Hulk turns into a SPACESHIP?! | Hulk: SMASHTRONAUT

[@comicpop]

Buy Hulk: Smashtronaut! amzn.to/3QpiIyW

[@noreply3717]

You should do back issues on Batman/Superman 2021 issue 16-21 and annual 2022 it sliver age Superman and sliver age Batman meeting each other and it crisis on infinite earths

[@anthonyhudak9363]

"Why can't the Hulk have a Hulk?" *Kluh sadly walks away as Incredible Hulk piano theme plays*

[@TupocalypseShakur]

I think you mean the lonely man

[@grfgtbhh34]

Just for a bit of extra context: According to Cates in an interview or a tweet, he had pitched this run around the same time Ewing was pitching his and Marvel chose Ewing's pitch, but told him that, after Ewing was done, he could do it. So, the reason it doesn't feel like a very natural continuation is that Cates had the ideas all set up from a while back.

[@thegreyinitiate3680]

They were probably hoping that by the time Ewing finished, Cates would have either moved on to something else or forgotten about this entirely 😂

[@famousthaneus9810]

That's cool, but it still doesn't mean that Cates couldn't have altered some details here or there to *make* it work as a natural continuation once it was his turn to bat.

[@Codeman1930]

Hulk stories retold by Sal are always special because they are either totally metal or insanely goofy. Both are fun in their own ways. Keep up the awesome work Sal and crew!

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

The person Hulk fights in the Final Stage is Akuma, but Hulk needs to play through the one player mode and beat every opponent without using any Continues in less than 1500 seconds of total game time, or by having a score of over 1,200,000, or by holding an attack button for 2 seconds during the victory quote screen after winning 12 consecutive matches. Hulk will know if he succeeded if Akuma shows up on the screen after Raging Demon-ing M. Bison.

[@pyrolee17]

Maybe 10 or so years from now they will adapt Smastronaut in to a point and click beat em up

[@TheClitCommander530]

Donny Cates and Ryan Ottley are a match made in heaven. Cates is great at writing dumb fun "popcorn" books and Ottley is a master at drawing them. I understand the criticism, but for me this book is a chef's kiss.

[@Jack-Franklin_Films05]

Honestly, the reason I love the Hulk (and I REALLY love Hulk) isn't because "he's strong ans smashes stuff" but more because of the complex stories and personal character arcs (Like 90% of the Peter David Run or Planet Hulk) I fell in love with the character after watching the Bill Bixby show and that has framed why I love the character.

[@themilkman5004]

There are two things I want with Incredible Hulk. Either deep intrigue into himself, trying to understanding his trauma throughout his life and if he can truly fit into society. Then I want him smashing shit because he’s Uber strong

[@steampunk1610]

This pretty much what I like about the hulk

[@BR-bn1mz]

I kinda like Batman for similar reasons, he is a deeply traumatised and troubled guy who has difficulty connecting and being vulnerable equally with someone without building a wall around himself, and occasionally has some cool fights. My only problem is whilst hulk isolates Banner, Bruce has a whole family and people he gets on with honesty and can connect with, and I’m tired of writers making excuses to isolate him again and again, which is something hulk doesn’t need to be isolated constantly

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

Immortal Hulk is both these things, plus a third category: *unfathomable horrors beyond our comprehension*

[@ErnReich]

Sal, you nailed why Hulk fans like him Hulking out. It’s the physical impressiveness of his body. It’s also why the Immortal Hulk is steeped in body-horror centric monstrous grotesqueries, it’s the physical mutation and distortion of the body into nightmare flesh.

[@QuinnMiller]

"that's a problem, because if you love a charecter too much you won't make him a smashtronaut" Incredible

[@TDWTB]

I think the main reason why a lot of us love Hulk is how he seems like a straightforward character. In reality, a lot of writers dig deep into his psychology, and that’s not something you see a lot in many heroes. Even the most popular are usually pretty straightforward and once you get that subversive writing style, you get some great stories, and some people are going to revere those a lot more than just Hulk smash.

