Doc Samson #1Doc Samson #1
Title: “Greenness Envy”
Writer: Dan Slott
Penciller: Ken Lashley
Inkers: Tom Wegrzyn
Colors: Christie Steele
Editor: Chris Cooper
Editor in Chief: Bobbie Chase?
In the East Village in New York, a woman runs for her life as a monster chases her.
At Northwestern University, Evanstaon, IL, Doctor Leonard Samson is giving a lecture on the effects of gamma radiation on the mind. He says that he knows that this is all coming at them pretty fast, but that from here things get interesting. Samson says that with each case of gamma mutation that they have seen the host transformed into the living vessel of the repressed alter-ego. He tells the crowd to imagine their inner demons, secret fears, and fantasies all thrust to the surface. On the board there are pictures of Bruce Banner/Hulk, Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, Emil Blonsky/Abomination, and Sam Sterns/Leader. He says that they have all ready seen the results caused by inner rage, a free spirit, self-loathing, and self-importance. He says that they should count themselves lucky that to this day they have yet to see a gamma-form linked to sexual repression.
Back in East Village, the woman is grabbed by the leg by a giant green hand. She screams as the green monster slashes her to death.
At Northwestern University, Samson sees a large man with bandages wrapped around his face wearing a “Max’s Autos” jacket. He says that they are going to have to cut this short. He asks if there are any questions. The people in the crowd all swarm around him. They ask Samson if he is stronger than the Thing. One asks if he cut his hair would he lose his powers. Another asks if Samson can sign an autograph. One man actually brought a steel bar that he wanted Samson to bend for him. Samson says that he is out of there, but when he leaves the building there is a woman waiting for him by his car. She introduces herself as Trina Sharp and says that she has come a long way to see him. Samson says that is nice, but he really doesn’t have the time. Trina Sharp says that she is Detective Trina Sharp and says that she suggests that he make the time. She says that they have a serial killer loose in Manhattan. Samson hands her a piece of paper with the Avengers phone number on it. Samson says that he is a doctor not a superhero. Sharp asks if she mentioned that all of the bodies have had traces of gamma radiation on them. She says that they have the first gamma powered serial killer. She holds up his pamphlet and says, “Y’know? ‘Gamma Radiation’s Effect on the Human Mind’?” She asks if that isn’t his specialty. Sharp stuffs his pamphlet into his pocket and says that there is a ticket waiting for him at O’Hare and that the plane leaves at midnight. She says, as she walks away, that there is going to be a question that he is going to ask himself and that the answer is six. A minute later Samson realizes that the question is ‘How many have been killed so far?’
All the way back to the hotel Samson is lost
in thought. Samson thinks how six are dead, and that there will
be more. He thinks how if he turns down Sharp that those deaths
will be on his head. Samson thinks about Crazy Eight and the
Punisher. Samson wonders what happens if he catches the killer.
He wonders if he would send another person to the electric chair.
Samson says that would really unhinge him. 
Samson gets to
his hotel door and realizes that it is his door that is unhinged.
Bruce apologizes about the door, but says that they are cheaper
than walls. Samson asks Bruce what he has been doing. Bruce says
that he is helping Samson pack. Bruce says that Samson is going
to help the detective with her investigation. Samson says that he
isn’t going to have Bruce ordering him around. Samson says
that it isn’t his purpose in life to solve all of
Bruce’s problems. Samson says that Bruce would need a team
of shrinks to do that. Bruce says that this isn’t about him.
He says that this is about a gamma powered serial killer killing
innocent people. Samson sticks his finger into Hulk’s chest
and says that he isn’t the one responsible for unleashing
the gamma rays. Samson says that he isn’t the one that
created all these monsters, and that Bruce should go deal with
it. Bruce smacks Samson into the wall and says that Samson is
going to New York even if he has to smash him all the way there.
Samson says that Bruce needs to have his head examined. Samson
headbutts Bruce in the face.
Outside the room, the people who run the hotel say that they never should have rented a room to that green haired guy. The woman says that he is probably one of those hotel-wrecking rock stars.
Samson asks Bruce if doesn’t get it. He says that with all the mistakes that he has been making lately that he just wants to be left alone. Bruce says, “Don’t talk to me about mistakes, Samson! I made one mistake… the gamma bomb… and I’ve spent my whole life paying for it! A legacy of sick, twisted gamma freaks… the Leader, the Abomination, Half-Life, the Madman… and now there’s one out there… hacking up young girls! It drives Hulk mad! Makes Hulk the maddest one there is!” Bruce turns from his Hulk form into the raving Savage Banner persona.
Later Samson helps Bruce calm down and regain his Hulk size. Bruce says that Samson had to see it for himself, and that in times of extreme anger he reverts into ‘Bruce Banner: the puny savage’. Bruce says that he wouldn’t be any good against the killer because the very thought of him boils his blood. Bruce says that he needs Samson’s help. Samson says that he has some theories about Bruce’s recent situation, and that with a little time and some unconventional theories he could help Bruce. Hulk says that time is something that neither of them has right now. Bruce says that he should be getting back to Betty. Bruce says that reminds him and he takes out a Chanukah present from Betty. Bruce says that he knows that Samson is a good man and that he will make the right choice.
Dee Dee wakes from a nightmare of the woman getting slashed from the large green monster. She says that these freaky nightmares have got to stop. She looks over at her clock and sees that she is late for class. She grabs her coat and runs out the door.
