Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #27Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #27
Title: “Past Perfect”
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Penciller: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colors: Avalon Studio’s Arsia Rozegar
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Images run though the mind of Bruce Banner. He sees Betty lying in the stasis tube. He sees himself lying in the mountains as it rains down on him. He sees Ross, the Hulk, and sees and hears Abomination confess that he killed Betty and that Bruce can’t do anything about it to bring her back. Bruce sits up in bed.
Bruce gets up and opens the drapes. He walks to the bathroom and sticks his tongue out at the mirror. He thinks that maybe he is getting sick, but then recalls that he thought he was sick. Bruce walks down the stairs and into the kitchen where he finds Betty making breakfast. Bruce asks Betty is she is supposed to be there. Betty explains that it is Saturday. Bruce says that he had a nightmare. Betty says that she thinks that Bruce is overdoing it at the plant. Bruce agrees to talk with Emil about taking over some of the fundraising for the project. Bruce’s two girls run in and say that mommy said they weren’t allowed to wake him up. They hug him. Bruce has a little tussle with Slimey the dog for the morning’s paper. Everyone has a little chuckle and then Betty shuffles off the kids.
Later Bruce is out on a fishing trip with his father. Bruce reels in a big fish and his dad says that he thinks Bruce must have the best luck in the world. Bruce says that it is all know how. Bruce and his father joke around. Bruce turns to his father and asks him about these terrible nightmares that he has been having. He says that Betty is probably right that he is over worked, but he can’t help but wondering if there is something more to them. He says that there is a giant muscled green monster screaming and chasing after him. He says that the dreams are so vivid. Bruce wonders if he should go to see someone about them. Brian says that dreams are often opposites and that they have a lot to do with anxiety. He says that he used to have nightmares when he first got married. Brian says that Bruce worked hard for all that he has, and that he has a lot to be afraid of losing. Brian says that some would say Bruce’s life is perfect. Brian says how proud he is of his son, and that since he won the Nobel prize that his mother never stops bragging. Bruce hooks another giant fish. His father says that if he didn’t know better that he would think Bruce sold his soul to the Devil.
That night Bruce is plagued with nightmares again about a boy on a bomb-testing site. A transformation, and a death. The dream shouts, “Don’t pick up!” and Bruce is jolted awake. Bruce looks over to see Betty sleeping. He walks to the bathroom to get a drink. A little voice in his head says, “Betty you loved her. You can’t have her anymore…yes you can. She’s better than perfect… like a dream. Bruce crushes the cup in his hands. Two glowing eyes behind Bruce say, “All you ever wanted Bruce… and more.” Bruce looks into the mirror and sees the Devil in the reflection. He spins around and turns the light on only to find that nothing is there.
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Bruce and Betty are sitting together on a long couch. He says that he had another dream last night. He says that he thinks there was some kind of explosion at the plant. He says that he could hear this very familiar voice trying to coax him. Bruce says, “You know what it said at the end of the dream?’, but then suddenly the phone rings. Betty says that she is scared and begs Bruce not to pick it up. Bruce picks it up and says hello. A voice on the other side asks if this is Dr. Bruce Banner. Bruce says that it is. The voice asks if he knows what day it is. Bruce says that it is Saturday and asks who this is. The voice says that he is an old friend and tells him not to hang up. The room that the voice is calling from is dingy and sloppy. The voice asks if Bruce knows how many Saturdays in a row that is. The voice asks Bruce when was the last time he wondered about anything. The voice asks if Bruce even knows what year it is. Bruce asks if this is a joke. The voice says that he doesn’t get it. He says that he has been looking for him forever. The voice says that the Professor took off what seems like centuries ago to try and find him in his subconscious. Bruce says that he is going to hang up. The voice says to wait. The voice says that this is their last chance. He says that if he doesn’t come and see him at the Crossroads Hotel on the other side of the tracks in room 403 that it is all over. The voice says that it’s a trick and tells him to look around him.
Bruce is collecting the money on the golf course after winning the round. One of his foursome asks how many times he has aced that fifth hole. Bruce says, “I don’t know… I don’t think I even play golf.” The Devil sits at the clubhouse having a drink.
Bruce is at work and keeps thinking about the words “Don’t pick up” in his head. He wonders who the warning was from and why. He wonders if he was ever going to have the courage to face it. The life that he created for himself is too perfect.
Bruce finds himself at the Crossroads Hotel and wonders if he ever came to the other side of the tracks before. Bruce goes to the front desk and rings the bell. Rick Jones walks out and says, “So you’re Banner huh? You’d better go up, Doctor Banner. He’s been expecting you.” Bruce walks by a large man with green hair and his blond girlfriend. Bruce rides up the elevator. He hears a constant rumbling just beneath the surface. He thinks that he never should have come here as the doors open. Bruce walks down the hallway to room 403. The voice from the phone says, “Well well you ain’t changed much in a thousand years, pencilneck.” Bruce sees a wrinkled and old Mister Fixit sitting in a chair. He says, “Welcome back to reality. Don’t tell me you forgot about yer old pal Joe?”
No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10.
Both writing and art are above average. This is a set up issue (and it feels like it a little more than #24 did), but it still imparts a story. I think that this portion of the story could have been wrapped up a little quicker. The perfect portion of Bruce’s life drags out a little. If you enjoy this issue I highly recommend a book called “A Dream of Always” by Clive Barker. It’s not a horror book, but a very entertaining read.
Romita does a great job taking the ordinary life of Bruce Banner and imparting a more dynamic view of it. Romita’s art really helps tell the story here.
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