Issue(s): Hulk #353
Cover Date: Mar 89
Title: " Down and out in... Las Vegas"
Credits:
Peter David - Writer
Jeff Purves - Penciler
Terry Austin - Inker
James DiGiovanna - Assistant Editor
Bobbie Chase - Editor

Review/plot:
Right after learning about the spell that prevented the Hulk from turning back into Banner in the previous arc, we see now that the spell has "just wore off", and Bruce Banner is back.

Peter David does a great job dealing with the idea that poor Bruce has no idea where he is or how long it's been since he was last "out". We've seen the Hulk fighting Banner back in previous issues, but it doesn't meant that Banner has been consciously aware of what's been going on. So when he wakes up and finds people busting in his room shooting, he first thinks that SHIELD is trying to kill him. And when he makes it out of the room and finds himself in a casino, he incorrectly guesses that he's in Atlantic City.

One the plus side, he's surprisingly spry.

All Banner has to go on is a note from a "Marlo" to a "Mr. Fixit", so he contacts her. After proving that he knows "Fixit" by telling her his skin color (luckily he picks grey, not green) and the location of a birthmark, she picks him up and takes him back to her place where he finally learns that he's been out of commission for three months. He also learns about Middletown, and, overwhelmed with guilt and anxiety about it, downs a bunch of sleeping pills to try to stop himself from turning back into the Hulk.

Meanwhile, since Mr. Fixit has been missing for a while, the Maggia feels safe about moving in on Michael Berengetti. Berengetti's limo (and driver) are blown up, and he and Suzie barely get out of a restaurant in time before that is destroyed as well. They wind up trying to take refuge at Marlo's place. The Maggia traces them there, but luckily Banner's attempt to prevent a transformation back into the Hulk has failed.

Despite what he's been through, Berengetti keeps Fixit from killing.

Also in this issue, a guy in hippie clothes whose skin is described as being "gold" (even though it doesn't really look it), is going around helping people's wishes come true, at least in their own minds.

Quality Rating: B+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This takes place not too long after we see the Hulk change into Bruce Banner at the end of last issue.

References:

• The last thing Bruce remembers is the search for the gamma bombs, and he finds out here that a bomb exploded at Middletown and killed thousands. That was in Hulk #345.
  
• The last anyone in Las Vegas saw of Mr. Fixit was when he "crashed out after Spider-Man" in Hulk #349.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A