The Incredible Hulk: Issue by Issue
The Incredible Hulk #3, Sept 1962
"Banished to Outer Space"
by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
- Bruce has been having Rick lock him in a cave at night.
- It's never too soon for some angst, as Rick worries about what would result if something were to happen to him and Bruce were to be trapped, to which Bruce replies: "Better for me to suffocate in there as Bruce Banner, than to escape and menace the world as -- the Hulk!"
- Rick Jones gets hassled by some soldiers when returning to Bruce's cottage; one asks if he's Rick Jones. "Yeah! What's it to you, Napoleon!" he snaps back.
- I love that Rick isn't afraid of four older armed soldiers.
- They have orders to bring Rick to General Ross, who thinks Rick can lead them to the Hulk.
- Ha! Rick's not afraid of Ross either: "Cool it, mister! Nothin' can make me rat on the Hulk!" Totally pimp.
- Ross tells Rick that in the "interest of national security" they want the Hulk to ride some special rocket. Rick, wanting to aid his country, agrees to betray the Hulk and lure him onto the rocket.
- Poor Rick gets duped: it was all a ploy to be rid of the Hulk.
- Hulk changes back to Bruce, who is understandly all, "WTF, where am I?"
- Rick realizes he was tricked and secretly messes with the base controls to bring the pod containing the Hulk back to Earth
- But while in space Banner was bombarded with more radiation and now he's remaining the Hulk during the day.
- Rick's tinkering also resulted in some Typical Silver Age Bullshit Science radiation surge that mentally links Rick and the Hulk, so the Hulk now obeys Rick's orders.
- Rick brilliantly utilizes this newfound power to have Hulk give him a shoulder ride back to his cabin.
- Speaking of which, what is Rick's living situation? He said he's an orphan. Is he underaged? Does he have a guardian?
- When Rick falls asleap his control over the Hulk ceases and the Hulk goes on a rampage. Rick gets the Hulk to stop and tells him, "Get outta here! Fast!"
- Hulk snatches up Rick and begins leaping to safety.
- Really big leaps.
- He'll become quite good at leaping in later issues.
- Rick gets Hulk locked back in the cave but fears to fall asleap, worrying the Hulk (who's increased in strength since the rocket incident) could break down the door.
- Our story shifts gears to a Travelling Circus of Crime, whose Ringmaster hypnotizes the audiences of locals while his fellow carnies rob them and their downtown shops blind.
- I realize that these are clearly Villainous Acts, but I can't help but enjoy the antics of gymnasts forming human pyramids to reach high windows so valuables can be passed to them and a woman riding off with a fur coat on a unicycle. Seriously, how come these folks never got a comic?
- Rick Jones leaves the Hulk alone and visits his Aunt Polly in order to "wash up" and get some food.
- Polly says it's been a while since she's seen Rick, so I'm thinking that Rick lives alone in his cottage.
- While in town Rick can't resist the lure of attending the circus.
- Come on, Rick! Where are your priorities!
- When the Ringmaster starts to put his shabang on the audience, Rick mentally sends a distress call to the Hulk.
- Hulk comes to rescue Rick, but the carnies take Hulk down, in large part because Rick is now fully hypnotized and can't give new orders.
- The Ringmaster decides to incorporate Hulk into the circus...This will not end well.
- Ha! Carnies get busted by the FBI. When Ricks snaps out of it, so does the Hulk. Hulk is pissed.
- The Ringmaster makes for an escape on a horse-drawn chariot: "By the time anyone knows what happened, I'll be in another town, in another disguise, and they'll never find me!"
- Yeah, a high speed chase across the desert doing 2 horse-speed, you really have a good chance there, pal.
- Not that I think the FBI needed much help with Ben Hur here, but Hulk does his part by smashing the Ringmaster off his chariot with a pole.
- Soldiers suddenly storm the tent, seeking the Hulk.
- Rick commands the Hulk to leap away, and, riding on the back of the Hulk like Atrayu on Falcor, Rick soars off into the sunset on the leaping Hulk.
- I really liked this story. The Rick-Mind-Controls-the-Hulk bit is gimmicky, but the kid in me still thinks it's mighty fun.