Title:
DC Special Series 27 Batman vs. the Incredible Hulk
Synopsis:
Synopsis for "The Monster and the Madman"
Bruce Banner is working at a division of Wayne Research, assisting in the development of a gamma-gun, designed to cure diseases. Banner hopes it may provide a cure for him - from periodically turning into the Hulk. Unfortunately, the Joker has allied himself with a powerful force and he needs to steal the gamma-gun for his grand goal. The Joker’s stealing attempt of the gamma-gun causes Banner to transform into the Hulk and the commotion created draws the attention of Batman. Joker takes the chance to convince Hulk that Batman is his enemy and the green brute attacks Batman, who fights back with all his might, to no avail. Batman then uses knockout gas from his Utility Belt and manages to subdue the Hulk, but the Joker has escaped with the gamma-gun while Batman was busy fighting Hulk. A few moments later, the Hulk reverts to Banner and Bruce Wayne arrives at the scene, offering Banner a proper job, supervising the gun’s replacement.
The Joker then takes the gun on and uses it on the Shaper-of-Worlds, who is losing his ability to absorb the dreams of others, denying himself an outlet for his powers, and potentially driving him insane. He is responsible for the Joker’s activities as he has promised the mad clown unlimited power once his powers are restored. However, the gun doesn’t work properly and The Shaper tells Joker to get Bruce Banner in order to fix the gun.
As Banner works on a Wayne research ship in international waters, an army team appears demanding he accompany them. It turns out they aren’t the army, and Banner is not pleased, transforming into the Hulk. As the fake General wishes there was a bigger monster to defeat the Hulk, a monster indeed appears - courtesy of the Shaper. When Hulk is taken to the Shaper, the latter feels his powers returning when Hulk comes close to him and The Shaper realizes that Hulk’s radiation can restore his powers. Refusing to fight the Shaper, Hulk decides to leave the place and Shaper commands the Joker to find Hulk and bring him back.
Without a clue of the Hulk’s whereabouts, Joker decides to contact Batman to help him locate the green monster. Using the Bat-Signal to summon the Dark Knight, Joker and Batman make a temporary truce at the roof of the GCPD Headquarters. After an extensive search for the Hulk across Gotham, they finally find him and at first, Hulk tries to escape, but Batman follows him closely by attaching his Batrope to the Hulk’s leg. When Hulk realizes Batman has followed him, he turns violent and attacks Batman, who relies on his speed and reflexes to avoid damage. After all their attempts have failed, Batman and Joker decide to try another approach. Disguised as an old man, Batman convinces Hulk to go with the Joker in a passive manner and a mild Hulk obeys.
Joker takes Hulk back to the Shaper, but after learning Joker’s true intentions, Batman tries to stop Hulk from going into the warehouse The Shaper is located. The Shaper uses his remaining powers to create illusions of some of Hulk and Batman’s enemies and the heroes work together to defeat the illusions. However, the confrontation turns Hulk angry again and he attacks The Shaper with his full force. The impact cures Shaper and restores his abilities. Finally, Shaper decides to leave Earth, but first he grants Joker the omnipotent powers that they agreed upon. With his new powers, Joker is free to shape the world around him at will and there is nothing that can stop him. Batman knows this and he challenges the Joker’s newfound power to create everything that was, is and will be. The strain is too much for Joker’s mind to handle and the Clown Prince of Crime faints as his powers leave his body.
In the aftermath, Joker is locked away for good with his mind still in a catatonic state, but Bruce Banner has lost hope once again of curing himself from his living nightmare.
DC Special Series Vol 1 27
"The Monster and the Madman"
DC Special Series Vol 1 #27
September, 1981
Executive Editor
Joe Orlando
Cover Artists
José Luis García-López & Gaspar Saladino
The Monster and the Madman
Writers
Len Wein
Pencilers
José Luis García-López
Inkers
Dick Giordano
Colorists
Glynis Oliver
Letterers
John Costanza
Editors
Dick Giordano, Dave Manak, Al Milgrom & Jim Shooter
Previous Issue Next Issue
DC Special Series # 26 -
Perhaps a spot of tea will calm your nerves, Dr. Banner.
— Alfred -- at the ready, as always
DC Special Series #27 is an issue of the series DC Special Series (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1981.
