Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #29

Title: “Animus”

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Penciller: Kyle Hotz

Inker: Eric Powell

Colors: Avalon Studios’ Arsia Rozegar

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Bruce Banner is strapped into a machine as Samson and Angela are running tests on Bruce's ALS. Bruce asks if they are finished yet. Angela says that they are almost done. Samson says that the tests show continued deterioration. Bruce says that he feels nauseous. Samson repeats that they are almost done. Bruce throws up. He transforms into the Savage Hulk. Hulk shouts that he is done now. Samson starts to yell at Hulk that he is ruining expensive equipment. Angela mutters that after all this time she would’ve thought Samson would have figured it out. She tells Hulk that if he stops destroying her lab that she will make him some hot chocolate with mini-marshmallows. Angela thinks to herself that she hates this situation.

Later Samson is coming out of Bruce’s room. He says that he had to help him take a bath first and then read him a bedtime story. Angela asks if it was “Cat in the Hat”. Samson says that it was “Advanced Journal of Microphysics Theory”. Angela asks what they are doing. Samson takes her hand and says that they are helping a friend. Angela asks if they are helping to absolve themselves of guilt. Samson tells her to come sit on the couch and they’ll talk about it. Animus materializes in the hallway. He senses the underlying tension and says that he thinks that he is going to like it here. Animus gives them a little time to be intimate and then enters the room to give them nightmares.

In the dream, Bruce Banner lies racked with disease and near death. He calls out to Doctor Strange and Namor for help, but they just walk on by. Bruce calls out to Samson and Angela that he can’t move. He tells them to do something. What they do is start kissing in front of him. Animus appears to Bruce and says that they can hear him, but they just don’t want to listen. Bruce transforms into the gray Hulk. Animus smiles and says that it is showtime.

Hulk sits up in bed and says, “What the %#%$! is goin’ down?

In Samson’s dream he is revered by all the world’s heroes. He appears huge and muscular while all the other heroes are scrawny and weak. Samson steps up to a podium to address his fans. He starts to say how wonderful he is, but then “Doughboy” asks if he is so great why does he always get beaten. Doughboy walks up and smacks Samson down. Samson sits on the ground, now scrawny, as everyone walks away. Samson tells them to come back, and says that he can be as good as anyone. Angela appears behind him and says that it looks like Samson could use a hand. She extends her hand, but then pulls it back when he reaches for it. Angela says that she wants a real man, and that Bruce has Samson beaten in brains and brawn. Angela starts dragging the near death Bruce by the hand. Bruce says that he knew she would pick him. Angela then turns and starts yelling at Bruce for abandoning her and then crawling back for help.

Hulk smashes into Samson and Angela’s room. He slams Samson against a wall and says that he doesn’t deserve her. Angela starts flirting with “Joe”. Samson nails Hulk in the stomach and says that he is tired of losing. Hulk says that he figures that Samson would have been used to it now. Hulk punches Samson out the window. Samson hits Hulk and says that it is easy for him because he never holds back and tries to live with some semblance of humanity. Hulk says that Samson was very humane it was of Samson to start shagging the blonde with Bruce down the hall. Hulk says that she should be his, but then corrects himself and says that she should be Banner’s. Angela says that she could be Joe’s. Both Hulk and Samson look over quizzically.

Inside Bruce’s mind, Bruce watches the fight along with all the other Hulks. Bruce realizes that where he is, isn’t real, but that the fight is real. Bruce wonders who is doing this to them. Animus appears and says that he is. Hulk leaps down to the physical representation of the gray Hulk. He slaps Joe and says that he is being manipulated. Bruce says that he has seen through the hate, but that Fixit can’t. Bruce says that Hulk has to turn the body back over to him. He says that Animus is just using him because he is a part of his hate.

Samson is about to deck Angela for using him when Hulk grabs Samson’s fist. He says that someone is mucking with their heads, and that as much as it sucks there is only one person who can stop him. Hulk turns into Bruce Banner.

Back inside Bruce’s mind, Bruce says to Animus that he eats hatred and that it is time for him to gorge himself on the main course. Bruce floods Animus in hate. Animus drowns in Bruce’s hate.

Angela tries to cover up her true feelings, but Bruce says that it’s okay and natural. He says that he resents their relationship, and Samson says that he resents that he lacks the courage to be the man Bruce is. Angela asks what they are supposed to do about it. Bruce says that they don’t do anything. They just have to accept the hate because without it they wouldn’t know love.

No Excuses rating: 7.5 out of 10

The characterization is spot on, which seems to be an unusual trait in Hulk writers. Very dramatic and addresses the things that everyone has been waiting to see explode, but inevitably shows that these things don’t really matter. The only thing that keeps me from giving the writing a five out of five is that the plot still doesn’t move forward and seems kinda stuck in molasses. This is a fill in issue I understand, but now it’s been 4 issues without much happening.

The art is good for Hotz, but really average in the big scheme of things. I do hope that Kelly Jones is getting a check from Hotz in the mail for giving him a career.