The Back Issue Bin: Incredible Hulk #250

Incredible Hulk #250
date: August 1980
writer: Bill Mantlo
artists: Sal Buscema
rating: 3 out of 5

Confession Time: I originally bought this back in the day because an issue of Marvel Team-Up Index told me it was the next American appearance of Captain Britain, whom I was briefly enamored with.  It's only a one panel cameo, though.


While looking for a place to belong, the Hulk encounters the Silver Surfer.  The Surfer wonders if an infusion of Gamma radiation will give him enough power to breach the barrier that keeps him from leaving Earth.  The Surfer siphons off the Gamma radiation in the Hulk's body, leaving Banner powerless.  The Gamma-infused Surfer runs amok and only the Hulk can stop him...

The Surfer pierces the barrier but has to go back to save Banner from falling to his death, maintaining the status quo.

All things considered, it's a fun issue but also a great example of Marvel's Illusion of Change doctrine.  Three out of five stars.

Indestructible Hulk, Vol. 2: Gods and Monster

Indestructible Hulk, Vol. 2: Gods and Monster by Mark Waid
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

6 - Banner and his team go to Jotunheim to look for a legendary metal that might be a super conductor.

This was more like it. It felt almost like a Fantastic Four issue. Simonson drawing Thor is always welcome. After the last panel, I'm jonesing for the next issue.

7 - Hulk and Thor tackle a horde of Frost Giants! Can SHIELD reestablish the portal and bring the Banner team home?

This issue was a lot of carnage but it was Simonson-drawn carnage. Now that the Frost Giants are interested in earth, things got a lot more interesting.

8 - SHIELD, Hulk, and Thor must repel the Frost Giant invasion so team Banner can get back to earth.

More carnage and some good Hulk/Thor moments. I'm still not feeling this series and now I'm just sticking around for the Daredevil issues.

9 - Bruce Banner and his lawyer, Daredevil, track down a stolen super weapon!

Daredevil and the Hulk seem mismatched at first but Hornhead knows how to handle the Hulk. Let's see how they handle Baron Zemo with an ultrasound cannon.

10 - Baron Zemo and HYDRA vs. The Hulk and Daredevil!

This was actually kind of a yawn, despite the carnage, until the Hulk went berserk and Daredevil had to control him. A Hulk in a China Shop indeed.

Closing Thoughts: Since getting on Marvel Unlimited, I've been looking for the definitive Hulk story. Indestructible Hulk, despite the novelty of Banner working for SHIELD, wasn't it. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

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Indestructible Hulk, Vol. 1: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Indestructible Hulk, Vol. 1: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. by Mark Waid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

1 - Bruce Banner makes a deal with SHIELD to use the Hulk as a weapon in exchange for them funding his lab. His first task is to take down the Mad Thinker.

I've never been much of a Hulk fan. To me, he's so powerful that he's more of a plot device than a character, kind of like Superman. However, what Mark Waid is doing here piqued my interest. The first issue was a nice setup for what promises to be an interesting run.

2 - Banner and Tony Stark have a conversation that eventually turns ugly.

Much like he's done on Daredevil, Waid plums the depths of Bruce Banner's psyche. His motivation for taking Tony out into the Himalayas made sense, although a super genius should have taken into account what would have happened with the Gamma Fracker.

3 - The Hulk is unleashed against the Quintronic Man!

There wasn't a lot of meat to this one. The fight with the Quintronic Man wasn't as interesting as Banner's new lab crew being recruited.

4 - Banner meets his team and The Hulk is set against Attuma and the Lemurians!

While I like the Banner parts of this series, the Hulk is still the Hulk.

5 - Hulk and Attuma have it out.

Yeah, this one is also mostly fighting.

Closing Thoughts: I'm not nearly as enamored with this series as I thought. The Hulk is still the Hulk. However, Walt Simonson draws some of the next volume and Daredevil appears so I'm up for one more. 3 out of 5 stars.

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