[@thedukeofchutney468]

Sal's Spider-Man tangent at the beginning is depressingly accurate and relatable as a Spider-Man fan.

[@GTMQ8]

I would love it if you do any Hulk story from the Peter David run. I really enjoyed those stories as a kid.

[@hobbes6392]

There’s so many great ones, the time him and The Punisher team up in Vegas is one of my favorite issues of that run

[@-libertyprimev1-902]

(Aroune 56:33) "Galactus" here looks like a Hulk as a nod to that point they made in the old Trial of Reed Richards story stating the "Physical Body" we see of Galactus is in actuality Pure Energy and for the person looking upon him to be able to perceive him, that Energy automatically takes a form the person can understand which is a mirror of their race. (I'm pretty sure this is Just supposed to be a reference, but maybe they're trying to say at this point "Hulks" can be considered their own race of species) Tl;Dr when a Human looks at Galactus they see a Giant Man in a Purple Suit, but if The Super Skrull looked at Galactus he'd see a Giant Skrull in a Purple Suit.

[@radiak55]

I have read Hulk inconsistently since the Greg Pak run. I think the dislike for Cate's run so far is simply an example of the kind of whiplash you get from how Marvel is currently running things. Coming from Inmortal Hulk, there's no consequence or through line that connects it to what came before with Cates. Same with Spider-Man during Nick Spencer's run, the Beyond chapter and the current Well's run. Each came right after each other but if you were a new reader who jumped into one of the first two, you would be completely lost on what's happening if you kept on reading the other runs. Even worse if you started during Spencer because there are big changes along with big payoffs and losses at the end that are never brought up that should have had a big impact on the title. It feels terrible for new people because these sort of changes have no true importance or meaning besides that epic moment; only pointless filler until the next big thing comes up.

[@priceyyeti4058]

Smastronaut in August? It's a Donnuary miracle!

[@kingcoheed1208]

Doncember in Summer

[@Crijoe]

3 minutes in and there's a Hulk hand job reference. Awesome.

[@mjjjhaney1]

After having read the entire Immortal Hulk run, and most of Cates' Venom run, I couldn't force myself to read the new Hulk run, although I have bought most, if not all of it, so far. (If I remember correctly, I asked the LCS to take it off of my pull list.) Immortal Hulk was one of my favorite comics, ever. Ewing's run was a mature horror tale. Cates makes me feel like I am listening to fan fiction by a 5 year old. It gets you intrigued until it, unquestionably, eventually goes off the rails and into the neighbor's lawn. Scott Snyder is no different.

[@xXCigarXx]

On the plus side kennedy is doing a excellent run on hulk now.

[@jonathanshaw9704]

The whole Planet Abomination concept kinda reminds me of that Gamma World two-part episode of Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. In that episode, The Leader tried to cover the entire planet in a Gamma Energy Dome to turn everyone into Gamma Monsters, and Hulk, Thor and Hawkeye team up to stop him. One of my favorite episodes.

[@405tygadacat]

I could be wrong because it's been like 10 years, but i think something like that happened during the greg pak run

[@catswithlasers]

I love Sal's impersonation of Doctor Strange is just Doctor Orpheus from Venture Bros.

[@AkiDave]

At one point I was like “isn’t this just kluh?” And then you mentioned it lmao 🤣

[@Martin_TheCollector]

Hulk is great regardless of how majorly goofy or philosophical the stories are. Red Hulk was one of my favorites too. I just think it's hilarious when anyone gets pissed off over runs that aren't complete trash. At all.

[@chrisdaily2077]

Remember when Hulk was gray and just trying to cure himself.

[@TupocalypseShakur]

My grandmother would remember it

[@the_rose_garden01]

For all of 4 issues until costs were too great? Yeah, we *all* remember that

[@aliuniversal4100]

Pepperridge farms remembers

[@jackmacmahon417]

I don’t know why but at first glance I read that as “remember when hulk was gay”

[@Yoshimitsu4prez]

Yes and he’s a fucking starship now, you got a problem with that?