At Laguardia airport, Detective Sharp picks Samson up and tells him to get into the car. Samson asks where the pleasantries are. Sharp says that there is no time and that there is an emergency that could use his special skills. As Sharp weaves in and out of lanes, Samson’s cell phone rings. Samson picks it up and Polaris is on the other side. Polaris says that she really needs to talk to Samson, but Samson says that this isn’t a good time and that something just came up. Samson and Sharp arrive on a bridge where a jumper is sitting up on the wires. The young man asks why everyone doesn’t just leave him alone and that this doesn’t have anything to do with them. The cop below with a bullhorn says that he is on a city bridge and that his parents’ taxes pay his salary. Sharp tells the cop to back off and that Samson can leap up there and bring the kid down. Samson says that isn’t going to help anyone in the long run. He asks for the bullhorn. Samson asks the guy if he is sure that he has thought this through. The guy says, “Man, nothing I do makes sense anymore! The more I try to make something work out… the more I mess it up!” Samson says that he wants to help, but he winds up hurting instead. Samson says that has been his problem lately too, but that a friend of his told him that he was a good person and that is all you need to make the right choice. A tear rolls down the guy’s face as Samson tells him that he just has to have faith in himself that he will do the right thing. The guy leaps off the bridge. Samson leaps up and catches him. Everyone cheers Samson but Samson isn’t pleased with how that went. As the police take the guy away, Samson hands him his card and tells him to call him any time he needs to talk. The guy doesn’t say anything but just takes the card.
Samson and Sharp
arrive at the precinct. Sharp asks Samson if he is going to be
okay. She says that he seems a bit thrown by the incident on the
bridge. Samson turns and says that he is Doc Samson and that it
takes a lot to throw him. Samson turns back but bounces off
someone and falls to the ground. Samson looks up to see She-Hulk
standing before him. She-Hulk says that it looks like they both
need to watch where they are going. She-Hulk helps Samson up and
Samson asks her what she is doing there. Sharp says that he told
Samson that he has only been called in as a consultant and that
She-Hulk will do all the “superheroing”. Samson says
that all he has to do is point the way, and She-Hulk says that
she will do all the “biffing” and “bashing”.
Samson asks She-Hulk if “Cousin Bruce” called her in on
this as well. She-Hulk says that he hasn’t been feeling
himself lately so it is up to them… “Len and Jen: the
Legion of Gamma Substitutes”. She-Hulk says that she will
see Samson later and that she is going to go “patrol the
rooftops’ or some such”. She-Hulk tells him to have fun
and Samson says that he will now.
Sharp takes Samson to the office where he will sit and try to track “Patchwork”. Samson asks to see whatever photos, sketches, or impression molds that they have on the killer. He says that with gamma beings that you can judge a book by its cover. He says that outer form is a physical representation of all its inner desires. He says that if you see its body you gain hidden insights into its mind. Sharp says that they don’t have much. She says that Patchwork keeps to the shadows and that he doesn’t leave many witnesses. Samson asks why they call him Patchwork. Sharp asks Samson if he doesn’t read the papers. The medical examiner sends over six photos of the victims. Each month Patchwork kills two women and then creates composite corpses by sewing together pieces that he has chopped off. Samson looks at one that is supposed to be a human face and has to go to the bathroom to throw up. As Samson walks out of the bathroom a cop says that Patchwork has been spotted.
Sharp quickly drives them over to the East
Village. Sharp says that Samson wanted to get a look at the
killer. She asks if that is good enough. A large green monster
stands as a cop has his gun trained on it. Samson says that he
supposes that this is the part where she expects him to strap on
his cape and engage in a titanic battle. Sharp says that She-Hulk
has been alerted and that all he has to do is smack him around
until she gets there. Samson says that the Hulk smacks people
around. He says that he is Doc Samson and that he applies
psychology. Samson decks the monster. The creature says,
“Nice little girlie-girl. Mustn’t run aways now! Time
to make the pretty pictures!” Samson notes that the monster
is talking to some imaginary person. He wonders if it even knows
that he is there. 
The monster
slashes Samson across the face and then hits him away. Samson
says that it knows.
From the alleyway a larger monster stands with a dying woman lying on the ground next to him. He is watching the green monster fighting Samson. The dying woman tries to gurgle something but Patchwork says, “Shhh! I’m tryin’ to watch, girlie-girl. Don’t makes me have’ta kill you… yet!”
The monster tries to leap away, but Samson says that it isn’t get away that easy. As the monster leaps away it says, “I’m tryin’ to watch, girlie-girl. Don’t makes me have’ta kill you… yet!” Samson barrels into the creature and both of them fall into the East River. The creature won’t let Samson go as they struggle under the water.
Leader’s Lair rating: 8.5 out of 10
First of all this is fantastic artwork. I’ve never heard of Lashley, but I can’t believe that he isn’t getting more work. Perhaps he takes too long to deliver, but it certainly seems to be worth the wait. The images are large, clean, and help tell the story. The writing is very good. I like the set up that Samson would be called in to track a gamma powered serial killer. Originally it bothered me that Bobbie Chase didn’t do anything to show that Hulk didn’t need to show Samson about his Savage Banner problem (because Samson saw it the very next issue after it started), but then I remembered that Hulk might not know that Samson saw him because he was in his Savage Banner persona. I love that in addition to Hulk’s inner rage causing his transformation that they explained that She-Hulk was the result of a free spirit and that Leader was self-importance and Abomination was self-loathing. Good stuff and good application and understanding of the mythos that Peter David created for the psychological feel for the book. Not sure what Bobbie Chase’s level of involvement with the issue is, but I don’t recall her reign as Editor in Chief.