Warning: contains spoilers for Immortal Hulk #47

It’s common knowledge among comic fans that the Hulk and Captain America share a sidekick in Rick Jones. Though the character has yet to make his cinematic debut, he is responsible for Bruce Banner becoming the Hulk, assembling the Avengers, and he even replaced Bucky Barnes for a time after Captain America was unfrozen. It’s for all these reasons that the character is so widely loved among Marvel’s heroes, which makes his recent transformation and subsequent reunion with Captain America all the more tragic.

While the Immortal Hulk series has undoubtedly created some tough situations for Bruce Banner and the Hulks, Rick Jones has had it just as difficult. As a result of the Leader’s machinations, Rick had his mind taken over, and was forced to unleash a gamma blast in the middle of a small town to frame the Hulk. While this did tremendous damage to Hulk’s reputation, the real cost came for Rick Jones, who was fused with the gamma-irradiated living skeleton, Del Fry. This horrific fusion was still under the Leader’s control for some time, though it gained back its own will just in time to help the Hulk in his battle against the Avengers.

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Now, in Immortal Hulk #47 from Al Ewing and Joe Bennet, Rick Jones and his fellow gamma mutates arrive in New York. Hulk’s brawl with the Avengers is brutal, as no one is willing to stop and talk. Hulk easily tosses Blade halfway across New York, then tries suffocating Thor by catching him in his regrowing arm. Amidst all the chaos, Captain America tosses his shield. It bounces between Hulk’s allies before coming to a stop. For just a moment, the violence stops as everyone looks to who caught the shield, Rick Jones. Cap is mortified and asks who turned Rick into an abomination. Hulk tries to tell the Avengers that the Leader is the real threat, but is interrupted by a strategic attack from Black Panther. The Hulk and his allies are able to escape with the help of a teleportation gun, leaving Captain America speechless at the state of his former ally.

The whole encounter is best summarized by the issue’s narrator, She-Hulk. Seeing the state of Rick Jones makes Jen want to cry. For someone like Captain America though, it’s absolutely heartbreaking. After Captain America was unfrozen, Rick Jones was his closest ally for some time. Cap and Rick faced countless villains and challenges together. Rick was there to support Steve during one of the most difficult periods of his life.

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It’s things like this that make Immortal Hulk one of the best mainstream comics currently being published. Steve and Rick’s time together was an important time for both characters, yet it is rarely referenced in modern comics. Seeing the iron-willed Captain America nearly break down at the sight of a beloved friend is a powerful moment that reinforces the humanity of both characters. At that moment, Rick is heartbroken that Steve doesn’t recognize him and Cap is heartbroken to see a friend in so much pain. Captain America’s reunion with Rick Jones proves why Immortal Hulk is one of Marvel’s strongest books.

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About The Author


Evan Mullicane
(362 Articles Published)

Evan D. Mullicane is an editor, critic, and author based out of California’s Bay Area. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from San Francisco State University in 2016. In his free time, he enjoys reading graphic novels and writing fantasy.

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