Appearing in "The Origin of the Hulk!"
Incredible Hulk #3
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Hulk (Bruce Banner) (Main story and recap) (Origin revealed)
Other Characters:
- United States Army (Only in recap)
- Numerous unnamed military personnel (Only in recap)
- Soviet Armed Forces (Only in recap)
- Unnamed Official (Only in recap)
Races and Species:
- Humans (Main story and recap)
Locations:
- Sol (Main story and recap)
- Earth (Main story and recap)
- North America (Main story and recap)
- United States of America (Main story and recap)
- New Mexico (Main story and recap)
- Los Diablos Missile Base (Only in recap)
- Hulk's Cave (Main story and recap)
- New Mexico (Main story and recap)
- United States of America (Main story and recap)
- North America (Main story and recap)
- Earth (Main story and recap)
Items:
- Gamma Bomb (Only in recap)
Synopsis for "The Origin of the Hulk!"
Incredible Hulk #3
Appearing in "Enter... the Chameleon!"
Tales to Astonish #62
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Chameleon (Impersonates General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross and Bruce Banner)
- Leader (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Captain America (Steve Rogers)
- United States Army
- Bucky (Mentioned)
- Avengers (Mentioned)
- Sam Hill (Invoked)
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
Items:
- Rocket Speed-Velocity Test Sled
Synopsis for "Enter... the Chameleon!"
Tales to Astonish #62
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!"
Tales to Astonish #63
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- The Leader (Origin revealed)
- Leader's Humanoid (First appearance)
Other Characters:
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- North America
- United States of America
- New Mexico
- Pentagon (Mentioned)
- Washington, D.C. (Mentioned)
- United States of America
- North America
Vehicles:
- Train
Synopsis for "A Titan Rides the Train!"
Tales to Astonish #63
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!"
Tales to Astonish #64
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Chameleon (Appears on screen)
- Leader
- Leader's Humanoids
- Numerous unnamed Humanoids
Other Characters:
- Bruce Banner's Lawyer
- United States Secret Service
- Two unnamed members
- Lyndon B. Jonhson (Topical Reference)
- Avengers (Mentioned)
- United States Navy
- Two unnamed military personnel
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- North America
- United States of America
- New Mexico
- Leader's Hidden Laboratory
- Washington, D.C.
- Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia (Mentioned)
- Astra Island (First appearance)
- United States of America
- North America
Items:
- Avengers Identicard
- Absorbatron (First appearance)
Synopsis for "The Horde of Humanoids!"
Tales to Astonish #64
Appearing in "On the Rampage Against the Reds!"
Tales to Astonish #65
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- The Leader (Samuel Sterns)
- Leader's Humanoids
- Communists
- The Commandant
Other Characters:
- Professor Stromm (First appearance)
- United States Marines
- Unnamed scientist
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- North America
- Europe
- Unnamed communist nation
Items:
- Evapo-Ray Blaster (First appearance)
- Proton Gun (First appearance)
Synopsis for "On the Rampage Against the Reds!"
Tales to Astonish #65
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!"
Tales to Astonish #66
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Unnamed scientist
- General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross
- Glenn Talbot
- Betty Ross
Antagonists:
- Communists
- The Commandant
- The Commissar
- The Leader
- Leader's Humanoids
- Chameleon
Other Characters:
- Older Man
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- Europe
- Unnamed Communist country
- North America
- Atlantic Ocean (Mentioned in narration)
- Europe
Items:
Vehicles:
- Planes
Synopsis for "The Power of Doctor Banner!"
Tales to Astonish #66
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.Solicit Synopsis
Notes
- Cover art: letters (only bottom caption) by Kuramoto.