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.

[ChrisIII]

We kind of had a similar visual with Savage a while back.

Of course given the relationship revealed in #50 isn't Bruce technically now also a relative of Madman?

[Frontier]

Happy New Year to the Incredible Hulk and his fans .

[The Kid]

I read the first issue of Immortal Hulk a few days back and uh... holy ****. That was a good as an opening issue to a story I've ever read. Gonna be the first comic book story I read in 2022

[Dinosaur Hulk]

Happy New Year lads

[SJNeal]

Happy New Year, Bruce!

Here's hoping you survive Cates & Co.!

[Vordan]

Happy new year! Hoping for some good surprises for Hulk.

I read the first issue of Immortal Hulk a few days back and uh... holy ****. That was a good as an opening issue to a story I've ever read. Gonna be the first comic book story I read in 2022

You’re in for a wild ride man.

[McFarlane's Green Hulk]

Incredible Hulk #368
“Natural Selection”

Cover Date: April 1990
Sale Date: February 20th, 1990
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Sam Kieth
Inkers: Sam Kieth and Kelly Jones
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Guest Stars/Supporting Cast: Doc Samson
Villain: Mr. Hyde
Synopsis: Not a whole lot to it, lots of talk and psychobabble, but in a nutshell, Bruce Banner eludes Doc Samson and a squad of soldiers by stowing away on a train, which leads to a confrontation with Mr. Hyde, who is also hiding in one of the cars. His actions cause the transformation before sundown and it’s now revealed that the reason the Hulk comes out at night is because Banner is ashamed of what this Hulk represents.
Commentary: I have to dig up that old issue of Wizard, but apparently Sam Kieth was in the running to take over as artist before Keown won out. I’m glad Keown won out, for myself, I can only handle Kieth in small doses. Although that final panel on page 24 screams McFarlane…

[xcoijoi]

Vordan,

If you have a chance, take a look at the Superheroes Every Day blog.

The writer Danny finished a complete review of the Dark Shadows tv series, and moved on to a history of superhero cinema.