In Marvel’s Immortal Hulk #43 — out this week from writer Al Ewing and artist Joe Bennett — there is a scene in which Bruce Banner, as a very human-looking version of his Joe Fixit Hulk persona, attempts to make some quick cash and throw people off his tail by pulling off a scam. Small as the scene is, it quickly drew criticism following the comics’ launch because of imagery Bennett incorporated into the background.
As part of Joe’s scheme to get his hands on money while evading the authorities, he sets out to pickpocket a rich man on the street, and proceeds to use the contents of his wallet to buy a number of expensive pieces of jewellery. He then takes that to a pawnshop in order to exchange it for cash — less than “he” paid for it, but more untraceable money than he began with. The entire sequence unfolds quickly at the top of the Marvel Comics issue and has little bearing on the book’s plot, but what gave many people pause was one panel in which the Star of David is prominently featured as part of the store allegedly meant to be called “Cronenberg’s Jewellery” window dressing.