Contents
Appearing in "The Monster and the Madman"
Featured Characters:
Batman
The Hulk
Supporting Characters:
Alfred Pennyworth
Antagonists:
Morty (Single appearance)
Shaper of Worlds (First appearance) (Flashback and main story)
Abomination (First appearance) (Shaper’s creation)
Killer Moth (Shaper’s creation)
Leader (First appearance) (Shaper’s creation)
Rhino (First appearance) (Shaper’s creation)
Scarecrow (Shaper’s creation)
Two-Face (Shaper’s creation)
Sidney (Single appearance)
Stoogie (Single appearance)
The Joker
Blob-Thing (Single appearance) (Destroyed) (Shaper’s creation)
Card Soldiers (Single appearance) (Joker’s creations)
Elmo (Single appearance)
Kennie (Single appearance; dies)
Orville Baker (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
Arnie (Single appearance)
Bobbie (Single appearance) (Flashback and main story)
Doc Samson (First appearance)
Gotham City Police Department
Commissioner Jim Gordon
Harvey Maxwell (Single appearance) (Flashback and main story)
Jackson (Single appearance)
Mick (Single appearance)
Rico (Single appearance)
U.S.A.F.
Gen. Thunderbolt Ross (First appearance)
Captain America (First appearance) (In a photograph only)
Dracula (In a photograph only)
Superman (In a photograph only)
United States Army (Mentioned only)
William Shakespeare (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Crossover Earth
Arctic Circle (In dream sequence only)
New Jersey (Flashback and main story)
Gotham City
Black Swan Cafe (First appearance)
GCPD Headquarters
Wayne Research
Batcave (Mentioned only)
New Mexico
Gamma Base
Items:
Batsuit
Bat-Signal
Batarangs
Batrope
Captain America’s Uniform (First appearance) (In a photograph only)
Captain America’s Shield (First appearance) (In a photograph only)
Gamma-Gun (Single appearance) (Destroyed)
Joker’s Joy Buzzer
Joker Venom
Murder Module (First appearance) (Shaper’s creation)
Utility Belt
Rhino Armor (Mentioned only)
Vehicles:
Murder Module (First appearance) (Shaper’s creation)
Super-Tanker (First appearance)
Notes
The story is commonly known as "Batman vs The Hulk”. However, the actual title of the story is "The Monster and the Madman” and it is told in several chapters including a prologue and epilogue:
Chapter One: When Wakes the Behemoth...!
Chapter Two: When Dreams Won’t Come!
Chapter Three: When the Sea Churns Green...!
Chapter Four: When the Shaper Commands...!
Chapter Five: When Madness Reigns...!
The credit box features special thanks to Marv Wolfman and Mike DeCarlo.
This is the third DC/Marvel Crossover, the first one featuring Batman and the last of the tabloid-size editions for several years.
The Official Crisis on Infinite Earths Index and The Official Crisis on Infinite Earth Crossover Index classify this as a Crossover Earth story.
This issue is reprinted in Crossover Classics: The Marvel/DC Collection.
Trivia
The story resembles the plot of the later story arc Emperor Joker.
https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/DC_Special_Series_Vol_1_27
DC Special Series (1981 Treasury) #27 features the battle you never thought you’d see, Batman vs. the Incredible Hulk.
"The Monster and the Madman!” Story by Len Wein. Art by Jose Luis Garcia Lopez and Dick Giordano.
The maniacal trickster the Joker has just convinced the Jade Giant that Batman is his enemy. It will take all the Dark Knight’s skills and courage to survive his 1st encounter with the Earth’s mightiest mortal. Plus, how does the mysterious and cosmically powered Shaper of Worlds fit into all this?
Also included is a feature that shows the evolution of the cover for this special. And: The origins of Batman and the Hulk are presented on the inside front cover, with art by George Pérez and Dick Giordano.
Cover price $2.50.
https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=179591
Bruce Banner is working at a division of Wayne Research, assisting in the development of a gamma-gun, designed to cure diseases. Banner hopes it may provide a cure for him - from periodically turning into the Hulk. Unfortunately, the Joker has allied himself with a powerful force and he needs to steal the gamma-gun for his grand goal. The Joker’s stealing attempt of the gamma-gun causes Banner to transform into the Hulk and the commotion created draws the attention of Batman. Joker takes the chance to convince Hulk that Batman is his enemy and the green brute attacks Batman, who fights back with all his might, to no avail. Batman then uses knockout gas from his Utility Belt and manages to subdue the Hulk, but the Joker has escaped with the gamma-gun while Batman was busy fighting Hulk. A few moments later, the Hulk reverts to Banner and Bruce Wayne arrives at the scene, offering Banner a proper job, supervising the gun’s replacement.
