Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #55Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #55
Title: “Hide in Plain Sight”
Writer: Bruce Jones
Penciller: Leandro Fernandez
Inker: Leandro Fernandez
Colors: Studio F
Editor: Alex Alonso
Dr. Zhan is appearing on a talk show. He says that what most people forget is that Creel was a criminal first and foremost. He says that his amazing ability to absorb any object tends to overshadow that fact. He says that Creel comes across as a Neanderthal, but that while he is no Rhodes Scholar that he isn’t an unintelligent criminal. Dr. Zhan says that if it weren’t for Creel’s inability to absorb the energy-induced plasma bars that contain him that he wouldn’t think that the world was a safe place to inhabit. The host Barbara thanks Dr. Zhan for inventing those beams. Zhan thanks her.
Bruce Banner and Judy Laughton are standing on the street watching the program through a window of a television shop. Bruce says that is pretty impressive. Judy says that Bruce doesn’t know the half of it. She walks down into the subway. She passes through the turnstiles and her friend Pam greets her. Pam asks her to show her the engagement ring so she can fantasize about something at work. Pam asks how it feels. Judy says that it feels like she has waited her whole life for it and that it feels completing. Pam asks Judy if her husband gets to know about her mysterious job. Judy says that someone will hear, but Pam says that this is New York. Pam asks if Judy feels like running around naked and jumping for joy. A strange glow comes into Judy’s eyes. She says that she does as a matter of fact. Judy leaps into the path of an oncoming train.
Bruce finishes watching the program with Dr. Zhan and starts walking down the street.
In a secret facility under a cemetery, Dr. Zhan and the others in the facility just finished watching the show. The television breaks in with a special report. The employees are teasing Zhan when one of them points out that the news is regarding the suicide of Judy Laughton. They watch in disbelief as their co-worker is reported dead. Pamela Grayson tells the news that not only wasn’t Judy depressed, but that she was engaged to be married in two weeks. She says that it makes no sense. John Johnson says that he wants a thorough background check on Pam Grayson. One of them says that it is a waste of time, and that Judy said Pam was her best friend. John says that their people in Washington will decide on that. John tells Zhan to tell Judy’s parents and that it has to be kept quiet. Zhan suddenly says that Judy didn’t jump. John asks if he thinks she was pushed. Zhan asks if Judy was alone in Creel’s chambers yesterday.
In a deli, Bruce Banner stares with his mouth open at a plate of food while eating a cracker and drinking tea. He walks over to the owner of the food and asks if she was the woman. Pam says that she has been on television, but asks if he would mind leaving her alone. Bruce says that it was the newspaper, but that he met her friend. Pam asks if Bruce knew Judy. Bruce says that he met her briefly. He stares at her food the entire time and says that it is best not to be alone after something like that. Bruce wipes his mouth and starts to back away. Pam asks Bruce if he would like her food.
Sometime later, Bruce and Pam exit the restaurant. Bruce tells her that crackers are free, and that you can make a teabag last a week. Pam says that “Mr. Smith” almost makes the vagabond life sound inviting. She asks what he is running from, but says that it is none of her business. Pam says that she was just thinking of Judy. Pam and Bruce notice as they cross a bridge that two figures are walking towards them from both directions.
Zhan finds that Judy had completed her rounds with Creel the night before. Johnson asks if Zhan is saying that Creel said something to her. He says that Creel hasn’t said two words since the day he was incarcerated. Johnson asks what his point is. Zhan says that he isn’t sure yet, but that something strange is happening.
Elsewhere in the facility, Shirley, a woman with a strange glow in her eyes, is rubbing up against a male doctor. She says that she knows that he likes her, and that she has seen him looking when he thought she wasn’t watching. He says that he never thought she felt that way. The woman opens up her blouse revealing her bra and says that she wants to see his bedside manner. He tells her that these rooms have cameras. The woman leaps onto him. Suddenly her eyes stop glowing. The man’s eyes start glowing and he leaps onto her.
Johnson says that he would love to chat with Zhan, but that he has a facility to run and one less tech. Water spills on the computer suddenly and Johnson and Zhan are watching the male doctor mauling Shirley.
Pam offers the four thugs her money. Bruce tells her to hold on. He looks in her bag and says that he knows what they were looking for. Bruce throws Pam’s pink coral lipstick at them. The thug presses his elbow into Bruce’s chest pinning him against a street light and asks if he is looking for a beat down. Pam’s eyes start to glow. She starts to beat the stuffing out of the thugs. As they run off, Bruce asks Pam where she learned to fight like that. Pam says, “Prison” as she kicks Bruce in the face.