[@Smashtronaut]

You guys are absolutely my favorite channel on here! Literally you've helped me get through rough periods of my life with amazing jokes and great comics. Yall led me to actually get the entire cates run on venom! It'd be so awesome to see you cover anything with agent venom someday ~ Be safe 🙏 ❤

[@seand7042]

I mean TECHNICALLY err the last time you talked about Hulk was a few weeks back in the Superman Spider-Man crossover. That being said all he did in that book was smash a lil bit punch Superman then leave.

[@MrZsasz25]

How about doing "Crisis of the Crimson Kryptonite"? A fun story + the story of Lex Luthor's original body being destroyed by cancer, paving the way for the creation of his clone body

[@masonbrown3423]

"FING FANG FUCK YES!!!!!" - Sal of Comicpop 2022

[@chrisdaily2077]

Donny Cates, resident advocate for the rule of cool.

[@mitchbray6637]

I find The Hulk interesting because of his looks. And I'm not just talking about his muscles, but the green skin. I find him and Iron Man to be the two most visually interesting characters at Marvel. I loved the 2003 film, Hulk because of how the character was depicted. It's a god story but the visuals really blew me away.

[@jjh01harmon38]

This just screams "WE NEED A NEW TOY!!!!"

[@Yoshimitsu4prez]

Lmfao it’s incredibly crazy and stupid but I’ve been LOVING this run. Banner of War delivered more than I expected

[@TheSpiderworks]

I was expecting one of the guys on the couch to say the word "Groovy" when Hulk Jam the Hulkbuster arm into his stump ( as a reference to Army of Darkness)

[@JoshMunroe]

32:23 Feels like there was an edit on that Fin Fang Foom line... and I love it.

[@catlawyerwilldefendfortrea6038]

This was so much fun! Hope you guys do Hulk vs Thor by Cates someday.

[@IzzysIssues]

Banner of War was my favorite "turn brain off" comic of the last decade

[@girlhag]

I always find it interesting the information that the boys retain, versus the things that they still don’t know. like sometimes Ben or Ethan will remember something so out of left field that even I don’t remember, and then there comes a moment like in this episode where after all these years, Ethan doesn’t even know that MODOK is a byproduct of AIM

[@batfreeze56]

Hulk turned himself into a spaceship. Funniest shit I've ever seen.

[@michaelmathes5435]

As a large guy, who once upon a time was a very large kid with a LOT of anger issues, I attached to Hulk. I liked the fact that Hulk, even though he was the embodiment of rage, just wanted left alone. Banner and Hulk both wanted the same thing, rid of one another and for everyone else to just leave them alone. The issue I feel folks had with Smashtronaut was we just got a huge epic story about multiple Hulks, and Banner and they were all characters. It wasn't just mindless smashing and fighting. The epic tales of Hulk have a lot of complex story stuff and character building, even for a "mindless rage monster". I look up to Hulk because he's complex, and there is infinite ways to use him because he's not just a human with powers, or a meta human. He's a force of nature given flesh? He's not magic, he's something else, and that is cool to me. Meanwhile, Smashtronaut was a Banner story, with Hulk made into nothing more than a mindless animal.

[@bensneb360]

They say Smash so often in this episode, I was expecting Mario, Kirby, and Samus to show up at some point lol

[@bZman]

Remember when the Hulk had meaning and depth? Like end of planet Hulk when his pregnant wife died and it actually mattered?

[@cicolasnage5684]

Lighten up francis.

[@digidragon02]

0:51 According to the lastest issue of spider-man you are right Sal, somehow Moon Knight is outselling SM right now

[@123rocket19]

I am definitely reading this soon. Just found it at my local library. Thanks ComicPop!

