KINETRON MITTS

Classification: Terrestrial technology

Creator: Leader (Samuel Sterns)

User/Possessors: Leader

Aliases: "Your stupid gloves", "your puny gloves" (as called by Hulk)

First Appearance: Incredible Hulk II#225 (July, 1978)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: Consisting of a energy backpack and power-cables running to the metallic gauntlets, the Kinetron Mitts could reflect the kinetic energy of an opponent's physical blows back at him.

History:
(Incredible Hulk II#225) - After seizing control of Gamma Base's computer center and placing all personnel under his mental domination, the Leader began his plans for world conquest.

  The Hulk and Doc Samson fought their way past a small army of Humanoids, then proceeded to storm the computer center. As the two smashed through the wall, the Leader stood ready to face them with his Kinetron Mitts. But Samson found himself unable to strike the Leader due to a mental block, leaving the Hulk to face the villain alone.

  The Leader intercepted the Hulk's first punch with one of the Mitts, reflecting the blow back at the jade giant, causing him to strike himself. The Hulk followed with several consecutive punches, but found the results to be the same

  The Hulk was held at bay for three minutes by the force of his own strength, and it was the moment of the Leader's greatest triumph because he had physically stopped the Hulk; however the Leader had forgotten an important fact: The madder the Hulk gets, the stronger he gets. And when it come to anger, the Hulk knows no limits.

  The green goliath continued to strike until he exceeded the Mitts' ability to reflect his strength back, then the Hulk grabbed hold and ripped the Mitts from the Leader's hands, tearing the power-cables.

  Fleeing in panic, the Leader ordered his computer Omnivac to teleport him to safety; Omnivac complied, but warned him that the Mitts' energy pack was still discharging, which could cause its transport circuits to short-out... at that point, the Leader seemingly disintegrated in mid-transit (see comments).

Comments: Created by Roger Stern, Sal Buscema, and Joe Rubinstein.

Fear not, Leader fans -- the Leader survived his apparent demise and returned to plague the Hulk again.

Profile by John Kaminski

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Kinetron Mitts have no known connection to:

• Cathode Gloves, used by Count Tagar @ Thor I#135
• Infinity Gauntlet, collective power of six prime infinity gems @ Thanos Quest#2
• Satan Claw, Baron Strucker's personal weapon @ Strange Tales I#157
• any other similar devices

images: (without ads)
Incredible Hulk II#225, p14, pan1 (main image)