Bruce Banner, The Incredible Hulk Appreciation 2022

[InfamousBG]

Just started to pick Hulk back up after years away. Cates brought me back and I am a big fan. I really like Banner War. At first I thought it was a bit slow but it picked right up and I am excited to see how it ends. Very happy with Mr Cates on the book (and Thor).

[ChrisIII]

So Weapon H has now mutated into a male Red Harpy over in Savage Avengers.

[McFarlane's Green Hulk]

Incredible Hulk #394
“Cold Storage”
Cover Date: June 1992
Sale Date: April 21st, 1992
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Andrew Wildman
Inker: Chris Ivy
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Glynis oliver
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Supporting Cast: Rick Jones, Betty Banner, Marlo Chandler, the Pantheon.
Villain: Trauma
Synopsis: Open to Atlanta in the Himalayas struggling to stay alive in the elements and against a familiar-yet-not-introduced character named Trauma. The Hulk has been dispatched to rescue her and underestimates Trauma’s power, paying for it in a very painful manner. Back in Reno, a somber and emotionally unstable Rick Jones is told about his birth mother, which brings him out of his funk. Back in the Himalayas, the Hulk and other members of the Pantheon continue their efforts to rescue Atlanta. The exposition between her and Trauma fill in the gaps as to what is going on. The Hulk arrives and is able to get his revenge on Trauma for his earlier loss. They make their escape in a Pantheon ship and all but Atlanta believe they’d seen the last of Trauma.
Commentary: Andrew Wildman on Transformers – awesome. Andrew Wildman on the Hulk – awkward. To be fair (arrrrgghhh, can’t believe I used this phrase!), inker Stephen Baskerville on the Transformers was a driving force on the artwork. Nice to see that Rick is still not quite ok with his actions in Trans-Sabal. I was honestly thinking this issue was another fill-in, because I didn’t think Trauma would be that big of a deal, but we’ll see him in the next couple of years.

[

[Captain Craig]

So Weapon H has now mutated into a male Red Harpy over in Savage Avengers.

I haven't followed Weapon H so Savage Avengers is my first real exposure to him on a monthly basis.
He mentioned being able to regulate his gamma frequency. Are his transformations dependent on an in fusion of gamma from a device?
He only had the Red Harpy look for about 6 panels before resuming his regular look.
Is this the first time he has altered his gamma frequency? If not what other looks has he had. If this is the first time what other "gimmick" tricks will this allow for in look and abilities?

[ChrisIII]

They just made a "War and Pieces" skin for the Hulk in the Avengers game.

[Vordan]

RIP Tim Sale

[Frontier]

RIP to a legend.

[McFarlane's Green Hulk]

That sucks, I read this at the park with my kids.
Wasn't a fan of his Hulk on that mini, but I thought he was a perfect fit for Batman. Long Halloween and Dark Victory are some of my favorite stuff...

[Vordan]

Subjectively I loved how Sale’s Hulk could go from looking child-like to a brutal monster in a second.

[McFarlane's Green Hulk]

Incredible Hulk #395
“Return to Vegas”
Cover Date: July 1992
Sale Date: May 19th, 1992
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Dale Keown
Inker: Mark Farmer
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Supporting Cast: Suzy Berengetti, Mona, Betty Banner, Marlo Chandler, Rick Jones, Jackie Shorr
Villain: Sam Striker
Synopsis: The story opens with the Punisher secretly viewing the funeral for Las Vegas Coliseum owner Michael Berengetti. The Punisher exposition nails down rival “business man” Sam Strike as the culprit to Berengetti’s murder. Later on, his wife Suzy and her friend Mona head back to the casino and are startled to find Striker in her penthouse suite. He offers his “condolences” but she isn’t buying and demands that he leave. Striker laughs it off until the Hulk arrives. He’s decked out in a pin-stripe suit, hat and sun glasses with Hector and Ulysses by his side dressed in similar attire. He says he’s “Mr. Fixit” and easily manhandles Striker’s men. The lopsided beating is cut off when Striker orders Frost into the mix. He holds his own against the Hulk by merely holding his arm. This arouses some worry in Bruce, because he knows he’s dealing with something more than a petty mobster. Striker and company leave, and a grateful and excited Suzy asks Bruce how he found out about Berengetti. Marlo had told him and the two head into the bedroom to talk as Ulysses starts to razz him about “quitting” his Fixit gig. Bruce explains who he really is to Suzy. She questions how, because she thought the Hulk was supposed to be stupid? Bruce counters with Berengetti was one of the few men who extended friendship to any of his incarnations and he’s going to get whoever murdered him. Back in Reno, Marlo, Betty and Jackie are anxiously waiting for Rick to show up. He finally arrives and not in the best of moods, immediately tearing into Jackie about being a fraud, scammer, etc. She offers him papers from the orphanage and a photo of him as a very young boy playing with his dog. Cut back to Vegas, where the Hulk has done some investigating on Berengetti’s murder, with the Punisher following closely behind. At the Mount, Ajax and Atlanta have a nice quiet moment together, as she’s still recovering from her wounds from Trauma. A side glance at Achilles standing in the background brings to light that something is going on behind the scenes. Another cut to Vegas, with the Hulk, Paris, Ulysses and Hector finally confronting the Punisher. The issue ends with small cut scenes of Rick still rejecting Jackie about being his mother, Striker ordering “Mr. Fixit” to be taken out, and the Hulk and Punisher joining forces to take down Striker.
Commentary: The Merged Hulk takes on the mantle of “Mr. Fixit”. I was a little shocked to see the Merged Hulk take on this role, but after seeing the first page and seeing Berengetti dead…hell yes, bring it on! That shocked me. That hurt. I thought Berengetti was a father figure for the Gray Hulk. He understood him in ways that Banner didn’t want to. Granted, he knew who he was dealing with and used it to his advantage, but the Hulk listened to him, respected him, enjoyed working as “Mr. Fixit”.
PAD should have dipped his hand in the water when the “Forever”-type books were a hot topic about the time leading up to when the Hulk takes on the “Fixit” moniker, and backup stories that feature Berenghetti. Then again, his lackluster Maestro minis…better left off to the word balloons from #348. Actually, no, DDP Studios did an outstanding Snake-Eyes mini based off of flashbacks from the Marvel G.I. Joe run. Bet it could be done in the same manner, maybe a one-shot for greater effect. These over-padded, drawn out minis aren’t doing fans or the characters any service. And yes, that is a direct shot fired at the first Maestro mini series. Second one was ok. This latest one…starting to get interesting.

[Kolwyr]

I still have a soft spot of for the Fixit era.

And while he wouldn't fit into the current arc, I hope, somewhere down the like, we'll see "Sunshine Joe" again.

[Kolwyr]

RYAN OTTLEY @RyanOttley
Morning! Day 2 of @FANEXPODallas is today. Here’s a TITAN commission.

[Kolwyr]

Oof... Hulk #8 has been delayed again.

The release date is now August 17th.

[Username taken]

RYAN OTTLEY @RyanOttley
Morning! Day 2 of @FANEXPODallas is today. Here’s a TITAN commission.

I actually like that Titan design.

Too bad we haven’t seen that much of him yet.

[Vordan]

Oof... Hulk #8 has been delayed again.

The release date is now August 17th.

Jesus, guess we’ll see just how invested people are in Cates’ run.