[@andrewwestfall65]

I'm not an avid comic book reader, but I have considered myself a Hulk fan since I was young. Growing up, I was always a big kid that was strong for my age, I was always considered smart, and I always had anger issues that made me want to isolate. I was always able to identify with the Hulk as far back as I've known what the Hulk is, and it has always been impactful and meaningful to me to see a character like that

[@Insane-Howl-Cowl]

I've been curious about this for a while. Glad to finally hear more about the story.

[@ItsTheFizz]

Following up Immortal Hulk with this felt like going from Rembrandt to a kid smashing his action figures together...

[@adriaanjacobs5073]

To me this felt like reading Death Metal but with the Hulk. Bonkers crazy and absolutely loved it.

[@DMontra]

Hey how come you guys didn’t do the full immortal hill run?? I would have loved to see you talk about the gamma blast through hill and see their reactions, also the whole hell portion and hulk basically being a god of anger. It would be cool if you guys revisited and did more issues of that.

[@comicpop]

We don't do every single run.

[@mate1030]

@@comicpop but what about your favorite arc from your favorite runs

[@tyranus159]

I'm a big Hulk fan, I don't mind this run on Hulk. Also, Sal thank you for more Hulk.

[@adambuckley2270]

The counterpoint to Sal's Hulk fanbase theory is Joe Fixit. He's covered head to toe a three piece suit and fedora. He's dripped out to hell.

[@tristanmaldonado670]

Yeesss!! Donny Cates and Ryan Ottley's Hulk! This series is crazy and so cool. Also, Titan looks so cool

[@ozzyalbor8292]

Alway enjoy seeing the OG’s great ep!!

[@aydenmoesser8556]

This is the METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE of Hulk comics.

[@catlawyerwilldefendfortrea6038]

It took me couple of issues to realize that Hulk wasn't Kaiju size in this. Was slightly disappointed.

[@IzzysIssues]

The first time I saw MODOK in a proportional mech suit was AAFES #17 (May 2014) Glad it came back into vogue

[@TupocalypseShakur]

I liked this story, it was a pretty fun and out there story. But in the end, what is Hulk but outlandish concepts

[@godzy323]

Honestly, I like this story. I'm excited reading it when it comes out. Maybe just a fan of Donny Cates n his strange but creative ideas haha

[@nikthedestroyalator6796]

For me the Hulks appeal isn't really so much his strength or physique, but rather the duality between Hulk and Bruce and how he handles the other personalities locked in his mind. That's why for me the Immortal Hulk is my favorite interpretation of the character, but this run seems like its really fun and I'm interested in picking this up too.

[@antdujar]

Didn’t expect for you guys to over the latest hulk run! Definitely want to see you guys cover immortal hulk (read the whole run when it was coming out), either way, you guys always deliver on the laughs and trivia!

[@michaelkelley88]

loved immortal hulk but dammit i loved this to it did have interesting character moments it did have some cool thoughtful moments, it had great character interactions, beautiful artwork, and the best damn hulk vs thor fight ive seen. i think this was a worthy successor to immortal hulk. was it the same trippy dark super serious take on the hulk? nah, but it really didnt need to be. i got a fun, interesting, silly, and interesting book that has heart and kept me coming back every week. i wouldnt have smashtronaut be any other way.

[@Grievousish]

It's too bad that Moon Knight doesn't have some sort of monstrous form cause then his personalities could all be on the bridge like a Star Trek crew

[@danielbollergrimm7059]

All its needed is a nuclear bomb explosion.

[@ComicCrossing]

I hope you do more Immortal Hulk proper one day. I really dug the first episode and from what Ive heard it continues to be a pretty crazy and great book.

[@TupocalypseShakur]

The book goes out there

[@mathewdaniels2580]

This series is bat shit crazy but I’m still gonna buy it 😂😂

[@yamlube]

The word of the day is muscularity. Thank you Sal 😊

[@andresirizarry503]

Awesome reference to Innerspace, really underrated film

[@vicentegeonix]

Remember that bad Eddie Murphy movie where there are tiny people inside him? this is that movie.

