Issue(s): Hulk #301
Cover Date: Nov 84
Title: "Crossroads!"
Credits:
Bill Mantlo - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Gerry Talaoc - Inker

Review/plot:
This issue sets up the new status quo now that the Hulk is mindless and banished to a dimensional crossroads.

Since the Hulk is mindless and there's no one to interact with anyway, there can't be any dialogue. Instead of doing something cool and having the Hulk silently (or growlingly) figure out stuff on his own, and let Buscema tell the story, Mantlo chooses to just overwhelm us with narration.

Although we are introduced to little telepathic puffball creatures. They detect "a spark of sentience" deep within him, setting up the possibility that Banner might return after all.

The basic idea is that from the crossroads the Hulk can wander into any number of different worlds. And the nature of Dr. Strange's spell (he shows up in an interlude to explain this to us)...

...is that whenever the Hulk is no longer content, he'll naturally be returned to the crossroads so he can pick a new world.

The main world that the Hulk visits this issue is one that starts off looking like a world of constant war but turns out to be part of a child's playset.

Which is a very silly way to start off this new direction. It's a good thing i like Sal Buscema's art.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 4 - new status quo for the Hulk

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A