Incredible Hulk #189

Featuring: Hulk
Release: April 1, 1975
Cover: July 1975
25 cents
Len Wein writer/editor
Herbe Trimpe & Joe Staton illustrators
Glynis Oliver Wein colorist
Arty Simek letterer
18 pages

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Giant-Size X-Men #1	Reading order	Daredevil #123
Incredible Hulk #188	Incredible Hulk	Incredible Hulk #190

Why? Why is there so much Hulk does not understand? All Hulk wants is a place where Hulk can find peace… a place Hulk can call… home! Why is Hulk forever lost? Where is Hulk? Where–? Nowhere! Hulk is always nowhere!

After a hiatus of a half-decade, the X-Men have returned, now with an all new team, including Wolverine, who we just met when he battled Hulk a few issues back. Of course, Len Wein was the writer on both titles, making for a smooth crossover.

We recall that in Hulk #187, Hulk tagged along on a SHIELD mission to Siberia to rescue Glenn Talbot, only to find him brain-swapped with a Soviet agent. The Gremlin erased the Soviet agent from his mind, so Ross and Quartermain only brought back a mindless husk. As they left, SHIELD destroyed the Gremlin’s Siberian base with Hulk still inside fighting the Droog monster. Presumably Hulk is now dead.

Except as we see on page 1, Hulk unexpectedly survived the destruction.

He now wanders Siberia alone until he comes across a singing girl ice fishing. The girl Katrina does not know to be afraid of him, for she cannot see.

This brings to mind the scene from Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein where the Monster meets a blind man.

Katrina’s father shoots at Hulk, but her grandfather Dr. Palkov calms the situation. He invites Hulk back to dinner in their village and asks for Hulk’s help against the Dark Ones.

Dr. Palkov is working on a cure for Katrina’s blindness.

But it turns out Mole Man also wants that cure for himself. And the creatures they called Dark Ones were Mole Man’s Subterraneans.

The editor reminds us of Hulk’s last battle with Mole Man in issue 127 and Mole Man’s last appearance and seeming death in Marvel Team-Up #17. We learn Mole Man survived through the sacrifice of hundrds of Subterraneans piling into the lava to make a bridge out of their bodies for him.

Well, Mole Man against Hulk. Even with an army of Subterraneans, it’s clear who’s going to win this one.

Hulk is not strong enough? Stupid Mole Man… Hulk is the strongest one there is!

Though Mole Man had briefly overcome Hulk with some knockout gas. Not sure what stopped him from just using it again. Maybe he ran out.

Hulk doesn’t want Katrina to look at him when she regains her eyesight, but she sees him as a man, not a monster. And kisses him on the cheek.

In my mind’s eye, I have already seen you, dear Hulk… I have seen your tenderness… your compassion… I have seen your soul… And now… as my vision clears at last… I can see that my feelings were right… You look exactly as I have always imagined you would!

You are not ugly, Hulk… you are gentle… you are beautiful… and you are loved.

Hulk was welcome to stay there, to at last have friends, to at last have the peace he sought. But he knew that was not for him.

As much as Hulk wanted to… Hulk could not stay in this place of new friends… new happiness. It was not right. Hulk had looked intro Katrina’s eyes… and Hulk had seen a man there… a good man… strong… gentle… but still a man!

And Hulk… Hulk is only a monster!

Meanwhile, Captain Marvel is battling Nitro. He’ll win the day with the help of Hostess Twinkies. But I suspect it’s Nitro who will win in the end.

Green Skin’s Grab Bag.

Rating: ★★★½, 61/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆

Most of the comic is fine, but that’s a very touching ending.

Characters:

• Hulk
• Katrina Palkov
• Sergi Palkov
• Doctor Anton Palkov
• Alexi Palkov
• Mole Man

Story notes:

• Hulk survived destruction of Gremlin’s fortress and now wanders Siberia alone.
• Hulk meets a blind girl named Katrina with a good singing voice ice fishing.
• Katrina’s family comes upon Hulk and Katrina and tries to kill him.
• Katrina insists Hulk is her friend and not a Darkling.
• Sergi’s father, Dr. Anton Palkov, suggests he knows of Hulk, and knows Hulk to be not dangerous unless provoked. He thinks Hulk can help against the Dark Ones. Hulk will help Katrina.
• Hulk is invited to Trelka, their village, for dinner.
• Sergi’s father was a doctor of optic medicine, seeking a cure for Katrina’s blindness.
• Darklings turn out to be Moloids. Hulk follows them to cave, has difficulty with their sheer numbers and then is knocked unconscious by gas.
• The editor reminds us Hulk and Mole Man last fought in Hulk #127, and that Mole Man was last seen and presumably killed in Marvel Team-Up #17.
• The obedient Subterraneans had piled themselves into lava, dying by the hundreds to form a bridge across the lava for Mole Man to escape.
• Mole Man’s minions stole Optinium from Dr. Palkov in order to restore his sight. He’d relied for years on radar senses instead.
• Hulk wants the optinium to cure Katrina.
• Hulk in carbon-steel restraint suit.
• Hulk breaks free, takes optinium, and fights against army of Subterraneans.
• Hulk breaks through two-foot thick titanium barrier door with ease.
• Hulk escapes tunnel as entrance collapses and returns serum to Dr. Palkov.
• Katrina’s sight restored, Hulk doesn’t want Katrina to look at him. But she sees him as a man. She gives him a kiss and tells him he is loved.
• Hulk leaves, crying, even though they ask him to stay.

Previous	#2271	Next
Giant-Size X-Men #1	Reading order	Daredevil #123
Incredible Hulk #188	Incredible Hulk	Incredible Hulk #190