The Immortal Hulk #14 - "We Only Meet at Funerals"

[laughing_tree]

The destructive beast Hulk feels more like an absence of Banner, like he's left the driving seat and all that power is running amok. I can see how that could be visually interesting - especially what Joe's take on it would be, that gives me ideas - but it's not something I'd want as a long-term status quo, because it's clearly not as interesting to me as the Hulk as a genuine second (or third, or fourth, or fifth) personality. And that's probably my issue with the "Hulkspeak" childlike Hulk as well, he's just too safe, too mapped and explored. Our Hulk feels like new territory, like Banner's generated this new version to cope with his own death and resurrection, and we're kind of mapping and exploring him as we go. -- Al Ewing

Comments

[nyadnar17]

How? How? Is this book so weird and unsettling?

[beyondthefringe]

So the underlying message is that everyone who's been affected by gamma is unable to die under certain circumstances, which is why Bruce -always- comes back, Betty is coming back as soon as she dies in this issue (and why she's come back before), why Doc Samson randomly returned from the dead (a great explanation of a previously unexplained resurrection.) This is also why Walter (Sasquatch) could die and return earlier in the series.

Extrapolation: Thunderbolt Ross will return sooner or later (hell, he's already died multiple times as noted in this issue). More importantly, Rick Jones can and will return eventually... and we may not like it when it happens.

Scary further extrapolation: everyone involved in Hulked Out Heroes is now immortal.

Logical thought: You have to have been gamma-irradiated for a certain amount of time, or have a certain amount in your system, in order for the resurrection clause. If you're drained completely, it won't work. However, if you happen to be part of the Hulk's supporting cast, you're screwed anyway. :) And Al Ewing knows it.

[nyadnar17]

Man I feel dumb. Didn't even think of that.

Now I am wondering at the importance of Betty's eyes being green before turning red. They spent a whole panel on it so I am guessing that important.

[thehood]

And Rick Jones himself has died multiple times.

[bruinsfan]

Didn't they establish decades ago that Rick had vast latent psychic abilities, maybe rivaling those of Franklin Richards? He might not need a gamma connection to come back from the dead.

[thehood]

It probably helps though.

[malitia]

"More importantly, Rick Jones can and will return eventually... and we may not like it when it happens."

They find his empty grave in the next issue soooooo... yeah.

[laughing_tree]

Please don't be so casual with spoilers.

[roxas832]

I hope this leads to Red She Hulk coming back.

[starwolf_oakley]

Cheated on her? When?

Unless Bruce considers himself still married to Betty. Then, uh, yes.

[thanekos]

In between Bushwhacker and that unfortunate gleeful jerk scientist, I'm starting to think Shadow Base selects its operatives/personnel on the grounds of " How funny would it be if the Hulk did things to you? "

[scorntx]

Totally subscribing to that as headcanon now.

(Does explain why they've got those monitor people recording everything.
"The ad revenue will solve our budget problems forever!")

[silverhammerman]

Relieved to see Betty coming back from the dead like, immediately. For a moment reading this I was afraid we'd have a similar thing to X-Men: Legacy where an otherwise solid and thoughtful series just has a completely random and wasteful fridging for no good reason

Anyway, I sure do love Immortal Hulk.

[scorntx]

You really thought Al Ewing would fridge someone?

[nyadnar17]

Al Ewing is a good catch....but I am damaged. Lot of history here, not Ewing's fault and I appreciate him being gentle,understanding of my baggage.

[thehood]

I appreciate that Ewing has her come back in this very issue and seemingly repowered.

[locuatico]

fet the same when Ewing seemingly "killed" crusher... only to have him be alive and well almost immediatly.
At this point, I feel any major "death" in this series will be undone almost immediatly

[beyondthefringe]

And in a series called The Immortal Hulk, it's still not as far-fetched or annoying as when some writers do it.

[thehood]

To be fair, he had "died" before showing up in Immortal Hulk too.

[locuatico]

yes, but ahmed actually waited sometime before bringing him back, even giving him a funeral and all (and may have waited more had the series alsted longer). with Immortal Hulk, Crusher was "dead" for one issue

[shadowpsykie]

isn't Rick "dead dead"


I am not sure I like Betty hating Bruce... but YAY for Red Shulk back! also I HATE Broken Bruce... I thought Bruce and the hulk had come to an understanding last issue.