The Joker then takes the gun on and uses it on the Shaper-of-Worlds, who is losing his ability to absorb the dreams of others, denying himself an outlet for his powers, and potentially driving him insane. He is responsible for the Joker’s activities as he has promised the mad clown unlimited power once his powers are restored. However, the gun doesn’t work properly and The Shaper tells Joker to get Bruce Banner in order to fix the gun.
As Banner works on a Wayne research ship in international waters, an army team appears demanding he accompany them. It turns out they aren’t the army, and Banner is not pleased, transforming into the Hulk. As the fake General wishes there was a bigger monster to defeat the Hulk, a monster indeed appears - courtesy of the Shaper. When Hulk is taken to the Shaper, the latter feels his powers returning when Hulk comes close to him and The Shaper realizes that Hulk’s radiation can restore his powers. Refusing to fight the Shaper, Hulk decides to leave the place and Shaper commands the Joker to find Hulk and bring him back.
Without a clue of the Hulk’s whereabouts, Joker decides to contact Batman to help him locate the green monster. Using the Bat-Signal to summon the Dark Knight, Joker and Batman make a temporary truce at the roof of the GCPD Headquarters. After an extensive search for the Hulk across Gotham, they finally find him and at first, Hulk tries to escape, but Batman follows him closely by attaching his Batrope to the Hulk’s leg. When Hulk realizes Batman has followed him, he turns violent and attacks Batman, who relies on his speed and reflexes to avoid damage. After all their attempts have failed, Batman and Joker decide to try another approach. Disguised as an old man, Batman convinces Hulk to go with the Joker in a passive manner and a mild Hulk obeys.
Joker takes Hulk back to the Shaper, but after learning Joker’s true intentions, Batman tries to stop Hulk from going into the warehouse The Shaper is located. The Shaper uses his remaining powers to create illusions of some of Hulk and Batman’s enemies and the heroes work together to defeat the illusions. However, the confrontation turns Hulk angry again and he attacks The Shaper with his full force. The impact cures Shaper and restores his abilities. Finally, Shaper decides to leave Earth, but first he grants Joker the omnipotent powers that they agreed upon. With his new powers, Joker is free to shape the world around him at will and there is nothing that can stop him. Batman knows this and he challenges the Joker’s newfound power to create everything that was, is and will be. The strain is too much for Joker’s mind to handle and the Clown Prince of Crime faints as his powers leave his body.
In the aftermath, Joker is locked away for good with his mind still in a catatonic state, but Bruce Banner has lost hope once again of curing himself from his living nightmare.
DC Special Series Vol 1 27
"The Monster and the Madman"
DC Special Series Vol 1 #27
September, 1981
Executive Editor
Joe Orlando
Cover Artists
José Luis García-López & Gaspar Saladino
The Monster and the Madman
Writers
Len Wein
Pencilers
José Luis García-López
Inkers
Dick Giordano
Colorists
Glynis Oliver
Letterers
John Costanza
Editors
Dick Giordano, Dave Manak, Al Milgrom & Jim Shooter
Previous Issue Next Issue
DC Special Series # 26 -
Perhaps a spot of tea will calm your nerves, Dr. Banner.
— Alfred -- at the ready, as always
DC Special Series #27 is an issue of the series DC Special Series (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1981.
Contents
Appearing in "The Monster and the Madman"
Featured Characters:
Batman
The Hulk
Supporting Characters:
Alfred Pennyworth
Antagonists:
Morty (Single appearance)
Shaper of Worlds (First appearance) (Flashback and main story)
Abomination (First appearance) (Shaper’s creation)
Killer Moth (Shaper’s creation)
Leader (First appearance) (Shaper’s creation)
Rhino (First appearance) (Shaper’s creation)
Scarecrow (Shaper’s creation)
Two-Face (Shaper’s creation)
Sidney (Single appearance)
Stoogie (Single appearance)
The Joker
Blob-Thing (Single appearance) (Destroyed) (Shaper’s creation)
Card Soldiers (Single appearance) (Joker’s creations)
Elmo (Single appearance)
Kennie (Single appearance; dies)
Orville Baker (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
Arnie (Single appearance)
Bobbie (Single appearance) (Flashback and main story)
Doc Samson (First appearance)
Gotham City Police Department
Commissioner Jim Gordon
Harvey Maxwell (Single appearance) (Flashback and main story)
Jackson (Single appearance)
Mick (Single appearance)
Rico (Single appearance)
U.S.A.F.
