Bruce Banner, The Incredible Hulk Appreciation 2022

[Rzerox21xx]

https://previewsworld.com/Catalog/MAY220930?Prevue=1

New Fantastic Four 3 of 5 preview.

[McFarlane's Green Hulk]

Incredible Hulk #400
“Deus Ex Machina”
Cover Date: December 1992
Sale Date: October 20th, 1992
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Jan Duursema and Chris Bachelo
Inker: Mark Farmer
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Guest Stars/Supporting Cast: Betty Banner, Rick Jones, Marlo Chandler, the Pantheon, the Riot Squad.
Villain: The Leader, Hydra
Synopsis: Part One: Open to a startled Betty Banner reacting to the image of Agamemnon in her bathroom mirror. He’s looking for the Hulk and is asking for her help. At first, she declines, but then decides otherwise and takes off with Prometheus to New Mexico. Cut to a hidden city called Freehold beneath the ice fields in Alberta, Canada, where we find Rick Jones making his way to a religious service with its citizens, who are all at various stages of a terminal illness. The Leader introduces Rick to everyone and then hands over the priest from Middletown now being referred to as Soul Man. He gives a sermon about Rick’s plight and we’re then shown the true identity of Redeemer…a zombified General “Thunderbolt” Ross! Elsewhere, we get a cut scene at the HQ of Hydra, and their plan to attack Freehold. Back in New Mexico, we see that Betty is combing the ruins of the old gamma bomb site and calling for Bruce. The Hulk comes out from the shadows, fuming about how everyone needs him, wanting and taking. His rant continues until Marlo’s name is brought up and Betty’s face darkens in rage. She slaps him and tells him that she’s dead. The Hulk is dumbfounded and shocked and after some tearful apologies, the two come close and kiss. He leaps into the air, with Prometheus behind them. Betty becomes somber about not knowing which moment is going to be their last, and her thoughts turn to her father. Bruce asks if she wants to visit his grave, but she has no idea where he’s buried. This transitions back to Freehold, where Rick still can’t believe that Ross is alive…in a way. He and the Leader begin a long discussion and we get a flashback of what happened after the events in Hulk #332-333; as it was the newly-reborn Leader who took Ross’ corpse from the ambulance. The next couple of pages is full of discussion between the two and he again asks Rick if he wants him to resurrect Marlo. Rick counters with why he didn’t bring back Saunders. The Leader’s cold answer is “Because he was annoying. Pray, Rick Jones, that you do not become annoying as well.” In Reno, Bruce and Betty arrive at Rick’s apartment and listen to a message from Captain America. Bruce deduces that he’s trying to bring Marlo back to life, and an appearance by Agamemnon turns the topic back to the Leader. The Pantheon leader offers his reason to surrendering to the Leader a couple issues back; avoiding further destruction. He then offers the Leader’s location and a chance to end their conflict. The Hulk eagerly agrees, much to Betty’s chagrin. They say their goodbyes and we cut back to Freehold and Rick agrees to allow the Leader to bring Marlo back to life.
Part Two: We open to Soul Man offering prayers before his resurrection ceremony and trying to reassure Rick. Outside of Freehold, Hydra is closing in on the hidden city and we then see a gleeful Leader showing Rick the resurrection chamber which will bring Marlo back to life. A report then comes in that Hydra has attacked and Agamemnon appears, stating “help” is on the way. Rock, Redeemer, and the Riot Squad are holding their own but are slowly getting overwhelmed. In the nick of time, the Hulk comes crashing through the artificial sky and starts tearing into the Hydra agents. Rick comes up and tells him the situation, which is met with a harsh response. Before the discussion can continue, more Hydra soldiers have arrived, putting the Hulk in an awkward situation about choosing to help or hold off Hydra. In the chamber, Soul Man begins the process, and outside, the Hulk begrudgingly attacks Hydra, ranting and raving about being used, being mindless, about how it’s not going to happen again. Marlo’s eyes begin to open just as the Hulk comes crashing through, and disrupting the procedure. Rick pleads for the Hulk to stop as the Leader tries some old mind tricks to distract him, none of which work. A vicious punch sends the Leader bloody and flying across the room. Redeemer shows up, guns blazing. The Hulk uses the Leader as a shield and we then see the bloody cackling image of the Hulk from back #382. The battle continues as the Hulk begins to revert to his savage self; Rick is trying to break Marlo out of the crystal; a wounded Leader tries crawling into the crystal shell and the Hulk is startled out of his rage at the sight of Ross after breaking the Redeemer armor helmet. The issue ends with the Hulk tossing Ross at the Leader as he enters the chamber, which results in an enormous explosion. Rick’s worse fears come true, as Marlo is just like Ross. The Hulk emerges from the rubble, his head calm and clear, and sees a now-deceased Ross. Nearby, a dying Soul Man reaches out and kisses him on the forehead before expiring. Horrified at their actions, both Hulk and Rick close the issue out with “Dear God…what have I done?”
Commentary: Early Bachelo is nice to look at. I know he get more stylized over the years, but this and his early X-Men Unlimited and Gen X stuff was great. As with issue #393, I have the 2nd print of this issue hiding somewhere. Still pissed that I don’t know where they are. I have the top half of a lateral file cabinet dedicated to all things Hulk, so they SHOULD be in there. But in the course of rebagging into Myler sleeves, it’s yielded nothing…other than the ungodly amount of copies I have amassed from Lone Star Comics while trying to get my future custom bound sets put together. 9 copies is a bit of overkill.
The rest of the book features a reprint of the first appearance of the Leader from TTA #63, along with various pin-ups, one of which features future-Hulk artist Gary Frank. I couldn’t wait for him to start. 30 years didn’t change my dislike for Duursema’s art, Keown abrupt exit, another “meh” artist for the next four months and a not-so impressive anniversary story. I wanted more Hulk action, and the whole Hydra vs. Leader plotline felt forced and lackluster. Here’s where the merger starts to crack. Bruce, although a whole and stable being, is still prone outbursts of rage. His problem, is that he’s in possession of a body altered by gamma radiation and a hybrid of his green and gray personalities. Just like during the BIC Mantlo era, we’ll start to see Bruce become haunted by the prospect of the Hulk(s) returning. I’ll admit, that I was almost rooting for the return of the Gray Hulk should when this merged one went away. Little did I know…

