Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #34

Title: “The Morning After”

Writer: Bruce Jones

Penciller: John Romita Jr.

Inker: Tom Palmer

Colors: Studio F

Editor: Alex Alonso

Bruce is walking down the sidewalk of a bad neighborhood. A group of guys take a second to make fun of Bruce’s purple pants. Bruce doesn’t say anything, but just looks at them and walks into the hotel on the corner. A fat clerk sits behind the counter eating. He is watching the news, as it talks about the death of nine-year old Ricky Myers who was killed in a “brutal, deliberate attack on downtown Chicago”. The clerk says that it is twenty dollars a night, there is no television, and the bathroom is down the hall. Bruce holds out a fifty and says, “One night”. The clerk says that he can’t change Bruce’s fifty so Bruce changes to two nights. As Bruce walks up the stairs to his room the television goes to Mr. and Mrs. Travis Myers at the hospital where Ricky was pronounced dead.

Inside his room, Bruce sets up his little folding television screen. The news is saying that they don’t know where the creature is, but that it is suspected to be Bruce Banner. Banner lays out his things. One man on the news says that you can’t blame Bruce Banner for the Hulk’s actions because it is a Jekyll and Hyde situation. Bruce picks out his laptop from his suitcase next to his “Exercises in Mind Control Yoga” book. Another man on the news is saying that something has to be done and that a little kid is dead. He says that the military can’t hold him, and as far as he is concerned there is only one thing to be done. Bruce turns the television off. Bruce opens his laptop and writes, “Mr. Blue, do you copy?” As Bruce is waiting he drops a little piece of the food he is eating for the mouse that shares his room. After waiting a bit Bruce types his line again. Mr. Blue comes on-line and writes, “Mr. Green, can’t talk now… doing the wash… call later.”

Later Bruce sits in a yoga position on his bed. A metronome goes back and forth. As Bruce meditates, the wand for the metronome morphs into the figure of a woman, presumably Betty. A slight smile appears on Bruce’s face as he thinks of this.

Bruce walks out of his room in a robe with a bag as he heads to the bathroom down the hall. The opposite door opens and a mother is yelling at her son. The mother is holding a fist full of money. She says that she told Jerome that she didn’t want it in her house, and that they will never be that poor. She throws the money at Jerome as he walks away. Bruce stands there. The mother tells Bruce that the boy made the honor roll just a year ago, and to look at him now. She turns to Bruce and says, “It’s the block. Full of sharks. No matter how hard you swim… how are you going to get past them sharks?” The woman goes back into her room. Bruce stands above the money on the ground.

Bruce sits in the bathtub with his folding television on a stool next to him. The news is showing amateur footage of the Hulk destroying a building. The news then shows a picture of Bruce Banner’s driver’s license. The anchorman says that if anyone sees this man for them not to approach him, but to contact the police through 911. He says that the suspect is now believed to be wearing a beard. Bruce strokes his beard as he sits in the tub.

Bruce, now clean shaven with a shaved head, sits on his bed with his laptop. He types again, “Mr. Blue, do you copy?” Mr. Blue writes back, “Mr. Green, Aunt June sick… forced to leave present location… will contact you later… avoid unnecessary exposure…” Bruce writes back, “Mr. Blue, will wait to hear from you… Best to your aunt.” Bruce hears police sirens and goes to his window. He spots Jerome hiding from the police.

Later that night, Bruce is sleeping in bed. Jerome breaks into his room. He grabs Bruce’s wallet and laptop. Bruce sits up in bed and says that he heard Jerome the minute he entered the room. Jerome says that Bruce can listen to him leave now. Bruce says that he is going with his wallet and laptop. Jerome asks how Bruce is going to stop him, but Bruce just says, “By asking”. Bruce says that he wouldn’t want to mess with a real live “gangbanger”. Jerome asks if Bruce is a cop. Bruce asks if he looks like a cop, but Jerome says that Bruce looks like a chump. Bruce asks why that is. Jerome says, “White boy with a shaved head? Don’t see that ‘round this neighborhood. Certain, connotations, you know what I’m saying?” Bruce smiles at Jerome. He says that Jerome is obviously a bright kid and why he is gangbanging. Jerome says that Bruce has seen this neighborhood. He says that he has already seen the “after school special” and to spare him the lecture. Jerome says to take his wallet. Bruce says that his laptop is more important. Bruce hears police sirens and ducks behind the window. Jerome asks Bruce, “What he is running from… Mister…?” Bruce says that he is running from himself and that his name is “Jones”. Jerome doesn’t buy that, but does give him the laptop back before he goes out the window.

