Hulk #1 - 6 "Who Is The Red Hulk?" Talkback (Spoilers)

[Spider-Man]

Who is . . . the Hulk?

HULK #1



WRITER: Jeph Loeb
PENCILS: Ed McGuinness

THE STORY: Superstars JEPH LOEB and ED MCGUINNESS will change the way you see THE HULK! In this startling origin epic, the breathtaking events that ended World War Hulk rocket into this brand-new Hulk title. When one of The Hulk's oldest cast members is murdered, everyone turns to the team of IRON MAN, SHE-HULK and LEONARD SAMSON to solve the grizzly case. All the evidence points to the Hulk as the killer—but {CLASSIFIED}! Join us for a brand--new story and a brand-new team who loves the Hulk as much as you do!

Comments?

[Xurk]

I liked this! Though it did feel more like an issue of New / Mighty Avengers and at some times, an issue of She-Hulk [hey, at least someone with Hulk in their name stole the show now and then in this issue!]. I guess this will change as the plot progesses, for now, it's no hindrance.

The art was great and the Acuna variant cover looks nice too, too bad I haven't seen it yet. Storywise, this was fun, especially due to the dialogue, which was frequently amusing and which had the characters playing off each other nicely.

Is it too obvious for me to asume that Rick Jones is the Red Hulk, or would that scene be a red [heh, red] herring? Oh, what was up with that I.D. booth guy having mechanics stuck in his back?? Maybe I'm not well-versed enough in the military side of the Marvel Universe to know what's up with that, but for me that was a "What the..!?" moment

This seems like a promising start for this book overall, I hope it continues to hold my interest with the coming issues

[Russkafin]

I liked this issue, but I felt the fight scene between Doc Samson, She-Hulk and gang vs the Russian superhero group was a little forced and unnecessary. Ed McGuinness's art rocked the house as always!

If Rick Jones does turn out to be the new Red Hulk, they darn well better not ignore the fact that Rick was the Hulk once before as well, back in Peter David's early days on the book in Hulk #325 - 332!

[wonderfly]

The mystery deepens in the 2nd issue!!

Hulk #2



Cover by Ed McGuinness
Written by Jeph Loeb
Pencils by Ed McGuinness
Inks by Dexter Vines

THE STORY:
Who is The Red Hulk? Part II.
After last issue's shocking murder, there's evidence on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier that will bring down the killer. So...The Hulk is going after it — and might bring down the Helicarrier instead! The one person standing in the Hulk's path — Iron Man! Also, the return of the LAST person you ever expected to see! Game on!

Comments? What are your thoughts?

[Dr. Faust]

I don't feel like reading it.
Hulk; please break free from your cell

[Xurk]

I'll be looking forward to this book actually becoming the Hulk's book and not revolving around Tony Stark / Iron Man and his S.H.I.E.L.D. compagnons...

On the story: Boy, am I confused. I was sure Rick Jones was the Red Hulk, but noooo, he's the new Abonimation: A-Bomb [a name so bad it's funny ]... Why and how did this happen?!
And how about the Red Hulk being capable of speaking in perfectly understandable sentences!

[Spider-Man]

The Hulk Vs. The Abomination!

HULK #3



WRITER: Jeph Loeb
PENCILS: Ed McGuinness

THE STORY: Not a flashback! Not a dream! Together again for the first time! The battle you NEVER thought you'd see -- The Hulk Vs. The Abomination! But...wait, we've seen that lots of times! Well... No you HAVE NOT. And it isn't just because superstars Jeph Loeb & Ed McGuinness are bringing it to you for the first time -- it's because if you've been reading the Hulk (yes, we know there's one or two of you), it CAN'T be possible! But it is -- AND IN COLOR -- LOTS OF THEM! The pulse-pounding, gamma-spawned action adventure continues!

Comments?

[Dr. Faust]

I have a few questions about Rick Jones.

1. How did Rick return to life?
2. When did he become the Abomination2?
3. How did this happen to him?
4. Does he still have his mind?
5. Wasn't he one of the people who couldn't possibly be mutated by Gamma because he doesn't have the required code and he almost died of Gamma poisoning the first time he had a bath of Gamma radiation?

[Russkafin]

Originally Posted by spidey_mon

5. Wasn't he one of the people who couldn't possibly be mutated by Gamma because he doesn't have the required code and he almost died of Gamma poisoning the first time he had a bath of Gamma radiation?

Not sure about that... Rick actually was the Hulk for awhile (or *a* Hulk, rather) back in Hulk #325 - 332... in #324 Rick fell into the nutrient bath with Dr. Banner as Doc Samson was attempting to re-merge Banner with the Hulk after they'd been separated. The result turned Banner into the gray Hulk, and Rick into a green Hulk. With a mullet. (Really.)

[Dr. Faust]

Originally Posted by Russkafin

Not sure about that... Rick actually was the Hulk for awhile (or *a* Hulk, rather) back in Hulk #325 - 332... in #324 Rick fell into the nutrient bath with Dr. Banner as Doc Samson was attempting to re-merge Banner with the Hulk after they'd been separated. The result turned Banner into the gray Hulk, and Rick into a green Hulk. With a mullet. (Really.)

Oh yeah...I saw that in Hulk:tas.
Why did they mix Banner with Hulk again? Did Hulk: tas do it true to the comics that Bruce was dying from the separation? Or they merged Bruce with Hulk for another reason in the comics?

