Doc Samson: Difference between revisions

Doc Samson
Doc Samson. Art by Ed McGuinness.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Incredible Hulk #141 (July, 1971)
Created by	Roy Thomas Herb Trimpe
In-story information
Alter ego	Dr. Leonard Samson
Species	Human (empowered)
Supporting character of	Hulk
Abilities	Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability Genius-level intellect

Doc Samson (Dr. Leonard Samson) is a fictional character, a superhero and psychiatrist in the Marvel Comics universe, known as a supporting character in stories featuring The Hulk. Ty Burrell portrays Doc Samson in the 2008 film, The Incredible Hulk, but he does not show any superpowers in the movie.

Doc Samson first appeared in the Incredible Hulk #141 (July 1971) and was created by Roy Thomas and Herb Trimpe. Since then he has also appeared as a supporting character in several different Marvel Comics titles, including She-Hulk, Uncanny X-Men, and Amazing Spider-Man. In 1996 Doc Samson starred in his first self-titled mini-series written by Dan Slott. In 2006, Samson starred in his second mini-series written by Paul Di Filippo and penciled by Fabrizio Fiorentino.

Leonard Samson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He became a college professor and psychiatrist. After Robert Bruce Banner was temporarily cured of being the Hulk by siphoning off the gamma radiation that caused his transformations, Samson, who had been working with Banner/Hulk in his job as a psychiatrist, exposed himself to some of the siphoned radiation, granting him a superhumanly strong and muscular physique and causing his hair to turn green and to grow long, reminiscent of his biblical namesake. Initially, Samson's physical strength depends upon the length of his hair, though his gamma mutation eventually stablized making the length of his hair no longer a factor. Shortly afterward, his flirting with Betty Ross caused a jealous Banner to re-expose himself to radiation, becoming the Hulk once more to battle Samson.^[1] He learned that his power decreases when he cuts his green hair,^[2] but then lost his powers due to the bombardment of intense gamma radiation.^[3] Feeling guilty about his role in his patient's return to being the Hulk, Samson would spend much time working with Banner over the years.

Samson eventually regained his powers in a gamma ray explosion, and joined the gamma base staff.^[4] Alongside S.H.I.E.L.D., he battled the Hulk.^[5] He shrank and projected the Hulk into Glenn Talbot's brain to cure Talbot of amnesia.^[6] Samson then battled the Rhino.^[7]

Samson was later captured by the Leader.^[8] He teamed with the Hulk against the Leader's humanoids.^[9] He attempted a psychoanalysis of the Hulk through his dreams, and diagnosed him with Multiple Personality Disorder.^[10] Samson next encountered Angel and the Master Mold.^[11] He encountered Moonstone, and battled the Hulk.^[12] Samson then quit Gamma Base, and became General Ross's psychiatrist.^[13]

Samson later encountered Woodgod and the Changelings.^[14] His former relationship with Dr. Delia Childress was revealed, and he teamed with Spider-Man against the Rhino and AIM.^[15] He next defeated Unus in combat.^[16] With the Thing and other heroes, he was abducted by the Champion to challenge him in combat.^[17]

Samson, determined again to cure the Hulk, defeated him in battle by calming him.^[18] He succeeded in separating Bruce Banner and the Hulk physically into two separate individuals. He rescued the Hulk from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attempt to execute him, although the Hulk then ran amok.^[19] Samson adopted a new costume, and battled the heroes Iron Man, Wonder Man, Hercules, and Namor the Sub-Mariner for the right to recapture the Hulk.^[20] He battled the Hulk,^[21] then destroyed the Hulk robot, and battled the Hulkbusters, resulting in the death of Carolyn Parmenter.^[22] He battled the Hulk and the Hulkbusters again,^[23] but the Hulk defeated Samson and the Hulkbusters.^[24] Samson then attempted to remerge Banner and the Hulk, but an accident resulted in Banner's transformation into the grey Hulk.^[25] Samson then became mentally dominated by a mutant mind-parasite.^[26] He assisted X-Factor in capturing the Hulk on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D.^[27] Samson also cured Captain Ultra of his fear of fire.^[28]

