The Incredible Hulk: Ground Zero

The Incredible Hulk (1968) #340-346

by Peter David, Todd McFarlane (Artist), Eric Larsen (Artist)

After discovering the United States of America were manufacturing Gamma Bombs, Bruce Banner and his allies race against time to disclose the bombs to the public and to stop the plans of the evil Leader and his agents

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Marvel

170 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

aka 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.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

Die ach so legendäre und gefeierte Artwork von Todd McFarlane, die mir schon bei seinem Spider-Man Run nicht gefallen hat, ist hier so furchtbar, dass ich nicht über die ersten 40 Seiten rausgekommen bin. Ist das wirklich noch eine Geschmacksfrage, oder ist das wirklich schlecht? Eine Frage, die sich vermutlich nicht beantworten lässt.

[James Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best arcs from the early part of Peter David's iconic run on The Incredible Hulk. The Gray Hulk gets some interesting development, the supporting characters (including the return of Betty) are well-done, and the recently rebooted Leader (and some other sorta-new foes) is in fine form. And it ends on one heck of a shock. (A-)

[Aurora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't read much Hulk, and this is pretty much why. The basic metaphor of Hulk and Bruce Banner is only so interesting, and there just isn't much else here. Also! The art is soooo bad. Everyone has mullets! The X-men show up and Wolverine and Rogue have mullets!

[Μιχάλης]

Αν και μικρός είχα διαβάσει κάποια τεύχη του Peter David με τον Γκρίζο Χουλκ, κάπου εκεί σταματάει η επαφή μου με τον συγκεκριμένο χαρακτήρα.

Έτσι λοιπόν, όταν έπιασα στα μισά την πλοκή και διάβασα το συγκεκριμένο τόμο δεν έμεινα δυσαρεστημένος. Ξέρω ότι το run του Peter David θεωρείται το απόλυτο run του Hulk, είχα περιέργεια να δω τον Todd McFarlane στις πολύ αρχές του (έχει αρχίσει να διαμορφώνει το καρτουνιστικό στυλ του ενώ τα περίεργα πάνελ του αποκτούν μία ισορροπία επιτέλους). Στα μισά φεύγει (νομίζω για να αναλάβει το Spiderman) και μια σειρά από άλλοι σχεδιαστές (ανάμεσά τους και ο Eric Larsen).

Με κούρασε λίγο το γράψιμο, που προσπαθεί να είναι ταυτόχρονα ατακαδόρικο και βαρύ ψυχαναλυτικό, όμως η πλοκή με άφησε απόλυτα ικανοποιημένο, ειδικά με την συγκλονιστική της κατάληξη.
Νομίζω θα προσπαθήσω να βρω τις αρχές του run του Peter David και να το πάω μέχρι τέλους.

[Mr. Stick · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I AM THE SLAVE OF DUTY. I AM A CREATURE OF HABIT. I'M TRAPPED IN THE DREARY CONFINES OF MY EXISTENCE... STALLED AND UNABLE TO GO FORWARD, SNOWBLINDED AND UNABLE TO GO BACK."
- Betty Ross waxing poetic over her failed relationship with Bruce Banner.

I'm a little surprised at how good this is. Mostly because in the 80's a lot of new art styles and more adult themes were being embraced. Not all of it worked. I've been a fan of Peter David's for some time and while my experience with Todd MacFarlane has been confined to his work on Spider-man (which I didn't care for), these two tell a story very well together.
The art here works. Macfarlane's beautifully grotesque Hulk is a fine complement to David's character introspection, heavy with inner monolgue.
Erik Larsen pencilled the last issue, which captured the realistic destructive potential of super-beings, retaining MacFarlane's versions of Hulk and The Leader.
So many questions. What REALLY happened to Hulk? What's Betty gonna do next? Is the Leader always such a brilliant douchebag? Why does Banner, a total dork, have a super-trendy late 80's haircut?
I'm jonesing for more. Damn you Peter David and your irresistible plot twists.
Four stars.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll always be a big fan of Todd MacFarlane's art. He did a great job on the Hulk. It's a good story as well.

[Tyler Marsolais · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hulk rocks. Only sappy story can bite

[David Matheny · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book is so overrated that i am just happy - other people enjoy it.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

The grey hulk comes out at night as Bruce, Clay Quartermain and Rick Jones try and track down a missing gamma bomb before the Leader can set it off. I love Todd McFarlane's art in this, especially the issues he does his own inks. The book just doesn't look as good when another inker tries to finish off his pencils. I still remember that cover he did with the Hulk's reflection on Wolverine's claws. Just terrific looking stuff.

[Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://gnomeship.blogspot.com/2021/1...

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

From 1988, a Peter David story from a time when the Hulk was grey and articulate, and only appeared at night. Clay Quartermain (renegade from S.H.I.E.L.D.), Rick Jones and Bruce Banner are racing to expose a government store of gamma bombs, appropriated by The Leader, with a pregnant Betty Banner caught in the middle of the action.

In true Marvel fashion, nothing is truly resolved, but the action of the plot is as lively as the Todd McFarlane art.

[Cree · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hulk is my favorite superhero next to Batman. Maybe I have a thing for guys named Bruce. Anyway, this is my first Hulk comic that I picked up on the suggestion of Comic Book guy in Comic Book Store. The drawing made me cringe just a little. Not a fan of Gray/Grey Hulk, but I enjoyed this story. Straight forward, epic fight scenes, radiation, and you know, revelations! The ending though.....

[Troy-David Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good arc. The artwork is excellent, and the development of the Grey Hulk is fantastic. The plot of the Leader, the return of Betty Ross, the growth of Clay Quartermain, all very good stuff.
Peter David is an excellent Hulk-scribe!

[Fugo Feedback]

Cinco años después de to-readear este tomo me doy cuenta de que, al contrario de lo que pensaba, esto sí se editó en castellano... Pero hace como 25 años, así que veo difícil.

[Variaciones Enrojo]

Edición española publicada en el número 7 de la Colección Obras Maestras. Traduce HULK: Ground Zero.