Journey To The Center Of The Mind Of Bruce Banner

It is amazing that The Hulk can have so many interesting stories within the pages of Marvel Comics, but have been unable to replicate this success on the big screen. One of my recent purchases from Conquest Comics was from the "True Believers #1 " series entitled "The New Incredible Hulk," with "Professor Hulk" written under the graphics of The Hulk on the cover. This was a story that was originally published in January of 1991. The story was written by Peter David, with Dale Keown (pencils) and Glynis Oliver (colors) assisting.

This is a very important arch in The Hulk's life as he is seeking help from Doc Samson to help him deal with his inner turmoil. In order for Samson to get deep into the mind of Bruce Banner, the good doctor decides to convince the prison authorities to release Maynard Tiboldt (the Ringmaster) into his custody due to his specialty of hypnosis. Banner has been diagnosed with MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder).

There is a struggle going on within Bruce Banner that involves himself, the green Hulk and the gray Hulk. One of these personalities has identified themselves as Joe Fixit, whom appears to have evil intentions. While under hypnosis, Banner is taken back to a Christmas Day as a child where he encountered a monster, which in reality was Brian Banner (Bruce's father). We all have heard about Brian Banner experimenting with Gamma Radiation, which also led Bruce to be who he is.

Bruce recalls seeing Rebecca Banner, his mom, trying to leave his father to save herself and Bruce. However, she wasn't able to accomplish this task as Brian in monster form kills her. This is where it was obvious that Bruce had a problem with showing emotion. This session also has Bruce remembering a college girlfriend, Susan Jacobson, that Bruce had a problem becoming intimate with. Eventually, the gray Hulk scared her off.

Both Betty Banner and Marlo Chandler were patiently comparing notes in the waiting room in support of Bruce's efforts to cure his MPD. Meanwhile Bruce is taken back to the last time he saw his father's monster, which was at the graveyard where his mother was buried. It was during this time under hypnosis where Bruce is able to come to terms with himself and both the gray and green Hulks merge within him so that he can have more control over his actions. Although he isn't cured, Dr. Bruce Banner is able to walk out into the waiting room and assure Betty that he is back!