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in: Comics, Hulk Annual (UK) Vol 1, Gary Brodsky/Cover Artist,
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English

Hulk Annual (UK) Vol 1 1978

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Appearing in "The Origin of the Hulk!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Incredible Hulk #3

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Synopsis for "The Origin of the Hulk!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Incredible Hulk #3
While Rick Jones keeps vigil over the Hulk, his mind drifts back to the events that changed both of their lives forever. On a dare, Rick trespassed onto the desert base in the middle of a top secret military test involving Doctor Bruce Banner's Gamma Bomb. Seeing Jones riding across the blast area in his jeep, Bruce Banner abandoned the safety of the bunker and tossed him into a ditch just as the bomb exploded. The intense wave of gamma radiation altered Banner's chemistry, transforming him into a muscle-bound hulk whenever night fell. By day, the Hulk transformed back into the form of Robert Bruce Banner.

Appearing in "Enter... the Chameleon!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Tales to Astonish #62

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  • Rocket Speed-Velocity Test Sled

Synopsis for "Enter... the Chameleon!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Tales to Astonish #62
Continuing from last issue, the army is about to execute the Hulk. Meanwhile, the mysterious Leader hires the Chameleon to travel to New Mexico to find out what happened to the spy he hired to steal the robot from the missile base. While in New York, Rick Jones hears of the Hulk's fate and gets permission from Captain America to go to his friend's rescue. Both the Chameleon (in disguise) and Rick Jones end up flying to New Mexico on the same plane.

While in New Mexico, Betty Ross worries that perhaps Bruce ran into the Hulk while out in the desert, not knowing that the Hulk is really Bruce Banner himself. The Hulk, meanwhile, is attempting to break free of his bonds, bringing him near to the point where his level of excitement would cause him to revert into Bruce Banner. Rick Jones arrives on the base and tries to get near the Hulk, but fails each time.

The Chameleon fares better however, disguising himself as Thunderbolt Ross and asking the Hulk to aid him. When the Hulk refuses, the Chameleon, using General Ross' brass, sends the other soldiers away so they can talk more. While his back is turned, the Hulk's constant strain causes him to change back into Banner. He escapes the bonds that were made to hold someone of the Hulk's size. Rick Jones find the fleeing Banner and secrets him away long enough for Bruce to change clothes.

Banner reports to Ross, who is reprimanding his soldiers for allowing the Hulk to escape. Talbot attempts to question Banner, but Banner rebuffs him. Walking out of the room, Banner is knocked out and tied up by the Chameleon who disguises himself as Banner in order to steal the plans and a prototype for a grenade-type gamma bomb.

Betty interrupts the Chameleon and soon realizes that she's talking to an impostor. As the Chameleon tries to capture the girl, Bruce Banner (who is locked in the closet) turns into the Hulk and smashes through the wall to save Betty. The Chameleon holds the Hulk at bay by threatening him with the Gamma grenade until the Hulk is scared off by an approaching military patrol.

The Chameleon tries to get rid of Betty by shooting her off into a rocket speed-velocity test sled, but the Hulk stops it and saves Betty, then chases after the Chameleon.

Knocking away an army of soldiers, the Hulk dives on the Gamma grenade, which the Chameleon attempted to use to destroy the Hulk. The resulting explosion is contained by the Hulk's body. The gamma radiation causes the Hulk to revert to Bruce Banner, who escapes in the smoke.

Later, during a board of inquiry, due to Betty's testimony, Banner is cleared of any suspected involvement, but Ross explains that he will find out what sort of connection (if any) there is between Banner and the Hulk. Elsewhere, the Leader decides that it's time for him to get involved in finding the government secrets he seeks...