[Russkafin]

Originally Posted by spidey_mon

Oh yeah...I saw that in Hulk:tas.
Why did they mix Banner with Hulk again? Did Hulk: tas do it true to the comics that Bruce was dying from the separation? Or they merged Bruce with Hulk for another reason in the comics?

I have not seen the animated episodes, but that is correct - Hulk and Banner were dying due to the separation and had to be re-merged.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Russkafin

I have not seen the animated episodes, but that is correct - Hulk and Banner were dying due to the separation and had to be re-merged.

Just out of curiosity - how did the story end in the comics? The first season of the cartoon ended with a cliffhanger as Banner turned into Grey Hulk and Jones was a green Hulk but the network got involved too much in season two and the show became utterly crap.

What happened to Rick in the comics, and how did Hulk eventually become green again?

[Russkafin]

Originally Posted by Stu

Just out of curiosity - how did the story end in the comics? The first season of the cartoon ended with a cliffhanger as Banner turned into Grey Hulk and Jones was a green Hulk but the network got involved too much in season two and the show became utterly crap.

What happened to Rick in the comics, and how did Hulk eventually become green again?

For some reason that I don't recall (it's been awhile since I read it), the Leader had slowly reverted back to human form and become Samuel Sterns again. He tracked down the gray Hulk and told him that if he would help him capture the green Rick Jones Hulk, he would help rid the gray Hulk of Bruce Banner forever so that he would always be the Hulk. The gray Hulk agreed, they captured the Rick Hulk together, and Sterns used the equipment in Bruce's lab to transfer the gamma energy from Rick into himself, turning himself back into the Leader and essentially curing Rick of being the Hulk. But, there was a power surge, the equipment exploded, and the lab was destroyed. The Leader escaped, of course not making good on his promise to help rid the gray Hulk of Banner.

The green version of the Bruce Banner Hulk did not re-emerge until issue #372. It was revealed that the green Hulk had still existed within Banner this whole time, but had been repressed inside Banner's mind by the gray Hulk. Banner was trying to catch up to Betty, who was leaving on a train, when he was stopped by Prometheus... he became enraged, and the green Hulk finally re-emerged. From that point on, the green and gray Hulks fought for dominance - sometimes he turned into one, sometimes the other, until #377 when Doc Samson merged all the personalities into one Hulk, the smart "Professor" Hulk.

[Dr. Faust]

Originally Posted by Russkafin

For some reason that I don't recall (it's been awhile since I read it), the Leader had slowly reverted back to human form and become Samuel Sterns again. He tracked down the gray Hulk and told him that if he would help him capture the green Rick Jones Hulk, he would help rid the gray Hulk of Bruce Banner forever so that he would always be the Hulk. The gray Hulk agreed, they captured the Rick Hulk together, and Sterns used the equipment in Bruce's lab to transfer the gamma energy from Rick into himself, turning himself back into the Leader and essentially curing Rick of being the Hulk. But, there was a power surge, the equipment exploded, and the lab was destroyed. The Leader escaped, of course not making good on his promise to help rid the gray Hulk of Banner.

They did this in tas as well. Looks like the animated story was too sticked to the original source.

[Lord Pumpkin]

I think I know who the Red Hulk is, but I'm not telling...yet.

[wonderfly]

What's up with the Green Hulk going back to speaking like a moron?!? I was actually enjoying this book up until the last page of this issue, (when Banner turned into the Hulk, and the Hulk spoke)...I was expecting to see the Hulk that we've seen for the last few years from Greg Pak, (and from Peter David before Pak).

Utterly disappointing that Loeb wants to take us back to the old "Hulk Smash!" Hulk...

[Xurk]

I, too, was disappointed by that final page... why exactly are we back to "Hulk talk like moron"? Is it because every time he turns into the Hulk is different, which would mean that the WWH Hulk hadn't been Banner for the past few years of stories [seeing how intelligent he was]?

This issue didn't really please me overall, as I was too confused most of the time. Aside from the above, I didn't understand why Rick Jones / A-Bomb was speaking exactly how the Hulk tends to and why Banner transformed anyway; wasn't the whole point of the gas to stop him transforming? I know he was holding his breath, but him speaking and coughing must have allowed some gas to get into his system.

Meh. I'm hoping next issue with Hulk VS Red Hulk provides for an exciting battle!

[Spider-Man]

This delayed battle has finally arrived! The Hulk Vs. The Hulk!

HULK #4



WRITER: Jeph Loeb
PENCILS: Ed McGuinness

THE STORY: This is it. The one you've been SMASHING for. The Green Hulk RETURNS! It's Green Hulk Vs. Red Hulk --but the real loser is the Planet Earth. There have been knock-down-dragger-outters in the Marvel Universe -- but nothing like this! Plus, who gave the Watcher such good seats??? If you read ONE comic book this month, it's gotta be HULK -- or SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES!

Comments?

[Stu]

Forgive me if this has been anwsered in the book already but why is Hulk speaking in his child like manner

Spoiler:

when he speaks with perfect clarity and has Banner's intelligence in this month's Fantastic Four?

[Russkafin]

Originally Posted by Stu

Forgive me if this has been anwsered in the book already but why is Hulk speaking in his child like manner

Spoiler:

when he speaks with perfect clarity and has Banner's intelligence in this month's Fantastic Four?

Has not been addressed yet.