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Amadeus ChoQuote1 Hey, Banner! Come on, man! You think you're special? You're not! Everybody on the planet feels the way you do! We're all angry. We're all crazy. We all wish we could blame it on a monster inside of us. But we all deal with it. Just like you do. For pete's sake, man, you're a freaking hero! I've seen it! A hundred times over! So why... why can't you just take what you've earned? Quote2
Bruce Banner (Earth-616) from Incredible Hulk Vol 3 7.1 cover
Bruce Banner
Quote1 'Cause I'll break it. Quote2
Betty RossQuote1 Funny... I had the same problem. 'Til I remembered... you don't break so easy. Quote2

Appearing in "Heart of the Monster: Part 6"

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Synopsis for "Heart of the Monster: Part 6"

Umar has frequently ruled the entire Dark Dimension.[1][2][3] In the Dark Dimension, title given to the largest fragment of the Splinter Realms later merged with numerous pocket dimensions, and which was stated in the introduction to be ruled by Umar, just as the Hulk and Red She-Hulk are about to clash, Doctor Strange manages to freeze time temporarily and bring out Bruce Banner in astral form to ask if he and the Hulk will be "happy" where they are. Banner answers that if the Hulk and Fin Fang Foom are kept off Earth, not endangering innocents, then he's happy, even with Red She-Hulk letting out all that repressed anger. Banner reflects that, now that the Hulk can release his full power without fear of endangering innocents, he is no longer needed as a repressing element. Just as Strange's spell wears off, he is flung back to Earth into the bunker where Monica Rappaccini is keeping her wishing machine. He attempts to attack her for not bringing the wishing machine into the Dark Dimension, only to be clocked by Rick Jones. Rappaccini defends her reasoning that they need the machine in case the Hulk comes back. Just then, holograms of Amadeus Cho and Dr. Sofia Di Cosimo appear. They explained that after they were incinerated and re-materialized in the Dark Dimension, they followed Fin Fang Foom through a portal he created back to Earth, right into a facility full of gamma bombs for him to gobble down, becoming empowered by the sheer energy. Tyrannus appears, gloating that Fin Fang Foom, he plans on dominating the US once the monster's finished rampaging.

Because Fin Fang Foom still radiates 17.34 Hercs of wish power left while Rappaccini has only a little, they are few options. The latter opts to bring back the Hulk. However, Rick Jones and Jennifer Walters volunteer to absorb all the gamma energy the dragon is letting out in the form of missiles. It works, and they are transformed back into A-Bomb and She-hulk respectively. The only problem is, they've absorbed too much energy that they have gone berserk. With no choice left, Rappaccini brings back the Hulk and Red She-Hulk. However, Umar, referred by narration as Queen of the Dark Dimension, the largest fraction of the Splinter Realms later merged with countless pocket dimensions, teleported them to Earth upon realizing the effects their unleashed and infinitely increasing rage was causing in her realm. Then the two Hulks absorbed the energy from Fin Fang Foom, growing into giants and stomping on the dragon, and came into conflict with A-Bomb and the She-Hulk. Cho and Di Cosimo try and get through to the Hulk, explaining what just happened and urge him to use what little wish power he has left to fix this. The Hulk grasps the wish machine with his hand and makes his wish. In an instant, everyone is turned back to normal.

Rick and Jen can now switch between their human and powered forms; The Hulk simply gave them all that they wanted. Betty Ross turns back into Red She-Hulk and attempts to use the machine to give Bruce Banner what he desires but apparently, nothing happens. As he is arrested by the military, Tyrannus muses to Betty that the Hulk and Banner are none too different. The Hulk then stomps on the ground before turning back into Banner, with his eyes glowing green. He simply says, "Yeah. You got me." and walks off.

Appearing in "Hulk Out (Heart of the Monster - Conclusion)"

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Synopsis for "Hulk Out (Heart of the Monster - Conclusion)"

Two weeks later, at a diner in New Mexico, Banner is sitting down, observing everything that's going on. He is then found by Cho, who had spent an immense amount of resources to locate him. Banner warns his friend that he will fully disappear soon and he doesn't want to be followed. Cho tries reminding him that he saved his family. Banner can wonder at that claim, having wondered whether the Hulk or himself is the real monster. As he walks out of the diner to hitchhike, Cho runs out to tell him that he's no different from everyone else, to have his own demons to deal with. He reminds his friend that he's a hero and asks why can't he take what he earns. Banner answers that he would break it. A familiar voice then draws his attention; it is Betty, who tells him that he doesn't break so easily. Banner then gets in the car. As they drive away, they smile at each other, before transforming into Hulks and leaping off.

Solicit Synopsis

"HEART OF THE MONSTER" CONCLUDES!

THIS IS IT! The finale of Marvel scribe extraordinaire Greg Pak’s heralded Hulk run, and he’s not leaving without a fight! Or in this case, an uncompromising beatdown, unlike anything the Hulk has ever endured. All the stops have been pulled out and nothing is off the table in this crushingly climactic issue brought to life by acclaimed artist Paul Pelletier, a must-read event for any and all fans of the Green Goliath in this awesome, extra-large final issue!

Notes

Continuity Notes[]

  • The gamma bombs found in Yuma were supposedly destroyed after by the government said it would scrap them when their existence was discovered in Incredible Hulk #465.
  • Rick Jones states that he has absorbed gamma radiation twice in the "last ten years". He is referring to when he was briefly a Hulk from Incredible Hulk #325 to 332 and when he was transformed into A-Bomb circa Hulk (Vol. 2) #1. However, per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616 the length of time between Rick's first exposure to gamma radiation and this story happened roughly seven years prior to this story.

Publication Notes[]

  • Also includes an afterword by Greg Pak, dedicated to Bill Mantlo, discussing his inspirations for his run and the the current medical conditions of Mantlo, "Greg Pak: The Man Behind the Monster", an interview with Pak by Kiel Phegley on his run on Incredible Hulk/s, and a cover gallery of every Hulk issue written by Pak, along with variants.

Legacy Numbering[]

  • Based on the Marvel Legacy renumbering infographic, this issue is actually Incredible Hulk Vol 1 634. A different editorial count resulted in its publication as Incredible Hulks Vol 1 635.

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