REVIEW: Hulk : Grand Design - Madness

Following up Piskor’s part one, “Madness” is another summarization of the Green Goliath, bookending it’s predecessor, but punctuating itself at a point in Hulk history that doesn’t really do Ol’ Jade Jaws justice. Jim Rugg picks up where Piskor left off, and brings new life to classic Hulk arcs by Peter David, Todd Macfarlane, Jeph Loeb and many others, who get the footnote treatment (Rugg why’d you have to do J.R. Jr.’s run like that), though by no means are their stories no small feat in the mythology of one of Marvel’s biggest characters.

A great book that can be used to fill in the blanks for reader’s who don’t know the exact issue numbers or titles to unearth these key storylines that are simplified within as small as a panel and as big as a page. “Madness” is a convenient companion for classic tales of the Marvel legend. Though the biggest problem that I have with this issue is that it ends several times – none of them during Al Ewing’s landmark Immortal Hulk run.

Now the retelling of the Onslaught Epic is as much comedy as the point that Rugg makes where everyone in Hulk’s inner circle just has to write a memoir but ending it there , then to end it after Planet Hulk with Future Imperfect … two false endings after one is overkill. Then to add on that I wanted to understand why Hulk had a mohawk, see how Amadeus started seeing green, and of course have Immortal Hulk retold in the “Grand Design” way; I am incredibly disappointed to find that this is the final issue.

The hated Hulk got his flowers, but he could use some more. I would like to see another issue to complete the Hulk’s vision. Didn’t the X-Men reach Krakoa in their Grand Design series? I know they had more than two issues. And if there’s anything to take away from Rugg’s retellings is that the Hulk in all his madness, deserves the spotlight; yes, even Berserker Banner too.

Score : 3/5

(W) Jim Rugg (A/CA) Jim Rugg