64 comments on “Out this week: What If… General Ross Had Become The Hulk?”
Anyway, I just wanted to spout off on how I think Bruce Banner is one of the most interesting characters in comics because he’s nuttier than a truck full of fruitcakes.
Erm,I mean, “nuttier than a truck full of some nut-based chocolate bar thingie”
and what the hulk to become the general? you guz have got to be jocking
1Wow. I didn’t see that ending coming. Great job.
Just picked up a copy today, and I liked it. A tad depressing, but in an entertaining sort of way. What more can you ask?
“But because of lack of communication, everything goes straight down the tubes.”
Ah, but, there are different types of communications. He couldn’t speak? What was stopping him from using an oversized digit to scribble into the sand (or asphalt) “I am Ross … help me!”? Perhaps more than just his verbal skills were affected?
Question: Does this alternate version of Banner’s willingness to murder General Ross in order to avenge/stop a single Hulk rampage with only 2 casualties, both unintentional, put the (if you’ll excuse the affectation) 616-version of Banner’s refusal to commit suicide to prevent future Hulk rampages orders of magnitude more deadly into a much less favorable light than the stand of moral courage that it is usually presented as?
“Hulk Prime” – the idea that the first person caught in the Gamma Bomb must become the Hulk is interesting as theory, but it breaks down in practice. Superhero origins are mystical enough, but positing that Nature requires a “One True Hulk” is over the top. Especially when everyone after the first follows a relatively obvious “Opposite of what you were” trope, and even the first victims follow the same.
Banner – Hulk is the prototypical antithesis for Banner that would inform all the other Gamma mutates, from Leader to Half-Life.
Rick – The Rick Hulk was due to an accident involving Banner, and cannot be considered indepedant. The What If? version was more of a “Teen Hulk”, similar in character to the current interpretation of She-Hulk. If we posit that the young Rick (pre-Sidekick) had a self-image problem, his “Hulk”, while similar, is equally opposite.
Ross – while Loeb put it too bluntly in “Grey”, the Banner and Ross are much more similar than they would like. It is not unreasonable that the Ross Hulk would be very much like the Banner Hulk, whether it is a question of opposites, or repressed feelings, or whatever.
Grimm – OK, his Hulk is not an Opposite. In following the trope, “What if Doom became the Thing?”, Ben should have become the Leader. (Taking, of course, the name “Big Brain”.) But this was an FF book, and so he had to follow the “Ben is more interesting as the Thing” trope, hinted at by Lee/Kirby, and made explicit by Gaiman in 1603.
Anyone else at the first bomb blast – What If, alternate history, whatever – become “The” Hulk, without being a “Puny Banner” to start with?
PAD –
Like so much BCS-T (yours and anyone’s), it didn’t strike me at first, but seems quite obvious in retrospect, perhaps even a touch too clever for it’s own good.
But I had actually ascribed a completely different – but equally brilliant – BCS-T to the tale. Perhaps it was the emphasis on a lack of speech, perhaps it was the use of narration rather than a direct internal monolgue, but the Ross Hulk seemed quite removed from his situation. His mind was off doing something else while his body went on “Auto-Pilot Destruct”. This crystalized for me during his last battle, where he finally seemed to understand what had happened to him, but he was more concerned with the theoretical military applications of “the Hulk” rather than what the Hulk was doing to the military at that moment. And because he wasn’t paying attention, “someone got hurt”.
Banner, on the other hand, is MPD. He has spent all of his life making sure that his anger doesn’t get out of control. While the Hulk is seen as Banner loosing control, it may be that only his rigid personality is enough to control the Hulk at this point. Because he has all this experience keeping control, he is actually able to contain the Hulk’s fury, even to the point of “The Hulk has never killed anyone in all of his many rampages, even by accident”. But Ross, who was not constantly fighting for control, had collateral damage.
(I had also just finished reading your Hulk movie novelization, where the idea of Banner needing to stay in control was more emphasized. I was quite glad to see the movie validated, and only wish more of your concepts had been on the screen.)
Kim,
I wasn’t ragging on your idea. I think it’s interesting given that there have been two “What If?” tales where different people got blasted by the gamma bomb and turned into Hulks. If Logan had been out there on the test sight that day, playing his mouth harp like a fool while kicking back in his cool ride, would he then be WolverHulk? I’d assume so.
