His Love is Real, Hulk, even if he is not!

Um, actually, I've never seen A.I. I'm not sure why, but I'm not sure if I thought Kubrick and Spielberg were two great tastes that taste great together. But, it was an easy joke, and surprisingly fitting for this one: Incredible Hulk #127, "Mogol!" Written by Roy Thomas, art by Herb Trimpe.

Bruce Banner, still hunted by the army, is thinking, "Things have got to get better...'cause there's no way to go but up!" when he gets hit by a truck so hard that his pants change color. (They're blue, "borrowed Levis" on the first page; the Hulk's traditional purple pants thereafter.) Of course, this triggers the transformation into the Hulk, and a fairly justifiable rampage. As Hulk stomps along, he notices two bystanders disappear, then some cops vanish as well. Since everyone that's disappeared hates him, Hulk reasons whoever did that must be his only friend. Yeah, good thinking, Hulk.

Deep beneath the earth, long-time Hulk foe Tyrannus is behind the disappearances with his poorly-aimed teleport beam. You remember Tyrannus. Come on, I think he was the villain in the Byrne issues of the current, new Hulk series. No? Um, he's like the Mole Man and fights him sometimes with his army of subterraneans. Except Tyrannus is prettier, is trying to get control of the Fountain of Youth, and is a total dick. But with a kickass helmet. Tyrannus figures Hulk is looking for a friend, and summons his mightiest warrior, Mogol.

Mogol doesn't have any memory, and only remembers that Tyrannus is his king. He's bigger and different than any of the other subterraneans, and Tyrannus sends him to bring back the Hulk, to help fight the Mole Man. Back on the surface, people are running away from the Hulk, leaving him alone as he's always wanted, but feeling sad. Mogol offers the Hulk friendship, but probably shouldn't have mentioned Tyrannus, whom the Hulk remembers is a dick. They fight for several pages, wrecking up several buildings, the street, the subway track, and a lot of walls. Finally, since Mogul is unharmed, and Hulk knows Mogol can't hurt him, Hulk decides to take a chance and be Mogol's friend. And just like a lot of new friendships, it involves moving somebody's stuff.



Hulk and Mogol get to work setting up Tyrannus' army and weapons, then they all head off to attack the city of the Mole Man. Hulk still doesn't like Tyrannus, but is so happy to have a friend that he doesn't care. So, if you're looking for a willing accomplice for war crimes, you might consider giving the Hulk a ring. Bring beans.

For his part, the Mole Man is ready to fight back, and the one subterranean we've ever seen talk gets a line: "But we know Mogol's secret, o master!" As the two now-uniformed armies of little Moloids fight, Mogol and Hulk are stomping through the forces easily, until Mogol is hit by a heat ray. Mogol isn't hurt, but the wound isn't flesh and blood, but metal, and even Hulk knows that means Mogol is a robot. Mogol didn't even know he was a robot, and had been completely genuine in his friendship, but Hulk isn't having it, and rips Mogol in half. In a surprisingly understanding move, Mogol points out he could still pummel Hulk, but won't. Hulk then obliterates Mogol down to his CPU or voicebox or whatever.

Cold, Hulk, cold. Even though Mogol had been a big part of his army, Tyrannus gets a pretty big laugh out of his destruction. He manages to convice Hulk to demolish the Mole Man's city, but Hulk immediately leaves in a huff, and Tyrannus knows it's not looking good. Hulk smashes Tyrannus' (deserted) city as well, and then leaves, wondering if he should've maybe not smashed his only friend, fake, robot, or otherwise. Yeah, probably not, man. It would be slightly more shocking if Hulk had ripped Rick Jones or Jim Wilson in half, though, so you can probably blame poor Mogol's death on the Comic Code's robot-discriminatory policies.

The cover for this issue also promised "Not one--not two--but three of Marvel's most sinister super-villains!" Mole Man's in this for about three panels. Tyrannus barely qualifies as a super-villain, he's more like a huge prick. And Mogol's just wanted to be Hulk's friend. And kill the Mole Man. Iffy on that one. Read more!

Weirder than I remembered, which was pretty weird.

