Hulk “What If”

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

Since Marvel has announced the upcoming new “What If” series at Chicago, I figure there’s no harm in letting you guys know that I’ll be writing the Hulk installment, “What if General Ross Had Been Hit by the Gamma Bomb.” When I was approached about doing a What If contribution, I just really wanted to go back to the beginning; give it that original Marvel Age feel. I’m probably even going to break the story up into chapters (in the same issue) as they did in the early days.

PAD

19 comments on “Hulk “What If””

  1. Great news! For those of us PAD fans who’ve been Jonesing (sorry couldn’t resist) for more Peter David HULK these past few years, 2005 looks like a Bonanza! May it continue!

    Any chance of getting a Kirby-eque artist on the “What If” story? Steve Rude would be outstanding! Heck, I’d take Ron Frenz!

  2. Looks like Andrea Divito will be doing the art. I think this is a good choice. Check out the latest issues of Thor for examples.

  3. Most cool. I remember enjoying “What If Rick Jones Had Become The Hulk?” long, long ago, and here’s hoping (and expecting) this one to be at least as strong.

    TWL

  6. I hate 5h week events (although this one sounds cool – I loved ‘What If’).

    Any idea if these oneshots are gonna be compiled in a trade? Seems like the perfect way to read them for me.

  8. As commented on earlier I loved the What If Rick Jones had become the Hulk issue.

    I can’t wait to read your take on the Ross Hulk. I suspect that with all of Ross’ military background we will see a Hulk that takes a Sun Tzu approach to all of his enemies.

    Regards:
    Warren S. Jones III

  9. The only complaint I have on the whole “What If” story lines, is that they’re doing a “What… huh?” comedy issue… but from the line up, they’re not using PAD? Who else would you get? This man knows how to write comedy… eh, whatever.

    Travis

  11. So, since Ross will be the Hulk, does that mean it’s now Bruce Banner’s job to “take down” the Hulk? And since Banner had “multiple-personality disorders” will Ross have the same, or is his (Ross’) personal psychosis different, and will that manifest itself differently in his version of Greenskin?

  13. Now me, I’d like to see “WHat If Betty Ross became The Hulk”?

    Think about it. There are several implications. First, I would make this an “Adults Only” Vertigo book, because she would almost certainly have to go topless after ripping her shirt.

    Second, all the early Marvel books featured mostly male heroes. The women who had powers had the “dainty” types of powers without physical contact, like invisible shields or hex powers. A female Hulk would be extremely physical, punching out people and through walls.

    Third, a female Hulk would probably grow most angry over being considered “just a woman.” She would be a reversal of everything women were supposed to be in that era, and many women wouldn’t like her for that.

    And perhaps, after trying (and failing) to defeat her, perhaps some of the male Marvel heroes would think about the things La Hulk yelled at them in combat, and think seriously about their own attitudes towards women.

    I could also mention the menstrul period in this context, but that’s an old cliche, and it would be too easy to turn the story into something demeaning to women based on their physiology.

    One last thought. Betty Ross also represents a woman related to a military man. They have a complex relation to the military – they are called “dependents” after all – and are often considered the necessary baggage to keep soldiers happy. As The Hulk, she would provide perspective on military life as viewed from the sidelines.

  15. Thunderbolt Ross hit with the G-Bomb????
    Potential for some unique role reversal in regards to the Banner/Ross relationship.Would Ross use his presumably superhuman talents to enforce his own Cold War agendas and prejudices
    throwing the world closer to the edge of nuclear war?Would he come in direct conflict with what he considers unsavory elements in the U.S?Maybe he would change his views on some topics after being at the recieving end of the military/government
    macine he dedicated his life too.What would Banner do when put in the role of being the hunter instead the hunted?Why am i asking so many questions and not just wait and read for myself?:D
    BTW if any of my questions show up as storylines in the issue I AM SUING!!!
    I kid ,I kid!:)

  16. The Hulk is so rare now adays with Jones’ run, we could do a “What If Bruce Banner became the Hulk” (boda boom).

    Sounds like fun… I like the chapter idea. It always came with a neat splash page (or 2/3 splash). Can’t wait to see how you get Ross in the line of fire.

  17. > Since Marvel has announced the upcoming new “What If” series at Chicago, I figure there’s no harm in letting you guys know that I’ll be writing the Hulk installment, “What if General Ross Had Been Hit by the Gamma Bomb.”

    Interesting premise. With what we know about how gamma radiation affects those it mutates, I wonder what sort of creature General Ross would become? He’s already full of rage and bluster on the outside, a man motivated by strong, primitive emotions, practically the opposite of Bruce Banner. But what’s inside this man? What really makes him tick?? Hmm……

    –Don aka Ygor

  18. I was just thinking about Peter’s comments of breaking the story into chapters (in one issue) and thinking that one of the nice things about What If was that stories were always done in one issue. You never had to wait a month for the punchline.

    Those early What Ifs were also great ways to get new readers. One of the first comics that I bought for myself was “What If the World Knew Daredevil Was Blind?” I think it was #8. I’d never heard of Daredevil before that but title drew me in (I’d never heard of a blind superhero) and the comic gave me enough background on what his history and powers were like that I thought he was neat. So I started buying Daredevil (just before Miller came on board).

    I can’t say what other books I might have been hooked on due to What IF, but I bought Daredevil for years after that.

  19. Hmmm,

    I was fondly thinking about those old What Ifs after my last comment. I’m sure the Jane Foster gets Thor’s hammer one got me started on Thor, and I think the Marvel Bullpen as the FF may have got me interested in the FF. God, I wish I had time to dig out those old books.

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