Appearing in "A Titan Rides the Train!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Tales to Astonish #63

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  • Train

Synopsis for "A Titan Rides the Train!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Tales to Astonish #63
The Leader has just completed his special humanoid. He reflects back on the events that led to his super-intelligence:

He was a lowly laborer working in a chemical research plant. One day, while hauling waste material in the plant's sub-basement, he was caught in a Gamma explosion caused by an exploding Gamma-ray cylinder. Surviving the ordeal, he soon found that he had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and began reading books at a frenzied rate. One day, while reading in his study, a dizzy spell struck him, and eventually the effects of the Gamma rays had completed his transformation into a man of emerald skin and a large brain. He began calling himself the Leader and became a scientific genius. He organized his own spy ring in order to overthrow the government. His Humanoid is his most recent attempt to do so.

Meanwhile, at the New Mexico rocket base, the Chameleon revives and digs himself out of the rubble caused by his battle with the Hulk (Last issue). Elsewhere on the base, General Ross and Major Talbot discuss the Pentagon's request to have Bruce Banner and one of his latest nuclear inventions moved to another base. Not trusting Banner, and expecting interference from the Hulk, Ross sends Talbot to act as security officer to keep an eye on things. Later, the Chameleon - now in a new disguise - overhears these plans being told to Bruce Banner and informs the Leader. The Leader sees this as a perfect chance to use his Humanoid.

The Humanoid is dropped off onto the train and is spotted by military personnel, who quickly learn that the Humanoid is immune to their weapons. Informed of the situation, Talbot locks Banner in a room aboard the train while he deals with the crisis. Banner gets worked up enough to trigger the change that will turn him into the Hulk.

The Hulk smashes out of the train and spots the Humanoid, just as it removes the rail-car containing the nuclear device. The Hulk battles the Humanoid, but finds that he cannot damage its pliable form, and is soon tossed off the train.

The Hulk bounds back onto the train for a second attack, and during the skirmish causes the rail-car with the nuclear device to unbolt. Part of his memories as Banner make the Hulk realize that if the device is knocked loose from the car it will devastate a nearby town. He knocks the Humanoid off the train, breaking its connection with the Leader. The Hulk jumps back to the train and stops the device from breaking free.

Landing on the ground, the Hulk suddenly feels the transformation changing him back into Banner kick in. Later, Talbot finds Banner in the desert. Suspicious that the supposedly detained Banner is free (and in possession of the missing device!), he orders Banner arrested. Back at the Leader's hideout, the Leader determines that he must learn more about the Hulk so that he can destroy him, while Banner himself is locked in a military jail cell.

Appearing in "The Horde of Humanoids!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Tales to Astonish #64

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Synopsis for "The Horde of Humanoids!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Tales to Astonish #64
Starting as the last issue ended, Bruce Banner is locked in a government prison for allegedly trying to steal a device that he created for the Army. He has been taking tranquilizer pills to keep him from turning into the Hulk while in jail, but Thunderbolt Ross and Major Talbot simply assume he is taking them to keep from panicking. When Bruce is moved to Washington DC prior to his trial, Rick Jones pays him a visit, and tells Bruce that he should just tell everyone the truth about who he is. Bruce says that he can never do that for if enemies of America discovered who he was and how he got his powers, they might try to study him and use his powers for their own desires, or maybe even make a whole army of new Hulks. Banner thinks aloud that he would reveal his identity but only to someone who would never let the information get out. This gives Rick an idea, and he goes see the President of the United States himself, Lyndon B. Johnson. At first Rick can't get through to him, but he gets through easily once he shows the staff his Avengers badge. Once President Johnson knows the truth, he immediately gives Bruce Banner a pardon. Now a free man, Banner is ordered to travel to Astra Island with Glen Talbot to test his new nuclear device. Talbot still does not trust him however. This mistrust coupled with the fact that Banner has run out of his tranquilizer pills sees Banner turn into the Hulk again. He is able to get away from Talbot first, and thus Talbot simply thinks that Banner called the Hulk somehow. At that moment, the Leader's army of Humanoids strike the Hulk, attempting to capture him for the Leader so the Leader can learn the Hulk's secrets, and possibly convince the Hulk to work for him. His logic is that since they both have green skin they must have both gotten their powers in the same way, and thus have a connection to each other. As the Hulk is battling the Humanoids, Talbot protects the device and then radios the Army for help. Continued next issue...

