Warning! Spoiler for Immortal Hulk #39 below!
The Hulk’s father has been a thorn in his side since childhood, and now his recent return has finally been explained. In Immortal Hulk #39, by Al Ewing (Empyre, Avengers) and Joe Bennett (Captain America), Brian Banner explains to The Leader, another constant thorn in the Hulk’s side, how he managed to cheat death. He then asks the Leader to help him, and it is a request he will come to regret.
More than any other character in the Marvel Universe, Brian Banner is probably the most responsible for helping create the Hulk. A gifted physicist like his son, Brian was mentally and physically abusive to both Bruce and Bruce’s mother, Rebecca; the rage and shame that Bruce internalized as a child was a contributing factor to his transformation into the Hulk. Since then, Brian has been a looming presence in his son’s life, and most recently possessed Bruce’s friend Sasquatch. The Hulk was able to defeat him, but at the cost of Sasquatch’s powers. During the course of the battle, Brian was able to seep into the Hulk’s mind, and before being defeated again, revealed he served a being known as “The One Below All” and that this entity was responsible for resurrections of gamma mutated beings.
The reveal opens with The Leader (in a flashback sequence) asking Brian Banner how he, despite never being exposed to gamma radiation, was able to manipulate the Green Door, the gateway that gamma-irradiated people use to return to life. Both men are in the Below Place, a sort of limbo for gamma mutates.
Brian goes onto the mention The One Below All, and the Leader quips “I think I’ve met him.” Banner describes its nature: how it is nothing but “terrible desires” and that it must have a body and soul to “wear like a mask” in order to focus itself. The Leader then strikes a deal with Brian: he will help Brian escape from The Below Place. The preview ends with Brian asking what it will cost. Check out the full preview at CBR.com.
Of course, we know what happened to Brian: in Immortal Hulk #33, the Leader double-crossed Brian and removed his skeleton for study. This series has shown the Leader in a new and horrifying light. We see just how warped and twisted he has become over time. Bennett’s art highlights this nicely, with a truly otherworldly Leader, one who is far removed from humanity. It also provides a humiliating and disturbing end for Brian Banner. Of course, the Green Door is always open, so Brian may be back before too long.