[Intothevoid]

Ehh, I doubt it.. there's a Caveman looking guy to the left of him. Besides, if so, it's missing the Star Brand and since all the other prehistoric avengers details are correct, it looks like it's Ross's Red Hulk.

As far as MCU Banner goes, the rumor I remember hearing is..

spoilers:

By the end of She-Hulk, Skaar arrives and Bruce leaves the planet to help him save Sakaar. (not looking forward to Hulk Conan.. if you think they handled Hulk badly now imagine cliched angry kid jokes and edgy swords and tattoos.. blah!) World War Hulk would be just a title, not a literal adaptation of the storylne.. just elements of it. Bruce did want a kid as established in Avengers 1&2. Maybe when they return they think he's another alien invasion like the Chitauri and kill him which triggers Bruce who launches an attack on those responsible which causes the Avengers to be called in which escalates things and Bruce goes Hulk mode and ends up having to be stopped for good.

end of spoilers

Trust me it's Starbrand, the Caveman guy to the left doesn't look at all like the Starbrand guy who looks like a normal human and has blonde hair when he is not "Hulked out". Yea he is missing the starbrand sign for some reason but other than that his hair is red, not black like with Ross.

There are no actual confirmed plans for that, just a rumor and the more time passes the more obvious the rumor appears to be false. She-Hulk is the last big thing for Hulk, he is either completely done after this via death or retirement or he will be made into just doing cameos like Wong every now and then until he completely fizzles out.

