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Nick Peron

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Incredible Hulk #291

Incredible Hulk #291

Nick Peron

Old Soldiers Never Die

The Hulk visits the Park Avenue headquarters of Marvel Comics and visits assistant editor, Ann Nocenti. He is depressed over recent events concerning General Ross and seeks Ann’s advice. He wants to know whether he should expose Ross as a traitor or not. Ann speaks with him at length, and suggests to him that Ross' personal demons are probably the greatest punishment that could ever be visited upon him.

At the Pentagon, Ross sits in his office and contemplates his failings, both as a soldier and as a father. He recalls how ever since he was a child he wanted to serve his country. He enlisted in the military at eighteen and served in both World War II and Korea. After the war, he was promoted to the rank of General and given an office position in Washington. It was about this time that his wife Karen gave birth to their only child, Elizabeth. Although Ross wanted a son to carry on the family military tradition, he still loved his daughter very much.

It became particularly painful for him years later, when Betty found love in the arms of scientist Bruce Banner, a man whom Ross viewed as a "milksop". He was present the day that Banner was caught in the wake of a Gamma Bomb explosion – an incident that prompted him to turn into the incredible Hulk for the very first time.

For years, Ross hounded the Hulk and his crusade cost him a great deal. His military career dovetailed, and his daughter spurned his obsessive persecution of Banner. On several instances, Ross even engaged the Hulk directly, piloting advanced war machines specifically designed to incapacitate the green goliath.

When Banner assumed full control over the Hulk's physical form, Ross was skeptical. He didn't believe that the world could ever regard the Hulk as anything but a monster. To safeguard the country against future Hulk-related instances, Ross conspired with the villain M.O.D.O.K. to destroy the Hulk. By aiding M.O.D.O.K., Ross committed treason.

Now, Ross sits at his desk in a state of complete despair. Having dishonored his uniform, he places the barrel of his service revolver against his temple and prepares to commit suicide. Ross hesitates and eventually places the gun back onto his desk. He decides that he now has a new war to fight – his own conscience.

Recurring Characters

Hulk, Ann Nocenti, General Ross, (in flashback) Karen Ross, Betty Ross, Alexander Ross, Elizabeth Ross

Continuity Notes

  • A number of facts pertaining to the family history of the Ross family and the military career of General Ross himself should be considered topical references per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616. Since this story, a lot of the references in this story have been generalized as recounted in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Hulk 2004. They are as follows:

    • References to General Ross' grandfather fighting in the American Civil War and his father fighting in World War I have been generalized. While they are still identified as having careers in the American military, a specific conflict is not specified.

    • Likewise any references referring to Thaddeus Ross fighting in World War II and the Korean War should be generalized as well. That handbook no longer specifies a specific conflict. In fact instead of fighting in two different wars spanning two decades, it merely states that he fought in a single war. Per History of the Marvel Universe #1, one could assume that Thaddeus participated in the Sin Cong Conflict.

    • It’s entirely possible that Thaddeus Ross’ military service will be relegated to the Sin-Cong Conflict like other Modern Age characters, per History of the Marvel Universe #2.

  • Conversely, the appearance of Ann Nocenti here is not considered a topical reference. Unlike other real-world individuals, Marvel Comics creators are exempt from the rules of the Sliding Timescale. Instead they exist in the Modern Age and are in their relative prime.

  • Incidentally enough, the Hulk has a comic book produced about his adventures. Many heroes on Earth-616 have comic books based on their exploits. This has been a practice since the Fantastic Four licensed out their adventures to the comic book company back in Fantastic Four #10.

Continuity Errors

  • According to General Ross' recollection he discovered that Banner and the Hulk were one in the same by secretly witnessing the transformation between Banner and the Hulk. This is not correct. He actually found out through Glenn Talbot in Tales to Astonish #78, after Rick Jones gave away the secret in the previous issue. One could assume that given the General’s mental state in this story he might be misremembering events.

  • Ross also states he resigned from command of Gamma Base because he "sensed that he was wrong about so many things". In reality, he was forced to resign after suffering a nervous breakdown in Incredible Hulk #229. This could be chalked up to Ross having too much pride to admit his mental health condition at the time.

Incredible Hulk #290

Incredible Hulk #290
Incredible Hulk #292

Incredible Hulk #292