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Immortal Hulk #26: Review

Nov 2019
Al Ewing, Joe Bennett

Story Name:

Status Quo Ante

Review & Comments

Rating:
4.5 stars

Immortal Hulk #26 Review by (November 6, 2019)

Review: And the comic heads off into a new direction: horror Hulk now becomes the Crusading Hulk, with all the potential for massive harm that accompanies anything he does. Bruce Banner’s pessimism and despair at the plight of the modern world looks like it will inform the series nicely as Hulk goes off to smash Roxxon, a company in severe need of smashing led by a CEO whose obnoxious qualities beg for a punch in the face (or several). And we learn that while Doc Samson and Amadeus Cho can’t quite get with Bruce’s agenda, Dr McGowan is a big fan and Namor the Sub-Mariner (coming across as a much nicer guy than in the current INVADERS) is a supporter. Can’t wait to see where this goes.

Comments: I had to move some incidents around to make the synopsis easier to follow, gathering like scenes which are intercut in the issue. The title is Latin for “the previously existing state of affairs.” The Minotaur/Dario Agger, head of Roxxon, was a frequent villain in Jason Aaron’s Thor run, moving over to WEAPON H and most recently seen in WAR OF THE REALMS. Brief cameos by Iron Man and Rick Jones. And Bruce Banner does not become Hulk in the course of the issue.






 

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Immortal Hulk #26 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Bruce Banner reveals his manifesto to the media: he explains that he is now in control of the Shadow Base, with their billion-dollar budget from the military, designed to create weapons. He uses the term “disaster capitalism” to describe the rich and powerful profiting from catastrophes. The human world is destroying itself to benefit a few and that’s the world that he wants to end. So Hulk will go on a rampage against a particular entity who thinks they are getting away with their crimes….

At a Massachusetts diner, Bruce meets with Amadeus Cho (in his Brawn form) who saw the manifesto and wants to know what Bruce is doing. Bruce is optimistic about his program but Amadeus is leery: which Hulk is in control?  Green Scar and Professor Hulk are dormant. Bruce thinks the human world can’t be saved and that the heroes are helpless to change things. He can’t save the world but he can smash the things that need to be smashed. But the Hulk is a blunt instrument that needs to be targeted. And the problem is a lack of consequences for the powerful. But what if someone could make the big corporations pay? Amadeus tells Bruce he doesn’t want any part of this and walks out. The diner’s counterman is revealed to be the Sub-Mariner who is working with him….

The manifesto is covered in the news, on political talk shows, and every type of programming, all on ROXXNews. Politicians weigh in, urban fighters inspired by Banner, Dr. McGowan has her criminal past exposed, radio hosts stir up their listeners, political cartoons take sides…

Doc Samson and Dr. Charlene McGowan discuss Amadeus’ concept of Hulk Syndrome, that Gamma mutation creates symptoms similar to Dissociative Identity Disorder. McGowan likes the new state of affairs as they are learning about the Hulk—and she thinks he’s right….

In Arizona, Jackie McGee meets with her editor and the head of the legal department: they debate the issues involved in Jackie’s being part of the Hulk’s team while supposedly reporting on it. The government has subcontracted anti-Hulk operations to Roxxon….

At Roxxon, Dario Agger in his Minotaur form addresses his board, telling him that they were involved in the War of the Realms, taking sides against humanity—and there were no consequences. So now he will act openly because nobody cares….



Joe Bennett
Ruy Jose
Paul Mounts
Alex Ross (Cover Penciler)
Alex Ross (Cover Inker)
Alex Ross (Cover Colorist)


Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Bruce Banner
Bruce Banner

(Robert Bruce Banner)
Doc Samson
Doc Samson

(Leonard Samson)
Jackie McGee
Jackie McGee

(Jacqueline McGee)
Minotaur
Minotaur

(Dario Agger)

Plus: Brawn (Amadeus Cho).

> Immortal Hulk: Book info and issue index

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