Mighty Marvel Masterworks - The Incredible Hulk Volume 2: The Lair of the Leader

 

Continuing with my random purchases of these reissues, I picked up volume two of this series with the rampaging Hulk encountering the green-skinned, gamma-ray-charged genius simply named The Leader in a multi-art series leading our green-skinned hero throughout the world and even the universe, thanks to the Leader's intellect! 

Starting off with an issue of Tales to Astonish with Giant-Man trying to recruit the Hulk, we then move onto the Hulk's series in the same title, with the Chameleon - working with the Leader - attempting to steal one of Bruce Banner's most powerful robotic inventions, only to be foiled by the Hulk. The Leader then shows himself in his attempt to steal another of Banner's inventions, that leads to many a convoluted storylines that moves from Communist China to the other side of the universe!

It seems that Stan Lee was throwing everything that he could into these tales just to see what would stick, from the Hulk being almost brainless to retaining Banner intellect (to a point) to Commies to evil geniuses who want to take over the world! Absolute wacky fun that demands a thorough suspension of disbelief, but that's all part of the fun of comics, innit?

I'm sure I'll continue in the series as I come across them - always good clean fun from the Marvel bullpen!