Major (later Colonel) Glenn Talbot is a fictional character and a villain in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Tales to Astonish #61 (November 1964).
He was a close compatriot to General Thaddeus Ross and an active participant in his operations to capture or kill the Hulk. His most significant blow was discovering and informing his superiors that Doctor Bruce Banner physically transformed into the Hulk, which made the scientist a wanted fugitive.
He is portrayed by Adrian Pasdar in the television series Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. The character also appears in the 2003 film Hulk, portrayed by Josh Lucas.
Publication history
Glenn Talbot was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1964 and first appeared in Tales to Astonish #61.
Fictional character biography
Glenn Talbot was a military man who for many years hunted the Incredible Hulk while under the command of General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. In addition to hunting the Hulk and being appointed head of security for Gamma Base where Ross was the commanding officer, Talbot was brought to the base for two other reasons, both of which were at the General's own behest: the first was to keep a close eye on civilian scientist Robert Bruce Banner, whom Ross (and later Talbot) suspected not only to being a traitor because of Banner's constant disappearances, which, unknown to them at first, was due to his uncontrollable transformations into the Hulk (the result of Banner's full exposure to Gamma Radiation unleashed from his Gamma Bomb after saving a teenager named Rick Jones from the restricted test area), who prowled the area near the base, but they also both believed there was some mysterious connection between the two. The second reason was for Talbot to win the love of the General's daughter Betty Ross, who was in love with Banner. General Ross, who intensely hated the slim young Banner all together, whether he was a traitor or not, objected to Betty's love for him because he felt that Banner was too timid emotionally and physically. Ross believed that Talbot, a real military man like himself, would be a much better suitor for his daughter. Talbot's romantic efforts later redoubled when he (and the rest of the world) later discovered that Banner and the Hulk were one and the same. He finally succeeded and married Betty all the while attempting to keep her away from Banner and the Hulk.
Then, while on a mission he was taken hostage by the Gremlin and made a mindless husk upon his rescue. In order to unblock his mind, Doctor Leonard 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. However, Talbot's marriage to Betty later became strained.
Yet he did take a leave from Gamma Base and soon divorced Betty, who later admitted to Rick Jones that she had never stopped loving Bruce Banner. Talbot continued battling the Hulk and tried to have Banner court-martialed. When General Ross had a breakdown, Talbot was promoted to Colonel. His life remained relatively uneventful until the Hulk stormed into Gamma Base, looking for his deceased love Jarella, who was still cryogenically frozen. It was revealed Talbot had fired a ray gun that sent the Hulk to the Sub-Atomic universe. This incident was the final straw in his already deteriorated relationship with Betty. Soon Congress cut funds from Gamma Base and Talbot decided once and for all to stop the Hulk by using the War Wagon.
Glenn Talbot was killed fighting the Hulk in Japan while piloting the War Wagon prototype. Recently, however, he was seen alive and well, in the company of Betty Ross; at the time, the circumstances of his apparent resurrection were not revealed.
As the attempted coup d'état of Washington, D.C. takes place, Major Glenn Talbot appears on national TV as part of the Intelligencia's plan to seize control - only to be revealed as an L.M.D. himself when the Red Hulk decapitates him. This L.M.D. was so thoroughly reprogrammed that it believed itself to be the resurrected Glenn Talbot, complete with all of Talbot's memories including his love for Betty Ross. The real Talbot is presumed to have remained dead all this time.
During the Chaos War storyline, Glenn Talbot returned from the dead after what happened to the death realms. Although, Glenn Talbot and other dead heroes concluded returned to the grave after the Chaos King is defeated.
Family
Since his "death" two of Glenn's relatives have also appeared.
- Glenn Talbot has a younger brother named Brian Talbot who was a member of the Gamma 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.
- Glenn Talbot also has a nephew named Matt Talbot who was also a military man.
Other versions
In the alternate reality depicted in the 2005 "House of M" storyline, Glenn Talbot is married to Betty Ross.
In Ultimate Marvel universe, a version of Talbot appeared in Ultimate Fantastic Four as General Talbot. Talbot is portrayed as a colleague and friend to General Ross. He operates in the Baxter Building's think tank. His full name is General Glenn M. Talbot.
