The Return Of Doc Samson Explained In Immortal Hulk #15
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead!]
Doctor Leonard Samson reflects on his death, rebirth, and what he has been doing since then. He hadn’t had the courage or confidence to face Bruce Banner again until now, and he finds his former patient raging with a part of his head missing. It requires some finesse and taking a beating, but Doc Samson calms the Hulk down. The “Devil Hulk” personality we know takes over and recognizes Samson. The two reconnect (as best as they can) and go back to look for Betty. She’s gone…despite having just been shot in the head.
Immortal Hulk #15 brings Doc Samson back into the Hulk canon after years dead and gone. We learn what he has been doing since his return (including why he made some appearances in other comics since that return).
As a longtime superhero comic nerd, I can’t help but appreciate how much Al Ewing is trying to clean up the Hulk canon. As a English student, I also appreciate that all this resurrection and cleaning up has a thesis of sorts, that thesis being that the Hulk has always been tapped into something ancient and eldritch–and he serves a purpose.
It’s also just great to see Doc Samson back and in the thick of it. He’s always been a great supporting character for the Hulk, and I hope he sticks around for a bit.
Joe Bennett continues to be the powerhouse artistic talent that we know him to be. He’s done such incredible work with Immortal Hulk, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. There is a strange panel of Amadeus Cho as the Totally Awesome Hulk that looks…off for a number of reasons, but that’s a small complaint in a sea of praise for Bennett’s work. Paul Mounts and Ruy Jose continue to nail it with their color work and inking respectively, and I hope this artistic team sticks around for a time to come too.
Immortal Hulk #15 is another phenomenal issue from Ewing, Mounts, and company. This is hands-down my favorite Marvel title at the moment, and Ewing seems to still have so much planned. This one gets a strong recommendation. Give it a read.
Immortal Hulk #15 comes to us from writer Al Ewing, artist Joe Bennett, inker Ruy Jose, color artist Paul Mounts, letterer VC’s Cory Petit, and cover and variant cover artist Alex Ross.