Bruce Banner: The Hulk Appreciation 2018

[McFarlane's Green Hulk]

Incredible Hulk #111

Cover Date: January 1969
Sale Date: October 10th, 1968
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Colorist: Uncredited

“Shanghaied in Space!”

Storyline: As it turns out, the ever-dreaded Umbu was an alien robot protecting an Earth-shattering weapon hidden in the Savage Land that was sent to Earth by a race of aliens under the command of the mysterious Galaxy Master. They quickly send out a probe to investigate. Meanwhile, Ka-Zar is leaves a still-deceased Bruce Banner to seek out some rare herbs to help revive him…just in time for the probe to arrive and teleport Banner off-world. The alien commander is shocked that such a puny being was responsible for stopping Umbu. They revive Banner and strap him to a machine, which reveals him to be a brilliant scientist instead. The Galaxy Master reveals himself and declares that Banner must be sentenced to death. He’s thrown into a decompression chamber and changes into the Hulk. He breaks free and begins tearing into the alien ships. After some dramatic scenes with the Hulk and the alien armada, the aliens crash into their home planet in hopes of killing the Hulk, but to no avail. As the Hulk prepares to renew his attack, the Galaxy Master appears and threatens to kill the Hulk.
Key Characters: First appearances of the Galaxy Master.



Historical Notes: The Hulk is talking in outer space!

Personal Thoughts: So-so on the story. The art is still rough by Trimpe. In the opening to the 5th volume of the Hulk’s Marvel Masterworks series, Herb himself states that he would love to re-draw issues #111 and #112 because of the crude artwork. It does get better over time, but I’m wondering how much inker Dan Adkins (I don’t want to say “ruined”) overpowered Trimpe’s work.

[McFarlane's Green Hulk]

Incredible Hulk #112
Cover Date: February 1969
Sale Date: November 12th, 1968
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Artie Simek
Colorist: Uncredited

“The Brute Battles On!”

Storyline: Continuing from last issue, the Galaxy Master and the Hulk begin their battle as the Princess of the alien race under the control of the cosmic beast stands flabbergasted at the Hulk’s defiance. The Galaxy Master assumes several different forms to kill the Hulk, but none work. This gives the Princess hope that her people can once again be free, as we get a backstory on the Galaxy Master’s origin and how he came to lord over their race. The battle between the cosmic beast and the gamma brute shifts back and forth until the Hulk hitches a ride on the Galaxy Master’s “tractor beam” that has ensnared the Princess and destroys the monster from the inside. Grateful for freeing them, the Princess grants the Hulk’s wish of getting off their planet. Impatient, the Hulk ignores the Princess’ orders to adjust the cabin pressure and is soon launched into space. However, soon after takeoff, the Hulk reverts back to Bruce Banner, his life in peril once again.



Key Characters: None.

Historical Notes: None.

Personal Thoughts: Cosmic story done, on to the next. We won’t see these guys for over a decade, which leads to drastic changes in the Hulk’s life.

[Moriarty]

lol! thats great!

[GreenScar1990]

[GreenScar1990]

[GreenScar1990]

[GreenScar1990]

[GreenScar1990]

[Bob Probert]

Hulk wins this!

"When I was a kid, I always wanted to see a Hulk/Superman fight. My theory was always that the Hulk was so savage, so raw and able to "fight dirty", that he'd beat Superman. It's important to note that, at that time, DC's Superman was more passive and laid back. We're talking early 70's here.

In a way, that was the birth of what would eventually become Doomsday."

- Dan Jurgens

[Anarchist]

Early 70's?
As in the time where Superman had his insane Silver Age powers?

LOL.

[GreenScar1990]

Hulk by emilcabaltierra

[GreenScar1990]

[WTHIOTina]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but with her prominent role in Planet Hulk and World War Hulk, I thought here would be best. Marvel 616 Politics did a spotlight on Korg and how he could have his own cast of villains. Check it out here and they're also on Facebook.

[McFarlane's Green Hulk]

Incredible Hulk #113
Cover Date: March 1969
Sale Date: December 12th, 1968
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Colorist: Uncredited

“Where Fall the Shifting Sands?”

Storyline: We open to Bruce Banner succumbing to the lack of oxygen and crushing cabin pressure inside a starship bound for Earth. After struggling to the control panel, Banner manages to release some gamma energy into the ship and transform himself back into the Hulk. Back on Earth, we see a mysterious cloaked figure reading up on a new ship that can bridge the dimensions of space. This figure turns out to the Sandman, and we catch up on his past failings in battle with the Fantastic Four. He motives for wanting the ship are to find the Negative Zone warlord Blastaar defeat the FF once and for all. Cut to the Southwest Missile Base and a distraught Betty Ross pining for Bruce Banner and General “Thunderbolt” Ross scolding her for doing so. Unable to do so, she takes a drive in order to clear her mind. At the same time, the starship carrying the Hulk makes a crash-landing and the weary brute is attacked by the Sandman. The battle favors the Hulk until Sandman’s use of persuasion convinces him to attack the Missile Base. Half-way thru his attack, the Hulk’s dull brain questions his own motives. It isn’t until the Sandman has stolen the trans-warp spaceship and nearly collides with Betty Ross that the Hulk realizes the villain is the true enemy. The two battle until the Hulk is able to disperse the Sandman from the base with hurricane-like winds, only vowing to gain revenge.




Key Characters: First encounter against the Sandman.

Historical Notes: None.

Personal Thoughts: Holy moley, talk about some “yabba-wha?” moments. How did Banner know that the starship was powered by gaseous gamma energy? When did the Sandman pick up a scholarly vocabulary? (Did he pick that up during his tenure in the Frightful Four?) Stan Lee’s infamous memory snafu where “Betty Ross” is called “Betty Brant” on page 11? I can feel Stan wanting to make a return to the earlier “Tales to Astonish” days, but hashing out drama for 20 pages versus 10 proves to be harder than believed.

[Anarchist]

Man, off all the people who could have a better excuse for it, why did Hulk have to look this weak and pathetic against Red Hulk?
Today's issue really pissed me off.

And I'm losing hope that Doc Green will eventually succeed in depowering Ross.