Gen. Thunderbolt Ross (First appearance)
Captain America (First appearance) (In a photograph only)
Dracula (In a photograph only)
Superman (In a photograph only)
United States Army (Mentioned only)
William Shakespeare (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Crossover Earth
Arctic Circle (In dream sequence only)
New Jersey (Flashback and main story)
Gotham City
Black Swan Cafe (First appearance)
GCPD Headquarters
Wayne Research
Batcave (Mentioned only)
New Mexico
Gamma Base
Items:
Batsuit
Bat-Signal
Batarangs
Batrope
Captain America’s Uniform (First appearance) (In a photograph only)
Captain America’s Shield (First appearance) (In a photograph only)
Gamma-Gun (Single appearance) (Destroyed)
Joker’s Joy Buzzer
Joker Venom
Murder Module (First appearance) (Shaper’s creation)
Utility Belt
Rhino Armor (Mentioned only)
Vehicles:
Murder Module (First appearance) (Shaper’s creation)
Super-Tanker (First appearance)
Notes
The story is commonly known as "Batman vs The Hulk”. However, the actual title of the story is "The Monster and the Madman” and it is told in several chapters including a prologue and epilogue:
Chapter One: When Wakes the Behemoth...!
Chapter Two: When Dreams Won’t Come!
Chapter Three: When the Sea Churns Green...!
Chapter Four: When the Shaper Commands...!
Chapter Five: When Madness Reigns...!
The credit box features special thanks to Marv Wolfman and Mike DeCarlo.
This is the third DC/Marvel Crossover, the first one featuring Batman and the last of the tabloid-size editions for several years.
The Official Crisis on Infinite Earths Index and The Official Crisis on Infinite Earth Crossover Index classify this as a Crossover Earth story.
This issue is reprinted in Crossover Classics: The Marvel/DC Collection.
Trivia
The story resembles the plot of the later story arc Emperor Joker.
https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/DC_Special_Series_Vol_1_27
DC Special Series (1981 Treasury) #27 features the battle you never thought you’d see, Batman vs. the Incredible Hulk.
"The Monster and the Madman!” Story by Len Wein. Art by Jose Luis Garcia Lopez and Dick Giordano.
The maniacal trickster the Joker has just convinced the Jade Giant that Batman is his enemy. It will take all the Dark Knight’s skills and courage to survive his 1st encounter with the Earth’s mightiest mortal. Plus, how does the mysterious and cosmically powered Shaper of Worlds fit into all this?
Also included is a feature that shows the evolution of the cover for this special. And: The origins of Batman and the Hulk are presented on the inside front cover, with art by George Pérez and Dick Giordano.
Cover price $2.50.
https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=179591
Publisher:
DC Comics
Issue Number:
27
Month:
September
Year:
1981
Variant Number:
Published Sep 1981 by DC
Purchase Type:
Newsstand
Attributes:
Show More
Country:
United States
Era:
Bronze Age
Genre:
Show More
Language:
English
Type of Comic:
Magazine
Characters:
Shaper of Worlds, Abomination, the Leader, the Rhino, General Thunderbolt Ross, "Doc” Samson, and Rick Jones
Batman, Bruce Wayne, Commissioner Gordon, Alfred, The Joker, Killer Moth, Two-Face and the Scarecrow,
Show More
Date Added:
2018-07-02 23:54:30
Series:
DC Special Series
Story Arc:
Amory Wars
Automatic Estimated Value:
~$29.99
Automatic Estimated Date:
2024-10-17
Date Added:
2018-07-02 23:54:30
Created By:
Batman Earth-One Bob Kane · Bill Finger First Appearance Superman #76 (May, 1952 https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Bruce_Wayne_(Earth-One) After the events of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Batm
Hulk Bruce Banner Creators Stan Lee & Jack Kirby 1st Incredible Hulk #1 (March, 1962) https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Hulk
Show More
Writer:
Len Wein
Show More
Penciller:
José Luis García-López
Show More
Inker:
Dick Giordano
Show More
Colorist:
Glynis Oliver
Show More
Cover Artist:
José Luis García-López & Gaspar Saladino
Show More
Letterer:
John Constanza
Show More
Editor:
Dick Giordano, Dave Manak, Al Milgrom & Jim Shooter
Show More
