I actually didn't think they were being that thorough about it. I just thought they were going 'screw everything, let's call 'em 600 for publicity purposes only' since everyone else was suddenly 600 too.

Believe me, the fact that the Loeb-written Hulk series even exists gets many of us angry.

As for the rest, well, around the time I came into comics (circa 1968) was when Tales To Astonish #101 went into The Incredible Hulk #102, Tales of Suspense #99 was followed by Captain America, #100 etc., with Sub-Mariner and Iron Man, respectively, spinning off into #1s of series of their own. So, it's something I was used to from the start. Honestly, I had vastly more resentment of the renumbering that became rampant in the nineties, which treated a higher number and the suggestion of a long history as a marketing liability.

In the re-renumberings Marvel's done in recent times, I was more bothered by the series that included the 12-issue "Heroes Reborn" arcs - when Marvel let various people from Image re-imagine the characters for a year - in the overall numbering.

The fact that Loeb would be allowed to write even a grocery list puts me into a frenzy, so I'm part of that club.

Everybody sing:


Doc Bruce Banner,
Pelted by gamma rays,
Turned into the Hulk.
Ain't he unglamorous!

Wreckin' the town
With the power of a bull,
Ain't no monster cause.
Who is that lovable?

It's ever lovin' Hulk!... HULK!! HULK!!

Ah, memories. Animation done on a budget that made South Park seem to be high craft. (Rep.)

Those ran on Sunday mornings around here (Philadelphia area) back in '66 or '67, IIRC.

I always remember it as "belted," though, not "pelted."

They're measuring by hogshead now.

Nope, apparently someone brought it up to editorial & a marketing scheme lightbulb went off over someone's head.

Well on the show I put out a request for someone to put the explanation into a college level thesis statement, and a listener has accepted the challenge. So....an even more convoluted answer is forthcoming! Can't wait!

That's all I'd need, for Loeb to reduce my Saturday afternoon shopping trip to something as execrable as Ultimates #3. Pretty sure my girlfriend would throw me out of a moving vehicle.