Hulkbusters

Members: Craig Saunders Jr (see Redeemer): Retired demolition expert from the US Army Corp of Engineers

Carolyn Parmentor: Expert marine biologist

Samuel J. LaRoquette (see Rock): Survival expert

Doctor Armand Martel: Expert on lieforms, both real and imaginary

Hideko Takata: Expert on geophysical conditions

First Appearance: The Incredible Hulk #317

Origin: The Incredible Hulk #317

Powers/Abilities: Besides the fields of expertise, each member of the Hulkbusters group has been trained on combat and the use of advanced weaponary and technology.

Artist Representation Gallery

Origin: After Bruce Banner was separated from the Hulk, he formed a new Hulkbusters group to go track down and destroy the mindless Hulk.

GREAT MOMENTS IN HISTORY

The Incredible Hulk #317: Bruce gathers the diverse group of people and informs them that they are to be part of his new Hulkbuster group. He tells them how he has been separated from the Hulk and now wants to track down and destroy the creature. Each of them are experts in electic fields but also not afraid to take a risk. They all balk at it and wonder for what reason they would want to do it. Bruce explains that they have no choice because they all have a tragic past and have run out of funding for their jobs. Later, Sam and Carolyn get together and talk the situation over. Sam figures that Bruce is just trying to kill the Hulk so that he could get forced back with him again. Sam and Carolyn apparently have a history also. Even later, they are all together and figure the risk of fighting the Hulk is worth it for the chance to work on their personal research on highly advanced equipment. They decide to become the new Hulkbusters.

The Incredible Hulk #318: While out searching for the mindless Hulk, Doc Samson spots him in the desert. He attacks him but then realizes it is just a robot. It's a training robot for the new Hulkbusters. Four of the members appear behind Doc Samson in a giant military vehicle/weapon. They attack Samson, figuring to use him as practice. During the battle, where the Hulkbusters are going full out against Doc Samson, the vehicle separates into two different modes, one walking and one flying. During the battle, the walking vehicle accidently shoots the flying vehicle. The vehicle crashes into the ground, killing Carolyn. Sam jumps out of the walking vehicle to try and save her, but it is too late. Doc Samson leaves, saying he has more important things to do like tracking down the Hulk. Sam vows revenge on Doc Samson for the death of Carolyn.

The Incredible Hulk #319: Saunders, in a battlesuit, and LaRoquette, in a flying ship, track down the Hulk and attack him. At the same time, Hideko attends Bruce and Betty's wedding. The two Hulkbusters hold their own until the Hulk gets on top of LaRoquette's ship. Saunders hesitates, fearful that he would kill his teammate, much like Carolyn was killed. Doc Samson jumps in knocks the Hulk off the ship. Saunders attacks the Hulk while LaRoquette attacks Doc Samson from behind. The Hulk then jumps and attacks LaRoquette's ship. Saunders asks Samson to help his friend but Samson is hesitant at first, given that LaRoquette was just trying to kill him. He finally decides to and takes on the Hulk. The Hulk defeats Samson and then just jumps away. LaRoquette and Saunders go see how Samson is and Samson tells them to stay away from the Hulk, it is his responsibility to stop him.

The Incredible Hulk #320: LaRoquette calls in to Bruce at Gamma Base to tell him that the new battle vehicle is working out fine and that they haven't spotted the Hulk yet. The four remaining Hulkbusters come across Doc Samson fighting the Hulk in a small town. They try to sneak up on the Hulk to hit him full force with a laser but the Hulk spots them and takes a shot at the vehicle. He then flips the vehicle on it's side onto Doc Samson. Saunders calls in to tell Bruce what is happening but Rick just he wasn't available. The Hulkbusters manage to right the vehicle and attack the Hulk again and he just starts to rip the vehicle apart. Bruce, not knowing what is going on, gets on a boat to go on his honeymoon with Betty. The Hulk total decimates the Hulkbuster's vehicle. They are mad because Bruce didn't come bail them out when they were in trouble. On the boat, Bruce gets a telegram informing him what happened to the Hulkbusters and he collapses.

The Incredible Hulk #321: The Hulkbusters climb out of the wreckage and tend to the wounded. LaRoquette is especially hurt physically and even more mad that Bruce didn't help them. They see the Hulk continuing to beat up the unconscious Doc Samson and decide they have to do something to help him. Hideko walks near the Hulk and shouts at him. The Hulk charges and uses a simple manuever to make the Hulk trip and fall. The Hulk, even more mad, charges at Hideko but Captain Marvel (the female version) gets in the way between them. The Avengers arrive and start to fight the Hulk. The Hulkbusters tell the Avengers what the current situation is.

The Incredible Hulk #325: The Hulkbusters, Doc Samson, Bruce and Betty Banner attend the funeral for Carolyn who died previously during training. LaRoquette talks out loud at how mad he is and wants to know how Bruce feels about the whole thing. He wants to know if the whole thing was worth it for Bruce. Bruce just apologizes. Betty tries to defend Bruce but Bruce says that there is no excuse and that he should have realized that the weapons he designed were not sufficient to stop the Hulk. LaRoquette tells him he sent Carolyn to her death and then turns to Samson and says that he was her executioner. Samson says that they attacked him first and it is really his fault. The remaining Hulkbusters restrain LaRoquette from going after Samson. They decide to just get out of there.

The Incredible Hulk #329: Clay Quartermain gathers the Hulkbusters along with Doc Samson and Bruce Banner and offers the Hulkbusters to stay on under SHIELD to help take on the new Hulk (which is actually Rick Jones). They all agree, especially La Roquette who still has some scores to settle.