[@AlexBaldwinFTW]

I quite liked this little series, it was so stupid I had fun with it. Was like a pallet cleanse after Immortal.

[@NadeemShekh-uy9zn]

I miss the mystery horror immortal hulk comics man

[@steampunk1610]

Bruce Banner becoming a Mecha pilot then Piloting Hulk is hilarious ridiculous, what the hell bruce 🤣 Edit: but I still love it

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

“Get in the Hulk, Bruce. Or Joe Fixit will have to pilot it again.”

[@steampunk1610]

@@halfmettlealchemist8076 NOOOOO NOW I CANT UNSEE IT

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

@@steampunk1610 Would that make Brian Banner Gendo, then?

[@steampunk1610]

@@halfmettlealchemist8076 oh God your right

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

@@steampunk1610 Let's keep going with this, this is fun. We've established Joe Fixit is Rei here, and Devil Hulk is obviously Asuka. Does that make Betty Ross Misato? And, most importantly, is Rick Jones Kaworu or the penguin?

[@jeff8008]

Before Immortal Hulk, the run I really liked was Indestructible Hulk (Mark Waid and Leinel Yu. I'm a Leinel simp.) It was another case of Hulk wearing some weird kind of a suit. It had a few good issues, like the team-up with Daredevil. Cates and his run has been jarring coming off Immortal, but definitely interesting.

[@bluhmer1990]

This right here is a prime example of why I prefer manga/anime to comics even though I like comics. If a manga I like is ongoing I don't have to worry about another writer coming along and screwing up the story and characters I've grown to like.

[@bluhmer1990]

@Joseph Rockford How is it untrue? What do you mean?

[@bluhmer1990]

@Joseph Rockford Those are the only two you can make an argument for. It doesn't apply to any others and even then it's not quite the same.

[@bluhmer1990]

@Joseph Rockford You just defeated your own point.

[@bluhmer1990]

@Joseph Rockford Canon is really not that complicated. And also you keep pointing out these side stories as if it makes your point but it doesn't.

[@dylanlewis5113]

I just finished Immortal Hulk and started Cates' run. It's definitely a different take, and I'm curious to see where it goes.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

I personally love Immortal Hulk and now consider it to be one of the character’s most iconic stories. I was a bit put-off when Cates decided to just do his own thing when he took over the series after Ewing, but honestly, if I was following up a story that well-written and beloved, I would probably do the same thing. I’d just be like, “Welp, I’m clearly not talented enough to follow up on this masterpiece, so I’m not even going to try to do that, and I’ll just do something completely different instead.”

[@Donovan00]

Hearing yall go through the absurdity of how the smashtronaut works was hilarious.

[@TheElijahT]

A Hulk story on the couch? Yes!

[@danielbollergrimm7059]

What happens when the hulk Hulks out? What happens when hulled out Hulk hulks out? What happens when the hulked out Hulked out Hulk hulks out? This is the stupid

[@SpiralSine6]

Donuary ain’t stopping boys!

[@Iceteague1]

Mr. Fixit is best Hulk.

[@Thehotdogman]

Oh man you guys are the second third and fourth people that remember innerspace besides me! Nice!

[@brumtownmiller6130]

I think galactus looks like a hulk in this because any being that sees him, sees galactus looking like their race. Maybe hulk sees himself differently from human life so he sees galactus as a hulk lol

[@davidmarriott6321]

If the Hulk gets stronger the madder he gets wouldn't that just make The Hulk Hulks Hulk?

[@noahgambriel6556]

I’d love to see she hulk by Byrne on this show. Or just more hulk love it.

[@indigofighter2168]

Invincible is my favorite comic of all time, so anything Otley draws, I'll at least read.

[@rustybuckets2143]

Alright, I'll admit, you guys really coaxed me into liking this. As a seasoned Hulk fan, I at first hated this, then I was sceptical, but with this I've been convinced this is at least some dumb fun. It's no Immortal Hulk, but it ain't bad.

