| 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 afterTales to Astonish was 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, which Thunderbolt Ross encourages.[2]
Talbot's suspicions of Banner are heightened when, upon Talbot's arrival at the base, Banner mysteriously goes missing in the hills nearby.[3] When Banner disappears with the vital Absorbatron, orders are given to shoot him on sight, and Banner is apparently killed by a soldier.[4] At Talbot's suggestion, the Hulk's frequent companionRick Jones is taken into custody and confesses to Talbot that Banner is the Hulk.[5]
Subsequently, the Hulk is found still alive, and is captured using a plan devised and orchestrated by Talbot. However, Hulk is freed by traitor Konrad Zaxon.[6] Talbot later faces downBoomerang, preventing the villain from stealing the army's Orion Missile and sustaining a shrapnel wound.[7] Despite this, Talbot is unable to convince Betty to relinquish her feelings for Banner, and he continually hopes that the army will be forced to kill Hulk, so that Betty will eventually forget him.[8] Talbot finally succeeds and marries Betty, still attempting to keep her away from Banner and the Hulk.[9]
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. Soon afterward, 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.[10]
During an attemptedcoup d'état ofWashington, D.C., Talbot appears on national television as part of theIntelligencia's plan to seize control. However, he is decapitated byRed Hulk and revealed to be aLife Model Decoy, a robotic imposter.[11] The Decoy had 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.[12]
Talbot also has a nephew named Matt Talbot, who is also a member of the military.[13]
In the alternate reality depicted in the 2005House of M storyline, Glenn Talbot is married to Betty Ross.[14]
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.[15]
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.[16] 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.[29] This version is the leader of theHulkbusters.
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