Zhan his the general alarm and starts running to the emergency care sector. Zhan says that they have to save Shirley, but when they get there Zhan, Johnson, and the others find Shirley beating on the doc and shouting that she will kill him if he ever touches her again. Johnson tells the guards to get her off him and take her to the infirmary. He tells the Dr. Riley that he will see him in his office immediately. Riley stands there dumbfounded and says that he doesn’t understand. Johnson says that he will talk to Zhan later. Zhan isn’t listening as he looks at a video of Creel smiling.
Pam helps Bruce up. She looks in her purse and says that all her money is there. She asks him how he did it. Bruce asks what she is talking about. Pam says that it all happened so fast, but that he beat four thugs by himself. Bruce says that he had help and asks her where she trained in self-defense. Pam says that she couldn’t fight her way out of a paper bag.
Riley says that she seduced him and that he doesn’t remember anything after that. Johnson is about to fire him when Zhan interrupts and asks to see him. Johnson walks out into the hall with Zhan. Zhan says that Johnson can’t fire staff willy-nilly. Johnson says that the staff is not allowed to fraternize with one another. Zhan says that Johnson needs to see something before he makes any decisions. Zhan shows Johnson Creel’s brain activity and the fact that there aren’t any peaks. Johnson says that he has seen this before, and that prisoners often resort to Zen techniques during incarceration. He asks what this has to do with anything. Zhan says that he checked Creel’s brain activity during the work schedule. He says that the MRI’s coincide with the incident between Riley and Shirley. Johnson says that he still doesn’t get it. Zhan says that Creel’s brain activity coincides with Judy’s death. Johnson says that he doesn’t understand. Zhan says to think about it. He says that Creel is a creature of incalculable power. He says that he has known absolute freedom until now. He says that the sudden loss of freedom might be catastrophic and cause his mind to collapse and seek another avenue of escape. Johnson asks if Zhan is suggesting Creel is absorbing minds. Zhan says that he knows that it is preposterous. Johnson says that is the word for it. He says that Zhan is talking about everyone in the project including them. Zhan says that he knows he is. Johnson storms out and says that he doesn’t want to hear anymore of this.
Pam asks Bruce why he thinks she fought the muggers. Bruce says that he saw her and asks her how she remembers it. Pam says that she is actually drawing a blank. Bruce asks if she has had these blank spells before. Pam hits Bruce with her purse and sys that the NYPD already covered that part of the investigation. She asks if he actually thinks she would push her best friend in front of a train. She says that she doesn’t even know him and walks away. Bruce picks up Pam’s card that fell on the ground. Bruce walks after her down into the subway. Someone pokes him in the shoulder.
Zhan takes a gun
out of his drawer. He walks down into the area where Creel is
being held and looks at him.
No Excuses rating: 0 out of 10
Leandro can obviously draw. Look at the cover. It looks nice yes, but his interior is a far cry from it. Leandro really isn’t deserving of a 0, but I’m only giving the Hulk 0’s from this point on until Bruce Jones if off the book or he magically stops sucking. Bruce’s behavior towards Judy in the deli was disturbing. The genius Banner with no ideas on how to score some food takes advantage of a distressed woman in order to score her plate of uneaten food. It’s not a good idea to be alone after a friend’s suicide, but it’s an even worse idea to go off with a homeless man that instigates fights with muggers. But really that’s peanuts to the garbage that Jones has done to Creel. Jones said that he was taking Creel’s power to the next logical step. So if one can absorb rock when he touches rock of course the next logical step is for him to take over people’s mind by never touching them. What a genius this Jones is. I NEVER would have made that leap in logic. Never. His explanation for Creel’s newfound abilities is the result of immense ignorance of the Marvel Universe’s continuity. What would Creel do if “finally’ imprisoned? Creel’s been in prison before. The “genius” Zhan, as a correction officer, ought to know that Creel’s been in a prison that negates his powers. Finally the idea that Creel can’t absorb the plasma doesn’t make a shred of sense. Lousy… lousy writing. The picture of Creel as a giant water creature? When was this exactly? Creel couldn’t maintain his form when he turned to water and went nuts for a time. Not that Jones would know. In fact it might be easier to start with what Jones knows about the Hulk. Anyone have any guesses?
Review and pictures by The Leader