Wow, that's fascinating, thanks, Adam! That means this isn't a continuity error.

My confusion stemmed from Rick's "mea culpa" to Bruce, which really made it sound like Rick was back in New Mexico for good. "I'd never have left you...I'd have stayed with you...if you hadn't driven me off yourself...when you were the Hulk!!...I felt so guilty, leaving you and joining Captain America! I felt like a deserter!" So is he just lying to Bruce to try and spare Bruce's feelings? If he only left Bruce because the Hulk "drove him off", why does he leave again while Bruce is...Bruce?

Guy deserves to turn into a Hulk himself someday.

Since he does absolutely nothing in TtA 62, I have to view his appearance as mere padding, albeit with enriching characterization (the conflictedness or lying) which sort of resembles the way Johnny lied to the FF about why he quit the team and joined up with the Acrobat in Strange Tales 106.

Kids these days.


"Now we're getting off focus." - the Elder Son of Storytime