Bruce Banner has finally gotten a taste of the life he’s coveted ever since the first issue of The Incredible Hulk. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last as author Phillip Kennedy Johnson reveals the consequences of Bruce’s separation from the Hulk. Everything from his personal relationships to the safety of the world is at stake, and Bruce has no choice but to face them all.
A Quiet Life in Muncie: The Banner and Betty Ross Status Quo
Bruce and Betty Ross have fled to Muncie, Indiana, where they’re attempting to live a calmer life. They’ve gotten jobs as chemists at the local vitamin factory, made friends, and settled into a 9-to-5 routine. It’s a shockingly normal shift, and I desperately wanted them to finally be at peace. But we know it’s not meant to be.
It’s clear that something is bothering Betty, and PKJ doesn’t shy away from her trauma. She soon breaks under the pressure of their new status quo, remembering the supernatural feats she was capable of when possessed by the One Below All. She resorts to self-mutilation when she can’t even open an ice cream container, cursing her human limitations. Artist Kev Walker portrays the breakdown in vivid detail on page seventeen. Betty’s face alternates between a pained frown and a vicious snarl, with tears flowing from her eyes. A large kitchen knife is glued to her hands, and dark blood blankets her arms. Bruce barely calms her down with a heart-breaking embrace, their bodies slumping together in mutual exhaustion.
The Avengers Intervene: Iron Man and Reed Richards Confront Bruce
Our hero gets no time to catch his breath. Iron Man and Reed Richards soon show up at his doorstep, pressing him on how he’s going to handle the Infernal Hulk problem. These men are terrified, and seeing two of the Marvel Universe’s greatest minds grasping at straws shows how dire the situation is. PKJ has done a fantastic job establishing the threat of a possessed Hulk, with this being another brilliant scene to drive it home. It’s helped by Cory Petit’s letters, as Iron Man’s accusations are captured in bright yellow speech boxes while Reed’s text is sympathetic and practical.
Bruce rebukes the two men though. He provides them with information on how the Hulk has been transformed by Eldest but refuses to help any further. Bruce asserts that he’s earned a little cowardice, and it’s hard to argue with him. After decades of causing destruction as the Hulk, why shouldn’t he get a little normalcy? However, he’s met with some tragic news at work the following day. A broadcast recapping the events of issue one, where Infernal Hulk destroys a military base, plays on the TV. We soon learn that one of his co-workers’ sons was stationed there, plunging a dagger into his chances of staying on the sidelines.
Phillip Kennedy Johnson Explores the Tragedy of Banner’s Hubris
This story came at just the right time. Seeing the Infernal Hulk run rampant in the previous two issues was thrilling, but we need Bruce’s perspective too. His desire to put his past behind him is clear on the page, making it even more tragic as his life unravels. PKJ has brought everything full circle, and the stakes continue to rise issue after issue.
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Art Spotlight: Kev Walker and Nic Klein’s Visual Storytelling
Walker is the chief artist here, but this book really misses Nic Klein. He still handles the art on the first and last page, and these panels steal the show. Klein’s Hulk is absolutely menacing, muscles bulging against sickly greens courtesy of color artist Matthew Wilson, while his hands curl into intimidating fists. Eerie oranges and purples blanket his surroundings, looming over the monster like a dark cloud. Walker does a solid job, but Klein is on a different level.
Final Verdict: Can Bruce Banner Ever Truly Escape the Hulk?
The Infernal Hulk #3 proves Bruce Banner can’t escape his past, no matter how far he runs. His confrontation with his heroic peers and Betty’s breakdown offers devastating proof that separating from the Hulk solved nothing. PKJ wisely shows the full repercussions as Bruce’s coworkers lose sons, Betty loses herself, and the Marvel Universe edges closer to destruction.
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‘The Infernal Hulk’ #3 | Betty’s Breakdown and Bruce’s Reckoning
The Infernal Hulk #3 proves Bruce Banner can’t escape his past, no matter how far he runs. His confrontation with his heroic peers and Betty’s breakdown offers devastating proof that separating from the Hulk solved nothing. PKJ wisely shows the full repercussions as Bruce’s coworkers lose sons, Betty loses herself, and the Marvel Universe edges closer to destruction.
