Post by Nowhere Man on Apr 15, 2015 8:06:46 GMT -5
Incredible Hulk #3
Credits
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Dick Ayers
Synopsis: In “Banished to Outer Space”, we find Rick Jones standing vigil over the Hulk as he’s kept prisoner in the specially designed holding facility designed by Bruce Banner. As Rick leaves for the night, he’s confronted by a group of soldiers who say that they’ve been looking for him. After bringing him to General Ross, the General explains to Rick that the military needs the Hulk to passenger an experimental rocket since he was the only known being that could withstand the g-forces. After mulling it over, Rick decides that it’s too important to national security, so he goes to release the Hulk. Before he can fully release the giant hydraulic press that holds the door in place, the Hulk destroys it in a rage and lumbers after Rick, seeking revenge. Rick succeeds in luring the Hulk into the rocket and it is instantly launched. As the Hulk is rocketing through space, he transforms back to Banner after being bathed in sunlight, but is irradiated when the ship passes through a radiation belt.
Rick learns that it was all a trick to get rid of the Hulk forever and decides he has to save him since Ross doesn’t realize that the Hulk is actually Banner. When attempting to operate the controls that will return the rocket, a strange electric current connects Rick to the ship. Thinking that it will be Banner in the return capsule since its daytime, Rick believes he’s killed Banner when the capsule crashes. Suddenly, and to Rick’s astonishment, the Hulk rips through the capsule and instantly seeks to attack him, but after yelling “stop!” as a plea for mercy, the Hulk stops cold. Rick learns that he now has complete control over the Hulk as long as he stays awake. After the Hulk goes on a mini-rampage in a small nearby town, Rick leads him back to the holding facility and leans back on the wall, trying with all his might to stay awake so the Hulk won’t escape.
After a brief recounting of the Hulk’s origin, we’re introduced to the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime. After the Ringmaster uses his hypnotic abilities to hypnotize the circus audience, and then the entire town, the villains make off with all the valuables that they can carry. Unbeknownst to the Ringmaster, two FBI agents are hot on his trail. The scene shifts to Rick Jones, who having managed to stay up all night without falling asleep, makes his way to his Aunt Polly’s house to refresh himself. On his way back, Rick notices an ad for the Circus and decides to attend. Unfortunately, Rick is unaware that this just happens to be the Circus of Crime and is hypnotized right along with the rest of the crowd, but manages to call to the Hulk before he completely goes under the effects of the hypnosis. The Hulk arrives, and after a brief altercation with the Circus, he’s seemingly captured and put in chains, but is only unable to act because of Rick’s state. The Ringmaster decides to display him as one of the attractions and makes for the next town. During the next performance, Rick Jones, along with the FBI agents arrive, and at the sound of Rick’s voice, the Hulk easily snaps the chains and goes on a rampage. He gets his hands on the Ringmaster, but is prevented from hurting him by Rick. Suddenly General Thunderbolt Ross appears with his soldiers and our stories ends when Rick commands the Hulk to leap away.
First Appearances: Ringmaster and the Circus of Crime
Comments: A strange but interesting issue, it seems like another Hulk tale that could have easily been split into two standalone twelve-pagers. The “Remote Controlled Hulk” idea is kinda odd and it seems to indicate that Stan and Jack still couldn't figure out the Hulk’s angle. Maybe the thought was that the Hulk at that point wasn't very interesting and Rick Jones needed to be brought to the forefront to give the reader more to relate to? We do get the very interesting debut of the Hulk’s “leaping” ability. Much has been made of the fact that Kirby seems to have been drawing the Hulk flying as opposed to leaping. The cover certainly seems to indicate this. If it was Stan that decided after-the-fact that super-leaping made more sense, I have to say that I agree wholeheartedly.
The Ringmaster and his evil circus was...okay, but he was never a credible threat. Certainly not for the Hulk It's clear that all the good ideas are getting saved for the FF at this point.
Stan’s writing still isn't as interesting as it is on FF, but he does a serviceable job. Kirby and Ayers, however, do a great job on the art. I particularly love the opening splash page of the Hulk banging away inside his prison.
Characters Development: We certainly get to know Rick a bit more, to the point that we find out that he has an aunt and her name is Polly. The Hulk’s few lines seem to foreshadow the “Hulk Smash!” era, if only dimly, but there’s really no indication of what the Hulk’s personality is yet. General Ross really comes off as an even bigger SOB than we've seen so far, with his underhanded plan to get rid of the Hulk.
Personal Rating/Historical Importance: 5/7. All things considered a very average story. Unlike the FF with Doom, the Hulk has no major supervillain nemesis yet, so we’re seeing the limitations of the Hulk/Banner vs clueless military angle. I love Ross as a character, but the mythos needs more than just him and a military base to really take off. I give this issue a much higher rating than I otherwise would simply because of the debut of his now iconic leaping ability.
