So I was planning the story for HULK #417 and 418, and I wanted to have the Hulk battle one of the Skrulls who showed up for Rick and Marlo’s wedding. But I wanted it to be a fight atypical of such dust-ups.
Then I hit upon the idea of having it be a Skrull who could not shapeshift because of a genetic disorder. I figured a guy like that would be seen as a weakling, endlessly tormented. And what I reasoned was that it would give him incentive to be the most badass Skrull in the empire, a gladiator of unequaled skill. His name would be Talos and he would pick up the nickname “Talos the Untamed.” But when he was captured by the Kree during the Kree/Skrull war, he would refuse to commit suicide as honor demanded. Consequently he was disgraced and referred to as Talos the Tamed.
In #418 he wound up battling the Hulk, figuring the big guy would kill him so that he could die nobly in combat. But when the Hulk realized what he wanted, he dropped to his knees and begged him to stop the fight. Talos was so disgusted by the Hulk’s pleading that he decided the Hulk wasn’t worth the combat. But when he transported back to his ship, all the other Skrulls were extremely impressed over his handling of the formidable Hulk and so he took a huge step back in regaining his honor.
It was easily the most unpopular issue of Hulk I ever wrote. Fans were revolted by the idea of the Hulk surrendering under any circumstance, even though the Hulk had no stake in the fight and didn’t care who won or lost. As far as the fans were concerned, only the Hulk beating Talos into a pile of mulch was an acceptable ending. I shrugged. Can’t win ’em all.
But apparently Talos remained popular, and now it turns out he’s going to be one of the main villains in the upcoming “Captain Marvel” movie. Which means action figures, and maybe t-shirts. And you know I’ll be watching the end credits to see if my name is in there, ’cause if it’s not I will be VERY disappointed.
Oh God, don’t let the movie tank. Otherwise I’ll feel it’s my fault; the first Marvel movie not to do well. Because it featured a Peter David creation as the villain.
PAD
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First, I’ve always loved issue 419, the Talos issue (though by default it stands in the shadow of Rick’s bachelor party and one of the best wedding issues ever produced). It’s a great example of that then-new smart Hulk was different by virtue of using his brain instead of his brawn. But, as the kids say, haters gonna hate, I suppose.
Second, congratulations on Talos’ newfound celluloid success. Even tamed, he’ll do you proud!
May The Force be with Talos {Wink} and may he be a worthy adversary for Captain Marvel.
Wha????
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That was seriously the overwhelming response to that issue? I loved it. It showed that the merged Hulk could tap into the aspects of himself that were once Banner even in the heat of a fight, even when it meant “winning” a fight by appearing to lose. During that phase of the Hulk’s evolution, it was cool seeing him use his intellect to not only resolve the issue, but to help Talos save face.
This was in the days before emails. I read all the letters we got in for every issue, and I remember seeing absolutely no positive letters. If there were, we doubtlessly ran them in a subsequent lettercol, but all I recall was the mass of invective. I mean, we got a LOT.
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PAD
I always liked the ending of that fight. And judging from the posts above mine I’m not the only one. I guess that those who dislike something will always be more vocal than those who like it. I honestly don’t remember the negative reaction, but that was 20+ years ago already.
Anyway, congrats in having Talos in the movie! I hope it’s a hit, and that it also translates into some extra money for you.
Best wishes and Shana Tova!
Raphy
You know, I don’t know if I’ll get money or not. I wrote to Marvel and asked.
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PAD
PAD, for what it’s worth I am the biggest MCU fan in my circle of friends by far, but even people I know that don’t care about the rest are excited to see “Captain Marvel”.
Anecdotal, of course, but positive.
Man I loved that issue. but it had the advantage of coming during whit i consider to be your career best run of issues (the wedding and the bachelor party, obviously, but ALL of the Pantheon era Hulk were just fantastic. Having Gary Frank on board didn’t hurt either.)
I sincerely wish you all the royalties. ALL of them.
I remember that issue. Roger Cruz fill-in and it had Betty taking Bruce back. Those were the best parts. I wasn’t angry about the Hulk pretending to lose. It’s not like it was the first fight the Hulk had talked himself out instead of using his fists. I remember the Hulk jimney-cricketing the Abomination. I hope people didn’t complain about that. Good issue despite being trapped in crossover hëll…
I know it’s outside your writing, but I have a feeling that if they didn’t like a smart Hulk “losing” in order to win, the same people probably also hated the Hulk beating the Abomination only through coaching from a fifteen-year-old Squirrel Girl.
As for getting any money out of the movie, I’d remember Len Wein and Wolverine.
PADguy wrote: “It was easily the most unpopular issue of Hulk I ever wrote.”
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Really? With the Crazy Eight/Death Penalty and Jim Wilson/AIDS story-lines in contention? I am only being half-snarky since I vaguely recall both of those issues being rather hot-button issues.
They were hot button but didn’t compare to the pure hatred for Hulk 418.