A look at Hulk #13 by writer-artist Ryan Ottley reveals that the green giant’s cyborg look and murderous new identity may be Doctor Strange’s fault.
The following contains spoilers for Hulk #13, on sale March 15 from Marvel Comics.
It appears that Marvel hero Doctor Strange is responsible for the Hulk murdering multiple people.
Written and illustrated by Ryan Ottley, a preview of Hulk #13 sheds some light on the cyborg transformation that the Hulk underwent in his latest solo series. Since the title launched in Nov. 2021, Hulk’s body has been converted into a starship, piloted by Bruce Banner’s psyche while the Hulk’s fuels the starship’s power with rage. A dangerous part of Banner’s mind has been unleashed, however, the deadly “Titan” personality that claimed the lives of multiple bar patrons in El Paso, and later showed its true form — standing several stories tall and possessing dangerous energy abilities — to destroy several other Hulks. The preview reveals that Doctor Strange is the one responsible for splitting Banner’s mind into different parts to build his “Mind Palace,” using a new magic to do so.
CBR VIDEO OF THE DAYClose
RELATED:When Mike Weiringo And Todd Dezago Almost Became The Creative Team On The Hulk
6 Images
Doctor Strange’s Hand in the Hulk’s Cyborg Change, Explained
In a flashback, Strange creates Banner’s Mind Palace and teaches him how it can be controlled. The sorcerer also explains why he is helping Banner deal with his Hulk side in this way, saying, “I’ve been empathetic to your plight for a while, Bruce. Once I learned of this new magic, I had to see if I could help you control the Hulk on your own terms.”
Despite this, Doctor Strange seemed to be oblivious as to how Banner’s Mind Palace was created in the prior Hulk #12. When confronted about his hand in dividing Banner’s mind by Doc Leonard Samson, Strange responds, “I honestly had nothing to do with this. I’ve heard from a source that the magic used on Bruce was something unknown. Something ancient and powerful.” Strange was the one to break down the Hulk’s cyborg transformation in Hulk #1 though, where he tells Marvel’s other heroes, “I don’t believe even I could have achieved it,” yet knows much about it after a look in his astral form.
RELATED:Marvel’s New Planet Hulk Returns To Bruce Banner’s Greatest Tragedy
Doctor Strange May Be Lying About the Hulk
What remains to be seen is whether Strange is lying, or if the Hulk has been manipulated by something else. Strange tells Banner in the flashback that they must never speak about the Mind Palace publicly, adding, “I’m breaking all sorts of rules here as it is.” The preview continues, showing that Banner contacted Strange after the incident in El Paso before hulking out and deciding to find somewhere he and the Hulk “can die alone without putting anyone else in danger.” It is revealed that Banner installed the Hulk’s cyborg enhancements himself, using the technology he stole from M.O.D.O.K. in Free Comic Book Day 2021: Avengers/Hulk #1 to do so.
Along with Ottely’s writing and art, Hulk #13 is inked by Cliff Rathburn, colored by Marte Gracia and lettered by VC’s Cory Petit. Ottley and Gracia are responsible for the issue’s main cover, while variant cover artwork is contributed to by Alex Ross, Steve McNiven, Frank D’Armata and Peach Momoko. The issue goes on sale March 15 from Marvel Comics.
Source: Marvel
