Behind the spooky, almost romance novel-esque cover by Bob Larkin awaits another slam-bang Hulk adventure, but in an unusual setting. But first, more Hulk by Mike Zeck!:
"Hulk hate being told to wear seatbelts while in cab! Who am puny Mayor Bloomberg?!?"
In "A Cure for Chaos" by Doug Moench, Ron Wilson, and Rudy Nebres, we find Bruce Banner in Switzerland:
Banner is there to visit Dr. Hans Feldstadt, who has been doing research in Gamma radiation. Of course, Bruce Banner thinks this is his best chance in ages to be cured of his awful curse. But when Bruce arrives at his destination, no one in the small village has even heard of the eminent doctor.
However, he is pointed to the castle of another doctor, named Klein. Figuring he has nothing to lose--plus its his only lead--he makes his way to Klein's imposing home, which looks like its right out of Dracula:
In "A Cure for Chaos" by Doug Moench, Ron Wilson, and Rudy Nebres, we find Bruce Banner in Switzerland:
However, he is pointed to the castle of another doctor, named Klein. Figuring he has nothing to lose--plus its his only lead--he makes his way to Klein's imposing home, which looks like its right out of Dracula:
Banner says his name is David Bixby (gee, wonder where he came up with that?), and is here to assist the doctor in his experiments. Feldstadt rejects Bruce, and has him thrown out, then calling the local police to boot!
Some of the constabulary arrest Bruce, roughing him up in the process--and you can guess what that leads to! The Hulk's sudden appearance in this quiet village causes a near riot, leading Ol' Greenskin to take off. Feldstadt sees the story in a newspaper, and connects "Bixby" with the Hulk. So when Bruce arrives back the castle, Feldstadt takes him in.
Feldstatdt's inner sanctum is a combo of Carfax Abbey and Castle Frankenstein, complete with hunchbacked assistant. Later, while in town, Bruce learns that the villagers aren't too thrilled about Feldstadt's work, and plan to storm the castle; again Frankenstein-style.
Bruce storms in the middle of one of Feldstadt's experiments (on a young woman named Katrina, who has volunteered, hoping to be cured of a rare blood disorder), trying to warn him to stop what's he doing and that the village is on its way.
But its too late--Feldstadt believes he can control the Gamma radiation (gee, where have we heard that before?), and the villagers are already outside his door. One of them tosses a torch inside, which blows up the lab! Bruce rescues Katrina, leaving Feldstadt to become another Gamma victim:
Some of the constabulary arrest Bruce, roughing him up in the process--and you can guess what that leads to! The Hulk's sudden appearance in this quiet village causes a near riot, leading Ol' Greenskin to take off. Feldstadt sees the story in a newspaper, and connects "Bixby" with the Hulk. So when Bruce arrives back the castle, Feldstadt takes him in.
Feldstatdt's inner sanctum is a combo of Carfax Abbey and Castle Frankenstein, complete with hunchbacked assistant. Later, while in town, Bruce learns that the villagers aren't too thrilled about Feldstadt's work, and plan to storm the castle; again Frankenstein-style.
Bruce storms in the middle of one of Feldstadt's experiments (on a young woman named Katrina, who has volunteered, hoping to be cured of a rare blood disorder), trying to warn him to stop what's he doing and that the village is on its way.
But its too late--Feldstadt believes he can control the Gamma radiation (gee, where have we heard that before?), and the villagers are already outside his door. One of them tosses a torch inside, which blows up the lab! Bruce rescues Katrina, leaving Feldstadt to become another Gamma victim:
This of course leads to what we all came here for: another knock-down, drag-out fight between the Hulk and a bad guy, and we get it! The Hulk and The Incredible Feldstadt smack each other around, smashing up the castle, ending with the Jade Giant delivering the final blow:
The Hulk takes off. Later, Banner reads a newspaper article on Feldstadt, saying that he died in an accident. He visits with Katrina one last time (who has also figured out he and the Hulk are one in the same). Bruce gives her the address of a clinic that owes him a favor, saying they can help her. Katrina thanks Bruce, hoping that one day he too can have real hope of a cure. But until that day...
This issue also features the regular back-up, Moon Knight, also written by Moench and drawn by the boffo team of Bill Sienkiewicz and Bob McLeod:
This issue also features the regular back-up, Moon Knight, also written by Moench and drawn by the boffo team of Bill Sienkiewicz and Bob McLeod:
The Moon Knight story is tough and gritty, a perfect companion to these Hulk adventures. After casting about a bit trying to find the right back-up feature, I think Marvel had it finally figured out with the Hulk/Moon Knight combo.
Another fine issue of The Hulk!
Another fine issue of The Hulk!
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