#and that Bruce couldn’t even give Betty a nice moment out in the desert without freaking out

[daydreamerdrew]

The Incredible Hulk (1968) #269

#so Rick’s defense of the Hulk here is immediately undercut by his envisioning of a good outcome being Bruce’s mind in the Hulk’s body #but that itself is interesting because is framed as not coming from a place of concern about the Hulk directly #but anxiety about Rick’s own identity and place in the world when he’s defined himself as the Hulk’s sidekick #his daydream values the Hulk only for his strength and wants to combine that with Bruce’s intelligence #there’s nothing about the Hulk’s personality that’s brought up when thinking about the Hulk’s right to live #and then at the end of the issue he tries to turn himself into a Hulk and says then that it's fine for Bruce to be cured #really making it clear that he was not actually concerned about the Hulk #I really do think that the fact that the Hulk isn’t intelligent makes the idea of eradicating him a lot more palatable #not just from the problems that causes but that it devalues him in people's eyes both in and out of universe #no he does not have a right to live because other people are clearly worth more #and I like that Rick is falling into that because I really don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t #like Jim Wilson is the one that I think actually understands and likes the Hulk and supports him for that reason #whereas Rick is motivated by his debt to Bruce #and I like that Betty is coming out and saying that she’s against Bruce identifying with the Hulk #I honestly prefer her disliking the Hulk over her liking him #because again it doesn't really make sense for her to feel positively about him #I like that the narration describes Bruce as ‘thoroughly obsessed with himself’ #and that Bruce couldn’t even give Betty a nice moment out in the desert without freaking out #it’s been a while since Bruce and Betty have been in a relationship so it’s good to see that drama again #to think that I was frustrated with Rick and Betty’s return to the book #because I thought the approach to their feelings about the Hulk and this arc about trying to cure Bruce was simplistic #I've been in a bit of a slump with my Hulk readings but I genuinely think the Hulk's 'friends' treating him poorly is turning that around #because I really like this #marvel #bruce banner #betty ross #rick jones #my posts #comic panels