The villain origins retrospective doesn’t include Spider-Man villains because by they’re typically already introduced in a version closely resembling their classic version, so it would take the fun out of checking out their first story.
There is, however, one exception…
TALES TO ASTONISH #81 (1966)
script by Stan Lee
layouts by Jack Kirby
pencils by Bill Everett
cover by Jack Kirby
I keep forgetting that Boomerang debuted as a Hulk villain: for some reason I keep thinking this is a different one. But nope, this is the same… although mercifully he’ll get a better costume.
Hulk’s serial in “Tales to Astonish” is VERY serialized, so I necessarily have to skip a lot of stuff in order to focus on Boomerang.
But it’s also the first appearance of the Secret Empire, the terrorist organization also known as “We Couldn’t Afford Hydra” and apparently “Secret Emipe” according to the dialogue.
Behold the incredibly advanced technology of the Secret Empire!
We are introduced to Boomerang, who used to be a rather famous baseball player but now is secretly a supervillain.
Boomerang being something of a ladies man will be brought up years later, but it’s rather weird to see him in such a high class environment since he’ll be shown to be quite a slob.
Boomerang has never had a costume I would define “great”, but his first one is one of the worst Marvel costumes I’ve ever seen.
Also: if your codename is Boomerang, shouldn’t you use boomerangs as weapons!?
Still, I have to give him props: not everyone can make “throwing around little metal disks” look cool and threatening, but it kind of works here.
Boomerang ends up kidnapping the Hulk’s love interest Betty Ross, because of course he does.
At least he DOES use boomerangs too!
One of the things I’ve never really understood is why Boomerang can fly. I mean I know he has jet boots but… why give him that? Doesn’t seem to have anything to do with his theme.
He doesn’t even meet the Hulk in this issue, because the main plot is about Hulk in the middle of a fight between Mole Man and Tyrannus.
This issue has a rather interesting letter that raises a few legitimate problems with Thunderbolt Ross.
Interestingly, the letters page is NOT present in the digital version of the comic on Marvel Unlimited. It’s not always a guarantee to find the letters page in those versions, especially for older issues, but still…
TALES TO ASTONISH #82 (1966)
script by Stan Lee
layouts by Jack Kirby
pencils by Bill Everett
The Hulk story is not on the cover. Now he’s done with Tyrannus, and once he’s back he’s immediately targeted by the Army. Keeping in theme with the letters page, here’s the reaction from General Ross.
Boomerang’s mission was to steal the Orion Missile, but now that he has taken Betty hostage now he has an insurmountable advantage over the “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hydra” guys.
You know, the Secret Empire might actually be really dangerous if they didn’t spend the whole time assassinating each other.
And now the fight nobody asked for: Boomerang versus the Hulk!
Boomerang realizes he can’t escape the Hulk forever, so the only solution is apparently fight THE HULK one-on-one.
You WOULD expect Boomerang to be completely outclassed, but he actually holds his own!!!
Those boomerangs pack some serious punch!!!
However this is still THE HULK we’re talking about, so this barely slows him down.
Boomerang, displaying his smartest action so far… just lets Betty go.
Well that was anticlimactic.
As I said this title is very serialized: basically every story bleeds into the following one.
I wish they brought back the “Hulkinued next ish!” slogan.
TALES TO ASTONISH #83 (1966)
script by Stan Lee
layouts by Jack Kirby
pencils by Bill Everett
The series has two running serials that never interact: the Hulk and Namor (the latter with Jack Kirby pencils). It’s completely unrelated to the review, but I have to mention that the Secret Empire is ALSO the threat behind some Namor plots… so at least Discount Hydra was being pushed as a bigger threat.
Something else that has nothing to do with Boomerang but is worth mentioning: this issue has a nice scene where Betty gets to interact with the Hulk.
This is probably a major inspiration from “Hulk: Grey”, which in turn inspired a scene in the 2008 Incredible Hulk movie.
Boomerang still wants to finish his job, despite no longer having the trust of Colorblind Hydra,
This is HILARIOUS considering his future career as a third rate Spider-Man villain.
Still, his logic DOES make sense.
Seriously, will you guys STOP MURDERING EACH OTHER!?!?
While Boomerang slips into the army base to steal the missile, the Hulk is pulling a Hulk against the Army.
Feels like the hundredth time we’ve seen the Hulk fight the Army, but this moment has a bit of significance since it’s when Betty FINALLY figures out he’s Bruce Banner.
TALES TO ASTONISH #84 (1966)
script by Stan Lee
pencils by Jack Kirby, Bill Everett & Gene Colan
The actual credits mention “almost the whole blamed bullpen” for the art.
That’s because this is a crossover of sorts between the Hulk and the Namor serials, facilitated by the Hulk going around New York with a… questionable disguise.
The Hulk goes to the movies (!!!!) where he catches a newsreel about his own story (!!!!), specifically about Boomerang attempting to steal the missile.