To "cure" his MPD, Samson eventually hypnotized Banner with the Ringmaster's help and successfully began the process of integrating the Banner, grey Hulk, and green Hulk personalities into a new Hulk.^[29] This ended up beyond his control, however, leading to a somewhat unstable merger which eventually fragmented once more into a third personality, albeit a more benign one than the previous Hulks. Around this time, Samson attended the execution of convicted murderess "Crazy Eight".^[30]

Doc Samson was also a part of Bruce Jones' run on the Hulk, with one of the main characters Jones introduced supposed to be his ex-wife. He spent much of this run sporting an eyepatch, after discovering that a covert organization which is hunting the Hulk has implanted a surveillance device in his eye; he removes the device with a scalpel and donned the eyepatch for protection while his eye healed.

In addition to the Hulk, his most prominent patient, Samson has also spent time in a professional capacity with the second X-Factor, the Molecule Man, She-Hulk, and The Punisher among others.

He is befriended by Doctor Strange's new pupil Jack Holyoak^[31], and helped his friends' daughter Tina Punnett rescue her "new-age hippie" parents from dealing with a ghost of musician Cam Larson guarded by Living Totem. Searching for his friend Sam Laroquette, Doc Samson along with Living Totem, Tina and Jack arrives at new age cultist doctor Arick Schnellageister's farm where they all fight Stephen King-inspired nightmarish Weed. The third issue was written by Jay Faerber and it shows Samson helps the new Scorpion come clean after being implied to have killed SHIELD agents. The final two-parter was a storyline involving Nightmare from a different dimension sending the alternate Doc Samson to help him invade the regular 616 Marvel Universe. Those last two issues had Frank Rocketo Espinoza's short Living Totem stories as back up

He reappeared^[32], and has also treated Rachel Grey.^[33] He discussed with Valerie Cooper, regarding her and the O*N*E organization taping his session with Rachel, even though he asked her not to. Samson was a member of Iron Man's pro-registration side in Civil War.^[34] He gave each member of the newest incarnation of X-Factor a session after a particularly troubling mission. He is paying particular attention to the team's leader, Jamie Madrox.

Samson is shown working alongside the Pro-Registration alliance. As part of this group, he helps She-Hulk and Spider-Man take down a rampaging robot threatening innocent civilians. Samson remains on somebody's side during the final breakout at the Negative Zone prison. The Pro-Registration people ultimately win when Captain America surrenders.

Samson plays a role in the events of the World War Hulk crossover event of 2007. Dr. Samson was instrumental in the Illuminati plan of exiling the Hulk as well as de-powering the She-Hulk for Iron Man. Samson was sent by Mr. Fantastic to retrieve She-Hulk after she discovered that her cousin was exiled, and tries to convince her that her cousin deserved his punishment after recalling several moments when the Hulk fought the members of the Illuminati. She-Hulk punches Samson into another state after realizing that Samson was siding with the Illuminati.

Samson is shown to be one of the various heroes that helped during the evacuation of New York.^[35] Later he and the Avengers are quickly defeated by the Hulk and his Warbound allies, whereby Doc Samson and his fallen team mates are 'enslaved' by obedience discs (the very same technology used to control the Hulk/Green Scar and other Gladiators on Sakaar).^[36] Following a climactic and hard-fought victory over the Sentry, Doc Samson is freed from his obedience disk after Tony Stark activates a series of satellite devices that open fire on the Hulk and leave him unconscious, and in his human/Bruce Banner form. ^[37]

Samson has been appointed by the Initiative to serve as therapist for Penance.^[38] He successfully helps Penance regain his original Speedball powers and make steps towards psychological recovery.^[39]

