Issue(s): Hulk #261
Cover Date: Jul 81
Title: "Encounter on Easter Island!"
Credits:
Bill Mantlo - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Sal Buscema - Inker

Review/plot:
The Hulk's World Tour is coming to a close. The Hulk lands on Easter Island...

...where the Absorbing Man has managed to pull himself together after seemingly killing himself by transforming to water while in the ocean after his last fight with the Avengers. The situation has made him a little nutty though, and he's gotten paranoid about super-heroes.

His fight with the Hulk ends with him becoming a giant comatose island!

It's confirmed this issue that Glenn Talbot died, and it's given a little more prominence as Betty reflects on the death of her ex-husband.

Mantlo overdoes the Absorbing Man's paranoia; it's overt and over-the-top from the start when it could have been developed more slowly and believably. But i like a nice Hulk/Absorbing Man fight, and Sal Buscema delivers.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Hulk World Tour!

References:

• The Absorbing Man seemingly killed himself in Avengers #183.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Wonder who would have made a good supporting act for the Hulk World Tour? Probably not Thin Lizzy. Phil Lynott & Co.were known to get into a few post-show scraps, especially when they got deep into the barley and grape (Hulk vs. T. Lizzy with art by frequent Lizzy cover artist Jim Fitzpatrick would've been damn cool!). Plus, Ireland's finest rock band (sorry, U2) were a force to be reckoned with on stage (as the seminal "Live and Dangerous" attests to). "Hulk will not be upstaged!"

The issue with an opening act Bri is that it should compliment the headliner! Phil would have understandably gotten frustrated with the Hulk trashing each tour stop!