One of these things is not like the others – Tales to Astonish #73

I have a long history with the Hulk, probably longer than my relationship with any other comic character.  I was little when the wonderful – if unfaithful to “canon” – TV show was on, and, though I had to cover my eyes every time David “Don’t Call Me Bruce” Banner transformed into his green alter-ego, it was my favorite show.  I was such a devotee — on clear nights in my childhood home in northern New York I’d tune in to a Quebec station that broadcast a dubbed version of the show.  I remember I called it “French Hulk.” 

Ah, to be a kid again.

So I love picking up old Hulk comics like the one above.  Except there’s a problem.  Namor.  No offense to the ruler of Atlantis, but I can never seem to get interested in his adventures.  It could be because he’s always such an @$%hole.  Or it could be that the stories are just garbage that can’t even be salvaged by Gene Colan’s art.  I don’t know.

I won’t go into detail on the two stories in this particular issue, mainly because both are in midstream here.  Neither starts in this issue and neither ends in it.  Here’s the quick contrast, though — Hulk’s story has him tangling with and teaming with the Leader and ol’ Greenskin comes across the Watcher to boot, while Namor’s has him battling the Demon of the Diamonds.  Which of those two sounds more enjoyable?  I’ll let you guess which way I lean.

I suppose my preference could simply be a part of my anti-Namor bias.  Still, I can’t help the fact that whenever I buy a Tales to Astonish from this era, I know that half of it is going to be a bit of a buzzkill for me.

I’ll shut up now.  I wouldn’t want Namor to bellow “Imperius Rex!” and come after me.