Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #58Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #58
Title: “Brain Dead”
Writer: Bruce Jones
Penciller: Leandro Fernandez
Inker: Leandro Fernandez
Colors: Steve Buccellato
Editor: Alex Alonso
The police arrive and tell Banner to get on the ground. Bruce tells Creel that he wins, but that they are doing this his way. Bruce says that there is no mind-swapping, and that if he even sees him twitch that the deal is off. The police fire and knock the knife from Banner’s hand. Creel says that they are playing his song. Bruce tells Creel to remember what he said. Banner walks towards the police. Banner asks for the man in charge. The officer identifies himself and tells “Mr. Banner” to get on the ground. Bruce says that he is “Dr. Banner”. He says that they know who he is and what he is capable of. He says that there is a little girl’s safety on the line behind him, and that it would be dangerous for her if bullets were to start flying. Bruce says that he understands that they have a job to do, but that he can’t let them arrest him right now. The cop says that he hopes there is a big finish here. Bruce says that the finish will be bloody carnage unless the cop lets him make a call on his Motorola. Bruce says that then they will all go on their own way. Bruce says that he has ten seconds to think about it. The cop in charge tells everyone to lower their weapons. He escorts Bruce to the car where Bruce uses Pam’s card to call her.
Pam is still on the line, but Zhan is being dragged away. Zhan shouts for her to find Banner. Johnson tells Pam that he doesn’t know who she is, but to not bother calling again since he is shutting down the phone line. Johnson hangs up. Pam’s cell phone rings. It’s Banner and she asks where he is.
Bruce says that he is at Industrial Park east by the river, but that isn’t important. He says that he has Creel with him and that he is in the body of a little girl. He says that he thinks that Creel is planning on breaking in wherever it is that his body is being kept. Bruce tells her to get to Judy’s place and to try and call to warn them. Pam starts to tell him that she is at Judy’s place, but Bruce hangs up. Pam says that she is tired of people hanging up on her. She finds Pam’s maps and figures out where Bruce was calling from. She runs down the stairs and asks George if Judy’s car is still in the garage.
Creel compliments Banner on not resorting to
violence. One of the cops, Nelson, takes a shot at Banner as he
exits the police car. Banner transforms into Hulk. 
Hulk starts
throwing the police cars around. Creel watches it all as the
little girl. He says, “I see. There’s a point beyond
which you lose control. Must remember that.” One of the cars
explode as Hulk throws it.
Pam drives towards the rising cloud of smoke. She hopes that isn’t Bruce.
Creel tells Banner that was exciting and that it is a good thing that Dr. Banner was there to pull the monster’s punches. Banner asks what Creel would say if he told him that at the end Banner wasn’t there at all. Creel says that he would say Banner was trying to throw him off the track. Banner says that he has dealt with the police and now he wants to know what Creel wants from him. Creel tells Banner that he wants Hulk to break him out of prison.
Pam drives and sees the carnage. She gets to higher ground to try and scout around. She doesn’t see Banner down there. She spots the murdered couple in the car. She looks again and sees Banner running with a little girl.
Johnson tells Zhan that he isn’t enjoying this. Johnson, with two armed guards, stands over Zhan. Zhan says that he knows Johnson doesn’t like him. He says that the tech people hate the government people and vice versa. Zhan asks John to look past the clichés, and that Creel is playing them. Johnson says that they’ve been through this before. Zhan asks Johnson to go up there and look at Creel’s eyes. He says that he isn’t there and that he is somewhere outside raising havoc. Johnson tells the guards to make sure that Zhan is comfortable. Zhan tells him to go see Creel, but not to talk to him. He says that if Creel starts talking to get out of there.
Bruce and Creel walk. Bruce says that Creel isn’t giving him any incentive. Bruce asks why he should believe Creel will behave himself once he breaks him out. Creel says to consider the alternative. He says that he will kill the child and then seek out another innocent. Bruce says that if he does release him that the world will have another monster. Creel says that the world already has a monster in the Hulk. Creel says that besides Bruce hasn’t come this far on his word. He says that like him Bruce is curious to see if the Hulk can defeat a mind-absorbing psycho maniac. Creel says to hurry or they will miss it. Bruce asks what they will miss. Creel says that they will miss the train as it starts to pass.
In the train station, Bruce says that “Daddy” forgot his money and that they will miss the train because he forgot his money. Creel pulls out the money and asks if he remembers giving it to her for safekeeping. Bruce hands the money to the clerk. He asks for two tickets, but doesn’t know to where. Creel says, “Vicksburg Station.” Bruce and Creel walk out to the train. Bruce spots some police and says there is trouble. Creel tells him to pick “her” up. Bruce does so. Creel tells him to kiss “her”. Bruce pecks her cheek and the cops walk away. Pam watches as Bruce and Creel get on the train.
Creel tells Banner to relax and that Vicksburg is only two hours away. A little girl introduces herself, but Creel blows her off. The little girl notices that the girl’s father looks like the man on TV that the police are after. She asks her mom if he doesn’t look like that man. The woman looks at Bruce and she and her daughter start cowering. Suddenly Pam shows up pretending to be Creel’s mother. She says that they get that thing about the Branner or Brunner guy all the time.
In the dining car, Creel compliments Pam’s save. He says that now that she is there that they can help them. Pam asks Bruce if he is serious. Bruce asks what choice they have. Creel says that the institution is below a cemetery, and that they are going to have a grand time.
Bruce, Pam, and Creel walk off the train at Vicksburg Station.
No Excuses rating: 0 out of 10
The other issues were a waste of time with bad storytelling. This is just a total waste of time. The whole issue is spent going to Creel’s prison and they don’t even get there. Way to pad the story for the trade paperback Jones!
Review and pictures by The Leader