"Dark Son" Finale: Incredible Hulks #617 Review

While everyone else is taking their little breaks, here I sit, compiling the review you've been waiting for (and how could I deny all of you?). It's true that I haven't been able to put up regular reviews of Incredible Hulks #615-616, but I'll let you know my feelings about those stories throughout this review. I can tell you one thing I'm thankful for--Greg Pak on Hulk! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!


The Incredible Hulks #617
"Dark Son, Conclusion: Fratricide"

Writer: Greg Pak
Artists: Barry Kitson, Scott Hanna, Jay Leisten, Victor Drujiniu & Sandu Florea
Colorists: Matt Milla & Aron Lusen
Letterers: Simon Bowland
Production: Irene Lee
Assistant Editor: Jordan D. White
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publisher: Marvel Comics

With the final part of the "Dark Son" storyline having been titled "Fratricide," referring to the act of killing one's brother--coincidentally, the first type of murder committed in human history according to the Bible and Qur'an--you might think you know exactly what to expect from this story. You might be right to an extent, although Greg Pak smartly throws in a host of surprises along the way. One thing's sure, my doubts about the first half of this saga have largely disappeared, giving way to even more enthusiasm for the future.

Over the last few issues, the book now named for a team of Hulk has gained a modest degree of balance, involving She-Hulk, Korg, and A-Bomb in the action more than in the storyline's first half. However, make no mistake, the "power triad" of Hulk, his ex-wife Red She-Hulk, and his son Skaar dominate this issue, and that's just the way it should be for the finale of a storyline that chiefly concerns the Hulk's other son, