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The Incredible Hulk (1968) #373-382
The Incredible Hulk Visionaries: Peter David, Vol. 6
A third of the way into his remarkable run, Peter David introduced one of his most influential contributions to the Hulk's career: the Pantheon David's dynamic demigods hit the scene just as the Hulk's finally getting his head together, no matter how many personalities are inside it It's a circus in there, and what's a circus without...a Ringmaster? Plus: a Skrull invasion (another one?); Christmas with the Rhino; and the short, tragic career of Crazy Eight Guest-starring Doc Samson and Nick Fury Collects Incredible Hulk #373-382.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2009
11 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Peter David
3,579 books1,368 followersaka David Peters
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 9, 2023
Best volume yet. Bruce finally sits the two hulks down and decides to break down how they can work together.
Them tearing each other up, Bruce dealing with his past, his abusive father, the death of his mom. All great stuff handled really well thanks to the solid art. I also loved the Rhino vs Hulk issue on Christmas, funny as hell. And the ending to this, letting professor hulk become our lead hero now is a new twist.
A 4.5 out of 5.
Them tearing each other up, Bruce dealing with his past, his abusive father, the death of his mom. All great stuff handled really well thanks to the solid art. I also loved the Rhino vs Hulk issue on Christmas, funny as hell. And the ending to this, letting professor hulk become our lead hero now is a new twist.
A 4.5 out of 5.
December 22, 2018
Yet another status-quo change for the Hulk. This time, his green, gray, and Banner personalities merge into a Hulk that has the best of everything. He also joins up with the Pantheon in this volume.
Seeing as how the last few volumes had the Hulk fight Hulk Hogan and get AIDS, this was refreshingly normal (or at least as normal as Peter David gets with the Hulk).
Seeing as how the last few volumes had the Hulk fight Hulk Hogan and get AIDS, this was refreshingly normal (or at least as normal as Peter David gets with the Hulk).
January 8, 2022
To a degree the Peter David Hulk run was flattered by the comics around it - Marvel simply wasn’t putting much out in 1990-91 that had a coherent plot, a solid cast and a long term plan. Read now it’s still good but you don’t get the feeling of simple gratitude some readers had back then for a comic that got the basics right.
This volume introduces the three elements that defined the middle stretch of David’s run - the ‘Professor Hulk’, the Pantheon, and Dale Keown. Keown is an instant hit - his clean lines, handsome faces and penchant for unzipped jumpsuits make the story change feel like the start of something new, which is half the battle. The Professor Hulk works pretty well too - he’s an alpha dick, but David is the first writer to realise that the Hulk can work a bit like Doctor Who, and that “who IS this version and can we trust him?” is a good motor for initial stories.
And then there’s the Pantheon, whose internecine squabbles will take up a hell of a lot of space going forward. They’re a weird lot in a shared universe sense - it’s hard to think of a creation which was so integral to such a well-loved run but so completely ignored after. And they need a lot of set-up to establish the various roles and rivalries: David candidly titles one whole issue “Exposition”. But while they don’t make for thrilling reading they do work structurally - unknowns for the new Hulk to bounce off, sometimes literally, and something for him to do while the Hulk/Banner situation stays resolved.
This volume introduces the three elements that defined the middle stretch of David’s run - the ‘Professor Hulk’, the Pantheon, and Dale Keown. Keown is an instant hit - his clean lines, handsome faces and penchant for unzipped jumpsuits make the story change feel like the start of something new, which is half the battle. The Professor Hulk works pretty well too - he’s an alpha dick, but David is the first writer to realise that the Hulk can work a bit like Doctor Who, and that “who IS this version and can we trust him?” is a good motor for initial stories.
And then there’s the Pantheon, whose internecine squabbles will take up a hell of a lot of space going forward. They’re a weird lot in a shared universe sense - it’s hard to think of a creation which was so integral to such a well-loved run but so completely ignored after. And they need a lot of set-up to establish the various roles and rivalries: David candidly titles one whole issue “Exposition”. But while they don’t make for thrilling reading they do work structurally - unknowns for the new Hulk to bounce off, sometimes literally, and something for him to do while the Hulk/Banner situation stays resolved.
April 21, 2018
Been reading the Hulk on and off since he first came out in the 1960s. I had read a few of this storyline but not all and so I was glad to get the chance to see this heralded storyline. I was both impressed and NOT impressed.
I was impressed with the Hulk/Banner/Fixit battle for supremacy. Well handled, well written, interesting and imaginative.
I was less than impressed with the handling of Betty Ross Banner and Rick Jones. Jones has none of the intelligence he showed in the early years as Hulk's "keeper", Cap's partner or Mar'vell's switch hitter. He is portrayed as an idiot plain and simple once he is with Betty and his new girlfriend. He's a little better before that but the change in him is unwarranted.
Betty is a horror story gone wrong. In trying to be "with it" and bring Betty into the late 1980s and early 1990s she becomes, not the independent woman they are obviously shooting for, but a caricature of the same. She has to dot all the feminist "i's" and cross all the liberal "t's"... it just wasn't necessary.
The clothes of Doc Samson and Marlo Chandler are laughable. Oh yes, Marlo is a liberated woman which means of course- she has to dress like a street-walker. Really? Really.
I was impressed with the Hulk/Banner/Fixit battle for supremacy. Well handled, well written, interesting and imaginative.
I was less than impressed with the handling of Betty Ross Banner and Rick Jones. Jones has none of the intelligence he showed in the early years as Hulk's "keeper", Cap's partner or Mar'vell's switch hitter. He is portrayed as an idiot plain and simple once he is with Betty and his new girlfriend. He's a little better before that but the change in him is unwarranted.
Betty is a horror story gone wrong. In trying to be "with it" and bring Betty into the late 1980s and early 1990s she becomes, not the independent woman they are obviously shooting for, but a caricature of the same. She has to dot all the feminist "i's" and cross all the liberal "t's"... it just wasn't necessary.
The clothes of Doc Samson and Marlo Chandler are laughable. Oh yes, Marlo is a liberated woman which means of course- she has to dress like a street-walker. Really? Really.
November 15, 2019
Things change significantly for the Hulk, as his world's collide and merge.
What I really enjoyed in this volume, is that Peter David does a great job of balancing all aspects of Hulk's personality, into this new, smart green Hulk. You can definitely see Banner there along with both the gray and green Hulk's personalities, but its a perfect combination of all 3. And on top of the drama that is Banner's fractured mind unfolds, we also get Betty and Doc Samson back in starring roles, and both circling around the Hulk. Their lives are molded and influenced by the Hulk and seeing this new change has them re-evaluating where they stand with the Hulk, or better yet, IF they even stand with him at all. Peter David is setting up some great character work for the coming volumes.
Keown is a great artist for the book. His art style is still reminiscent of 90's style drawing, but feels more and more modern as the series goes on. You can see him growing issue by issue as he gets more comfortable with the characters and action scenes. I really am glad to see a great artist like Keown on the book, as it distracts from the more heavy handed aspects some of the writing.
Peter David is definitely on a roll in this series, and it seems that he has a bigger picture in mind for the Green Goliath. Recommended for fans of the Hulk, obviously.
What I really enjoyed in this volume, is that Peter David does a great job of balancing all aspects of Hulk's personality, into this new, smart green Hulk. You can definitely see Banner there along with both the gray and green Hulk's personalities, but its a perfect combination of all 3. And on top of the drama that is Banner's fractured mind unfolds, we also get Betty and Doc Samson back in starring roles, and both circling around the Hulk. Their lives are molded and influenced by the Hulk and seeing this new change has them re-evaluating where they stand with the Hulk, or better yet, IF they even stand with him at all. Peter David is setting up some great character work for the coming volumes.
Keown is a great artist for the book. His art style is still reminiscent of 90's style drawing, but feels more and more modern as the series goes on. You can see him growing issue by issue as he gets more comfortable with the characters and action scenes. I really am glad to see a great artist like Keown on the book, as it distracts from the more heavy handed aspects some of the writing.
Peter David is definitely on a roll in this series, and it seems that he has a bigger picture in mind for the Green Goliath. Recommended for fans of the Hulk, obviously.
January 17, 2018
Some of Peter David's best work on the Hulk can be found in this volume - which reintroduces Rick Jones and Betty Ross Banner to the series, along with the classic story revealing that Bruce Banner suffers from the world's most explosive case of Multiple Personality Disorder, hence the various versions of the Hulk that plagued him for so many years (with thanks to earlier work by Bill Mantlo). The surprise villain brought in to assist Doc Samson with helping Banner is also unexpected, and clever. Dale Keown provides slick artwork and great storytelling to match. One of the tales that is included is a two parter featuring Rick and the Skrulls that is, line for line, one of the funniest things Peter ever wrote (and he's written a lot of amusing and downright hilarious things). A fun collection, and comes recommended for those seeking smart superhero comics.
April 2, 2018
Things get pretty involved in this volume of PAD's Hulk. The personality integration, with the revelation of Bruce's abusive father; the Pantheon recruitment; Rick, Betty and Marlo back into the supporting cast; and PAD's slightly preachy capital punishment issue that infamously claimed on the cover that the Hulk doesn't appear in this issue (it's a Doc Samson spotlight). It's all very good, well built on the foundation of previous PAD Hulk stories, played out in a convincing and human manner.
Smartly written, mostly well drawn (looking back, I find Keown's anatomy spottier than I remembered). We're still a few years off from where I started reading Hulk regularly (435, I think, with back issues complete back to 424, but only spottily before that), but I think I'll have read an erratic issue here and there starting in the next trade.
Smartly written, mostly well drawn (looking back, I find Keown's anatomy spottier than I remembered). We're still a few years off from where I started reading Hulk regularly (435, I think, with back issues complete back to 424, but only spottily before that), but I think I'll have read an erratic issue here and there starting in the next trade.
October 8, 2017
If the last volume was good, this is great! For everyone who denigrates comics in the 90s (and there are plenty of comics from that era which deserve it), its good to remember that the Hulk was never better than it was during these years. These comics are amazing....well plotted, introducing great new characters, really delving into the characters we already know, and looking great doing it.
January 19, 2020
Transition
This storyline brings in the Dr. Banner Hulk, an amalgam of Bruce Banner, the Grey Hulk and the traditional Green Hulk, with Bruce more or less in control.
This is an important transition for this series. There isn't that much action, but a whole new foundation is laid, including the abuse Bruce suffered as a child, and the death of his mother.
This storyline brings in the Dr. Banner Hulk, an amalgam of Bruce Banner, the Grey Hulk and the traditional Green Hulk, with Bruce more or less in control.
This is an important transition for this series. There isn't that much action, but a whole new foundation is laid, including the abuse Bruce suffered as a child, and the death of his mother.
October 18, 2020
For some reason, the stories dwelling on the multiple personalities and psychoanalyses of the hulk just didn't click for me. About 2/3rds of the way through the stories became engaging and a lot of fun.
March 11, 2021
Artwork: Outstanding. Story: Excellent. This is where the artwork gets excellent. The Hulk looked like a big muscular person. Everything looked excellent and the backgrounds included. The hulk is fused together and he is smart and capable of doing things Dale Keown was made to draw the hulk.
July 7, 2024
A major gear shift for the David run as we leave gray Hulk behind and get Smart Hulk instead. The Pantheon is… fine? It’s a fun framework for the new version of Hulk to operate under. Solid artwork throughout.
May 21, 2018
4.5/5
March 5, 2019
This is one of my favorite runs, the integrated Hulk and the Pantheon. The bonus story with the Rhino was funny.
December 28, 2019
Good stories. Keown's pencils are still great. Bad inks.
June 7, 2013
The problems are piling up for Bruce Banner. While his wife, Betty, has finally been found, his long-buried savage Hulk personality has also resurfaced, disrupting the balance between himself and the gray Hulk, and threatening to destroy them all. Banner also has to deal with an alien conspiracy involving his old friend Rick Jones, as well as the unexpected appearance of a former girlfriend he never thought to see again.
The culmination of Peter David’s vision is finally reached. The battle between the gray Hulk and the savage Hulk, with Banner caught in the middle, is impressive, seen from two perspectives as the effects spill over into the real world. Delving further into the shared mind of his lead characters, David revisits the tragic past of Bruce Banner as depicted by Bill Mantlo, finally having them attempt to heal their deeply rooted wounds. The result is the creation of a stronger, smarter, and more stable combined form of Bruce Banner and his two alter-egos. Or so it would seem.
Dale Keown continues to establish himself as a Hulk legend. In this volume, he depicts not one, but three versions of the Hulk (the savage, the gray, and the new merged incarnation). Keown sets them apart from each other with distinctive differences, yet enables them to retain enough similarities to make them all immediately recognizable as the Hulk.
Also making a formal introduction here is the Pantheon. Not the run-of-the-mill superhero team like the Avengers or the Fantastic Four, they are a mysterious group of anti-heroes inspired by Greek mythology, and will play an important role in the Hulk’s life in times to come.
The stories, including the light-hearted Christmas Special with the Rhino and the self-contained “Crazy Eight” starring Doc Samson, are indicative of the psychological depth, irreverent humor, and character development that has since become Peter David’s trademark. The Hulk was in good hands.
The culmination of Peter David’s vision is finally reached. The battle between the gray Hulk and the savage Hulk, with Banner caught in the middle, is impressive, seen from two perspectives as the effects spill over into the real world. Delving further into the shared mind of his lead characters, David revisits the tragic past of Bruce Banner as depicted by Bill Mantlo, finally having them attempt to heal their deeply rooted wounds. The result is the creation of a stronger, smarter, and more stable combined form of Bruce Banner and his two alter-egos. Or so it would seem.
Dale Keown continues to establish himself as a Hulk legend. In this volume, he depicts not one, but three versions of the Hulk (the savage, the gray, and the new merged incarnation). Keown sets them apart from each other with distinctive differences, yet enables them to retain enough similarities to make them all immediately recognizable as the Hulk.
Also making a formal introduction here is the Pantheon. Not the run-of-the-mill superhero team like the Avengers or the Fantastic Four, they are a mysterious group of anti-heroes inspired by Greek mythology, and will play an important role in the Hulk’s life in times to come.
The stories, including the light-hearted Christmas Special with the Rhino and the self-contained “Crazy Eight” starring Doc Samson, are indicative of the psychological depth, irreverent humor, and character development that has since become Peter David’s trademark. The Hulk was in good hands.
November 11, 2014
This trade collects Incredible Hulk issues #373-382.
After years of battling with his inner demons, in this case the green and gray hulks, Bruce Banner is finally breaking down. Complications with Skrulls, Rick Jones and an old girlfriend of Mr. Fixit's put his sanity and life in danger, leading to a dramatic change for our favorite "monster." And waiting in the wings all the while is the mysterious Pantheon...
This volume is the beginning of some great stuff for the Hulk, and Peter David really makes the most of the change in status quo going forward. The build up and conclusion to the saga of Banner's personalities is very well done and opened up a lot of intriguing possibilities. There's only a couple of issues of Pantheon stuff here towards the end, but it gives them a good introduction. Dale Keown's artwork is excellent and works perfectly with David's stories.
There are two stand alone side stories in the middle - a farcical Christmas flashback featuring Gray Hulk and Rhino, and a fantastic tale featuring Doc Sampson and a death row inmate. These stories break up the flow of the overarching plot a bit, but as they feature a different artist I'm guessing their publication timing might have been unavoidable. The art (by Bill Jaaska) is a step down from Keown's, but still very good.
Overall Volume 6 of Hulk Visionaries: Peter David is a strong collection that contains pivotal developments and sets up a lot of interesting threads to follow in future volumes. It's also an easily accessible point for new readers interested in David's Hulk to start with if they don't want to go back to Volume 1.
6-2012
After years of battling with his inner demons, in this case the green and gray hulks, Bruce Banner is finally breaking down. Complications with Skrulls, Rick Jones and an old girlfriend of Mr. Fixit's put his sanity and life in danger, leading to a dramatic change for our favorite "monster." And waiting in the wings all the while is the mysterious Pantheon...
This volume is the beginning of some great stuff for the Hulk, and Peter David really makes the most of the change in status quo going forward. The build up and conclusion to the saga of Banner's personalities is very well done and opened up a lot of intriguing possibilities. There's only a couple of issues of Pantheon stuff here towards the end, but it gives them a good introduction. Dale Keown's artwork is excellent and works perfectly with David's stories.
There are two stand alone side stories in the middle - a farcical Christmas flashback featuring Gray Hulk and Rhino, and a fantastic tale featuring Doc Sampson and a death row inmate. These stories break up the flow of the overarching plot a bit, but as they feature a different artist I'm guessing their publication timing might have been unavoidable. The art (by Bill Jaaska) is a step down from Keown's, but still very good.
Overall Volume 6 of Hulk Visionaries: Peter David is a strong collection that contains pivotal developments and sets up a lot of interesting threads to follow in future volumes. It's also an easily accessible point for new readers interested in David's Hulk to start with if they don't want to go back to Volume 1.
6-2012
June 21, 2010
Most of the previous two volumes had the Hulk on his own, isolated from supporting characters like Betty, Rick, or Doc Samson. That isolation does the Hulk no favors, and he spent most of those two volumes fighting forgettable villains and guest stars. Bruce Banner's need-hate relationship with himself and the "Countdown" storyline are about the only things holding my interest there.
Volume 6 is an improvement, as David brings back the traditional supporting cast, adds new regular characters, and resolves a lot of the psychological contradictions of the Hulk. The "new," integrated version of Banner's personalities fuses together recognizable parts of Banner and his two alter-egos, but it also has its own disturbing style. There's some impressive character writing there.
You can also tell that the nineties are beginning, as the Marvel Universe as a whole starts sinking into a sea of less-than-inspired crossroads. But that's a whine for another time.
Volume 6 is an improvement, as David brings back the traditional supporting cast, adds new regular characters, and resolves a lot of the psychological contradictions of the Hulk. The "new," integrated version of Banner's personalities fuses together recognizable parts of Banner and his two alter-egos, but it also has its own disturbing style. There's some impressive character writing there.
You can also tell that the nineties are beginning, as the Marvel Universe as a whole starts sinking into a sea of less-than-inspired crossroads. But that's a whine for another time.
April 28, 2012
Last volume things started to show signs of getting better and this volume proved that Peter David's Hulk stories are great. Watching the Grey Hulk fight for supremacy while the Green Hulk battles to return is exciting and you have to feel bad for Banner as the war is waged in his mind. The chapter with Samson helping Bruce to work through all of it, the personalities, the father issues, the inferior complex, it's all well done and the final outcome has me particularly exciting. Moments between the Hulk persona and Banner's mother are moving and the when Bruce is realizing his true feelings about himself, it's easy to see why I love the Hulk as much as I do. I like stories like this, where there seems to be a strong sense of forward motion and change that matters. This volume ended with me wanting more.
February 28, 2015
Grey Hulk fights the Army, Skrulls, a green version of himself, the rhino and Santa Claus and his own inner demons before disappearing for good (sob!) in a three-in-one persona (Banner, smart/mean Grey Hulk, and dumb brute Green Hulk) after a counseling session with Doc Samson. He then gets taken in by The Pantheon, and we shall see what becomes of him. The sum of the parts in this volume is greater than the whole. A lot of good moments and short stories, but no satisfying overarching narrative.
December 21, 2014
I picked this graphic novel up at a used bookstore, just wanting some Hulk stories and was really surprised at how cool of an arc this was. Sure, I missed the first parts where he becomes the Grey Hulk, but this is a cool collection of where Banner tires to keep control of both Hulks and himself. I have ordered the next two graphic novels in the series to continue with the story. Peter David really did have a great idea and stories for Hulk.
October 2, 2016
Excellent. Though the pace is a bit off with quite a few oddball, guest artist or irregular issues stuck between the Keown issues. Otherwise solid 5-star, top-shelf Hulk material. As good as it gets.
February 6, 2009
Peter David finally gets the Hulk into his most interesting incarnation, and the process by which that happens, and the stories that follow were the most interesting in David's long run on the Hulk.
January 19, 2010
This was a great volume, complete with a Green Hulk, Grey Hulk, Banner therapy session! Peter David messes with the Hulk mythology with great results.
May 8, 2013
I didnt like this. The Bruce vs. Hulk vs. Joe Fixit thing went on way too long. I hated the Santa Claus and Doc Samson issues. It all felt way too convoluted.
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