Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #28

Title: “Once in a Lifetime”

Writer: Paul Jenkins

Penciller: John Romita Jr.

Inker: Tom Palmer

Colors: Avalon Studios’ Arsia Rozegar

Editor: Tom Brevoort

An impossibly old Joe Fixit tries to tell Bruce Banner that everything that they are seeing isn’t real, but rather a manifestation of Bruce’s mind. He also tells Bruce that all the nightmares he has been having are the work of the Professor. He says that he has been trying to get through to him for centuries. Joe tries to explain further that the world they inhabit is really a construct that Banner built all the way across his superego. Fixit says that he figures that seeing Betty inside that glass container must have just sent him over the edge. Banner says that his wife Betty is safe at home. Joe cuts Bruce off and says that it was Ryker’s experiment that let the Devil Hulk loose. He says that all those other Hulks went missing and that only he and the Professor were strong enough to survive. Bruce thanks Joe for trying to tell him something, but he says that everything Joe is saying to him seems so vague. Fixit says that this is Banner’s last chance to reclaim reality, and that if he doesn’t the world is in trouble. Banner starts to leave and says that he doesn’t have to listen to this. Fixit says that this whole world was the Devil’s doing. That there is no beautiful wife and wonderful life. He says that there is only misery, but that at least the misery is real. Fixit says that he knows all the dreams about the big green monster and asks how he would know that if he weren’t telling the truth. Banner rides out on the elevator. Banner leaves the hotel and immediately forgets that he was there. He wonders what he is doing on the wrong side of the tracks and looks to make a phone call.

Seeing Fixit starts to cause Banner’s perfect world to crack. For the first time in as long as Banner can remember his foursome is rained out of playing their round of golf. Bruce senses that something is wrong, but he can’t put his finger on it. He tries to call his parents, but their line has been disconnected. The operator has no record of them ever having a phone number. At work there is a minor mistake that causes his co-workers to start arguing. Later that night, Bruce reads the newspaper and sees all the horrible things that are happening around the world like earthquakes, typhoons, and mudslides.

That night Bruce is awakened from his nightmare of the green monster. He looks out the window and sees a gigantic figure moving.

Bruce goes to the psychiatrist and starts to talk about the dreams that he has been having. He says that he loves his wife and children so much that he is paranoid about losing them. Bruce says that he wanted to talk to his mother and father, but for some reason he can’t get a hold of them. Bruce says that his father didn’t show up for their fishing trip. Banner says that he is afraid that the world is going to fall apart and that he doesn’t know what to do. The psychiatrist is the Devil Hulk. He tells Banner that he must put these things out of his mind.

Banner leaves but he just can’t shake the feeling that there is something wrong there. Suddenly the ground starts to shake. The Savage Hulk breaks through the ground. Devil Hulk pulls up to Banner and tells him that if he wants to live he must come with him. Banner jumps in and tries to find out what is going on and who is driving him. Devil Hulk says that there is no time and that he must get inside his house. The Savage Hulk is following them. Buildings are falling down all around them. Betty and their children are there at the door and want to know what is going on. He says that he doesn’t know but that they just have to get inside. They watch from the window as the Hulk gets closer. Bruce realizes that the Hulk out there is one of his memories.

Suddenly it all comes back to Bruce and he drops to his knees. Little Katie Banner asks her father if something is wrong. Bruce starts to say that she isn’t real, but suddenly standing next to his family is the Devil Hulk. Devil says that they are real, as real as he wants them to be. Devil Hulk says that he can put it all back the way it was if he wants him to. Bruce says that they aren’t real. Devil Hulk reminds Bruce that he isn’t the one that made them and that Banner himself did. Devil Hulk tells Bruce to look out the window and see for himself what awaits him if he chooses to go back to reality. Banner asks Devil what the catch is. Devil Hulk says that all he wants is control of the body so that he can go and payback the world for what it did to them. Devil says that he is the only one capable of making them all pay and that Bruce will stay there say in his perfect world. Devil Hulk says that all Bruce has to do is touch Betty and he will never know that she went away.

A tear rolls down Bruce’s face as he caresses Betty’s cheek. He says that he loves her more than he can ever say, but that she is not real. Bruce fastens a collar on to dog. One of his daughters looks up at Bruce with tears in her eyes and asks where he is going. Bruce says that he is going for a walk. The little girl asks if he will be coming back soon. Bruce says, “I don’t think so munchkin.” As Bruce walks out of the house it falls into pieces. Bruce walks straight towards the giant Savage Hulk. Savage Hulk hits Bruce.

Bruce wakes up alone in a cold bed with tears I his eyes and says, “Betty”.

No Excuses Rating: 8 out of 10

Compelling story and nice art. No action what so ever though and the story isn’t really advanced at all.