The Hulk’s escape from the cliff’s plummet isn’t exactly a shocker—but what follows might catch readers off guard. He decides to head home, bounding from island to island across Asia and back to the American Southwest. Upon arriving, he reverts to Bruce Banner and is promptly discovered by General Ross and the military police, landing him under arrest.

Meanwhile, Major Talbot returns from Asia and meets with President Lyndon B. Johnson. As one of the few who knows Banner’s secret identity as the Hulk, the President orders Talbot to escort Bruce back to Astra Island to conduct further tests on the Absorbatron.

Unbeknownst to them, the Leader sets his own plans in motion. He deploys an army of humanoids, shrunken to microscopic size, to infiltrate Astra Island. Once there, these humanoids enlarge to full scale, leading to a climactic confrontation. As Banner and Talbot work on the Absorbatron, they are overrun. Talbot is quickly captured, but Banner transforms into the Hulk during the assault. The Leader—still keen on forming an alliance with the Hulk as Earth’s only other green-skinned powerhouse—orders his humanoids to capture him. With the help of sleeping gas, the Leader’s plan succeeds, leaving readers on a tantalizing cliffhanger.

Originality & Continuity

The narrative continues to build on established threads, with impressive momentum. The inclusion of President Johnson, who both knows Banner’s secret and works to protect it, adds a clever political twist that keeps the story grounded in continuity. He is able to rely on Banner’s expertise with the Absorbatron such that it justifies his continued involvement in the project, sidestepping legal consequences.

The ongoing tension between the Hulk and the Leader feels inevitable, and this chapter brings us tantalizingly close to the confrontation we’ve been waiting for. Even if our hero has yet to encounter his main adversary as of yet.

Characters & Development

The standout development in this issue is Rick Jones’s growing uncertainty about Bruce Banner. During a brief visit to Banner’s jail cell, Rick expresses hints of doubt, even wondering if Banner might be a spy. While this could easily be chalked up to misinterpretation or miscommunication, it adds an interesting layer of complexity to Rick’s character and his relationship with Banner.

Artwork & Story

Jack Kirby’s return to the Hulk is a welcome change, bringing the same dynamic energy that defined the character’s earlier adventures. His mastery of the Hulk’s raw power and the scale of the Absorbatron storyline is on full display, seamlessly blending action with the ongoing narrative.

The story itself, though a single chapter in a larger arc, is compelling and essential. Kirby and Stan Lee expertly weave together political intrigue, scientific experimentation, and the looming presence of the Leader to keep readers hooked.

While this issue is more of a “puzzle piece” than a standalone tale, it’s a vital installment in the saga. The stakes continue to rise, and the groundwork is firmly laid for the long-awaited clash between the Hulk and the Leader.