Credits
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Dick Ayers
Synopsis: In “Banished to Outer Space”, we find Rick Jones standing vigil over the Hulk as he’s kept prisoner in the specially designed holding facility designed by Bruce Banner. As Rick leaves for the night, he’s confronted by a group of soldiers who say that they’ve been looking for him. After bringing him to General Ross, the General explains to Rick that the military needs the Hulk to passenger an experimental rocket since he was the only known being that could withstand the g-forces. After mulling it over, Rick decides that it’s too important to national security, so he goes to release the Hulk. Before he can fully release the giant hydraulic press that holds the door in place, the Hulk destroys it in a rage and lumbers after Rick, seeking revenge. Rick succeeds in luring the Hulk into the rocket and it is instantly launched. As the Hulk is rocketing through space, he transforms back to Banner after being bathed in sunlight, but is irradiated when the ship passes through a radiation belt.
Rick learns that it was all a trick to get rid of the Hulk forever and decides he has to save him since Ross doesn’t realize that the Hulk is actually Banner. When attempting to operate the controls that will return the rocket, a strange electric current connects Rick to the ship. Thinking that it will be Banner in the return capsule since its daytime, Rick believes he’s killed Banner when the capsule crashes. Suddenly, and to Rick’s astonishment, the Hulk rips through the capsule and instantly seeks to attack him, but after yelling “stop!” as a plea for mercy, the Hulk stops cold. Rick learns that he now has complete control over the Hulk as long as he stays awake. After the Hulk goes on a mini-rampage in a small nearby town, Rick leads him back to the holding facility and leans back on the wall, trying with all his might to stay awake so the Hulk won’t escape.
After a brief recounting of the Hulk’s origin, we’re introduced to the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime. After the Ringmaster uses his hypnotic abilities to hypnotize the circus audience, and then the entire town, the villains make off with all the valuables that they can carry. Unbeknownst to the Ringmaster, two FBI agents are hot on his trail. The scene shifts to Rick Jones, who having managed to stay up all night without falling asleep, makes his way to his Aunt Polly’s house to refresh himself. On his way back, Rick notices an ad for the Circus and decides to attend. Unfortunately, Rick is unaware that this just happens to be the Circus of Crime and is hypnotized right along with the rest of the crowd, but manages to call to the Hulk before he completely goes under the effects of the hypnosis. The Hulk arrives, and after a brief altercation with the Circus, he’s seemingly captured and put in chains, but is only unable to act because of Rick’s state. The Ringmaster decides to display him as one of the attractions and makes for the next town. During the next performance, Rick Jones, along with the FBI agents arrive, and at the sound of Rick’s voice, the Hulk easily snaps the chains and goes on a rampage. He gets his hands on the Ringmaster, but is prevented from hurting him by Rick. Suddenly General Thunderbolt Ross appears with his soldiers and our stories ends when Rick commands the Hulk to leap away.
First Appearances: Ringmaster and the Circus of Crime
Comments: A strange but interesting issue, it seems like another Hulk tale that could have easily been split into two standalone twelve-pagers. The “Remote Controlled Hulk” idea is kinda odd and it seems to indicate that Stan and Jack still couldn't figure out the Hulk’s angle. Maybe the thought was that the Hulk at that point wasn't very interesting and Rick Jones needed to be brought to the forefront to give the reader more to relate to? We do get the very interesting debut of the Hulk’s “leaping” ability. Much has been made of the fact that Kirby seems to have been drawing the Hulk flying as opposed to leaping. The cover certainly seems to indicate this. If it was Stan that decided after-the-fact that super-leaping made more sense, I have to say that I agree wholeheartedly.
The Ringmaster and his evil circus was...okay, but he was never a credible threat. Certainly not for the Hulk It's clear that all the good ideas are getting saved for the FF at this point.
Stan’s writing still isn't as interesting as it is on FF, but he does a serviceable job. Kirby and Ayers, however, do a great job on the art. I particularly love the opening splash page of the Hulk banging away inside his prison.
Characters Development: We certainly get to know Rick a bit more, to the point that we find out that he has an aunt and her name is Polly. The Hulk’s few lines seem to foreshadow the “Hulk Smash!” era, if only dimly, but there’s really no indication of what the Hulk’s personality is yet. General Ross really comes off as an even bigger SOB than we've seen so far, with his underhanded plan to get rid of the Hulk.
Personal Rating/Historical Importance: 5/7. All things considered a very average story. Unlike the FF with Doom, the Hulk has no major supervillain nemesis yet, so we’re seeing the limitations of the Hulk/Banner vs clueless military angle. I love Ross as a character, but the mythos needs more than just him and a military base to really take off. I give this issue a much higher rating than I otherwise would simply because of the debut of his now iconic leaping ability.