This issue kicks off with the Hulk facing a horde of humanoids — the Leader’s sinister machines. At the same time, armed marines storm the beach, tasked with taking out the Hulk. Things quickly escalate as the chaos causes a cliffside to give way, plunging the Hulk and the humanoids into the ocean. Using his powerful legs, the Hulk swims away before reverting to Bruce Banner.

This leads directly to Bruce Banner being discovered and captured by a Soviet submarine. U.S. spy planes witness the incident and mistakenly assume Banner is defecting. From here, the Soviets try to coerce Dr. Banner into working for them, but things take a predictable turn when he transforms back into the Hulk. Reinforcements are called in to subdue him. Ultimately, the story concludes with Hulk befriending a fellow captive scientist who aids him with his injured arm.

Story

This tale advances the ongoing narrative with a twist-laden plot that keeps the action engaging. Rather than pitting the Hulk against U.S. forces and the seemingly formidable humanoids, the story creatively swerves to focus on a Soviet threat, setting the stage for the next phase of this ongoing narrative. The storytelling feels very much in line with the mid-1960s comic book style, complete with larger-than-life antagonists and cliffhanger endings that promise more action in the next issue.

Characters & Development

Character development in this issue is minimal. The perception of the Hulk by others remains largely unchanged, and Bruce Banner himself is given little room to grow. Perhaps the most intriguing moment comes from the Leader’s strategic insight, exemplified in this quote:

Perhaps if I could find a way to capture Dr. Banner.!! He may hold the key to the hulk’s secret… for wherever one appears… the other is never far away!”

This line highlights the Leader’s genius intellect, reinforcing his status as a formidable foe. While it’s not a groundbreaking revelation, it’s a strong reminder of what makes the Leader a compelling adversary.

Originality & Continuity

The continuity of this ongoing series remains a strong point. Each issue seamlessly leads into the next, creating a serialized narrative that feels cohesive while keeping the story fresh. The frequent plot twists, while occasionally contrived, effectively maintain suspense and give the Hulk opportunities to escape seemingly impossible situations. This serialized, arc-based storytelling style is clearly gaining traction in other series marvel was releasing at this point in time as well (see the start of one in both the Thor story and Doctor Strange story with cover dates of Mar. 1965).

Artwork

The artwork in this issue is its weakest aspect. Many panels fall short of expectations for this era, lacking the polish or dynamism one might hope for. That said, I encourage you to judge for yourself — not just based on what I’ve shared here, but by reading the comic firsthand. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the visuals as well as anything else about this story.