Boomerang wasn’t even defeated by the Hulk… but his regular antagonist Major Talbot.
Well that was anticlimactic. Again.
I said this was a crossover “of sorts” between Hulk and Namor, because despite the fact they both showed up at the same movie theater they don’t even meet each other.
At least we got to witness the Hulk going undercover.
Boomerang doesn’t show up in #85, but I absolutely HAVE to mention that it’s the story where the leader of the Secret Empire dies… because he gets his robe stuck in a door when he’s trying to escape from an explosion.
Specifically, an explosion HE SET UP.
What a dumbass.
TALES TO ASTONISH #86 (1966)
script by Stan Lee & John Buscema
Boomerang skips issue #85, but he’s back for #86… and he’s already past his prime.
So he decides that he’s going to fight THE HULK regardless.
It’s not often we get to see the Hulk fight someone dumber than him, so that’s new.
TALES TO ASTONISH #87 (1967)
script by Stan Lee & John Buscema
Boomerang isn’t the main villain AGAIN, since the Hulk is mostly busy with an android sent by the Leader.
Boomerang shows up in his second costume, which is only slightly less awful than the first.
Well what do you know, MAYBE Boomerang is not as dumb as the Hulk.
TALES TO ASTONISH #88 (1967)
script by Stan Lee & Gil Kane
Or maybe he IS dumb, because instead of just attacking Bruce Banner he sets off the Hulk by throwing a bomb on his butt!!!
Yes Boomerang, now that people don’t like the Hulk he’s a better target because… uhm… you DO know that he’s still THE HULK, right!?
The catchphrase is that he gets stronger the madder he gets, not the most loved he gets!!!
Nice going, Boomerang.
Boomerang’s last hope is blowing up the nearest dam…
…which is, of course, completely useless.
This ends up being Boomerang’s undoing, because the Hulk is transforming into Banner and can’t save his life: the story ends with Boomerang seemingly falling to his death.
Boomerang wouldn’t show up again until 1976, on the pages of Iron Fist of all places.
That’s where he gets his classic costume (thanks to some gorgeous John Byrne artwork)…
…and his main gimmick of having trick boomerangs with ridiculous names.
He will keep the exploding boomerangs, he super-sharp razorangs and the sonic screamarangs… but sadly this is the only time he uses the giant rocketrang that sends his foes into the stratosphere.
Probably because he got a lawsuit from Captain Boomerang.
Historical significance: 3/10
Boomerang is not exactly the most important Marvel villain, and neither is the Secret Empire. While I joked about their first appearance, they actually do have a couple of very solid runs.
Silver Age-ness: 8/10
It was fairly low until we got to the Hulk in disguise!!!
Does it stand the test of time? 4/10
The early part of the Hulk serial on “Tales To Astonish” is criminally underrated, but by this point the series had become seriously disjointed. It’s also weirdly decompressed for 1966, with some issues barely progressing the story.
The Hulk being basically a spectator and a pawn between other people’s plans is a staple of the character, but he typically has something to add. But we’re firmly in the “dumb Hulk fights everyone” phase.
How close is this to the modern character? 3/10
Oh boy. He doesn’t have his main gimmick and his personality is all over the place, ending up rather generic here. He would remain a rather low-level Spider-Man villain for decade, with his most prominent role being as a member of the Sinister Syndicate.
But from 2013 he got the spotlight as part of the critically acclaimed “Superior Foes of Spider-Man” series, where we also get a clarification on his past… since over the years he sometimes randomly started speaking with an Australian accent: he was just born there but raised in the US.
The first issue has a hilarious callback to his recruitment by the Secret Empire.
It’s also the series where he gets his best costume. I’m very fond of the classic Byrne one, since it’s how I first saw him and I haven’t read most of the more modern stories… but I have to admit it’s a FAR better costume.
DEFINITELY check out that series. Highly recommended if you’re a Spider-Man fan.
The entire 17 issue series is actually narrated by Boomerang to a guy he meets at a bar.
While I haven’t read any Boomerang stories after this one, apparently he later became Peter Parker’s roommate…
…and as of 2021 he’s dead after saving his life.
I’m sure he’ll be back eventually. After all:
I love that the Hulk goes to a movie theater and watches the end of his own story several years before Blazing Saddles did the same thing. The difference is, Mel Brooks knew the idea was funny, while there’s no indication that Stan Lee did.
It’s also possibly the first time I’ve seen a comic book where the disguise of “let’s wear a coat and a hat” doesn’t work on a non-human character.
I’ve seen the Thing, Beast, Rhino and the Metal Men (just to name a few) walk around wearing that kind of disguise without anyone saying anything, but the Hulk is caught almost immediately.
He still goes to the theater and nobody stops him because, well, he’s the Hulk. But I don’t think Stan wanted that scene be taken 100% seriously.
Stan did once have the Hulk cleverly disguise himself as a robot clown, and the rubes bought it (AVENGERS #1).
Or was that Jack Kirby’s idea?