I know I had this one as a kid, or at least had access to it; perhaps at a babysitter's or some such: from 1980, Incredible Hulk #243, "Death--and Destiny!" Plot by Roger Stern, script by Steven Grant, art by Sal Buscema, with Roy Thomas as "Celestial Advisor."

In the fabled city of El Dorado, the Hulk and his accidental sidekick, the gimmicked-up thief called Goldbug; are wrapping up a battle with long-time Hulk-hassler Tyrannus. In yet another attempt at immortality, Tyrannus has merged with the "Flame of Life," and while he's losing control, he's gambling that if he drains the Hulk's life, he could control the Flame again. In surprisingly short order, the Hulk wrecks up the machinery controlling the Flame, and as a fireball Tyrannus is launched into space. (He'd be back. I don't why he was so hung up on immortality, since he runs into the Hulk all the time, seemingly dies almost every time, and always comes back.) The sole witness to Tyrannus's space shot, is Gammenon, the first of the Fourth Host of the Celestials! (They weren't kidding about Roy Thomas there!) It's written like Gammenon just shrugs it off, like it wasn't anywhere near the weirdest thing he'd seen today...

With Tyrannus gone, the Hulk remembers Goldbug was due a bit of an asskicking as well, but realizes they are standing on some sort of transporter pad, and they are beamed back to the sewers of New York City. Meanwhile, the surviving citizens of El Dorado set out to build a new city, without tyrants or keepers, and head into the vast caverns. They of course are never seen again. (Actually, they were, but it probably didn't go great for them.)

Goldbug is thrilled to be back in civilization, but the Hulk isn't about to let him off so easily. Fleeing topside, Goldbug can't believe his luck as he realizes he's only two blocks from his penthouse...and runs into Power Man and Iron Fist! Luke remarks "What sewer did you crawl out of?" as he and Danny take him in; with none of them noticing the Hulk tear his way through a manhole and then start jumping out of the city.

And the rest of this issue is subplots and continuity patches! Former Hulk companion (they should be called that, like Dr. Who!) Fred Sloan is interviewing Betty Ross for an upcoming book, and his friend Trish Starr (Nighthawk's ex-fiance and Egghead's niece, we mentioned her forever ago) gets him on the Mike Douglas Show with special musical guest Rick Jones! In Arizona, a newly reassigned Agent Clay Quartermain says his goodbyes, including to Gamma Base's new commander--Colonel Glenn Talbot! Clay worries that Glenn rrrrrreally hates the Hulk, which could cause problems; and Glenn pledges to stop the Hulk, by any means necessary. Meanwhile, the Hulk appears in eight comics in two pages: they recap a half year's worth of Defenders, and Daredevil #163. The latter is another of DD's traditional "victories" that involve fighting a much-more powerful foe to a standstill stout beating about DD's head and face.

I remembered Goldbug, and flaming Tyrannus, but that was about all I did recall about this one. In fact, Goldbug I only remembered because in another comic about that same time, he seemingly drowned in an accident that seemed to be completely ignored by everyone. Crime doesn't pay, I suppose...


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Ugh, I still can't see it, but if that's what she likes...

I don't like Jonathan Hickman's charts and diagrams, but I was just thinking I could almost use some to try and picture some of this continuity: how long were Betty and Bruce married, then how long was she dead, then how long was she Red She-Hulk before talking to Bruce? That might help the reader get where she's coming from this issue: from 2011, the Incredible Hulks #626, "The Spy Who Smashed Me, part one: When in Rome" Written by Greg Pak, pencils by Tom Grummett, inks by Cory Hamscher.

Bruce had apparently thought he and Betty could get back together again, but that may have been jumping the gun: Betty doesn't seem to want anything to do with him. Or the army, as she smashes a truck. She's then approached by someone dressed as a "gladiator," which she thinks is Bruce cosplaying from Planet Hulk, but it's actually Tyrannus. (We saw the next issue some time back, but Dale pointed out Betty could feel sympathetic towards him from Incredible Hulk Annual #17. OK, he kidnapped her and bitchslapped Rick, but still.) Man, I've even seen Tyrannus wearing that helmet before on the blog; and I didn't think he usually got that kitted out: he wasn't a lead-from-the-front kind of guy. 

