I can barely wait until next issue to see the One Bellow All and to know more about everything else. Too bad We'll have to wait until 01/23...
Incredible Hulk #223
Cover Date: May 1978
Sale Date: February 14th, 1978
Writer: Roger Stern
Artist: Sal Buscema
Inker: Joe Rubenstein
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Editor: Archie Goodwin
“The Curing of Dr. Banner!”
Guest Stars/Supporting Cast: Larry, Alice, Doc Samson, General Ross, Captain Bowman, Spad McCracken, April Sommers, Jim Wilson, Kropotkin.
Villain: The Leader
Synopsis: We start with Larry and Alice, two young lovers about to get their groove on, when the Hulk lands in the middle of their picnic area. Whether he was sleep-leaping or just clumsy in his landing we’ll never know. He awakens and thinks the startled teens are a threat. Larry makes the mistake of attacking him with a branch and that makes the Hulk mad. Instead of pounding them to bloody pulps, he begins to change back into Bruce Banner…but something isn’t right. He’s got Banner’s form, but is retaining green skin and the Hulk’s personality. After nearly breaking his foot while attempting a foot stomp, the Hulk/Banner seems to explode in a bright light. Banner then realizes that the gamma radiation in his body has burnt out, thus curing him of becoming the Hulk ever again. Back at Gamma Base, the hunt for the mysterious amneasic has led them a top security laboratory. Doc Samson and General Ross lead a group into the area, but a familiar villain overpowers them. Cut back to Texas, where Larry and Alice have dropped off Bruce at a local airport. Banner recognizes a pilot, one Spad McCracken, who panics and runs after remembering who Banner was and their last encounter. One chop-block later, Banner manages to convince McCracken into giving him a ride to Gamma Base. Cut to New York City, where we see Jim Wilson and April Somers arguing with a repairman about a delayed payment. Kropotkin the Great arrives in time to pay the man in cash, but anything leftover is quickly taken by April, who agrees that the stack of Benjamins is enough to satisfy the back rent that was owed. Back in New Mexico, Banner and McCracken arrive at Gamma Base, only to realize something is seriously wrong. They are led to the darkened lab where we last saw Samson and the General a few pages back. The lights come on, and we see the latter in chains and the gamma-irradiated genius known as the Leader alive and well.
Commentary: Fat-Head alert! That splash on pages 2-3…
So, guys. If you would take a guess about how The One Below All looks like, what would it be?
Probably abstract-like. A snake-theme like we briefly saw earlier would be great for the context of the story.
Yeah, I think that's more probable.
By the way, nice article about Immortal Hulk:
Making the Hulk Immortal Revitalized Marvel's Jade Giant
https://www.cbr.com/immortal-hulk-revitalized/
Incredible Hulk #224
Cover Date: June 1978
Sale Date: March 21st, 1978
Writer: Roger Stern
Artist: Sal Buscema
Inker: Joe Rubenstein
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Janice Cohen
Editor: Archie Goodwin
“Follow the Leader!”
Guest Stars/Supporting Cast: Doc Samson, General Ross, Spad McCracken, Clay Quartermain.
Villain: The Leader
Synopsis: Open to the Leader gleefully cackling about how no one can stop him from ruling the world now that Bruce Banner is no longer the Hulk. We get the backstory on how he survived, was able to revert back to his human form, and wander into Gamma Base. By this time, Doc Samson is able to break free, but unable to do anything with the mental blocks in place. After the Leader leaves, Ross and Samson try to persuade Banner to become the Hulk again. He vehemently disagrees and said that he’d give them a Hulk, but his way. Outside, Clay Quartermain arrives, but is quickly taken prisoner and delivered to the Leader. Suddenly, the building starts to shake and the Hulk comes barging through. The Leader can’t believe it, knowing Banner wouldn’t be that insane enough to expose himself to gamma radiation again. Quartermain is shocked at how bestial the Hulk has become, just a snarling beast. The Leader orders the Army to stop the monster, but we get the usual smash-bam-boom from the brute – until the Leader comes out in the Murder Module (last seen in issue #123). The Hulk then leaps into the air via his rocket powered feet and --- wait a minute. What?! Well, it turns out that this Hulk is just a robot that was last used in issue #132, and Banner is remotely controlling it through a harness. The feedback from its destruction, however, proves fatal and the issue ends with Samson declaring Banner is dying.
Commentary: Good start to Stern’s run. Tying off some loose ends from Wein’s run and starting his own. Weird to see how sympathetic General Ross is towards Banner around this time. In about three issues, he’s gonna do another 180…
Hulkverines interview. The Leader will appear in the miniseries, in which Hulk and Wolverine meet Weapon H.
https://www.cbr.com/greg-pak-hulkverines-interview/
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Who is this guy having claws like Logan? Is it Clayton? I mean he could have reverted back to his normal human form.