Random Happenstance

Let's see here: although I read Incredible Hulk #340, I didn't start reading the title regularly until #345, and would stay until Peter David's last issue. (Although I would read the Joe Casey issues some time later.) Yet I haven't blogged a lot of those, even though it was probably my favorite or second-favorite Marvel book for most of its run: this issue came out the same week as Excalibur #67, Alan Davis's last issue; so it was about to take back the number-one spot. From 1993, Incredible Hulk #407, "More or Ness" Written by Peter David, pencils by Gary Frank, inks by Cam Smith.

Marlo Chandler was alive and herself again, and cheerily makes a phone call to her mom; while her burly brothers don't hold (much of) a grudge against Rick Jones for trying to fight them off to keep custody of her. She seems fine here, but might not be, but no time for that, as the Hulk has taken off, through a largish hole in the kitchen. He left a note for Doc Samson and Betty; which, Betty notices, he signed 'Hulk' then scribbled that out and put 'Bruce.' Either way, he's well on his way, to scenic Loch Ness! Two years before the Simpsons made it, in "Monty Can't Buy Me Love," which I'm mildly surprised at.

Retired and aged semi-immortal Pantheon member Perseus had called for help, after a monster sighting. The Hulk opted to take the call, reasoning "set a monster to catch a monster," but wonders if there wasn't more to it than that. He's self-aware enough to know, he's probably there because he's dodging Samson's fretting treatment and Betty's judgey-concern: he felt good about where he was, why didn't they? But, no time for introspection, monster attack! On a page with its Red Skull-esque red skull miscolored. The Hulk had just come off a poor showing against Juggernaut, but throws himself at the monster like he knew he could take it and expected an easy win. Instead, he's surprised first by the creature copying his face and old speech pattern, then by a shot from behind, by returning villain Madman! Calling the monster "Piecemeal," he approaches it like you would a skittish loose dog...to be continued, since the rest of this issue was "Ulysses," starting the origin/backstory of the Pantheon member. It's not bad, but I don't know if anyone really wanted it? Despite a number of appearances, the Pantheon would be phased out around 1996's Hulk #448, and I don't think they would appear again until 2010's Heroic Age: Prince of Power #1? A brief search found an article confirming some of the dates, but not giving any particular reason. Could've been a whim, knowing Peter David. Or, narratively he needed the Hulk to have little-to-no support system there, so...