Meanwhile, Bruce and his brainiac fan Amadeus Cho are wondering what to do about Betty, who may be smashing stuff just to smash stuff. Uh, no: Bruce admits, the house she smashed was the last place they lived together. So it's somewhat understandable? Feel like if Bruce smashed something like that in an emotional fit, it wouldn't even be mentioned. But Betty was now in Italy, and Cho explains her gamma power may be shifting: if she changes three or four more times, she wouldn't be able to change back. Is...is that bad? Jen didn't seem to have a problem with it. Maybe warn Betty that could happen, but the choice should be hers. Somewhat typically, Bruce opts to go alone on this one, with any other Hulks: Jen, Rick, Skaar...I was already concerned this was another of Marvel's periodic contractions, where they decide to rollback to a lone hero and phase out auxiliary versions, like your Scarlet Spiders, Beta Ray Bills, War Machines. The original She-Hulk would be a prime example, but Jen had been around since 1979 and feels more central than most: Jame Rhodes predates her by a year, but wouldn't be Iron Man or War Machine until 1983 and 1993, respectively. Technically, Ben Reilly predates them both? But, we're getting off-topic.

With an unstable-molecule tux and some gear from Amadeus, Bruce heads over to Italy, and finds Betty the center of attention at a museum bash. (I like that Grummett draws her somewhat more petitely, possibly to contrast with Red: there are times in Peter David's Hulk run where Betty is as built as any superhero!) Bruce steps in, but immediately kills the mood by bringing up her gamma levels. Betty's a little buzzed, but also there with Tyrannus: Amadeus warns Bruce that his credentials for the party check out, but can't talk Bruce out of Hulking out at the sight of Betty and "Rommy" dancing. Still, not wanting Betty to do the same, he takes off outside, to get shot at by the cops. Betty takes a healthy drink, but that may be part of the plan: Tyrannus lets the Hulk see him carrying the unconscious Betty, then tells Hulk she was locked in the museum's vault...I didn't think the Hulk was dumb anymore, Bruce.

Tyrannus and Betty played Bruce, to get into the vault, then Red She-Hulk knocks him out. They leave the Hulk to take the rap, as Amadeus tries to figure out what was stolen: Pandora's Box. 

Betty still had another crossover before getting depowered; and she and Bruce may have tried to reconcile again: Bruce may have wrecked that one, but Betty was still upset when he died in Civil War II. I see why she turned into the Harpy in Immortal Hulk: way more body horror in that image. But I wouldn't mind seeing her as Red She-Hulk again, and maybe happy? Happier?

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The chapter of Atlantis Attack reminding me I'm missing three chapters.

This issue takes place after Punisher Annual #2, but mentions a previous chapter I don't have handy, the next chapter I'm not sure I remember, and I know there's another one in there somewhere. From 1989, Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #9, featuring "The Serpent in the Shadow" Written by Gerry Conway, pencils by Dave Ross, inks by Andy Mushynsky and Mike Gustovich.

The Punisher and Moon Knight had run across Viper at a "Save Our Society" addiction clinic, but this time we meet the clinic's head, Dr. Tyrone. He seems like a nondescript blonde fellow, but he's really long-time Hulk foe Tyrannus! Who seems to have some new powers after his run-in with the Flame of Life, including a bit of mesmerism. Which is how he's able to get Cloak under his power, when the hero comes to the clinic for his addition, to the light of Dagger. Tyrannus kidnaps Dagger, and forces Cloak to recover "the book of Kell," for some choice forbidden mystical knowledge. When Tyrannus sics a serpent-man on Cloak, he snaps out of it; but Tyrannus not only has piles of snake-guys there, he's franchised his clinic to over two hundred locations! (Cloak is also helped out, though he doesn't see it, by that mysterious armored figure we keep seeing. And who I think I spoiled before, but keep it under your hat.)

Spider-Man is also there, having run into Cloak checking out the clinic before; but also having recognized a tattoo on one of the clinic workers as being from the Sons of the Serpent. While Cloak escapes with a feverish Dagger, Spidey discovers junkies being turned into serpent-men, and is hypnotized by Tyrannus and surrounded by them!

