Random Happenstance

Just getting up from a frankly spectacular nap; so to wake up a bit let's flip through this one: from 1974, Marvel Super-Heroes #42, reprinting (most of) 1967's Tales to Astonish #87, "Moment of Truth" Written by Stan Lee, art by Bill Everett (with, per the GCD, a bunch of corrections) and "The Humanoid and the Hero!" Written by Stan Lee, pencils by John Buscema, inks by Mike Esposito.

In the Sub-Mariner opener, Namor faces off against his traitorous warlord Krang: Krang knew he was no match for Namor by himself, so he is allowed to "be adorned with whatever your villainous limbs can carry!" He thinks Namor's ego could undo him, but Namor is able to back his words, and demolishes Krang over the course of three pages. (There may have been a cut page or two in this reprint.) Lady Dorma is cleared of seemingly betraying her king, and a grateful Namor acknowledges her as a peer.

In the Hulk feature, the army was using a rubber-like "Hulk-killer" humanoid built by the believed-dead Leader, to kill the Hulk for attempting to destroy New York with a missile. Of course, the Hulk had been trying to stop the missile, and when the authorities in Florida confirm that, they call Glenn Talbot. Who, to his credit, only agonizes for a moment over saving Banner and ruining his chances with Betty. This is the second time we've seen Talbot try to do the right thing, although I'm pretty sure by his end he, like General Ross, had gone foam-at-the-mouth full Ahab. Hulk has to switch to Banner and back a couple times here, since he needs Banner's smarts to build something to disable the humanoid, but the Hulk is the one who nearly gets electrocuted in the doing.

Also this issue: the return of Boomerang! In a completely unrecognizable costume, with a lot of not-boomerangs! He was more of a classic, gimmicky villain back then; as opposed to the cheerful lout he would become; but I know his boot jets stuck around a long time, anyway.