Breaking News: Toad Men Attack Earth!Later: How To Stretch Your Dollar Further
Having recently caught up on my reading of new comics, I've been working my way through my pile of unread back issues (older comics that I'd bought over the past year or two in order to fill holes in the collection). I'd been looking forward to diving into Incredible Hulk # 2 (from July of 1962) for a while now, because it's an example of a dwindling species in my personal biosphere. There just aren't all that many Silver Age comics featuring mainstream superheroes that I haven't already read by this point, either in their original form or as reprints. The 2nd issue of this short-lived early Marvel Comics series falls into that category, though.
And it turned out to be a fun read. To begin with, artist Jack Kirby really knew how to make the Hulk look like a green-skinned Frankenstein's Monster back then, which I love. And then there's the goofy story, that goes about its business in an unashamed display of gusto. Marauding Toad Men, who announce themselves as being "from outer space" in an amusing Earth-centric bit of nonsense, arrive on Earth and use their magnetic superiority (!) to locate the planet's greatest mind. That turns out to be Bruce Banner, who's still getting used to the fact that - thanks to events in the previous issue - he turns into the savage and unpredictable Hulk ever time the sun goes down. The Toad Men grab up Banner and try to bully him into revealing Earth's military strengths and weaknesses, as the most obvious and straight-forward manner in which to aid them in their conquest of the planet (back when scientists and the military actually liked each other, I guess). Because they fly their ship up into space and go to the far side of the planet, though, darkness falls and Banner unexpectedly transforms into his green-skinned nemesis and the Hulk runs amok on the craft and its inhabitants.
After the ship crashes back down to Earth, Banner is found on-board (he's changed back by then) and, thanks to the Toad Men sneaking out when no one was looking, it's assumed that the good doctor is a traitor, planning to conquer his own civilization. Hilarity ensues, including scenes of the Toad Men pulling the Moon down toward the Earth while the U.S. Army continues to hunt for Banner (and the Hulk, who General "Thunderbolt" Ross is convinced must be in cahoots with the turncoat scientist). Eventually, though, Banner saves the day and has his named cleared... at least until next issue!
My favourite line in the book comes when Banner and teenage sidekick Rick Jones are trying to figure out how to defeat the Toad Men. Bruce realizes that perhaps his Gamma Ray Gun, which utilizes the Gamma Rays that have such unpredictable effects (like, turning him into the Hulk, for example?), might screw up the magnetic powers of the alien invaders. Upon hearing that revelation, young Jones says, "The Gamma Gun! Your invention! Yeah! Why didn't I think of that?" To which the reader can only respond, "Umm, because you're an idiot kid and Banner's the greatest mind on the planet?"
I definitely enjoyed this one every bit as much as I did the following issue in the series.
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