[@fabritz1891]

Yes! More Hulk Pls!!!!

[@Slickback_Zach]

Back Issue Wednesday! Let’s go!!

[@megamike15]

Sal going on why people like the Hulk and none of them are why i do. I just think it's an interesting take on the Doctor Jekyll Mister Hyde concept.

[@comicpop]

Ok!

[@Captain8ball]

20:50 Hulk is like the modern-day barbarian/Neanderthal. Like people back then had Conan, we have the Hulk

[@lunchboxsuxatvideos2235]

Ngl, this is a cool ass concept. Cates should just be in charge of the cosmic section of marvel. I'd love to see him tell a story with the guardians of the galaxy

[@Fatboyftw32]

He did a 12 issue run of them already.

[@lunchboxsuxatvideos2235]

@@Fatboyftw32 well then. I need to find that!

[@Fatboyftw32]

@@lunchboxsuxatvideos2235 I forget what year it was, just look up Donny Cates Guardians of the Galaxy. And then after that Al Ewing took over the team anyway, the exact opposite of the Hulk situation, lol.

[@lunchboxsuxatvideos2235]

@@Fatboyftw32 dude. I'm an idiot. I know his run from the comicstorian series. I should've known from the excessive use of beta ray bill

[@sergioruiz733]

Yeah personally no thanks.

[@okcomics1635]

I have the problem that you mentioned. I know it is all fictional, but I don't like it when there are too many layers of it. I tend not to care about dream secuences, hallucinations, virtual realities or trips to the subconscious, no matter how spectacular the visuals are, because it messes with the suspension of disbelief as the story itself is telling me "this is not happening". That's why I never even bothered watching Sucker Punch. That being said, you make this sound fun so I might give it a shot.

[@Montaq_]

I don't care what you say, I fucking love the Starship Hulk look and you can't convince me otherwise. And that's coming from a hard-core wrestling fan.

[@comicpop]

Who are you talking to, dude?

[@Montaq_]

@@comicpop I'm sorry if that was aggressive. I'm used to be defensive about it.

[@DiamondBatToons]

I'm gonna be honest, I completely skipped this run. All I needed to know was that Bruce was the villain & that he's trapped Hulk in his mindscape. Which is all I needed for the next run by Philip Kennedy Johnson, which is WAY better!

[@HMAN_121]

Gamafied Spider man nickname should be: “Hulking Spider”

[@seand7042]

In regards to your thoughts on reasons his fans love hulk I can think of one thing we as hulk fans identify with having a temper and losing our shit from time to time like hulk does. I kinda feel like most people should be able to identify with that

[@baggin.]

Donny needs to write Spider-Men in the future

[@callmestorm23]

In my opinion it was amazing. I didn't mind the sudden change in tone because Hulk can be in any genre. And as much as I adore Immortal Hulk, Smashtronaut got me going from issue to issue, where as the middle point of Immortal Hulk didn't. I will be honest, there have been issues of Immortal Hulk where I got bored and was waiting for shit to pop off. It wasn't until the end of the story that got me hooked. But everytime I read an issue of Donny Cates's run on Hulk, I enjoy it and get excited for what's about to happen next.

[@pyrolee17]

45:11 we get it Otley, you and Kirkman are friends!

[@Joshua.Quillen]

Watch this very often hope you do banner of war

[@TheGreatDevlin]

You really *smashed* this episode... 🟢 [Looks at all previous Hulk videos to check originality] Damn it!!

[@c4blackart243]

They took those bits of the hammer thing from Netflix's scissor seven's sword.

[@kurtoogle4576]

Wow! So current!!

[@mikeread7611]

I liked daredevils 90s armour , I think the first time I read a comic with him in he was in a spidey comic wearing it

[@brokinwand92]

Ok I now want a Gamma- ManSpider versus Morlun in Spider-verse 3 or 4

[@ethankillion786]

Hulk is more of a badass in the comics than in the mcu