Issue(s): Hulk #272, Hulk #273
Cover Date: Jun-Jul 82
Title: "Weirdsong of the Wen-Di-Go!" / "Once a Hulk, always a Hulk!"
Credits:
Bill Mantlo - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Sal Buscema - Inker
Ann Nocenti - Assistant Editor
Al Milgrom - Editor

Review/plot:
The Hulk returns from space and finds that he's now got Bruce Banner's mind.

We knew something like this was coming because Mantlo had Banner locked away in his lab working on a cure for months before the foray into space, but the way that the conversion is accomplished, due to the incidental absorption of gamma energy from his space adventure, is something of a letdown after all the set-up.

Still, it's fun to see the Hulk talking like Banner.

Banner's landing spot is somewhere in northern Canada, so this issue has the Hulk and Sasquatch teaming-up to fight the Wendigo...

...and we have Banner answering the Wendigo's eponymous howls with "I heard you the first time, you illiterate obscenity! I'm not impressed!"

The Hulk takes leave of Sasquatch and we get some more fun scenes of Banner learning to enjoy the power of the Hulk.

But there's also a kind of silly Twilight Zone-y plot where the Hulk helps defeat a bunch of aliens that seem to be harassing a town...

...only to learn that they were trying to help grow super-food.

It's meant as a cautionary tale that Banner must learn to use the Hulk's power wisely, but it's a bit too neat.

Banner's control of the Hulk is shown to be tenuous. There's a few times during battles where he loses it and starts sounding like the old Hulk...

...but he's able to get himself back under control.

The weird bird-alien Bereet is still hanging out with Betty and trying to help Rick, who exposed himself to gamma radiation a few issues ago. This is the issue where it's confirmed that the stories from Rampaging Hulk Magazine never actually happened but were actually movies that Bereet created.

In a subplot, we see X-Ray of the U-Foes restored to his humanoid form during a military test.

I generally like Sal Buscema's art, but his Sasquatch isn't right. He's a difficult character that really only works with John Byrne's distinctive style.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 6 - Bruce Banner gains control of the Hulk's mind. Also, revelations that Rampaging Hulk Magazine #1-9 are not in continuity.

Chronological Placement Considerations: The Hulk has gained Bruce Banner's intelligence. Any "dumb Hulk" appearances have to take place before Hulk #269.

References:

• This is a new Wendigo. The last one was cured by Shaman at the end of Uncanny X-Men #139-140.
  
• The Hulk fought the previous Wendigo in Hulk #180-181.
  
• And the Hulk met (and fought) Sasquatch in Hulk annual #8.
  
• Bereet shows some movies of recent events from Hulk #269-270.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

I recall some discussion that went on in the letters page about these issues as to why the Wendigo's natural claws could cut the Hulk when previously Wolverine's adamantium claws had been unable to do so. It was eventually decided that the Wendigo's mystical nature made the Hulk more vulnerable. (Later Peter David would propose that the Hulk's invulnerability was due to his advanced healing factor and not a Superman-like power)