This would be immediately continued in Daredevil Annual #4 (it's really #5!), which I'm frantically digging for now...Also this ish, a Prowler back-up with very McFarlane-style art (it's Scott McDaniel) and a Mary Jane Watson feature tied into the then-current storyline of a rich stalker getting the Parkers blacklisted everywhere. And another chapter of "the Saga of the Serpent Crown," that says it's based on a John Byrne story, but I don't know from where.
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When I found today's chapter of Atlantis Attacks in the quarter bin, I also grabbed Avengers Annual #18 and Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #9 since I might not have...totally blogged those already. All part of the method! From 1999, Daredevil Annual #4 (it's really #5!) "A Friend in Need" Written by Gerry Conway, pencils by Mark Bagley, inks by Sam de la Rosa.

Spider-Man had been hypnotized and captured by Tyrannus in the aforementioned previous chapter, but this issue starts in Daredevil's current continuity, namely walking the earth like a bum, around about Daredevil #268. On reflex more than anything, DD saves a man from getting killed by snake-men: the man, Leo, was on the trail of his missing friend Wally, who had gone into the "Save Our Society" rehab program, which was a front for Tyrannus! Who should probably have his own tag, since we've seen him multiple times over the years, even outside of this crossover.

Daredevil isn't willing to further help Leo, since at this point he really didn't want to be responsible for anything. Which Dr. Strange finds a little out of character: he had been believed dead for some time, but DD doesn't seem especially surprised to see him. Still, even at this low point, Daredevil still has to help. Meanwhile, Tyrannus was planning to step around Ghaur and take the forefront in Set's return, by using the Viper as a human sacrifice. Unfortunately for him, while his plan allows him to summon and control Set (and Spider-Man has a fair handle on Daredevil) Tyrannus loses concentration on controlling Viper, and gets tossed into the pentagram with the demon, which seemingly takes a bite out of his head. While it's feeding, Strange casts it out, the place explodes and the serpent-men are returned to normal. (Viper makes the traditional escape.) Spidey is also freed, but Strange disappears without him seeing, telling DD no one but him will remember him being there. Leo finds his friend, who doesn't want to go home, and tells him they weren't friends, they were drinking buddies. Harsh.

There's a Frenz/Sinnott cover on this ish, that makes it seem like it's going to be more retro: DD doesn't have his beleaguered stubble, or Strange his eyepatch. The interior art is slightly more gritty, but not much. Bagley also penciled "the Saga of the Serpent Crown," but there were bigger names in the back-ups: Jim Lee on a Wild Boys story--they were two trashy recurring thugs; they had nothing on Turk. (And they may have just recently died in Old Man Logan #44!) John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson draw a Fat Boys story: they were a kid skate gang, and kind of suck. And Whilce Portacio does a Ben Urich story; all of these were written and colored by Gregory Wright.


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I need to get back on Immortal Hulk: I think I got a deal on the first couple trades; and I may have a random issue here and there. It feels like a million years since I read Hulk regularly; I wasn't for today's book, either. From 2011, the Incredible Hulks #628, "Live and Let Smash" Written by Greg Pak, pencils by Tom Grummett, inks by Cory Hamscher.

As the title may indicate, this was midway through a spy-style romp featuring the Hulk in a tux, teamed up with his ex, Red-She Hulk. The latter had been "romanced" to aid Tyrannus, in search of Pandora's Box; which is super-gross: I remember him kidnapping Betty back in Hulk Annual #17. He's not a likable character, even for a villain: the recap page calls him out as "the kind of guy who has a bust of himself." When the Hulk needs to get madder to get stronger, Tyrannus points out he "didn't just dance with Betty."

Hulk and Red kiss before the end of this one, when Tyrannus predictably double-crosses them and attacks; and I don't think I'm spoiling anything to say their relationship was not going to go forward smoothly. From the next issue page, it looked like Red Hulk had a book at the time, but Red She-Hulk didn't: I know she's probably more than a bit deriviative, but I like the idea of Betty having something to do. Just, like, not with Tyrannus. Read more!

Another Liefeld chapter? Wouldn't have bet on that.

