Issue(s): Hulk #435
Cover Date: Nov 95
Title: "The unnatural"
Credits:
Peter David - Writer
Chris Renaud - Penciler
Al Milgrom - Inker
Polly Watson - Assistant Editor
Bobbie Chase - Editor

Review/plot:
This is billed at, and was priced as, a "double sized special issue", but the real story is the usual 22 pages. What makes it double is 12 pages of text from Peter David's Hulk novel, plus a few pages previewing the upcoming Ghost Of The Future storyline and the Savage Hulk oneshot. And actually, the main story is only 21 pages plus a pin-up page with Hulk and the supporting cast as baseball cards. Also, about half the story is a goofy parody/homage of the poem Casey at the Bat. So not much actual content. Not that i'm bitter or anything.

The premise is that the Hulk joins a Triple-A Minor League baseball team in order to make some money. In *blackface*. He knows it's wrong. Peter David knows it's wrong. But we're doing it anyway.

But an opposing team has hired the Rhino to do the same thing. At least he's not in blackface.

They wind up doing more brawling than baseball.

I feel bad for the Rhino. Doing this is a more honest way of earning a living than robbing banks or whatever. It's not his fault there's no Unlimited Class Baseball like there is for wrestling. But the Hulk's here to stop him from doing this, too.

This does raise the question of why there isn't some kind of testing for super-powers in sports in the Marvel universe. It's only the Minor Leagues, sure, but you'd think at least people would start to wonder when a guy can throw the ball the way the Hulk does.

It's also a shame that the Rhino was relegated to joke issues for Peter David's run (this and the Santa issue). David did really cool things with the Abomination. The Rhino isn't on the same power level as the Hulk or the Abomination, but that doesn't mean he couldn't have been interesting.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations:

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A