HULK #18 - Marvel

Over the last couple of issues we've found out that Doc Samson is playing a pretty big role in all the stuff that's been happening here. I don't necessarily think that he's the Red Hulk. But . . as we see this issue, he's got his own inner demons that he's battling. And it appears that now . . now that he's decided to cast off his the altruistic part of his personality . . now he's decided to just call himself Leonard. That's pretty much what this whole issue was about . . Leonard, sitting through a psychiatric session . . going over his feelings about his evolution, his fights with the HULK, his unrequited love for Betty Ross and numerous other deeds and accomplishments. The twist is . . at the end, we find out that he's really just talking to himself. This whole little scenario has been playing out in his own head. A head, and personality, that's become quite egotistical and narcissistic. And . . somehow, and for some reason he's being manipulated by MODOK. I really don't know what that's all about. Anyways, Jeph Loeb is weaving a fantastic tale through this book. He's kept us in the dark for 18 issues now, and it doesn't look like we're going to be seeing daylight any time soon. He's given us just enough hints to try to piece things together, but basically it's like we're trying to put a puzzle together in the dark. We can feel the pieces fitting together, but . . we have no idea what the overall picture is. Whilce Portacio fills in on the art this issue. Of course he did a great job. This book is interesting. It's frustrating. But it's interesting.