Incredible Hulk #342
“No Human Fears”
Cover Date: April 1988
Sale Date: December 15th, 1987
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Todd McFarlane
Letterer: Rick Parker
Colorist: Petra Scotese
Editor: Bob Harras
Guest Stars/Supporting Cast: Rick Jones, Clay and Alan Quartermain, the Leader, Saunders, and LaRoquette
Villain: Half-Life
Synopsis: Open to Half-Life wandering an unnamed city casually killing women who he believes is his long-lost wife. Intentional or delusional, they all succumb to his gamma life absorbing powers and he wanders to his next victim. Cut again to the Leader in his hidden lair, recording a “whys and wherefores” for the Hulk in the future. We get a small recap of what went on a few hours prior, with Half-Life begging for another chance to destroy the Hulk. The Leader attaches a camera to his chest to witness this new Hulk in action and sends him on. We then are treated to the Leader’s new abilities, one which involves mind control via personal touch (as witnessed over the last few issues) and a psychic link between Sterns and Rick Jones. Back in Kansas, Alan Quartermain has managed to hack into some government files and discover that 5k gamma bombs are being stored at a military base in Yuma, Arizona. Half-Life then makes his presence known by attacking Alan’s wife and the Hulk comes to the rescue. This time, snapping the living corpse’s limbs apart isn’t going to work with the new titanium armor he’s wearing, coupled with the energy he’s already drained. Cut back to the Leader, who brings us up to speed about Saunders and LaRoquette, now FORMER agents of SHIELD. We then cut back to the Hulk, whose gotten his second wind, and another cut scene reveals that the Leader had found and kidnapped Betty Banner. One final look back in Kansas shows an emaciated Hulk and a human-like Half-Life concluding their battle. With the Hulk so scrawny and weak, he uses some reverse psychology on him and is able to trick Half-Life into releasing all the gamma energy back into him. This time, it looks like Half-Life is gone for good, as he’s nothing but an armored pile of bones. Morning comes and Banner, Clay and Rick exchange pleasantries with Alan and head out again. The Leader concludes his recording and it’s revealed that Betty, Saunders and LaRoquette are being held in suspended animation….with an unexpected 4th life reading on the monitors.
Commentary: Hulk/Half-Life II. Surprised he hasn’t ever made a comeback. Here we learn of the Leader’s escape from the volcano back in #284 in an off-hand comment. Although if memory serves, he fell in the lava, right? Wasn’t much detail, but there it is. McFarlane is hitting his stride in this era. His panels were still within the traditional style, but he was beginning to flex his muscles in terms of creative panel structures. All the Leader soliloquies were very nicely done, and that traditional McFarlane grin I equate more with the Leader than I do with Venom. Issues #340-343, and ASM #300-311 were my favorite eras of McFarlane art. As his popularity grew and style continued to evolve, I saw a change from the more rounded layout to the angled he’s more known for in the solo Spider-Man and Spawn renderings. Still a fan but I missed the earlier stuff. Betty is revealed to be pregnant and while I was skeptical at first, my biggest question was it Bruce’s or Ramon’s?