Issue(s): Hulk #166
Cover Date: Aug 73
Title: "The destroyer from the dynamo!"
Credits:
Steve Englehart - Writer
Herb Trimpe - Penciler
Sal Trapani - Inker

Review/plot:
Herb Trimpe's art is sometimes quite good.

This is the first appearance of Zzzax, although the cover bills him as "It, the thing from the dynamo".

Zzzax is formed when some no good hippie radicals blow up a power station.

The incident draws the attention of Hawkeye, who is looking to make a name for himself outside of the Avengers. But the Hulk is already on the scene, and steals the show and gets the credit for Hawkeye's win.

    

    

The reason the Hulk is in New York is because he's trying to return to Dr. Strange, although it's not quite clear why: "Somehow, Hulk knew Dr. Strange was here -- stupid magician that always makes fun of Hulk. Gave Hulk someplace to head for -- but now that Hulk is here, he feels nothing any more." A further explanation says that the Hulk was following Strange's residual emanations, but he's no longer in the city.

Trimpe's art is kind of inconsistent, but he does have his moments. At his best his art has a "more Kirby than Kirby" quality. Zzzax is kind of an ill-defined blob of electricity, which doesn't always come off looking that great. His child-like but evil dialogue is a good contrast for the Hulk, and while he was originally intended as a one-off, reader reaction was positive enough to make him a minor recurring villain.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 4 - first Zzzax

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place while Dr. Strange is away from New York in his Marvel Premiere solo book, during the Shuma-Gorath. Continues directly in Defenders #7. The events here are also referenced as happening concurrently in Avengers #114.

References:

• Hawkeye quit the Avengers in Avengers #109
  
• It was shown in Marvel Feature #1 that the Hulk can sense magic.
  
• "The Incredible Hulk & Hawkeye continue their conflict in The Defenders #7, on sale now!".

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

One thing I notice about Engelhart's Hulk run is that the monsters he creates just flat out kill people, often lots of them (as Zzzax does in this story). A sign of the times, perhaps?

Zzzax is a good foe for the Hulk because the Hulk's strength doesn't make a difference. It was pretty funny to see Hawk-eye get a clear win then the Hulk, hero of the book, get the (unwanted) credit.