Bruce Banner, The Incredible Hulk Appreciation 2022

[McFarlane's Green Hulk]

Didn't find one yet; so I'll start with Keown's first issue....


Incredible Hulk #367
“Countdown Madman”

Cover Date: March 1990
Sale Date: January 16th, 1990
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Dale Keown
Inker: Marie Severin
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Guest Stars/Supporting Cast: The Leader, Riot Squad members Hotshot and Jailbait, Phil Sterns
Villain: Madman
Synopsis: An emaciated and nearly-comatose Hulk sits in the Leader’s laboratory, conserving as much strength and stamina as possible. The Leader believes the brute dead, so he and Hotshot and Jailbait leave the room. The Hulk stirs, and in a rare moment, calls Banner for help in solving this mystery. He tries hacking into the Leader’s computer system, but is unable to guess a password. A moment of clarity hits when he recalls the Leader’s true name – Sam Sterns – and makes the connection to Phil Sterns from the Yucca Flats lab. The Leader, Jailbait and Hotshot return, and the Hulk takes them down with a weakened yet effective hand-clap. He questions the Leader on his relationship to Phil; they’re brothers and we find out that Phil was a great admirer of Banner’s, yet was a clearly average and forgettable student. Madman was there to help Phil through it and the rest we know (at least at this point). The Hulk isn’t sure on how truthful the Leader is being and he counters it with revealing Betty’s location in Darien, Connecticut. The Hulk agrees, and the Leader transports him to Phil’s apartment. He ends up finding a hidden staircase, which leads him to Madman’s lair. There’s minutes left to sunrise, and the Hulk has no desire to fight, he just wants the antidote. This angers Madman, and he morphs into a giant, muscular creature and begins to thrash the brute. The Hulk is barely able to make a comeback and with 4 minutes left, we find out that Phil and Madman are one and the same. Turns out Phil experimented on himself in hopes of gaining power like the Hulk, but it only fractured his mind and mutated his body. There’s a power struggle, and Phil reveals the antidote’s location. This angers Madman, who mentally kills Phil Sterns completely. There’s barely a minute left to go, and the Hulk has now poisoned Madman. They then spend the next few seconds fighting over the antidote. But even this close to the transformation, it still will not pierce the Hulk’s skin. He has to time it perfectly as Banner’s form takes shape for it to take effect…and he succeeds. Banner stands victorious and Madman pleads for help. Banner walks across the room and leaves the antidote out of reach, replying that “Your countdown has begun” and quietly leaves the lab…leaving Madman to die.
Commentary: Welcome Dale Keown! Piggy-backing on the commentary from last issue, PAD felt sorry for Dale coming into the story with an emaciated Hulk and having Severin ink it. Wasn’t really his fault, no clue on how much time Keown had to pencil the book after Purves quit. I think Keown said he had a weekend to finish this issue. But damn, did it look cool.