He also drew the New Mutants chapter we blogged over a year ago, now I'm wondering if he worked on any of the Atlantis Attacks chapters we haven't seen yet. From 1989, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #23, "Abominations" Plot by Gerry Conway, script by David Michelinie, pencils by Rob Liefeld, inks by Tim Dzon, James Brock, Curtis, Vince Mielcarek, and Keith Williams.

Lord Ghaur and Llyra's big plan to bring back elder god Set continues to move along, and this issue they're bringing in another conspirator, longtime Hulk foe Tyrannus. Who, while not having his own tag, has been mentioned multiple times on the blog but is rarely scanned. We've seen him turned into a geezer, merged with the Flame of Life and launched into space, and today he's the Abomination? When did that happen? He was in the Abomination's body, while Emil Blonsky was human; Llyra and Ghaur waste little time switching them back. The enraged Blonsky, back in his monstrous body, then proceeds to go on the rampage in New York City; and Spider-Man and She-Hulk try to stop him. I'm not sure if this is always the case, but I've often thought She-Hulk doesn't find Spidey funny in the slightest, and may even find him a bit annoying...

There are several She-Hulk panels that look alike to me, and I wonder if Liefeld copied himself! Anyway, Ghaur takes a second to tag a briefly unconscious She-Hulk with "the Mark of Set!" She-Hulk later hits Abomination with a gasoline truck, setting him on fire, and he jumps in the river and disappears. Meanwhile, Tyrannus is bringing in another conspirator, the Viper; setting up Punisher Annual #2.

This will be the ninth chapter blogged here, and I know I have another scheduled! The missing ones are going to be a bear now, though. Off the top of my head...the misnumbered Daredevil Annual, Iron Man Annual #10, um...Web of Spider-Man Annual #5, and I forgot West Coast Avengers Annual #4! I thought I had done that one already, actually.

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Got this issue (or another copy of it!) for 12 cents, and even on that sliding scale...it's still not very good. From 1991, Avengers Annual #20, "A Storm in Subterranea part 1: Of Moles and Mutates" Story by Roy and Dann Thomas, pencils by Kevin West, inks by Fred Fredericks.

This issue's lineup of Avengers seems odd to me, like it was the roster for about 20 minutes in the 90's: maybe it was longer, but I don't recollect seeing this particular grouping again! It's also surprisingly overpowered for an Avengers roster. Hercules had even been powered down at that point, but the Eternal Sersi more than makes up for that. There was also Quasar, in his masked costume: if you read his comic, that outfit was a retroactive addition to the timeline; but it was also pretty short-lived. There's the (white, emotionless) Vision; She-Hulk, probationary members Sandman and Rage; and Captain America and Black Widow. And the Widow has a white costume, for some reason. (Coloring failure? I thought her outfit at the time was more dark grey in the coloring of the era.)

This was the kickoff for Subterranean Wars, and tries to set up Brutus as the big-bad, since he has the usual underground rulers Tyrannus, Grotesk, and the Mole Man on the run. Instead, the effect is more like "Oooh, someone scared the Mole Man? Why, they must be hardcore!" Actually, as far as guys living underground, Moley seems pretty reasonable: after getting trounced repeatedly trying to take over the world, he's somewhat resigned to keeping his little Moloid subjects and assorted Kirby monsters safe. He's certainly more personable than Tyrannus or Grotesk. (That might even be Grotesk II, I think the original died hassling the original X-Men?)

While Cap and Widow tag out, ostensibly to get the Fantastic Four in on this thing (Spoiler: they don't!) the rest of the Avengers are somehow captured, where they would spend most of the rest of this crossover. Previously, we saw Namor was about to try and get them, but got sidetracked. Oof, we're actually over halfway through this thing: we took a peek at the Hulk's chapter years ago, without mentioning Subterranean Wars at all...time to update the tags!
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Wine cellars aren't safe from the Mole Man? What next, parking garages?

From Fantastic Four #128, "Death in a Dark and Lonely Place!" Written and edited by Roy Thomas, art by John Buscema, inks by Joe Sinnott. Other things, besides wine cellars, that the Mole Man has complete access to from his underground kingdom:
1. Subway tokens
2. Pirated cable
3. My comics, since that's the only explanation I can think of for not being able to find that issue of Quasar I was looking for. You made a powerful enemy today, Moley...

