Issue(s): Hulk #154
Cover Date: Aug 72
Title: "Hell is a very small Hulk!"
Credits:
Archie Goodwin - Writer
Herb Trimpe - Penciler
John Severin - Inker

Review/plot:
Even though the end of last issue implied that the Hulk was dead, this issue starts with him wandering around in the suburbs of Long Island. He's looking for Henry Pym, who he dimly remembers might be able to help him shrink back into Jarella's world. The Hulk finds "Pym" in his lab but it turns out to really be the Chameleon...

...who was working for Hydra to steal some of Pym's documents. After the Hulk drinks a shrinking potion, the Chameleon captures him and brings him to Hydra.

Meanwhile, Henry and Janet are driving home when their car's dashboard signal begins flashing. Pym, who is driving (unless they have a European car from Ireland or the UK), asks to be let out so that he can fly home on a winged ant. Which of course is much faster than driving. The Wasp, um, well, i guess whenever an alarm goes off she goes to the mall, because she is not seen again for the rest of the issue.

As Ant-Man, Pym traces the Chameleon back to Hydra...

...and he and a tiny Hulk fight AIM and stop them from releasing the Virus 9 formula that Pym has been working on. I love the mini-Hulk's punch to the face assault on the Chameleon.

Then the Hulk turns back into Banner and shrinks into the microverse just as the Chameleon steps on him. Pym thinks that the Chameleon has murdered Banner and defeats the Chameleon by tripping him with a power chord.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place "only days before" Pym's new series begins in Marvel Feature #4.

References:

• Jarella returned to her world in Hulk #148
  
• Pym helped the Fantastic Four shrink themselves into "a" microverse in Fantastic Four #16.
  
• The Chameleon... "This master of disguise and deception made life miserable for our purple-pantsed powerhouse way back in Tales To Astonish #62. Recently, he appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #80 - Stan"
  
• Special Note: This tale of tiny titans occurred only days before the epoch-making events in Marvel Feature #4 - the start of Ant-Man's own series! - Stan"
  
• The Hulk brought Hydra disaster in a previous endeavor in Hulk #132. You'd think when the Chameleon brought them the (tiny) Hulk this time they'd just throw him out a window or something; he's too dangerous to mess with and wasn't part of their initial plan.
  
• A Hydra agent says Hydra's plan here relies on the fact that the world has been lulled by "the seeming debacle we suffered in America's west" in Captain America #147-148. Uh-huh. You keep telling yourselves that, guys. After 40 years of lulling the world, when are you actually going to accomplish something?

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Marvel Super Heroes #102

Um, Europeans drive on the same side of the road as americans.

But aren't the steering wheels on the opposite side? That was the case when i visited Ireland, anyway. Regardless, the (minor) point is that by the art, Henry Pym is driving the car, and yet he's the one asking to be let out.

Only in Ireland and Great Britain. The continent of Europe drives on the right with the driver on the left just like in your US of A.

I know its just for a joke. I just thought you might want to change the line from a European car to a British car to make the joke actually work.

again, not being critical. just having fun reading your commentaries

Fine fine fine! My lame joke has been updated! ;-)

The TTA#62 entry in the update links to this page.

Fixed it. Thanks.