He was sent by the CSA to temporarily suspend Tony Stark from his S.H.I.E.L.D. duties pending psychological evaluation^[40], and while overseeing this was drawn into assisting Tony in uncovering the Mandarin's Extremis conspiracy. He would later give evidence to the UN Security Council in Tony's cover, sparring verbally with Norman Osborn in the process.^[41]

In the debut issue of the new Hulk title, written by Jeph Loeb, Samson appears in Russia, alongside Iron Man, General Ross, and She-Hulk (whose attitude towards Samson is still antagonistic), investigating the murder of the Abomination at the hands of a Hulk-like creature. After an altercation over jurisdiction with the Russian Winter Guard (a fight which Samson uncharacteristically starts), Samson and Ross return to the United States to consult with Banner, who is imprisoned in a high-security facility.^[42]

However, the Helicarrier crashes near New Jersey. Tony Stark orders Maria Hill to investigate, and searching for survivors. Clay Quartermain's corpse is found mangled and ravaged, and the area bathed with gamma radiations, but General Ross' and Samson's bodies are missing. Instead, Leonard's coat is found ripped and shredded in a Hulk-like fashion, exhibiting higher Gamma Radiation values than every other item in the wreckage.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Samson later shot Rick Jones and dragged him away after he attempted to reveal who Red Hulk really was.^[43]

It is uncertain how the events of Hulk affect other stories, if they do at all; while the beginning of the series appeared to loosely be connected to the end of World War Hulk, the story has since made no reference to concurrent events such as Secret Invasion or Dark Reign. Doc Samson's part in the story is particularly confusing, as throught the series he shows an uncharacteristic agression and tendency to act on impulse, and by the end his hair has impossibly grown to three times its length in the space of a few days, and he appears to harbour an ulterior motive towards Rick Jones and the Hulk. However, in stories following Secret Invasion, and logically set months after World War Hulk and Hulk itself, he is shown with his regularly short hair, with no signs of any change in character or direction, fulfilling his usual vocation as a psychiatrist for the superhuman community.

Jeph Loeb, the writer of Hulk, has yet to comment or act upon the discrepancy between his story and other stories published by Marvel which feature characters he has used; the writer is known for having a long history in confusing and/or ignoring continuity between other writer's books and his own.

Following the Secret Invasion, Doc Samson is shown leading a support group meeting with those that had been replaced by Skrulls.^[44] Later, he appears on Air Force One, attempting to disclose the full activities of Norman Osborn within Thunderbolts Mountain to President Barack Obama. ^[45]

Doc Samson possesses superhuman physical abilities as a result of exposure to high levels of gamma radiation. Though his exposure is considerably less than that of the Hulk or the Abomination, he still possesses most of the same powers as they have.

The gamma radiation mutated Samson's physique by adding considerable muscle and bone mass to his body, granting him high levels of superhuman strength. Samson's hair is a bright shade of green due to his exposure to gamma radiation. Initially, his strength was dependent upon the length of his hair and the longer it was, the more powerful he was though his mutation has since stablized making his hair length irrelevant. Samson's strength is equal to that of the Gray Hulk, AKA Joe Fixit, while the latter is in a calm emotional state. Unlike the Hulk, however, Samson's strength doesn't increase due to adrenaline surges while angry. As a result, Samson is ultimately far less powerful than the Hulk. Also like the Hulk and Abomination, Samson's leg muscles are highly developed and powerful. He is able to leap great distances both vertically and horizontally, though not nearly as far as the Hulk or Abomination.

Aside from granting him more muscle mass, Samson's bodily tissues are fortified and are considerably harder than those of an ordinary human, granting him a high level of resistance to physical injury. Samson can withstand falls from great heights, extremes of temperature, high-caliber bullets, and tremendous impact forces like being repeatedly struck by the Hulk without sustaining injury. Due to his highly advanced musculature, his muscles produce considerably less fatigue toxins during physical activity than the musculature of a normal human, granting him superhuman stamina. He's demonstrated sufficient stamina to a battle a mindless incarnation of the Hulk for more than six hours.^[46]

Like others who have gamma induced powers, Doc Samson is immune to terrestrial diseases. Unlike the Hulk, Abomination, or even the She-Hulk, Samson hasn't demonstrated any accelerated healing powers.