The next morning, Bruce sits at his laptop with the television on. The news is saying that police still have no concrete leads on Bruce’s location. Bruce types, “Mr. Blue, good morning. How is the weather?” Mr. Blue writes back, “Mr. Green, weather fine today. No threat of rain. Good day for a stroll in the park. Weather looking good for immediate future in your area. Will advise.” Bruce throws another piece of food on the ground for his roommate. The news is reminding people to lock their doors and to stay off the streets after dark.

Later, Bruce sits outside reading a newspaper. He spots four men surrounding Jerome. One is yelling at Jerome that it doesn’t matter what is in the bag only that Jerome takes it where he tells him. Bruce stares a little too long and the man asks Bruce, “Yo, ‘Moby’? You got somethin’ to say?” Bruce turns and walks away.

Later, Jerome is sitting by himself outside. Bruce asks Jerome if he is disappointed in him. Jerome says that it isn’t Bruce’s problem. Bruce says that he has problems of his own, but that Jerome’s mom is right. They swim with sharks and there is going to be blood in the water. Bruce says that sooner or later that it is going to be their blood. Bruce says that he doesn’t know how deep Jerome is into this, but that there is always a way out. Bruce asks Jerome if he is listening. Jerome gets up and walks away. He says, “Ain’t no ‘out’ round here.”

That night, Bruce sits in his room at his laptop. He asks Mr. Blue how the weather is now. Mr. Blue says, “Mr. Green, your weather continues to be warm and friendly. A safe haven from the storm that currently engulfs your old home. Advise you stay put, retain low profile.” Jerome climbs in Bruce’s room through the window again. Bruce asks Jerome what he can do for him. Jerome shows Bruce a gun. Jerome says that life is all about power and who holds it. Jerome says that he knew that the crew on the corner had power, but that he was too stupid when he joined up with them. Jerome says that he is in too deep, and that it is too late to worry about it. Bruce says, “is it, now?” Jerome asks Bruce if he thinks he can just walk away, just pick up and leave. Bruce tells Jerome to tell him if he can. Jerome asks if he needs him to spell it out for him. Jerome says that Bruce had better go back to where he came from. Bruce says that he can’t. Bruce says that when he was young that he got mixed up in some stuff that he shouldn’t have. He says that he made a mistake… a big mistake, and that he has been paying for it ever since. Bruce says that it may be too late for him. He says that he has been looking over his shoulder his whole life, and that his sins are still chasing him. Bruce says that he can’t go back, and that Jerome can’t go forward. Bruce says that life is hard and that he is all out of sermons. Bruce points to the gun. Jerome leaves the gun and climbs out the window. Bruce looks out the window and then in the mirror. Bruce starts his metronome, but then stops it again.

Bruce is out walking the night time streets. He looks down the alley. Seeing the gang he stands there. One of the gang says, “Yo! Homer Simpson! You got a problem?” Bruce looks at them and then walks away. The guy shouts down the alley that Bruce had better keep walking and mind his business. Bruce stops walking. He turns around. Bruce sees his metronome, the figure of the woman, and Jerome holding a gun. The Hulk’s face is mixed together with the images. Bruce’s shadows casts itself on the back of one of the gang. The gangbanger says that he has to be kidding. He asks Bruce what he is staring at. Bruce says, “Four punks who are about to make a career change. The four of them just stare at Bruce and say, “One ass whippin’ comin’ right up.” Bruce tells them that they had better make it quick as a green glow comes into his eye.

Later, Bruce is hitchhiking on the highway. He is 61 miles from Kansas City. A truck stops for Bruce. The trucker asks how far Bruce is going. Bruce says that he is going anywhere but here. He says that he has outstayed his welcome. The trucker sees that Bruce has a black eye and says that he has quite a shiner there. Bruce says that the trucker should see the other guy.

Down the alley, the four gangbangers stand freezing without any clothes on, but trapped inside metal that is twisted around them. They are beat up. The gang member that did all the talking says, “Hu… H-H-H- Hul…” On the ground is a newspaper. The headline says, “FUGITIVE BANNER ELUDES POLICE”.

No Excuses rating: 7 out of 10.

One of the things that I really liked about Jenkins’ start on the Hulk back in issue 12 was that his agenda smacked you right in the face with his first issue. This issue reminds me more of Byrne’s first issue in that it provides no real answers to any of the questions one has when a new writer and new editor have come aboard. As for the story itself it is very well told and interesting. I do have a bit of a problem with Bruce’s aggressive manner of dealing with the gangbangers. It seems out of character to me, but as this is Bruce Jones’ first so I’ll cut him a little slack. Writing gets a 3 out of 5. Romita does an excellent job drawing what is essentially a very ordinary story. His storytelling works really well here. His characterization also helps create an interesting look for the book. Romita’s pencils will never be mistaken for Dale Keown’s, but he does his job very well.