This is the conclusion to the Thing's quest to get a cure for blindness from the Mole Man, with a little sidetrip into Moley's upcoming wedding to the above Kala. Kala double-crosses Moley and frees ex-ruler and current man-pretty slave Tyrannus, who promptly double-crosses Kala. All of which makes it extra-anti-climactic when Ben shakes down Moley for the blindness cure he totally doesn't have.

The Fantastic Four manage to escape without the Mole Man's usual parting shot at them, because he's down about being betrayed by his bride-to-be. Or losing his favorite man-slave. Whichever. Read more!

"The End" week: Incredible Hulk #474

Joe Casey drew the short straw when he got the writing assignment for the Incredible Hulk...after Peter David's decade-plus stint. Casey's last issue would be the last of the series, which would be relaunched a month later with John Byrne; but let's look at Incredible Hulk #474, "The Great Astonishment, conclusion: It's All True!" Written by Joe Casey, art by Javier Pulido and Sean Parsons.

The issue opens rather candidly, with Casey himself taking a call from editor Matt Idelson:

It's a bit 'man-behind-the-curtain," but it was big of Casey to own up to having trouble wrapping up his storyline and the series.

In-story, Bruce Banner and the alien Qnax are taking fire in their attempt to recover the Ultimate Machine. Following his pet, they catch up with the Watcher (and I don't believe that it's Uatu, but one of his race) who then destroys the Machine; or what they thought was the Machine: the true Ultimate Machine is the core of the Watcher homeworld, and not just the accumulated knowledge of the universe, but also "a house of truth."

Meanwhile, back on earth, General 'Thunderbolt' Ross faces down the Abomination, who just dropped the bombshell that Betty didn't die from radiation poisoning caused by the Hulk, the Abomination poisoned her.

The Watcher gives a vague warning about the Machine, but Qnax, desperate to save his people, goes in. Banner is equally desperate, but has a more esoteric question: why. Bruce goes in, and has a moment seemingly taken from his childhood.

Somehow, after a tussle with an Oscar the Grouch-analog and a gamma bomb explosion, Banner seems to have had an epiphany. Qnax was not as lucky, realizing the elders of his people used him as a pawn in their quest for power. The Watcher then breaks up the planet that he made, since another alien race was attacking it, and returns everyone to where they belong: Qnax to try and bring justice to his people, and Bruce to get the final answers on earth.

Back on earth, the Abomination explains to Ross how he killed Betty by substituting his blood for her transfusion...now, as Emil Blonsky, he had been a pretty good spy, but how the hell a huge, ugly green monster was able to mess with her blood supply without being noticed, I have no idea. He also explains he treated the blood with "undetectable, albeit lethal chemicals," and while Betty's death was regrettable, they had to feel the pain he did over losing his wife Nadia. (Interestingly, Nadia wasn't dead, and eventually Bruce slept with her; hopefully not just for revenge...)

The Hulk arrives in time to start pounding on Abomination, but Ross stops them, and the army surrounds them. Denied his victory, the Abomination leaps away; and Ross grudgingly lets Banner off the hook...if Banner won't let himself off.

Banner gives Ross the chance to kill him, but Ross declines since Betty loved him too. In the end, Banner is back on the road, with "absolutely no plans," but feeling like his life was "a sphere of chaos" and not wanting anyone too close to him. And Ross visits the cryogenically frozen body of Betty, to take his share of responsibility as well; although Betty knew about the danger of her life with Banner as well, and stayed to the end.

While I did like this issue, it's nowhere near the level of Peter David's last issue, but Casey didn't have the same history with the characters and may not have been given enough time to prep, either: I get the feeling the space adventure with Qnox might've been planned as one issue, with the Abomination/Ross/Hulk confrontation another storyline. A month later, the new Hulk #1 went in the direction Marvel had tried to steer David, more "Hulk Smash" than the book had been in years. I think lower-tier Hulk baddie Tyrannus was responsible for the Hulk's backslide, but I don't recall. Casey's Hulk I remember though.
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