You Say "Lincoln," I Say "Atomic Pile"

In terms of human evolution, the term "missing link" applies to a fossil (either not yet found or newly discovered) that can be added to an evolutionary chain of the human species, though reportedly the term is no longer in use by biologists. But back in mid-1968, it was still going strong when writers Bill Everett and Roy Thomas adapted it for a brand new character who would go up against none other than the incredible Hulk. Only this creature didn't stay related to its human ancestors for long, at least outwardly.

You'd think the words "accursed allies" used in conjunction would be something of an oxymoron, but I doubt our sinister Russian friend reciting this narrative is in the mood to be corrected.

Nor did it seem that either Everett or Thomas were particularly interested in formalizing this creature's name as "the Missing Link," since two or three other names for it are floated throughout the story. My personal favorite was "the Nightmare Monster," uttered on the spur of the moment by Betty Ross--but the name that seemed to prevail overall was "the Beast-Man," which didn't exactly give the impression of requiring much thought. I think I preferred "the Missing Link" as a runner-up to the Nightmare Monster, though honestly I liked it much more than "the Beast-Man."

But what can you do? Anyone who sees this bruiser is going to be too shocked to actually name it the Missing Link. The creature would have no reason to give itself the name, unless it overheard it being used (either that, or he turned out to be a subscriber to Scientific American)--while the Hulk, against all odds, came up with the same name that was voiced half a world away.

At any rate, we have the Russians, seen here at a meeting with their "accursed eastern allies," to thank for the creature showing up on our shores--and whatever he ends up being called, battling him is going to be uphill for the Hulk, a product himself of radiation exposure and apparently vulnerable to that being radiated by others.

When the Link's two-part story continues, additional writer Archie Goodwin seems to be leaning in the direction of dumping "the Beast-Man," but even Betty's harrowing collision isn't enough to ram the name out of these pages--thanks to Rick Jones, who always seems to be around causing trouble, doesn't he.

Neither the Hulk nor Banner are able to handle the Link, given its rising radiation levels--and eventually, S.H.I.E.L.D. is called in to deal with the problem. But in the end, their Missing Link problem was on the verge of taking care of itself.

Six years later, the Missing Link returns, this time as the Missing Link, with only sparse references to the Beast-Man moniker. But this time, Bruce Banner, who in the previous story had direct contact with the creature both visually and physically, astonishingly doesn't recognize the creature since the book's writer, Len Wein, is under the impression that the Link only dealt with the Hulk at the time. Curiously, it appears to be a two-way street in that respect, since the Link doesn't recognize Banner, either.

That oversight aside, Wein crafts a very readable story involving the reappearance of a minor Marvel character who gets a second chance at the life he so angrily rejected the first time around. "Lincoln"* is taken in by a family in the mining town of Lucifer Falls, the same family that later takes in the disheveled Banner as a guest.

*We're told Lincoln acquired his new name from the Brickfords--"after a man who believed in the inherent equality of all men." Baloney. In this case, "Lincoln" is an obvious and convenient (and clever) adaptation of "The Missing Link," pure and simple. Either way, the Link ending up with the name of "Lincoln" would have to be one of the most far-fetched coincidences ever. Even the Grandmaster would have balked at taking that bet.

As they spend more time together, either working in the mines or simply fishing, Banner grows fond of Lincoln, who has become an integral part of the Brickford family--an existence, Banner privately notes, that was always denied the Hulk. But their relationship is tested when of the Brickford children falls ill with what Banner recognizes as symptoms of radiation poisoning. His fears as to its source are confirmed one night when, after eliminating any signs of harmful radiation in the countryside, he secretly uses a geiger counter to test members of the family and discovers the source of the high radiation levels is Lincoln. With the best of intentions, he shares the news with his friend--but Lincoln is not yet equipped to reasonably interpret those intentions.

And if you're wondering if being belted through a shaft entrance and plummeting down into darkness is going to have an adverse effect on Bruce Banner, well, that's one bet the Grandmaster would call "a sure thing."

There is no helicarrier involved in their battle this time--but two powerhouses like the Hulk and the Missing Link (a creature the Hulk now calls "Ugly-Man," which hopefully we don't also have to consider as a viable name choice) have more than enough heavy equipment, vehicles, and ore to brutalize each other, to say nothing of the ample supply of bottled gas canisters within reach.

As before, the Link has an advantage that helps him survive a battle with someone of the Hulk's power--his ability to reform the shattered crystalline fragments of his skin, no matter how forceful the impact of a fist or a hurled object. But there is one thing he remains vulnerable to--and that time comes when his skin begins to burn the Hulk on contact.

It's a somewhat satisfying end to the Link's predicament, since he presumably knows from this point on to prepare for this cycle and isolate himself well before he overloads. Yet the ending washes over the uncertainty of the Brickford boy's recovery--while it also makes one wonder if the Link will be forthcoming about his true nature with his family and friends, who may not be sympathetic to having someone around whose emissions of radiation are uncharted and possibly lethal even at low levels. (No doubt the reason why Wein had Banner take his radiation readings secretly--there was really no reason why Banner wouldn't have been out in the open about helping the family, except to accommodate this ending.)  Regrettably, the specialist they need has leaped far away by now.