ROGER STERN AND SAL BUSCEMA UNITE IN HULK MASTERWORKS!
Roger Stern and Sal Buscema plumb the depths of Marvel's most conflicted character to find what hope lies in the mind of the man cursed by the Incredible Hulk. They begin this round of Marvel classics with Bruce Banner cured of his gamma-powered alter ego. But without his green other half, how can Banner stop the Leader? It's a life-or-death fight that could mean that it's the Hulk, not Banner, who is free of his hated other half. Only Doc Samson can save the man inside the monster. Also featuring a Stern & Byrne Annual pitting Hulk, Iceman and Angel against the mile-high menace of Master Mold and a CAPTAIN AMERICA crossover battle with Moonstone.
Written by: Roger Stern with Peter B. Gillis, Elliot S! Maggin, David Michelinie, John Byrne, Roger McKenzie, David Anthony Kraft & Jim Salicrup
Penciled by: Sal Buscema with John Byrne & Jim Mooney
Cover by: Rich Buckler & Ernie Chan
Introduction by: Roger Stern
Collection Editor: Cory Sedlmeier
Collecting: INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #223-233, INCREDIBLE HULK ANNUAL (1968) #7; CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #230; MARVEL COMICS CALENDAR 1979; Material from MARVEL TREASURY EDITION (1974) #17
This is easily one of my favorites Hulk Masterworks. It’s Hulk at his funniest, most confused and almost accidentally savage. The collection of issues includes The Incredible Hulk Annual # 7. And I will read this any time it is in front of me.
Lots of Doc Samson trying to help Hulk, the introduction of a new Moonstone, who is one of the most casually awful people in Hulk’s rogues’ gallery. She happily ruins lives to achieve her ends.
At the time of these issues 1978-79, Bill Bixby’s version of the Hulk was smashing television ratings in the same way Hulk was smashing firs like Mastermold, and Leader, yet somehow the comic didn’t try to alter itself to reflect the show (aside from giving Bruce the first name Robert). This was a good decision by the folks at Marvel. It would have created an editorial mess, while provoking oodles of retconning in the future.
There isn’t much more to say. The Hulk in this collection a confused.but we’ll meaning monster that would like friends, but failing that, will take solitude and peace and quiet. If only anyone would grant those things.