WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for The Immortal Hulk #29 from Al Ewing, Tom Reilly, Matias Bergara, Chris O'Halloran and VC's Cory Petit, on sale now.
Joe Fixit, more commonly referred to as the Grey Hulk, is not exactly the most upbeat person in the world. As a Hulk, he is a personified rage monster, capable of destroying all in his path. However, he's also far more intelligent than the ordinary Savage Hulk, granting him a unique perspective to be self-reflective.
Bruce Banner very notably dislikes Joe, as he dislikes all his Hulk forms for being monstrous in one way or another. However, very recently, Joe has undergone a bit of a personality change, in part due to how Bruce has grown somewhat more accepting of the Hulks in his life. In The Immortal Hulk, we even learn that Joe has a new nickname: Sunshine Joe.
WAIT, WHAT?
We hear this in a conversation with Doc Samson and Betty Ross, who explains how Bruce's relationship to his various Hulks, such as Joe and Devil, has changed over the course of The Immortal Hulk comic run. Initially, Joe's hedonistic tendencies scared Bruce, making him feel a deep sense of shame for this iteration. He kept Grey Hulk hidden and suppressed, letting him out only at night.
However, in recent months, Bruce has come to terms with Joe, allowing him out in the sunlight more, giving him the opportunity to come out to the world. In accordance with his new status in the sunshine, Joe is now calling himself "Sunshine Joe," in honor of being let out in the sunlight.
And, indeed, being accepted has altered Joe's relationship with both the world and the other people in his head. He's become more accepting and is working towards helping the greater good around him. It appears that, as Bruce accepted the other Hulks, all of them have grown as individuals and want to become a greater whole.
BUT IS THIS TRUE?
Joe Fixit is one of the most dangerous Hulks in Bruce's psyche. While less strong than Savage Hulk, he's far more clever. This gives him an advantage over the rest, but, on top of being sly, he's also self-centered and emotionally destructive. He wants what he wants, and will do whatever it takes to get it. There's a reason he's the first Hulk Bruce suppressed, even before the evolution of the Devil Hulk.
Of course, it's possible that Joe has changed. However, there's also the chance that he's putting on a facade. Samson even indicates that Devil Hulk has grown kinder and more cooperative, which seems more than a little suspicious. After all, these are personifications of Bruce's worst traits, manifested physically. Yes, they are sentient entities with their own personalities, but would Joe's more hedonistic, selfish traits suddenly go away because Bruce is giving him time to get out in the sun?
Joe is a clever monster and he might have his own personal agenda guiding his entire series of events. But by that same logic, it might be unfair to suspect him this way. If The Immortal Hulk has proven anything, it's that the Hulk's system of psyches has evolved. The Hulk isn't just some caged beast; the Hulk is a system of separate personalities, all wanting the same thing: to be their own men.
It just so happens that Joe finally has the opportunity to become his own person. This means that we will see different shades of his personality, including his gentler side. Though that can all change the moment something upsets the system of Hulks. But for now, Sunshine Joe is given the benefit of the doubt, even if he can still turn out to be a true shadow looming over Bruce's entire fragile state of mind.