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Tales to Astonish #73: Review

Nov 1965
Stan Lee, Bob Powell

Story Name:

Another World, Another Foe!

Review & Comments

Rating:
4 stars

Tales to Astonish #73 Review by (February 14, 2024)

Review: Hulk decides he can trust the Leader! So the Leader sends him out to rob the Watcher…but first he must fight another big strong guy who probably has his own comic book on his home world! The big question? Does he share that comic with another hero or does he have one all to himself? Only the comics distributors know for sure!

With Subby swimming about, fighting baddies in caves for the third time in three issues, and hanging around with electric eels, the quest is starting to get a bit dull so we switch to a group of citizens trying to overthrow Warlord Krang, which isn’t a lot more interesting, with some awkward layouts and nothing particularly creative going on. And on the last page, Namor decides to rescue the damsel in distress, showing he is aware of the cliches too.

Hulk story: Hulk’s strength increases. Hulk travels to another world for the first time.

Subby story: Part four of seven parts. Only appearance of the Demon of the Diamonds. Electric eels are native only to the Amazon River. Penciler Gene Colan credited as Adam Austin.






 

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Tales to Astonish #73 Synopsis by Julio Molina-Muscara
Weakened by an imminent metamorphosis, Hulk falls under the Humanoids'power. Fortunately, gamma rays irradiated by the Leader prevent the Hulk from turning into Bruce Banner, saving his life. 

In a lab, the Leader discovers the bullet in Hulk's brain, and dissolves it. Learning what his enemy has done, Hulk accepts to help the Leader.

The villain wants the Hulk to obtain a device called the Ultimate Machine which holds the knowledge of the whole universe. 

That device is in posession of a Watcher.

The Leader sends the Hulk to the far spot in the cosmos the machine is at. But when he tries to grab it, he's attacked by a powerful alien, Anphibious AKA Qnax, the Xanterean).

“By Force of Arms!” 3/5 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro.
Writer: Stan Lee. Pencils: Gene Colan. Inks: Vince Colletta. Colors: ? Letters: Artie Simek.

Synopsis: Hypnotized by the Diamonds of Doom, Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner is attacked by the Demon of the Diamonds, a sword-wielding tough. Namor rallies his strength and engages his enemy in combat. They struggle but when Namor is at his weakest and the Demon prepares to execute him, Subby is able to attract some electric eels to shock the Demon; Warlord Krang, watching via viewscreen, is again annoyed. The eels absorb the power of the diamonds, freeing Namor from their spell; the eels then speak in King Neptune, telling him there is one more test but he must find it for himself. The eels then remind him that Lady Dorma is the captive of the Faceless Ones. So Namor is torn between the quest which will enable him to regain his throne and saving the woman who loves him. Decisions, decisions….

Back in the city, the people have risen up against the usurper Krang, storming the palace. Krang activates his defenses, a laser barrier in one place, nerve-shock lights in another. And when a band of rebels reach the throne room, they are met by guards with blasters. Finally overpowering the guards, a small band reaches Krang who has one more surprise….

Namor makes his decision and heads off to rescue Dorma who waits to see if the Faceless Ones will shatter the plasti-cage, the only thing keeping her safe….




Preview Pages
Click sample interior pages to enlarge them:




Bob Powell
Mike Esposito
?
Stan Goldberg (Cover Colorist)
Layouts: Jack Kirby. Letterer: Art Simek.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Hulk
Hulk

(Bruce Banner)
Qnax
Qnax

(Qnax the Xanterean)
Watcher
Watcher

(Uatu)



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