> Hulk Masterworks Volume 2
 
 

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From the Mouths of the Marvels:

"He's right! I do owe him my life! I can't ever change that! But - - what kind of life is it?? I'm doomed to remain the most hated - - the most feared creature to walk the Earth - - to spend the rest of my days and nights as a grotesque caricature of a human being - - as an ugly, rampaging Hulk!”

-- Hulk, pg. 4

I know what you're thinking: the Leader is testing some kind of heavy-duty washing machine.

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The Incredible Hulk
from Tales to Astonish #73
November 1965 • 10 pages

Script: Stan Lee • Letters: Artie Simek
Layouts: Jack Kirby
Pencils/Inks: Bob Powell

Title: "Another World, Another Foe!"

First Appearance: Space Lizard*

Villain: The Leader, Space Lizard

Guest Appearance: The Watcher

Innovation: Limits of Hulk's powers tested

Gadgets & Technology: Ultimate Machine, Thought-Pattern Projector

* Special Note: The Space Lizard antagonist goes unnamed throughout his appearance in Hulk, so I have give him this pet name for reference purposes.

Letters Page: Page One

House Ads: Page One

Story Synopsis: The Humanoid statues fire their bolts at the Hulk, making him weaker and weaker. He thinks to himself, maybe it's okay to just let go and die, since he's no good to anyone. But the Leader comes in and tells his minions to cease firing. Strangely, the Hulk collapses as the Leader nears him; further, he senses a gamma ray tingling through his body the closer he gets to the Hulk. He gets his Humanoid to pick up the Hulk and carry him to the examining room, where an x-ray determines that there is a bullet lodged inside his brain. He uses a surgical machine to disintegrate the bullet, curing him for good. The Leader explains to the Hulk when he awakes that he no longer needs fear the bullet in his brain. The Hulk realizes, though, that he is doomed to live life forever as a freak, owing a debt to the Leader for saving his life.

The Leader puts the Hulk through a battery of tests, finding that there is nothing he can use to find out the fullest measure of his strength. In the Leader's estimation, the Hulk is the strongest creature in the universe. Once the Hulk is done with the tests, the Leader gives him his first assignment. He tells him of his discovery of the Watcher, the powerful being which roams the universe, observing all that passes before him without interfering in their affairs. The Watcher has something the Leader craves- the Ultimate Machine- and he says the Hulk is the only one who can go out and get it.

He sends the Hulk to a far-distant part of the galaxy through his Thought Pattern Projector, and he lands on the Watcher's world. Uatu, the Watcher, is there to greet him, and tells the Hulk he may roam wherever he wishes through his home. He also reminds the Hulk of his pledge of non-interference. As the Hulk stands amazed at what he sees- giant machines, fascinating new plants and animals- the Leader casts thought projections into the Hulk's head, reminding him of what his task is. He tells the Hulk to abscond with the Ultimate Machine, and the Watcher will do nothing to stop him.

The Hulk asks the Leader why he sent him to do this task instead of doing it himself. Just then, the Hulk finds out his answer, as he is knocked down by the fierce punch of a scaly, red Space Lizard, who is after the very object that the Hulk is after! And, according to the Leader, the Space Lizard is "the most powerful creature in the galaxy!"

--synopsis and panel images by Gormuu

--letters page and house ads provided by Justin Fairfax

Issues Reprinted
Giant-Man from Tales to Astonish #59
& Incredible Hulk from Tales to Astonish #60-79

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.

 
TTA #59 TTA #60 TTA #61 TTA #62 TTA #63 TTA #64 TTA #65
TTA #66 TTA #67 TTA #68 TTA #69 TTA #70 TTA #71 TTA #72
TTA #73 TTA #74 TTA #75 TTA #76 TTA #77 TTA #78 TTA #79

 

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