This ain’t an issue for the faint of heart, that’s for sure. After years of toning down the Hulk and making him less savage than his early unpredictable years, we finally get a return to basics and I love it! This issue opens with a convenience store robbery gone wrong. The thief should never have used a loaded gun as we see by the tragic results. It’s a sobering scene made even more sobering when we realize that the thief is nothing but a scared child that’s heavily in debt to a thug. He didn’t shoot the victims on purpose, he simply panicked.
The Creative Team:
Al Ewing pulls no punches and gives us a scenario where there is no black or white. It’s a heart-wrenching moment when we realize that the killer is not an evil mastermind, but someone that could be the boy next door. An average kid backed into a situation that he didn’t want to be in. This Hulk is the most savage yet, he is not constrained by the good that was Bruce Banner. He acts purely by stimulus and response. If you hurt me I will hurt you. The early Hulk didn’t want to hurt anyone, he simply wanted to be left alone. Not this time! It’s a Hulk unlike any we’ve ever seen and that makes this title one of the best incarnations of the character ever! Great stuff includes the Hulk’s response to the convenience store robber and the robber’s mental state throughout this issue.
Bennet and Jose really deliver the goods here. One of the most sinister-looking Hulks in the history of the character. Which, of course, matches his current attitude. We also get a good look at the robber’s gang and they look like the twisted individuals as they should and the fear in their eyes, when confronted with our green antihero, is priceless. Highlights include the splash of the Hulk as he confronts the robber and the final splash.
In Conclusion:
I really love the direction this team is headed in. The Hulk has always been one of my favorite titles from the ’60s to the ’80’s and then I lost interest. But now I can’t wait for the next issue. What makes this one so priceless is that there are no supervillains in it. Just your average everyday thugs. This makes the Hulk seem like more of a menace and the story more compelling. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait for this version of the Hulk to take on the Abomination or Juggernaut. But what we got with this issue is the knowledge that the Hulk has no qualms about dispensing street justice, and that makes him scarier than he’s ever been!**** (9.8 rating)
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Writer – Al Ewing
Art – Joe Bennett, Ruy Jose
Colors – Paul Mounts
Letters – VC’s Cory Petit
Publisher – Marvel
Author Profile
- Kevin Given has studied with “ Longridge Writers Group †and “ Writer’s Boot Camp †a speech/communications major from the University of Maine Presque-Isle/Orono sites. He has created the “ Karl Vincent Vampire Hunter †franchise which includes novels and comic books. They can be found on amazon, Indyplanet and Kindle. For a limited time you can get digital copies of “ Karl Vincent: Vampire hunter †# 1 and “ Files of Karl Vincent †# 1 for free on Indyplanet. Kevin is producing the third novel in the series “ Dracula Rising †(working title) and developing “ Foul Blood †into comic book form. Don't forget to check out the YouTube show " Comics: Let's Talk " hosted by Kevin Given
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