Issue(s): Hulk #151, Hulk #152, Hulk #153
Published Date: May-Jul 72
Title: "When monsters meet!" / "But who will judge the Hulk? / ...Defender of the doomed!" / "The world, my jury!"
Credits:
Archie Goodwin / Gary Friedrich - Writer
Roy Thomas - Scipt ("Extra dialogue") on #153
Herb Trimpe - Penciler (breakdowns on #153)
Dick Ayers - Finishes on #153
John Severin / Frank Giacoia - Inker

Review/plot:
Betty leaves with Glenn after Bruce tells her that he still has feelings for Jarella. Frustrated, Bruce turns into the Hulk and follows them, but realizes he's lost something when he sees them kissing.

While a US Senator conspires to steal the Hulk's blood in order to cure his cancer, Banner tries to contact Henry Pym in order to return to Jarella's world. Pym is unavailable, and the Senator turns into a big pile of gamma ooze.

Then, SHIELD and Captain America help Thunderbolt Ross capture the Hulk. There's tension between Cap and Fury, and it's a little over-the-top.

Banner asks Murdock to be his lawyer, and he says good bye to his 'friend' Natasha. The FF also hear about the capture and trial.

    

Judging by Natasha's eyes, looks like Murdock's blindness may be catching.

On the plane flight to his trial, Banner's sedatives wear off and he becomes the Hulk again. Murdock convinces the Hulk to stay calm...

...but General Ross blows it with some stupid comments. After a fight with the Fantastic Four and Daredevil(mainly won due to a Nega-Gamma Ray built by Mr. Fantastic)...

...the Hulk is re-captured and held at a special prison built at Stark Industries, to be put on trial.

J. Jonah Jameson and Peter Parker were covering the Hulk's transfer at the airport...

... and as Spider-man, Peter offers to help in the fight but is told to buzz off. Even though it's more of a gratuitous guest appearance, i like the way Spider-Man doesn't really get along with the other heroes.

While the trial goes on, Mr. Fantastic works on an improved Nega-Gamma device. Murdock calls the Avengers to the trial (a footnote says that Murdock can't call the Defenders because no one knows about them), and Iron Man testifies that Hulk worked with the Avengers just recently, a reference to Avengers #100. The prosecutor prevents the rest of the Avengers from testifying on the reasonable grounds that they have nothing to do with the case. Thor should at least have the decency to wear pants to a courtroom.

After the prosecution objects to having all the Avengers testify, Murdock takes the angle that the Hulk is too mentally incompetent to stand trial. He also makes the point that a trial where the defendant is bound and muzzled isn't exactly fair.

Then Reed enters the courtroom (through an air vent!)

and blasts the Hulk with his Nega-Gamma device...

...purportedly to turn the Hulk back into Banner, but it actually empowers the Hulk, allowing him to escape. Murdock muses out-loud next to Reed that he thinks Reed did it on purpose, but Reed doesn't answer.

The narrator asks if Reed knew what would happen next, as it shows the Hulk seemingly dying.

Iron Man and especially Mr. Fantastic's appearances are interesting in light of the Illuminati retcon. This would be one of Reed's earliest actions after the formation of the Illuminati, and here he is essentially taking the law into his own hands with regards to the Hulk. Amazingly the DA says that the law can't touch him, although i don't see why; he clearly broke into a court room and either tried to kill or free a prisoner who was on trial.

Richard Nixon, aka Secret Empire Agent Number One, seems to appear in the Hulk's book more than any other.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 3 - the trial of the Hulk

Chronological Placement Considerations: Captain America and Nick Fury are currently not on speaking terms, due to Fury thinking that Contessa Valentina Allegra De la Fontaine is cheating on him with Cap (a plotline that ran in Captain America from ~#145-153), resulting in some comical juvenile dialogue.

Daredevil mentions the fact that he has recently been tracking down Killgrave (the Purple Man), putting this between Daredevil #88-89.

Since both Cap and Iron Man (as Tony Stark) are shown earlier in this arc, but then they come late to the trial along with the rest of the Avengers, this must take place concurrently with Avengers #101.

References:

• Daredevil fought the Purple Man in Daredevil #88.
  
• The Avengers are late to show up at the trial due to the events of Avengers #101.
  
• The Hulk worked with the Avengers in Avengers #100.

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: Marvel Super Heroes #100, Marvel Super Heroes #101