The Incredible Hulk #330: The Hulkbusters gather again to talk about the deal with SHIELD. Later on, they rush to see Doc Samson along with other SHIELD members. Samson was taken over mentally by Nevermind. They attack Samson but are unable to stop him. Ross gets the Nevermind on himself and kills himself and Nevermind at the same time. Before he dies, he tells Betty that he was wrong about Bruce and the Hulk and that he forgave the Hulk. To himself, LaRoquette promises to take care of the Hulk for him, no matter what.

The Incredible Hulk #331: During the clean-up from the battle with Nevermind, the Hulkbusters decide to go and take down the Hulk, who unbeknownst to them is actually Rick Jones. They take off into the desert, each in their own small aircrafts. During the search, the Hulk lands on top of Hideko's ship. Bruce accidently lets it slip out that the new Hulk is actually Rick. Hideko manages to shake the Hulk off and LaRoquette goes in for the kill. The Rick-Hulk jumps up and grabs LaRoquette's let through the ship but the Rick-Hulk is knocked off before he can really hurt him. Saunders throws an electrical net on the Rick-Hulk but then Rick-Hulk throws it back on Saunder's ship and takes Saunders out of the fight. The Rick-Hulk then jumps off and leaves. The Hulkbusters are in no shape to follow. While on the way back to base, LaRoquette says that they should take out Rick Jones while he is in his human form. Martel and Hideko think the idea is disgusting but LaRoquette says that nothing will get in the way of him finishing the Hulk.

The Incredible Hulk #332: Martel and Hideko talk to the injured LaRoquette about how killing Rick Jones while he is human is a disgusting idea. LaRoquette calls them wusses, while at the same time cleaning a gun. Martel tries to grab the gun but LaRoquette threatens to kill him and them leaves. Martel and Hideko go and talk to Doc Samson about LaRoquette behavior. Doc Samson talks about LaRoquette being obsessed with destroying the Hulk. Doc Samson wants to talk some sense into LaRoquette. But Clay Quartermain lets LaRoquette leave in a battletank, in hopes that LaRoquette can get rid of the hulk once and for all. LaRoquette comes upon Rick Jones walking alone in the desert and starts to fire at him. He tells Rick that the Hulk is all his fault for being so stupid all the years ago. Right before LaRoquette is about to run Rick over, Doc Samson stops the tank and pulls LaRoquette out.

The Incredible Hulk #334: Martel and Hideko help Doc Samson confirm through testing that Rick Jones is free of the Hulk curse. Later, Hideko cooks dinner for Martel, Rick, and Clay Quartermain. Doc Samson checks in on the injured Saunders and LaRoquette. LaRoquette says that they were never Hulkbusters. They never won a single battle. LaRoquette tells Samson that once him and Saunders are fully recovered, they are leaving.

The Incredible Hulk #337: Saunders and LaRoquette follow Clay Quartermain as he goes out to get the Hulk, who was recently encased in ice from Iceman and the other members of X-Factor. Clay has been given orders to terminate the Hulk also Clay feels doubts about the order. They arrive and Saunders immediately gets ready to shot a laser cannon at the trapped Hulk but Clay stops him. Clay says that they want to take the Hulk back to Gamma Base and want X-Factor to help him. They get to base, but during the transport from the plane, the Hulk breaks loose. LaRoquette, still injured and getting around in a hovering chair, distracts the Hulk while Doc Samson and Cyclops knock him unconscious. Later, the restrained Hulk tells X-Factor, Doc Samson, Rick Jones, Martel, and Hideko that SHIELD is corrupt and that they are making and testing Gamma bombs. LaRoquette goes looking for Clay but nobody can find him. X-Factor starts asking too many questions, so SHIELD tries to take them down along with Doc Samson. LaRoquette personally goes after Samson. Hideko, Martel, and Rick follow X-Factor to try and escape Gamma Base. Iceman helps the Hulk get loose and throws icicles at Saunders and hits his shoulder. Hideko helps Saunders get the icicles out. Everyone gets out right before Gamma Base explodes. Hideko and Martel have had their fill of death and destruction and decide to leave for a peaceful life.

The Incredible Hulk #338: LaRoquette and SHIELD finally get a trace on Bruce, Rick Jones, and Clay Quartermain, who are on the run. SHIELD decides to wait until Bruce and his group get to a less populated area to get them, much to LaRoquette's dismay. Later, SHIELD blows away a truck and them realize that Clay put the tracer on the truck to trick them.

The Incredible Hulk #341: Right before a press conference to talk about SHIELD's involvement in a cover-up, the Leader touches Saunders and LaRoquette and takes control of them.

The Incredible Hulk #342: LaRoquette and Saunders are seen the stasis tubes in the Leader puts him in a battlesuit with deadly weapons and names him Redeemer. LaRoquette remembers growing up pretending fantasy after fantasy. He grew up and lived every adventure he could, conquering every environment on the planet, from water to mountains to jungles. He eventually became a college professor and got involved with one of his students, Carolyn Parmenter. The Dean of Students found out of the relationship and LaRoquette ending up hitting the Dean and getting fired from the college and also led to the relationship with Carolyn ending badly, as they broke up and lost contact with each other. He went to work for Argo Industries and during an expedition, an earthquake claimed the lives of two of his workers. His bosses blamed him so he punched them. Then he joined the Hulkbusters and met up with Carolyn again, which seemed to go well. But then, she died during a training session and even though he blamed the Hulk and Doc Samson, he feels that he should have somehow saved her. All his life, he felt that people have tried to put him down and tell him what to do but he has hung tough. The Leader encases LaRoquette in a extremely hard material which LaRoquette can shape mentally and calls him Rock. The Leader plans on using his new soldiers to steal a gamma bomb and to destroy the Hulk.