I just think that only Bruce Banner should be the Hulk.
Hey!! Queseda!! Find some way to make this a monthly. You’re in The House Of Ideas. Now prove it.
There should have been one more page, where Major Talbot approaches the scene, and he and Bruce end up killng each other. After all, they were the only members of the Hulk cast to survive the story, LOL!
I really enjoyed the comic. It was great to see that pompous bully on the receiving end for a change. I’ma have to go check out the main Hulk series now.
Jim In Iowa,
“Nice cover. But saving my money, for when you return to the Hulk series. Sorry.”
Jim, you can’t spare three bucks? I’ll send you a copy if you want.
Jason Levine,
“But then if you do then the Marvel bigwigs might say ‘Well, his “What If?” book didn’t sell very well, therefore he must not be a popular writer on the Hulk…DUMP HIM!”
Oh, please. This statement is ridiculous. people generaly buy “What If?” who are interested in the concept. Then it’s character second and writer third. The CONCEPT and its sales during “What If Week” is what Marvel will be looking at, to see if the CONCEPT is still popular.
This is like saying Marvel would immediately axe bendis from “Daredevil” and “Avengers” if their “What If?” stories written by him didn’t sell, despite the fact that sales on the main title are strong.
And that is what it will come down to, how the REGULAR series sells.
“Get that guy from Identity Crisis to write the Hulk.”
Although he s a good writer, I doubt that is where he will end up.
“I know it sounds silly”
Yes, it does.
“but I’m almost certain that (‘s) how the dain bread Big Wigs at Marvel must think.”
Then you really don’t know what you’re talking about.
Because the Big Wigs, especilly Quesada, are the ones who made the offer in the first place. Fans were asking him about it at WizardWorld Philly in May 2003. Wizard has done stories on it. Reaction has been favorable.
So if after all that, sales are strong on the new arc, they will gladly offer him more issues to do.
If sales on the new arc are disappointing, they will look elsewhere and thank PAD for his efforts.
That’s all it really boils down to.
• 
Anyway, I just wanted to spout off on how I think Bruce Banner is one of the most interesting characters in comics because he’s nuttier than a truck full of fruitcakes.
Erm,I mean, “nuttier than a truck full of some nut-based chocolate bar thingie”
and what the hulk to become the general? you guz have got to be jocking
1Wow. I didn’t see that ending coming. Great job.
Just picked up a copy today, and I liked it. A tad depressing, but in an entertaining sort of way. What more can you ask?
“But because of lack of communication, everything goes straight down the tubes.”
Ah, but, there are different types of communications. He couldn’t speak? What was stopping him from using an oversized digit to scribble into the sand (or asphalt) “I am Ross … help me!”? Perhaps more than just his verbal skills were affected?
Question: Does this alternate version of Banner’s willingness to murder General Ross in order to avenge/stop a single Hulk rampage with only 2 casualties, both unintentional, put the (if you’ll excuse the affectation) 616-version of Banner’s refusal to commit suicide to prevent future Hulk rampages orders of magnitude more deadly into a much less favorable light than the stand of moral courage that it is usually presented as?
“Hulk Prime” – the idea that the first person caught in the Gamma Bomb must become the Hulk is interesting as theory, but it breaks down in practice. Superhero origins are mystical enough, but positing that Nature requires a “One True Hulk” is over the top. Especially when everyone after the first follows a relatively obvious “Opposite of what you were” trope, and even the first victims follow the same.
Banner – Hulk is the prototypical antithesis for Banner that would inform all the other Gamma mutates, from Leader to Half-Life.
Rick – The Rick Hulk was due to an accident involving Banner, and cannot be considered indepedant. The What If? version was more of a “Teen Hulk”, similar in character to the current interpretation of She-Hulk. If we posit that the young Rick (pre-Sidekick) had a self-image problem, his “Hulk”, while similar, is equally opposite.
Ross – while Loeb put it too bluntly in “Grey”, the Banner and Ross are much more similar than they would like. It is not unreasonable that the Ross Hulk would be very much like the Banner Hulk, whether it is a question of opposites, or repressed feelings, or whatever.
