CSBG Archive
Drawing Crazy Patterns – Why Puny Humans Not Leave Hulk Alone?
In this feature, I spotlight five scenes/moments from within comic book stories that fit under a specific theme (basically, stuff that happens frequently in comics).
Today we look at five instances where the Hulk asks why is it that the humans never leave him alone.
Enjoy!
Hulk was always complaining about the humans not leaving him alone, but early on in his adventures, his ire was strictly that – anger. Heck, REALLY early on he didn’t even have time to complain, he just fought. As time went by, though, he began to lash out at the puny humans for constantly hounding him, like this bit from Tales to Astonish #66…
It stayed that way all through issue #78, where he was angry at the humans for hounding him, but that was it…
In Tales to Astonish #79, though, Hulk first began to question his state of affairs…
At the beginning of the next issue, the Hulk got even more introspective….
(It’s fascinating, really, to see how once Stan Lee came up with a new idea, he would really latch on to it)
In #84, the Hulk once again questions his lot in life…
In #92, he gets especially plaintive…
And in the first issue of his solo series, Incredible Hulk #102, Hulk’s “Why?” position has become such an important part of his characterization that Gary Friedrich makes sure to include it in the recap of the Hulk in the issue…
E-mail me suggestions for future installments at bcronin@comicbookresources.com!
12 Comments
DJW
July 10, 2011 at 3:58 am
Emo Hulk
Craig
July 10, 2011 at 7:22 am
Hulk #92 (“If the Hulk could only reach — the stars!!”) is a great bit of foreshadowing for Planet Hulk, I suppose.
buttler
July 10, 2011 at 11:35 am
The valuable lesson is that you can get what you want and still not be very happy.
Peter Fodor
July 10, 2011 at 1:53 pm
@buttler
Epic quote.
Michael Hoskin
July 11, 2011 at 11:00 am
>Hulk #92 (“If the Hulk could only reach — the stars!!”) is a great bit of foreshadowing for Planet Hulk, I suppose.
No “suppose” about it – it’s directly referenced in Part Four of Planet Hulk.
Dalarsco
July 12, 2011 at 9:37 am
Also, Planet Hulk started in vol 2 #92.
buttler
July 12, 2011 at 11:19 am
Coincidence? You be the jud… well yeah, it almost certainly was. But a cool one!
Ajaxpinch
July 17, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Love the titles Stan Lee gives to himself and his team in the credit of TtA #80. Doctor of hulkishness? Pride of hulkdom? Wow! I need to know wich university gives classes to become a doctor of hulkishness!
News Ablaze! » Blog Archive » the incredible hulk
July 18, 2011 at 4:01 pm
[...] Sources: [1] Guillermo del Toro Working On ‘The Incredible Hulk’ TV Show For ABC [2] Guillermo Del Toro Confirms Hulk For ABC [3] Scarlett Johansson has super-hot body [4] Drawing Crazy Patterns ‘ Why Puny Humans Not Leave Hulk Alone? [...]
Travis Pelkie
July 23, 2011 at 3:09 am
“The valuable lesson is that you can get what you want and still not be very happy.”
Did…did Buttler reference Cerebus? I loves him even more now!
But Hulk was (eventually) pretty happy on Planet Hulk, right?
Brainy Pirate
July 30, 2011 at 3:45 pm
This is one of the reasons I have always been amazed that Hulk has been able to sustain his own series for so long. I got tired of this meme by your third example. How have writers kept his story interesting for 45 years?????
buttler
July 30, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Aww! And yeah, he was happy for a hot minute before he became very, very unhappy indeed.