CBR: Aaron Creates a Banner Conflict in "Incredible Hulk"

[CBR News]

Bruce Banner and the Hulk have battled for years on a psychic plane, but in the "Incredible Hulk" their conflict explodes into reality. CBR spoke with writer Jason Aaron about the book.


Full article here.

[Greengo]

So far, I am really enjoying this run. I like that he is taking the "weird" approach and changing things up.

I am actually glad that Jason dumped all the "Hulk Family" stuff and in doing so, makes this feel like a fresh new direction.

The Hulk has always had a supporting cast, but he is traditionally a loner so Jason, if you read this comment, don't hurry to bring back the Hulk Family...please.

Whilce Portacio has always been a hit and miss with me but that preview stuff looks good.

[Prof. Warren]

I love Aaron's run so far. It has all the character complexity you'd want but without skimping on big time monster action. Every issue has been better than the last - can't wait to see where the book is heading in 2012!

[Majinoaw]

Although I like the approach, I'm tired of Marvel turning heroes into villians. Banner can't be saved after this run.

[CMBMOOL]

I still wonder how does Aaron's run on the Incredible Hulk, differ from the last time the Hulk was seperated from Banner on the Physical plane ?

I mean how will Aaron avoid the pitfalls of the past stories where the Hulk and Banner were seperated ?

[Emissary of Justice]

Not a big fan of this run at all and I love Aaron's work. Banner's being turned into a unbalanced psychotic mad scientist that's a strange mixture of Lex Luthor and The Joker. There's too many underdeveloped and unfamiliar characters being utilized in such a long standing franchise.

[Spiros]

well maybe he wants to use those lesser characters to develop them and make them more familiar within the Hulk mythos

[Predabot]

If I was to vaguer a guess, Banner got the short end of the stick in separating him and Hulk. Although the process have been improved from the Samson-one, it looks as if mainly the Hulk received the stable mind, taking several parts of Banners mind with him that he has not gained in the past from the separation.

As a result, Banner feels incomplete, and his brain is becoming increasingly unstable.

Incidentally, how many times have they been split? I think it's something like 2 times, yes? 3 if you count Captain Universe, but that was one issue only.

[Ptrvc]

As much as I am a Hulk fan first and foremost, and a fan of Banner second, I just can't get behind an evil Banner.

[Old Sparky]

I mean how will Aaron avoid the pitfalls of the past stories where the Hulk and Banner were seperated ?

Exactly.

As much as I am a Hulk fan first and foremost, and a fan of Banner second, I just can't get behind an evil Banner.

Me either. I suppose it seems the more predictable (thus less interesting) way to go to say monster bad, man good... but turning it around and making Banner the baddie just isn't thrilling me in the least.

"And what's wrong with Banner?" Aaron continued. "Why is it when you take the Hulk away he starts to go crazy? Why has he descended into madness like he has? And of course the big question still remains: How did they get separated in the first place and who did it? Who's able to do something like that? Those are all big questions that will be answered in the coming months."

What's wrong with Banner? He's flippin' nuts to begin with. My take has always been that his Hulk persona is how he deals with his insanity, turning into the big green monster, thumping his chest & telling the world he's the strongest one there is... it let's him blow off steam. Take that outlet away and the crazy brewing in his head still needs to go somewhere.

[dornwolf]

What's wrong with Banner? He's flippin' nuts to begin with. My take has always been that his Hulk persona is how he deals with his insanity, turning into the big green monster, thumping his chest & telling the world he's the strongest one there is... it let's him blow off steam. Take that outlet away and the crazy brewing in his head still needs to go somewhere.

That's kinda of what I've gone with as well. It's why I've always felt that Hulk and Banner are one being they are not like Don Blake and Thor

[Shai Hulud]

Best Hulk story in years !!

[Majinoaw]

Sorry people. I just can't get behind an evil banner, and the explanations some of you gave make perfect sense.

But I tell you what I miss. The conflict between Joe Fixit and Banner. Now that was tension at its best and a zany idea to boot.

[Kurolegacy]

I can't really get behind this volume of Incredible Hulk. While it's an interesting take of saying 'what if Hulk wasn't the monster but Banner was?' why does that have to be the case. Why does either have to be the monster in all of this? One thing about Incredible Hulk is that, while labeled as a monster, Hulk is just misunderstood while at the same time, Bruce was brought along for the ride because of the gamma bomb bringing out his inner rage. I've never considered the Hulk to be a separate entity at all, he's another side of Bruce and together, they complete one another. Neither is a monster, they're both a man. If anything of him is a monster it's Devil Hulk, who is literally the manifestation of Banner's hatred towards how the world treats him.

[Kevinroc]

I think the run has been a bit slow so I'm waiting for things to heat up. Not so wild about it being another "Banner and Hulk split" type story but the Banner/Hulk dynamic is one of the most interesting relationships in comics.

I also have nothing against "Hulk is the hero and Banner is the monster." That's been a theme that several writers have explored over the years but there is still a lot of ground to cover.