Samson is said to be one of the most renowned psychiatrists on Earth. ^[47] He is often called on to counsel various superhumans, such as the members of X-Factor. He has a M.D. in psychiatry, and is a skilled theoretical technician and inventor of various medical devices.^{[citation needed]} His extensive study of the mind also permits him a significant degree of resistance to telepathy and telepathic attacks.

Samson is a good hand to hand combatant that, coupled with his physical attributes, have allowed him to hold his own against the Hulk for extended periods of time. He has also briefly engaged the combined forces of Iron Man, Wonder Man, Sub-Mariner, and Hercules, though those heroes had been fatigued after battling the mindless Hulk.^[48] He sometimes uses psychology as a tool to get through a more powerful opponent's guard, such as an Infinity Gem-empowered Titania.^[49]

Unlike the Hulk, Doc Samson does not suffer from multiple personality disorder, and so retains his genius intellect. He has conducted research on gamma beings like himself and has come to the conclusion that gamma mutation is largely determined by the subject's deepest sense of self. Hence, his form is based on a subconscious desire for superhuman power like the Biblical Samson. ^[50]

While attacking the Thunderbolts, the telepath Mirage noted that Doc Samson, who was present in Thunderbolts Mountain, had some fascinating thoughts. In his mind she saw that, while his mental reactions to Norman Osborn and Moonstone were Hulk-like, he was still able to control himself from physically acting on those impulses.

In Earth X, it is stated that Doc Samson was killed when the Skull used his powers of persuasion to force Samson to rip himself inside out. It is stated that Samson got halfway through before he died, and the Skull "thought it was funny".

In the Mutant X earth, Doc Samson had gained green skin and an expanded physique, much like the Hulk. He still manages to keep his calm and rational mind. He forms a new mini-team, called the Defenders, after the Avengers are neutralized. Stingray and Yellowjacket join him. Samson is one of the many victims of the conflict between that earth's Beyonder and the Goblyn Queen.

In Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #16 Doc Samson appears as a clam called Doc Clamson.

• Doc Samson appeared in The Incredible Hulk, the animated television series broadcast on UPN in 1996–97, voiced by Shadoe Stevens. Samson was shown both fighting the Hulk and trying to find a way to cure Banner of the Hulk.

• He appears in the 2008 Incredible Hulk film, and is played by Ty Burrell.^[51] He does not have any superpowers, but he is portrayed closer to his earlier appearances before his incident. He is in a short relationship with Betty Ross. He calls the military regarding Bruce's location at Culver University, but criticized General Ross's reasons for hunting Banner/Hulk, especially after witnessing the Hulk protecting Betty from the crossfire of General Ross's attacks. A large number of his scenes, including the scene where he talks to Bruce as seen in the film's trailer, were cut from the film. In opening credits, the name Leonard Samson appeared on the quick clip of a list of Bruce's accomplices.

• Samson appeared in the video game The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction voiced by Daniel Riordan. Unlike in the comics, he doesn't fight the Hulk. In the game, Samson and Banner had planned to use the Hulk as their weapon to get past Emil Blonsky's Division forces and military units under the command of General Ross, while gathering parts for a machine that Banner needed. In the fourth boss battle, Samson was forced to betray Banner as the Devil Hulk personality in Banner's subconscious began to influence his actions and endanger innocent lives. After Banner's escape from Blonsky's base, Samson makes an apology to Banner for betraying him, and they continue to build the machine for Banner to face Devil Hulk.

• Doc Samson @ Gamma Base Online
• Doc Samson biography
• http://marvel.com/universe/Doc_Samson