Warning: major spoilers ahead for Immortal Hulk #45!
The Immortal Hulk series just revealed a hilarious twist for Marvel's new merged hero. The weirdest gamma mutate, Doc Samson and Walter Langowski have had some body issues and now, both of their locations are known. How this shift will affect Walter for the rest of the series - especially due to the way that gamma has been seen to alter personality - will be interesting.
Doc Samson has been Bruce Banner's friend throughout the Immortal Hulk series, helping him better understand himself and his alters. Walter Langowski has also been a mainstay during the series, with his own conflicts to deal with. Walter had his power taken away, was working with Gamma Flight to go after Hulk, and then ran into trouble. Now, the two have undergone significant changes.
Thanks to the Leader, Doc Samson and Walter ended up swapping bodies - with some noticeable changes. Instead of having Walter's body, Doc Samson became a new version of his gamma alter. He combined Sasquatch with his intellect, creating a hybrid: Doc Sasquatch. Previously, Walter hadn't returned after being killed by the Abomination, making readers question whether he would come back at all. Immortal Hulk #45 - written by Al Ewing with art by Joe Bennett - reveals that Walter IS in Doc Samson's body - and loving it.
Doc Samson's former face - and hair - have a new look and Walter appears ready to have a good time in his new identity as Walter Samson. In some regards, he appears similar to Joe Fixit - one of Bruce Banner's alter Hulk personalities. Gamma has proven to cause changes in personality, exaggerating some characteristics and subduing others: often with the exaggeration being on aggressive, negative traits. Previously in the series, Hulk was forced to absorb Walter's radiation and therefore his abilities, following a rampage. Gradually, Walter has lost more and more control of himself, unable to adapt to the changes brought about by the One Below All. With the newest change, it is unclear if he will be able to be who he was before, ever again.
Walter has spent a long time balancing between being himself and being Sasquatch. The early part of the series saw him fighting with controlling himself, but he was still trying to be a hero. He still intended to be a good person through it all, even after having his powers taken. Now, he has nothing to keep him in check. Walter now has the opportunity to enjoy life in a new body full of power, with none of the fur. Immortal Hulk #45 does not reveal what Walter plans to do now that he's in Doc Samson's body, though it doesn't seem like doing heroic things is at the top of his list of priorities. Walter was always pretty arrogant and Doc Samson is known for being a show-off - Marvel combining the worst aspects of the two may be fun for readers - but it also seems like a recipe for disaster for the near future of Immortal Hulk.