Appearing in "On the Rampage Against the Reds!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Tales to Astonish #65

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Synopsis for "On the Rampage Against the Reds!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Tales to Astonish #65
Continuing from last issue, the Hulk is battling an army of the Leader's humanoids on Astra Island, just as an army strike force arrives on the island to subdue the creature. Using grenades they blast the ledge that the Hulk is battling the Humanoids on, knocking him into the ocean and sweeping him away in its current. With the Hulk defeated, the Leader calls his Humanoids back to base to fight another day. The army conducts a fruitless search of the island for both the Hulk and Bruce Banner.

The Hulk is swept out into international waters just as the transformation that changes the brute back into the form of Bruce Banner kicks in. Struggling to the oceans surface, Banner is spotted by a Communist sub and is taken aboard. Realizing who Bruce Banner is, the captain of the sub decides to take him back to the Communists' home country. As the submarine submerges, a US military plane flies and spots Banner and they report back to Talbot who believes this is proof that Banner is a traitor to his country. While back at the Leader's base, the Leader muses that perhaps the best way to learn more about the Hulk is to capture Bruce Banner, making a connection that where one is, the other is never too far behind.

Meanwhile, Banner is taken to the Communists' homeland and there he is brought before their military commander, who tells the hungry Bruce Banner that they will only feed him if he works for them. Banner is soon taken to a lab where the Communists are forcing scientists who were previously reported dead or missing to work on secret projects for them. While being put to work, one of the scientists finally cracks and tries to destroy one of the devices being built in the lab and he is quickly beaten into submission and taken away.

Refusing to aid the Communists, Banner is then locked in a tiny cell until he agrees to serve them. Dwelling on the horrors that he's witnessed, Banner excites himself to the point where he transforms into the Hulk. The Hulk then smashes out of his cell and begins tearing the Communist base apart, destroying most of their weapons. However, he is shot in the shoulder by a vaporizer ray.

After he's scared all the soldiers into retreat, he is found by one of the captive scientists, who treats the Hulk's wound and provides him with food. Meanwhile the Communists' military commander orders an entire fleet of tanks to attack the Hulk and sets to attack the creature himself with a Proton Gun.

Appearing in "The Power of Doctor Banner!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Tales to Astonish #66

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  • Older Man

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  • Planes

Synopsis for "The Power of Doctor Banner!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Tales to Astonish #66
The scientist who helped the Hulk finishes treating the Hulk's wounds from his battle against the Communist soldiers. Just then the Communists' military commander arrives on the scene with a proton gun. When he is about to shoot the Hulk, the scientist jumps in the way, taking the shot for the giant creature. Fearing retribution from the Hulk the commander flees. The Hulk realizes the commander killed one of the few people the Hulk considered a friend. This causes the Hulk to get angry and go on another rampage. Eventually, the Hulk exerts himself too much and reverts back into Bruce Banner, who passes out from exhaustion. All the while, the Communist tank battalion draws ever closer.

Meanwhile, back in the US, Glenn Talbot reports to his superiors that they spotted Bruce Banner being taken into a Communist sub. Talbot offers to go and get Banner back, but the request is denied. News of Banner being held behind the Iron Curtain gets to General Ross, who tells his daughter Betty. She cannot believe that Banner would defect to the Communists. Talbot enters the room and tries to comfort her.

While at the Leader's lair, the Leader is contacted once more by the Chameleon, who informs him of Banner's capture by the Communists. The Leader then contacts one of the Commissars of the Communists to confirm that Banner and the Hulk are behind the Iron Curtain. When this is confirmed, the Leader breaks contact, content that the Hulk would eventually defeat the Communists and return to the States.

Back behind the Iron Curtain, Bruce Banner finally wakes up to find the ruins he passed out in are being bombed by Communist jet fighters. Banner runs for cover and eventually finds the body of the scientist who sacrificed his life for the Hulk. Remembering what happened, Banner gets mad enough to trigger his transformation into the Hulk just as a bomb blows up next to him. When the smoke clears, the Hulk is back and smashes all the airplanes in the area. Madder than ever, the Hulk then storms off to smash everything that stands in his way.

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