The Incredible Hulk #104
John Jack
Recap
It's time one and all for another astonishing adventure in the Ancient History style! Join me, John Jack, in a look back at one of my most beloved single issues of the late Silver Age. The Incredible Hulk #104!
Bruce Banner, having been captured by the Army and being kept under sedation to keep his beefier half away, is targeted by the Soviets for kidnapping. Thus an American based team of spies breaks out The Rhino (still in jail following his arrest in ASM #41 LOVE that tight continuity!) to assualt an Army transport containing ole greenskin using a gamma powered version of his suit which puts him closer to Hulk strength. Sure enough shenanigans ensue, Banner wakes up and Hulk wakes up more, as can be expected. What follows is an EPIC battle which concludes with Hulk smashing Rhino with a gas truck, following this savage beating Rhino does something completely unexpected HE MOTHER****ING DIES!!!!! Mark this issue kids anytime they say Hulk never killed anybody there's this.
Review
A disclaimer, as someone is gonna say it, death is meaningless in comics. Rhino comes back (in Incredible Hulk 124 to be precise) but who cares Hulk beat a dude to death! The best part is RHINO DOESN’T STOP TALKING SHIT THE ENTIRE FIGHT! He’s literally getting the crap kicked out of him and still he’s throwing shade like a drunken high schooler, I love this issue!
I honestly can barely tell you what happens the rest of the issue because the fight completely eclipses it but this era of Hulk is one of my favorites, with Hulk roaming the countryside whomping people just like this issue. So good for people who enjoy big fight scenes.
The stellar art by Marie Severin (RIP), with inks by Frank Giacoia might be a little jarring for newer Hulk fans, Hulk is quite a bit smaller and is more expressive than you might see nowadays. I love that Hulk had a variety of artists who all left their unique and distinct take on the character, Severin’s is one of my favorites. The fight scenes in this book are stellar as well with tons of dynamic posing and explosive action (literally!) Final mention goes of course to the last love of mine, sound effects! Legendary letterer Sam Rosen does what he does best by peppering this issue with a plethora of beautifully rendered whomps, splatts and RAAAAAWK or what have you haha fantastic.
This issue can be a little pricier going for anywhere from 20 to over 100 dollars although I see some cheaper copies in the ebay sold listings. It can be read collected in The Essential Incredible Hulk vol 2, the Incredible Hulk Marvel Masterworks vol 4 and The Incredible Hulk Epic Collection THE LEADER LIVES vol 3, no omnibus is available or announced at this time.
Final Thoughts
I love this issue, snag a copy or one of the collected editions and have an awesome time. Thanks for reading!
ANCIENT HISTORY #18: A FIGHT TO THE DEATH!!!!!
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 10/1010/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10