This story explores the idea of Hulk as a destructive force of death (even when he doesn’t want to be) who can’t seem to do anything else (even when he wants to). Writer Sean McKeever (with an assist from Paul Jenkins) does a good job at crafting this theme by having it introduced by a church sign…
It must have been fun to write Hulk during this time period because all of his personalities can come out based on the story. In this one, Savage Hulk arrives at a small town and mostly lurks in the background while a young couple begins to embark on a life of crime.
Turns out, the male of the couple is actually Killer Shrike, and his girlfriend is trying to talk him out of robbing a store. He insists that because they’re in the middle of Wisconsin, nobody will mess with him.
He’s wrong.
The battle is brief, but Shrike’s girlfriend dies (by accident) when Hulk wrecks a nearby building. Hulk doesn’t even know he killed the woman.
The ending sequence is a thought piece about God, framing nicely against the beginning.
Oh, and Kyle Hotz art is amazing and perfect for this brooding tale.
Excellent.
Missed opportunity: Like all the other major Marvel titles, Hulk will return to its legacy numbering next issue with #501. That makes this Incredible Hulk #500. Seems like it could have had more fanfare, if editorial had been faster on the draw.
Oh well. It’s still a great comic.