Grimm – OK, his Hulk is not an Opposite. In following the trope, “What if Doom became the Thing?”, Ben should have become the Leader. (Taking, of course, the name “Big Brain”.) But this was an FF book, and so he had to follow the “Ben is more interesting as the Thing” trope, hinted at by Lee/Kirby, and made explicit by Gaiman in 1603.
Anyone else at the first bomb blast – What If, alternate history, whatever – become “The” Hulk, without being a “Puny Banner” to start with?
PAD –
Like so much BCS-T (yours and anyone’s), it didn’t strike me at first, but seems quite obvious in retrospect, perhaps even a touch too clever for it’s own good.
But I had actually ascribed a completely different – but equally brilliant – BCS-T to the tale. Perhaps it was the emphasis on a lack of speech, perhaps it was the use of narration rather than a direct internal monolgue, but the Ross Hulk seemed quite removed from his situation. His mind was off doing something else while his body went on “Auto-Pilot Destruct”. This crystalized for me during his last battle, where he finally seemed to understand what had happened to him, but he was more concerned with the theoretical military applications of “the Hulk” rather than what the Hulk was doing to the military at that moment. And because he wasn’t paying attention, “someone got hurt”.
Banner, on the other hand, is MPD. He has spent all of his life making sure that his anger doesn’t get out of control. While the Hulk is seen as Banner loosing control, it may be that only his rigid personality is enough to control the Hulk at this point. Because he has all this experience keeping control, he is actually able to contain the Hulk’s fury, even to the point of “The Hulk has never killed anyone in all of his many rampages, even by accident”. But Ross, who was not constantly fighting for control, had collateral damage.
(I had also just finished reading your Hulk movie novelization, where the idea of Banner needing to stay in control was more emphasized. I was quite glad to see the movie validated, and only wish more of your concepts had been on the screen.)
Kim,
I wasn’t ragging on your idea. I think it’s interesting given that there have been two “What If?” tales where different people got blasted by the gamma bomb and turned into Hulks. If Logan had been out there on the test sight that day, playing his mouth harp like a fool while kicking back in his cool ride, would he then be WolverHulk? I’d assume so.
I just think that only Bruce Banner should be the Hulk.
Hey!! Queseda!! Find some way to make this a monthly. You’re in The House Of Ideas. Now prove it.
There should have been one more page, where Major Talbot approaches the scene, and he and Bruce end up killng each other. After all, they were the only members of the Hulk cast to survive the story, LOL!
I really enjoyed the comic. It was great to see that pompous bully on the receiving end for a change. I’ma have to go check out the main Hulk series now.
Jim In Iowa,
“Nice cover. But saving my money, for when you return to the Hulk series. Sorry.”
Jim, you can’t spare three bucks? I’ll send you a copy if you want.
Jason Levine,
“But then if you do then the Marvel bigwigs might say ‘Well, his “What If?” book didn’t sell very well, therefore he must not be a popular writer on the Hulk…DUMP HIM!”
Oh, please. This statement is ridiculous. people generaly buy “What If?” who are interested in the concept. Then it’s character second and writer third. The CONCEPT and its sales during “What If Week” is what Marvel will be looking at, to see if the CONCEPT is still popular.
This is like saying Marvel would immediately axe bendis from “Daredevil” and “Avengers” if their “What If?” stories written by him didn’t sell, despite the fact that sales on the main title are strong.
And that is what it will come down to, how the REGULAR series sells.
“Get that guy from Identity Crisis to write the Hulk.”
Although he s a good writer, I doubt that is where he will end up.
“I know it sounds silly”
Yes, it does.
“but I’m almost certain that (‘s) how the dain bread Big Wigs at Marvel must think.”
Then you really don’t know what you’re talking about.
Because the Big Wigs, especilly Quesada, are the ones who made the offer in the first place. Fans were asking him about it at WizardWorld Philly in May 2003. Wizard has done stories on it. Reaction has been favorable.
So if after all that, sales are strong on the new arc, they will gladly offer him more issues to do.
If sales on the new arc are disappointing, they will look elsewhere and thank PAD for his efforts.
That’s all it really boils down to.