[Vishop]

Finally finished reading Immortal Hulk. I was holding myself to finish this run because I want to read the whole run in a single go on Unlimited and I finally finished it. I was really happy to see Joe Fixit but after 30 issues when Banner got strapped by Stern I realized that was the turning pointing towards Ewing departue. I really felt for how Banner developed his relationship with Devil Hulk. The end of the run wasn't that entertaining as much as before and Avengers were such all jerks. But this run was legendary for sure.

[Vishop]

https://previewsworld.com/Catalog/MAY220930?Prevue=1

New Fantastic Four 3 of 5 preview.

This book is entertaining but its a shame that its not current continuity.

[Kolwyr]

[Frontier]

Hulk in the MCU continues to be a joke (and weaker than She-Hulk, apparently, unless Bruce is just that passive by comparison).

[Kolwyr]

Hulk in the MCU continues to be a joke (and weaker than She-Hulk, apparently, unless Bruce is just that passive by comparison).

I think that is largely due to Bruce's new calm and collected attitude. I actually don't mind that there's a reality (MCU) where Bruce gets his happy ending.

And if Jen's going to be an Avenger, they can't have her portrayed as just some 2nd stringer.

[Vishop]

Ya know thinking of Immortal Hulk, man its clear Ewing had plans for a longer run but he had to end it shorter.

Like how Namor showed up in that issue after Bruce takes over shadowbase and indicates some kind of alliance between the 2, only for Namor to not appear again for the rest of the book.

Or how Bruce's leadership of shadowbase and war against humanity only lasted for one arc in the battle against Roxxon and after that it felt like the gas pedal got slammed into the final arc.

Its these little things that never really got followed up on that makes you think he probably had a lot more plans.

Yeah I agree I thought he had plans for going beyond 50 issues with Devil Hulk and Shadow Base but it was cut short later with Bennet hence he had to kill Devil Hulk.

[Vishop]

Joe Fixit series by PAD coming in 2023

Is story setting happening on current continuity?

[Vishop]

Half of me is excited, half of me is worried this will be a disappointing story like the Maestro minis.

I think he is been good so far with New FF but I wasn't all excited because it was happening in the 90s.

[Frontier]

I think that is largely due to Bruce's new calm and collected attitude. I actually don't mind that there's a reality (MCU) where Bruce gets his happy ending.

And if Jen's going to be an Avenger, they can't have her portrayed as just some 2nd stringer.

I get it conceptually, but after his showings in Infinity War and Endgame, it feels like the MCU just doesn't know what to do with the Hulk. And now he's living as a comedic, isolated, hermit.

Not Betty or anything.

[Username taken]

When is the next issue of Hulk coming out?

I know a bunch of titles have been delayed but it seems Thor and Hulk have been hit the hardest.

[Rzerox21xx]

Read New FF 3. PAD is taking liberties of Marvel continuity as not only is Fixit still working for the casino but still has Marlo as his gf. I mean, didn't they break up in the Werewolf issue and he wandering around the country in late 89. before Danny Ketch became Ghost Rider around early 90. also Doctor Strange made a appearance and said the X-MEN were one of the teams they contacted, shouldn't the X-MEN is presumed dead. then again, this might be post X-tinction agenda when the X-MEN were revealed on alive. Still, by that time, Fixit/Bruce would reunited with Betty and Marlo would have started going out with Rick. man, kinda of a headache. Either Pad taken liberties or forgotten his own continuity. Yeah the first new FF story happened in early 91. Right before Fixit/Savage/Bruce merged. Also, PAD seem to have made Ghost Rider have a sense of humor I don't remember him having, reading the entire 90s Howard Mackie run.

[Triniking1234]

When is the next issue of Hulk coming out?

I know a bunch of titles have been delayed but it seems Thor and Hulk have been hit the hardest.

We won't be seeing Hulk and Thor until October.

Marvel using all their paper to push AXE.