Joe Fixit is a 2023 comic book limited series from Marvel Comics. It's written by Peter David.
The series, set in the shared Marvel Universe, is an Interquel set at a time when the Hulk (who's grey-skinned, not green, at this point), is widely believed dead - but is actually in Las Vegas under the alias 'Joe Fixit', working as a superhuman enforcer for shady casino-owner Michael Berengetti.
At the start of the story, Berengetti's business is getting unwelcome attention from New York crimelord the Kingpin, who has no idea that 'Mr. Fixit' is the Hulk. And the Kingpin's arrival in Las Vegas also means that Spider-Man, who was about to leave town after his own run-in with Fixit, is suddenly inclined to stay a little longer.
The first issue was released on January 4, 2023.
Joe Fixit contains examples of the following tropes:
- Bad Boss: After the Kingpin's initial Curb-Stomp Battle with Fixit and Spider-Man, he and his men drive off. One of his goons comments that the Kingpin's still bleeding - and his boss's response is to deliver a sudden Neck Snap with his elbow.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: Kingpin uses an unspecified gas to provoke Joe Fixit into a blind rage so that Fixit will destroy Berengetti's casino for him.
- Bullying a Dragon: The Kingpin just doesn't know when to back down. After one of his goons shoots Fixit, demonstrating that he's bulletproof, the Kingpin tries to pummel him hand-to-hand - which has absolutely no effect and is followed by a Curb-Stomp Battle when Fixit loses patience. The Kingpin's next step after this encounter? To switch plans from targeting Berengetti's organisation to killing Fixit.
- The Bus Came Back: The villainous Masked Marauder makes his first appearance since a brief cameo in 2006's Secret Invasion, working as part of Count Nefaria's squad.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: In other stories, the Kingpin's been able to hold his own against various superheroes, and he's not afraid to physically confront Fixit. But as Fixit is the Hulk, it’s a very one-sided battle - the Kingpin's blows have absolutely no effect, and when they start to annoy him he simply slams the Kingpin to (and partly through) the floor. Spider-Man, who gets to watch the whole thing, is amused.Spider-Man: [internal monologue] This is the greatest day of my life.
- Deadly Dodging: During the final battle, Spider-Man and Fixit trick Electro and Hydro-Man into charging at Fixit from either side, which results in them crashing into each other when he jumps out of the way.
- Didn't Think This Through: With Fixit's temper provoked by the Kingpin's gas, Spider-Man's best plan to stop Fixit going on a rampage is to get Fixit focused on him... and then realises this means he now has an enraged Hulk trying to kill him specifically.
- Ground-Shattering Landing: A variant, as it's the outcome of a Curb-Stomp Battle. Fixit slams the Kingpin into the floor so hard that it breaks, embedding him in a Kingpin-shaped crater surrounded by cracks.
- Interquel: The series is set in the past, at a point when the grey Hulk was believed dead and working in Las Vegas as "Mr. Fixit". Specifically, it's just after 1988's ‘’The Incredible Hulk'' #349, and Peter Parker is still in Las Vegas after the events of that story.
- It Only Works Once: After Fixit has returned to normal, Spider-Man is able to provide him with nasal filters that will prevent Fisk using the gas on him again.
- Let Us Never Speak of This Again: During the final confrontation, Fisk catches Spider-Man when the wall-crawler nearly falls to his death, and the two agree to never speak of this moment again in future.
- Neck Snap: One of the Kingpin's goons, sitting next to him in a limousine, annoys his boss with a tactless comment, so the Kingpin breaks the man's neck. It's a variant on the usual bare-handed neck snap, as he uses his elbow rather than a hand.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Spider-Man recalls a time when the police attacked and provoked the Hulk into a rage when the green goliath had just helped the wall-crawler stop the Absorbing Man and was calmly eating breakfast in a diner.
- No-Sell:
- The Kingpin - nominally a normal human, although a massively strong man - tries to physically overpower Mr. Fixit, not realising that he's attacking the Hulk. It has absolutely no effect, and is followed by a Punch Catch and then a Curb-Stomp Battle when Fixit finally loses patience.
- After Joe Fixit recovers from the mind control gas, the Kingpin tries it again. This time Joe's wearing nose filters and it has absolutely no effect.
- Punch Catch: The Kingpin throws a punch at Mr. Fixit, not realising that he's facing the Hulk. Fixit catches it effortlessly, and the Kingpin's other attacks are equally ineffective.
- Screw This, I'm Out of Here!:
- Berengetti is initially resolved to see the current crisis through, but when Spider-Man demonstrates that Fixit has been provoked into a rage that he can't control, Berengetti agrees with the wall-crawler that it's best he get out for the moment.
- Ultimately Fisk abandons his plans in Vegas to go home after the final fight, leaving Spider-Man to enjoy a night on the town on Fixit's insistence.
- Variant Cover: The first issue has three variant covers as well as the standard version. One uses the same art without some of the logos, one is a headshot of Mr. Fixit and the third shows Fixit in a darkened room, looking out between the blinds.
- Weaksauce Weakness: The gas Kingpin used to provoke Joe Fixit into a rage is only effective if it is used directly on the subject, justifying why he never used this gas on Spider-Man as his mask would make him immune to it.
- Your Princess Is in Another Castle!: As of the end of #4, Fixit is back to normal and immune to Kingpin's attempt to use that gas on him again, and he and Spider-Man have defeated Fisk's current enforcers (Electro and Rhino)... and then Count Nefaria shows up with his own gang to stage a takeover of his own.
