Banner Done Right
Synopsis: The Hulk has been abolished from the persona of Bruce Banner although even Bruce Banner doesn't believe it to be true. Moonstone, the fake Ms. Marvel, feels like she has it on good authority that this is indeed the case and relays the message to Norman Osborn. Ares airs his clear skepticism about the the Hulk's demise. Osborn challenges the god of war to track down Bruce Banner and satisfy both of their curiosities by any means necessary. As it turns out Bruce is hiding himself in the New Mexico cave he'd created years ago to contain the Hulk at night. Rick Jones, as A-Bomb, finds him there citing some type of internal GPS the two of them share and his desire to support Bruce in pursuing the Red Hulk. Before Bruce can accept or deny this assitance Ares shows up and a knock down drag-out fight ensues. After dispatching with A-Bomb, Ares goes after Bruce. Bruce figures out a way to trap Ares in the cave while he and A-Bomb hightail it out of there. Ares makes it back to Osborn who is then satisfied that the Hulk is history. In a touching final scene Bruce and A-Bomb go their separate ways to find new directions in life.
My Thoughts: Wow. I loved it. We rarely get this kind of self contained story that still serves to move the overall plot to the next level. This story set out to tell its audience a very simple message __Bruce Banner can no longer become the Hulk____and boy did it come through. The fun part is that Loeb writes all characters true to form. He also tells us something about Bruce Banner character that should have been more obvious by now if one thinks about it. Bruce has been controlling his emotions for a long time. That aspect combined with his genius level intellect has evolved him to be a really cool and savvy son of a gun in his own right, capable of handling difficult situations quite deftly. Of course this would have to be the case, but, we rarely see it.
The pencils by Ed McGuinness are just what the doctor ordered, vivid with just enough cartoonish zest to handle A-Bomb. His facials are stellar and serve to convey emotions as if you were in the room with these characters. Tom Palmer (inks) and Dan Brown (colors) do a superb job of enhancing the art even though much of the story takes place in deep shadows.
Deac