| Glenn Talbot | |
|---|---|
 Glenn Talbot | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Tales to Astonish #61 (November 1964) |
| Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Steve Ditko (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Glenn Talbot |
| Species | Human |
| Place of origin | Earth |
| Team affiliations | United States Air Force United States Army Hydra |
Major (laterColonel)Glenn Talbot is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerStan Lee and artistSteve Ditko, he first appeared inTales to Astonish #61 (November 1964).[1]
He is a close compatriot to GeneralThaddeus Ross and an active participant in his operations to capture or kill theHulk. His most significant blow is discovering and informing his superiors that Bruce Banner physically transformed into the Hulk, which made the scientist a wanted fugitive. Initially, Talbot was consistently portrayed as a courageous, resourceful, and fiercely patriotic man who puts the good of his country before all else. He is romantically attracted toBetty Ross, who is in love with Bruce Banner, which adds fuel to his enmity for the Hulk. Though Talbot was mostly used as a romantic rival and general adversary for Banner, the two sometimes worked together to battle greater menaces. Eventually, the character came to be portrayed as unsympathetic in his obsession with destroying the Hulk, and was embittered by the failure of his relationship with Betty Ross.
The character has appeared in various media adaptations, including novels, video games, animated films and TV series. In the 2003 filmHulk, he was portrayed byJosh Lucas, whileAdrian Pasdar portrayed him in theMarvel Cinematic Universetelevision seriesAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D. In the latter series, he is an adversary and later begrudging ally toS.H.I.E.L.D. before becoming the show's version ofGraviton.
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Glenn Talbot was created byStan Lee andSteve Ditko in 1964 and first appeared inTales to Astonish #61. He was a key character in the series' long-runningstory arc in which Bruce Banner/Hulk is suspected of being acommunist traitor, and remained a part of the Hulk's supporting cast long afterTales to Astonish had been renamedThe Incredible Hulk.
Glenn Talbot was a career military man. WhenThunderbolt Ross contactsthe Pentagon to investigate Bruce Banner, Talbot is put in charge of reviewing whether or not such an investigation is merited. After two weeks studying records of Banner's career, Talbot concludes that Ross' suspicions that Banner is a traitor are well-founded, and reports this to the Pentagon. The Pentagon responds by appointing Talbot security chief forGamma Base, where Ross is the commanding officer. While reporting for duty to Ross, Talbot meets Ross's daughterBetty Ross, who is in love with Banner. He is immediately attracted to her and tries to court her without losing focus on his investigation of Banner. General Ross encourages this, as he objects to Betty's love for Banner all together, whether he was a traitor or not, because he feels that Banner is too timid emotionally and physically. Ross believes that Talbot, a military man like himself, would be a much better suitor for his daughter.[2]
Talbot's suspicions of Banner are heightened when, upon Talbot's arrival at the base, the scientist mysteriously goes missing in the hills nearby.[3] Further suspicious circumstances follow, including Banner disappearing behind theIron Curtain for a time, but proof that Banner is a traitor continues to elude Talbot.[4] However, when Banner disappears with the vital Absorbatron, orders are given to shoot him on sight, and the scientist is killed by a soldier.[5] Talbot is retained as the base's security chief, and he and Ross continue to pursue the Hulk until he, too, is seemingly killed by a barrage of nuclear weapons.[6] At Talbot's suggestion, the Hulk's frequent companionRick Jones is taken into custody to pressure him into revealing the connection between Banner and the Hulk. When Jones still refuses to talk, he is set free, and Talbot confronts him privately. Persuaded in part by the fact that the Hulk is seemingly dead, Jones confesses to Talbot that Banner and the Hulk were one and the same. Talbot realizes that Banner being the Hulk explains all his past suspicious behavior, and subsequently informs his superiors.[7]