In the 2012 miniseries Avengers: X-Sanction, Cable initially mistakes Red Hulk for a foe of his from the future named 'Talbot', suggesting that one of Talbot's relatives will become another Red Hulk at some future. Future versions of Wolverine and Hulk (resembling Old Man Logan and Maestro, respectively) speak to the President of the United States, who resembles a Red Hulk with Talbot's mustache.
In other media
Television
- Glenn Talbot appeared in the 1960s The Marvel Super Heroes, voiced by John Vernon.
- Glenn Talbot appeared in the 1980s Incredible Hulk TV series, voiced by Pat Fraley. In this version, Major Talbot's first name was changed from Glenn to "Ned". He was nicknamed by the troops secretly as "Noodle-head Ned" because of the fact that he was very clumsy, was somewhat cowardly, he sucked up to General Ross, and is often deceived by the enemy throughout the 13 episodes.
- Glenn Talbot appeared in the 1996 UPN animated series adaptation of The Incredible Hulk, voiced by Kevin Schon. He was shown acting as the right hand man of General "Thunderbolt" Ross. He is also shown to have a romantic interest in Betty Ross, but she constantly rejects him because he does not do a good job of hiding his disdain for either Bruce Banner or the Hulk. After he met the Ghost Rider, he reflected his own bad side and become more serious and selfless.
- Glenn Talbot appeared in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "Nightmare in Red", voiced by Troy Baker. He appears as an colonel and member of General Ross's Hulkbusters unit.
- Glenn Talbot has an appearance in the Iron Man: Armored Adventures episode "Rage of the Hulk". In this version, he appears to be an Asian American instead of a Caucasian as in the comics. He debuts as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent under Thunderbolt Ross's command, though he refuses to risk the city to destroy the Hulk.
- Glenn Talbot is a recurring character on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., portrayed by Adrian Pasdar. This incarnation is promoted from the rank of colonel to brigadier general for his efforts to bring down the remnants of S.H.I.E.L.D. following the revelation the organization had been compromised by Hydra. He later forms a begrudging relationship with the diminished spy agency as it later exists under Director Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg). In the episode "A Fractured House," it is revealed that Glenn Talbot has been answering to Senator Christian Ward.
Film
- Major Glenn Talbot appears in the 2003 Hulk film played by Josh Lucas. In this version, he is a former military officer-turned-bio-science executive at a company called Atheon that is also a politically powerful Defense Department contractor. He is a long-lost acquaintance of Betty Ross (who knew him back when she was in college, and he was an officer under General Ross's command). This Talbot is ambitious, pushy, and obsessed with making a big fortune quickly; he targets Betty and Bruce's lab for hostile takeover, if they keep refusing his offers to quit the lab in order to work for his firm. Later in the film, he becomes bent on getting a tissue sample of Hulk for military supersoldier-type applications. Throughout the film, his attempts to bully Banner constantly result in his being thrashed by the Hulk. Upon capturing Banner, Talbot begins the tissue extracting process, but fails when Banner manages to break free as Hulk. Ross orders Talbot to come to him, in order to have a full evacuation of the underground detention center. However, Talbot ignores Ross's orders for a lockdown. Talbot is killed when he fires an explosive missile at the Hulk, and it ricochets off of the Hulk's impenetrable skin and back towards Talbot.
Video games
- Major Glenn Talbot appears in The Incredible Hulk video game, voiced by Michael Gannon. Talbot views both Banner and Hulk as threats to mankind. Later in the game, he becomes a boss as his actions against Banner/Hulk escalate to the point where Talbot himself is a danger to civilian safety, his strategies varying from attempting to launch missiles in a civilian area in order to destroy the Hulk to kidnapping Betty Ross and donning a nuclear-powered Hulkbuster suit to fight him directly, intending to pass off civilian casualties as the Hulk's fault once his foe has been dealt with. When he is defeated, a self-destruct mechanism activates in his Hulkbuster suit, intending to kill Hulk along with him and the entire city. Hulk throws Talbot's suit into the upper atmosphere, then his Hulkbuster armor explodes safely, killing Talbot.
References
External links
- "Colonel Talbot". Marvel Directory
- Glenn Talbot. Comic Vine.