AVENGERS #88 and HULK #140 (1971): 1st Jarella

Check out the writer of this, part one of a two parter continued in The Hulk.  Not surprisingly, this is one of the more interesting issues of this era.  Harlan Ellison returned to write some later issues, particularly one about chess…Which we’ll read about soon.

Anyway, The Avengers tale is just good.  First appearance of Psyklop.

The greatness comes in the pages of Hulk, where we meet Jarella.

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I’m sure many people forget that Hulk’s first love, Jarella, was created by science fiction writer Harlan Ellison.

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And yes, I mean his first love: Betty Ross was Bruce Banner’s love, which Hulk felt as a result of his connection to Banner.  Jarella was all into the Hulk and only the Hulk.

This was such a great comic.  Hulk approaches Jarella’s homeworld hearing people screaming, which of course he knows all too well.  But as he gets closer he can tell they are actually cheering for him.

And we see a big broad smile slowly cross his face.

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Some of Herb Trimpe’s best work.

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This was also the first time we got to see “smart” Hulk.

It’s hardbreaking that in the end, it’s all ruined. Literally.

All in all, supercool.

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