Subsequently, the Hulk is found still alive, and is captured using a plan devised and orchestrated by Talbot. The creature is subsequently freed by the traitor Dr. Konrad Zaxon,[8] and Talbot twice fails to prevent Betty from being abducted by supervillains.[9] However, he redeems himself by facing downBoomerang, preventing the villain from stealing the army's new Orion Missile despite a shrapnel wound. He is awarded one of the nation's highest honors for his heroism on this occasion.[10] Despite this, he is unable to convince Betty to relinquish her feelings for Banner, and he continually hopes that the army will be forced to kill the Hulk, so that Betty will eventually forget him.[11] He finally succeeded and married Betty all the while attempting to keep her away from Banner and the Hulk.[12]
Talbot is taken hostage by theGremlin,[13] rescued some months later it was discovered that his captivity had left him catatonic. To unblock his mind,Doc Samson had the Hulk (who was Banner under control by a special helmet) unblock what was keeping him in a mindless state. The process was a success.[14] However, Talbot's marriage to Betty later became strained.[15]
Talbot takes a leave from Gamma Base and soon divorces Betty, who later admits to Rick Jones that she had never stopped loving Bruce Banner. Talbot continued battling the Hulk and tried to have Banner court-martialed. When Thunderbolt Ross has a breakdown, Talbot is promoted to Colonel. Later on, Hulk storms Gamma Base looking for his deceased loveJarella, who has been placed in cryogenic storage. It is revealed that Talbot had fired a ray gun that sent the Hulk to theMicroverse. This incident is the final straw in Talbot's already deteriorated relationship with Betty. Soon Congress cuts funds from Gamma Base and Talbot decides once and for all to stop the Hulk by using the War Wagon. However, he is killed in battle.[16]
During an attemptedcoup d'état ofWashington, D.C., Talbot appears on national television as part of theIntelligencia's plan to seize control, only to be decapitated byRed Hulk and revealed to be aLife Model Decoy.[17] The Decoy was so thoroughly reprogrammed that it believed itself to be Talbot, complete with his memories.
Since his "death", two of Talbot's relatives have also appeared. He has a younger brother named Brian Talbot who was a member of theGamma Corps as Grey (who sports the DNA of Hulk and Leader). Trained in martial arts. The Leader DNA does not make Grey as smart as Prodigy but he has a brilliant military strategist and it seems to have been meant as a way to prevent him from losing control. Brian was often bullied and beaten by his older brother and had actually been delighted to hear of his death. He claimed he joined the Gamma Corps because the Hulk was dangerous but really it was to do what Glenn could not - destroy the Hulk.[18]
Talbot also has a nephew named Matt Talbot, who is also a member of the military.[19]
In the alternate reality depicted in the 2005House of M storyline, Glenn Talbot is married to Betty Ross.[20]
InUltimate Marvel universe, a version of Talbot appeared inUltimate Fantastic Four asGeneral Talbot. Talbot is portrayed as a colleague and friend toGeneral Ross, and operates in theBaxter Building'sthink tank.[21]
In the 2012 miniseriesAvengers: X-Sanction,Cable initially mistakesRed Hulk for a foe of his from the future named 'Talbot', suggesting that one of Talbot's relatives will become another Red Hulk in the future.[22] Future versions of Wolverine and Hulk (resemblingOld Man Logan andMaestro respectively) speak to the President of the United States, who resembles a Red Hulk with Talbot's mustache.[23]
Glenn Talbot appears inHulk (2003), portrayed byJosh Lucas. This version is a former military officer-turned-bio-science executive at aDefense Department contractor called Atheon. He seeks to obtain a tissue sample from the Hulk for militarysupersoldier-based applications, only to be injured at Banner's house. During the Hulk's escape from Desert Base, Talbot fires a missile at the Hulk, which ricochets off of his skin, killing Talbot in the ensuing explosion.
Glenn Talbot appears as a boss inThe Incredible Hulk (2008), voiced by Michael Gannon.[24] This version views both Bruce Banner and the Hulk as threats to mankind. Later in the game, his actions against them escalate to the point where Talbot himself becomes a danger to civilian safety, with his strategies varying from attempting to launch missiles in a civilian area to destroy the Hulk to kidnapping Betty Ross and donning a nuclear-powered Hulkbuster suit to fight the Hulk directly; intending to pass off civilian casualties as the Hulk's fault once his foe has been dealt with. When he is defeated, Talbot activates his suit's self-destruct mechanism to kill the Hulk along with himself and an entire city. However, the Hulk throws Talbot's suit into the upper atmosphere, where it explodes safely, killing Talbot.
Glenn Talbot's nephew Major William Talbot appears in the novelThe Incredible Hulk: What Savage Beast, written byPeter David.[39] This version is the leader of theHulkbusters.
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