy
begins to change. 
He says,
“What’s… what’s happening to me?…
I’m changing! It… must be… the same process…
that changed Banner into the Hulk… I’ve got to…
stop it! I didn’t know… didn’t
suspect…!” The spy is fully altered before he can stop
the process. He says, “Too late to stop! Hah! Don’t
want to stop! I’m different… more powerful! I’m
strong as the Hulk! I can do anything! I’m master of the
world… of the whole universe!” The rays continue to
pour over him. He says that no one can stand up to him and that
he is invincible. Unknowingly, the man saves his own life as he
lifts the machine over his head stopping the bath of gamma rays.
He decides to smash the machine so no one will ever be as
powerful as him. If he had been bathed by the rays for just a few
seconds longer they would have proven fatal, but the monster
smashes it against the ground. He says that now there are only
two beings like him… “me… and the brainless green
Hulk!” He says that soon there will only be one of them. He
says that he will find the Hulk and that when he destroys him
that his strength will be supreme. The monster smashes out of the
lab and stalks out to find the Hulk.
From his jail cell, Banner spots the newly created monster smashing up everything. He realizes that someone else must have activated the machine. He says that whoever it is that they must be stopped. Suddenly the tension activates the transformation into the Hulk. Hulk says that no one keeps him in a cell and plows through the wall. Even though he no longer remembers why the Hulk continues charging the monster. The monster spots the Hulk charging him. The two monsters smash into each other seemingly shaking the mountains around them. Hulk says that he will stop him. The monster says that this is the Hulk’s finish. He says that even if the Hulk is as strong as him that he has the brains to out-plan him. The monster knocks Hulk back and says that no one has ever faced the Hulk’s strongest attack and then beaten him back. Hulk plows back forward and says that no one beats him back. The monster says that the Hulk doesn’t have the sense to realize that he is beaten. He says that not only he is smarter than Hulk, but that his natural power is as well. He says that Hulk will be helpless with another few blows. The monster hits Hulk again. Because of the more intense dosage of gamma rays the former spy gained more strength than Banner did when he was transformed.
Betty, Ross, and Talbot spot the fighting.
Betty says, “Dad! Who… or what…can that
abomination be?” Ross says that he doesn’t know, but
that Betty has chosen the perfect name for it. Betty says that
the Abomination is beating the Hulk back and that if he
isn’t stopped that he will kill the Hulk and Bruce Banner.
Talbot says that if only they would finish each other off. Ross
says that the Hulk doesn’t stand a chance and that the other
one is just too strong. The monster says that they are calling
him the Abomination and that they are right. He says that when he
is done menacing mankind that they will wish they only had the
Hulk to worry about, but that the Hulk will be nothing but a
memory then. Abomination hits Hulk again. He says that he is done
toying with Hulk. Abomination hits Hulk again. He says that
nothing can survive his next punch… not even the Hulk. 
Abomination
hits Hulk again and Hulk falls over near death. Abomination says
that he is the most powerful living mortal on the face of the
Earth. He says that he no longer has to bother with being a spy
and that now all he has to do is desire a goal and that his
strength will make it come true. Abomination realizes that others
have been watching and turns to Ross, Talbot, and Betty. He says
that he is still vulnerable to their missiles and rockets. He
says that he hasn’t discovered is he could survive an attack
like that. He says that he is too clever to be careless and grabs
Betty while pushing Ross and Talbot to the ground. Ross says that
he can’t do that and shouts to stop him. Betty shouts to be
let go, but Abomination just says, “Stop me? You puny
fools… stop me… how?” Abomination leaps off with
Betty under his arm. He says that everything the Hulk could do he
can now do better.
Ross watches as Abomination soars away with Betty. He says that he doesn’t dare fire anything at him for fear of hitting her. Talbot says that somehow they will get him. Ross says that Abomination is power personified and that he has normal intelligence besides. Talbot says that he has to have a weakness and that they will find it. Ross says that there is only one being that might have defeated the Abomination, but that he lies there on the ground. Ross says, “The one we hunted… we hounded… the one we allowed no peace… no respite! We got our wish! The Hulk is vanquished... at last! And, in his place… we have… the Abomination!”
No Excuses rating: 10 out of 10
Man do I love this issue. Abomination is one of my all time favorites and he certainly knows how to make an entrance. The “dark mirror” villain is always one of my favorites. The Hulk already had the Leader, which was a kind of dark mirror, but now there is the Abomination who can match the Hulk physically. With the Hulk, Leader, and now the Abomination we finally have what I like to call Gamma People. The creation of super powered beings through the exposure of gamma radiation. I thought it ironic that we are introduced to the yet unnamed Emil Blonsky by learning that he originally made an attempt on Betty’s life. We now know that he finally succeeded in his original goal and managed to kill Betty at the end of the Hulk’s original run. Stan Lee once again shows his brilliance by creating a lasting character and showing that sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. I’m not sure what the invention process was for Abomination’s appearance, but Gil Kane does a remarkable job illustrating him. A landmark issue in my opinion.