Issue(s): Hulk #309
Cover Date: Jul 85
Title: "The Triad!"
Credits:
Bill Mantlo - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Gerry Talaoc - Inker
Pat Blevins - Assistant Editor
Carl Potts - Editor

Review/plot:
This issue continues to work with the Goblin, Guardian, and Glow characters introduced last issue.

They call themselves The Triad. It's suggested that they've only been brought into existence to help the Hulk/Banner deal with his psychological withdrawal. It's probably best to not think of them as actual characters, but elements of Bruce Banner's psyche, i guess representing the Id, Ego, and Super-Ego, respectively.

Issue #309 "proves" that the Hulk is still a thinking creature by placing him on a desert world and showing him persevere to get to an oasis that the Triad doesn't think exists, and smile when he gets there. I'd call that a very slight piece of evidence, but we've seen other clues earlier, and more is coming.

#309 is also Sal Buscema's last issue on Hulk. He's been on the book pretty much non-stop since issue #194, and in my opinion he just kept getting better.

He would have been a great artist to tap for Secret Wars II (although it doesn't look like he and Shooter could have worked together). Or, as these extra-dimensional issues have given him the opportunity to prove, he would've done well on a book like Dr. Strange if they ever wanted to bring that to a monthly status.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• As the Triad are trying to get the Hulk to remember his past, we see a montage with the following scenes, in addition to more generic images:
  • His origin from Hulk #1.
    
  • The presidential pardon from Hulk #278.
    
  • Nightmare's manipulation, the "death" of Banner, and the Hulk's banishment, from Hulk #298-300.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A