Issue(s): Hulk #354
Cover Date: Apr 89
Title: "The sure thing"
Credits:
Peter David - Writer
Jeff Purves - Penciler
Marie Severin - Inker
James DiGiovanna - Assistant Editor
Bobbie Chase - Editor

Review/plot:
Inks this issue are by long time Marvel bullpener Marie Severin. She will become the regular inker for the series a few issues from now. Severin is known for exaggerated caricatures, and her style fits really well with Jeff Purves' rendering of this era of the Hulk.

Marlo returns home from shopping to find that her apartment has been trashed by Mr. Fixit after the end of last issue, and the police are combing through it. Meanwhile, Bruce Banner is dreaming.

He wakes up to find a message from the Hulk.

He finds that he's actually in a random motel room, and that there are no clothes in the room. Michael Berengetti and his girlfriend Suzie are down the hall; they are on the run after the Maggia tried to wipe Berengetti out last issue. Berengetti has all of "Mr. Fixit's" clothes, but doesn't know why.

Hulk's message doesn't really give Bruce much context, so he doesn't even think to talk to Berengetti. He steals some clothes and goes hitchhiking back to Marlo. Since her apartment is trashed, she takes him to the gym where she works. And interestingly tells Bruce that the reason she likes Fixit is because he's like an angry child.

Berengetti, meanwhile, finds his enforcer gone again, and decides to face up to the Maggia himself. That would have gotten him killed if it didn't become night time again so that the Hulk can resurface. Bruce, having not turned himself in to the army or anything, has left a response for the Hulk.

Notice that Glorian is still lurking around; that plot will surface next issue. For now, Hulk hunts down Berengetti and fights off the Maggia. The Maggia have a group of super-strong enforcers called the Persuaders, all based on Man Mountain Marko.

That's a cool little nod to the past. But they're no match for the Hulk. Another neat twist is we don't see the fight; we see the other casino owners that the Maggia was pressuring betting on the fight instead.

Berengetti has consistently shown saintly understanding about the weird behavior of Mr. Fixit, so he doesn't chew him out or fire him for his recent disappearances.

Quality Rating: B+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This issue begins the morning after the end of last issue. A unique problem for placement of Hulk issues where he's the Hulk at night but Bruce Banner in the day time is that issues should be placed in close succession since there isn't really room for a break. But when an issue of the Hulk is tied to an event in another book, like how Hulk #351 begins soon after Avengers annual #17, it means that the whole series gets out of sync with publication date, such that i'm placing this Apr 89 issue in the 1988 category. I'll be able to jump ahead for next issue, which describes the events here as having taken place "the other day", which i'm saying is ambiguous enough to leave more space than i've been doing so far.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

"Sepulveda" gets my nomination for the coolest sound effect in a comic book.