All October long I will be exploring the context behind (using reader danjack's term) "meta-messages." A meta-message is where a comic book creator comments on/references the work of another comic book/comic book creator using the characters in their comic. Each time around, I'll give you the context behind one such "meta-message." Here is an archive of the past installments!

Today, I'll feature one that I was planning on using from the start, but I'll note that reader Ben Herman suggested it recently, as well. It is Peter David using Rick Jones to comment on John Byrne's revamped Hulk origin.

In 1998-1999, John Byrne did a revamped origin for Spider-Man.

In 1999, Byrne also did one for the Hulk...

That particular story also worked as set-up (at least the Skrull twist that it added to the Hulk's origin did) for a new maxi-series Byrne did with Roger Stern called The Lost Generation, where Stern and Byrne would fill in the history of the Marvel Universe between Captain America's disappearance and the introduction of the Fantastic Four.

Well, in late 1999, Peter David began work on a new ongoing Captain Marvel series. Rick Jones was once again connected to Captain Marvel, and David was once again writing the adventures of Rick Jones and Marlo Chandler (who had been supporting characters during David's run on Incredible Hulk).

So in Captain Marvel #2, Rick Jones is seen at the local comic book store reading the aforementioned Hulk Chapter One Annual and, well, not finding it credible...