The dynamic duo of Robbie Landis and Ben Morse is back once again for another episode of the Other Identity. The Other Identity is a podcast about exploring the culture created by comic books. This week Robbie and Ben talk about how Batman is the least interesting of the Bat-Family. Plus Robbie prepares to read Marvel’s Secret Empire. They discuss what makes the Hulk the Hulk. What are his greatest strengths as a character and how has the Immortal Hulk redefined the character.

This Weeks Reading

Each Week on the Other Identity Robbie and Ben talk about what they’re currently reading. Ben just wrapped up the Night of the Monster Men Arc in Batman, Nightwing, and Detective Comics and had a revelation. He thinks that out of all of the Bat-Family, Batman is actually the least interesting of them. Robbie agrees but points out that each Bat-Family member relies on Bruce and Batman in some way to push their own stories forward. After putting out a poll on social media, Robbie has decided to read through Marvel’s Secret Empire arc. However, he’s somewhat daunted by the nearly 300-page Prelude book.

The Immortal Hulk

The main topic of this week’s episode is the Jade Giant himself, the Hulk. Robbie and Ben spend some time discussing the strengths (not literally) of the character. Why he works or doesn’t work as a hero and the best way to present Bruce Banner and his green alter ego, be it on the page or on the big screen. They eventually come to the current run of the Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing. Ben explains what makes this series so great and how it manages to seamlessly roll in and explain years of Hulk cannon while also expanding and exploring new lore for the Hulk. Robbie compares what Ewing has done with the Immortal Hulk to what Geoff Johns did with the Lantern Corp when he introduced the color spectrum.