Incredible Hulk #5

January 1963
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

"Beauty and the Beast"

Our story begins with General Thunderbolt Ross requesting help from Dr. Bruce Banner to end the thread of the Incredible Hulk. Banner agrees to help.  After he and Rick leave the Ross household, the General and his daughter Betty discuss Dr. Banner. Ross doesn't trust him one bit, while Betty has strong feelings for him. Of course, Betty fears that Banner doesn't even know she exists.

I should mention that the Betty/Bruce romance subplot has been very minor in this series.  More so than the Jane Foster/Don Blake subplot in Journey Into Mystery.  It has been touched on very briefly in a couple places.

In this issue however, Betty's unrequited love has drawn the attention of Tyrannus, a centuries-old despot who lives far beneath the surface of the Earth (with his very own fountain of youth).  We learn that Tyrannus was banished by Merlin many many centuries ago.  After his banishment, Tyrannus discovered a race of creatures who learned to obey his every command.  Over time, together they created many weapons and it is now time to unleash them upon the surface.

The only thing that Tyrannus fears is the atomic might of the United States - a threat which he intends to mitigate by capturing the lovely Miss Ross.  Under the guise of an archaeologist, Tyrannus tricks Betty and captures her.  Rick and Bruce grow suspicious after seeing Betty with Tyrannus and they track them to the underworld.

The Hulk engages Tyrannus and his slaves in combat.  Unfortunately, the battle does not go the way that he would like; he is defeated and captured.  Luckily, Rick went undetected.  He manages to free both the Hulk and Betty.  Together, the three of them escape and bring the roof down upon our villain.  And our first story comes to a close.

"The Hordes of General Fang"

I won't spend too much time on the second story in this issue, which isn't an indictment on the story itself.  There's nothing wrong with the story.  It's aptly written and tremendously drawn.

The plot of the tale is the Hulk vs. a Chinese general.  The best part of the story is the Hulk dressed as a yeti. The most interesting part of the story is the growing subplot of Banner growing weaker every time he uses his ray to change into and back from the Hulk. 

Tales to Astonish #39

January 1963
Writers: Stan Lee and Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby

"The Vengeance of the Scarlet Beetle"

Our story begins with a troubled Dr. Henry Pym.  He has been receiving numerous warnings from ants around the city. Fearing that it's something strange and dangerous, Pym goes to investigate as the Astonishing Ant-Man! 

Pym discovers hundreds of ants gathered together.  A large scarlet beetle stands before the crowd communicating with the ants using "mental telepathy".  The beetle sees Pym and proceeds to explain himself.  During one of "mankind's atomic experiments" the beetle was exposed to radiation which granted him with a "brain which is the equal of any humans".  The beetle's grand plan is to use the insects of the planet to become the Masters of the World!

Ant-Man decides that this wouldn't be an improvement and promptly attacks the scarlet beetle.  The beetle's hoards overcome Pym and the beetle grabs the growth gas from Pym's belt.  The beetle proceeds to use the gas and grows to the size of man.  Pym awakens later to find himself trapped and without any gas canisters.

Meanwhile, the scarlet beetle begins his battle against mankind.  As the attacks continue, the world wonders where Ant-Man has gone. Back in captivity, Pym manages to talk some friendly ants into freeing him.  Ant-Man engages the scarlet beetle and with the help of some DDT and shrinking gas, our hero prevails.

Another ultimately forgettable issue of Tales to Astonish.  This title needs... something at this point.  Unfortunately, it will still be another 5 issues before the winsome Wasp joins the title.

Journey Into Mystery #87

December 1962
Writers: Stan Lee and Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby

"Prisoner of the Reds"

After two issues of great villains (Thor and Zarrko the Tomorrow Man), this issue regresses to the fallback foe of the early 60s: communism!

As our story begins, there has been a recent glut of scientists defecting to communism behind the iron curtain.  Dr. Donald Blake decides to set himself up as bait for the reds.  The government helps Blake spread the story that he has developed a ground-breaking virus for germ warfare.  Naturally, the communists decide they must have Blake. 

A communist spy approaches Blake at his fake laboratory posing as a photographer.  He unleashes a gas which hypnotizes our hero.  Blake awakens from his daze, in capture and in enemy territory.  He is accompanied by the other missing scientists.  Thankfully, the villains segregate the scientists, after which Blake turns into Thor and proceeds to wreak everything. 

After being caught in and escaping from a few different communist traps, Thor eventually wins the day and frees all of the scientists.

There's also a brief interlude of Jane and Blake in which our romantic drama continues.  The innocence is quite entertaining.

Well, it wasn't as fun or exciting as the previous issues, but overall still a well told story with great Kirby art.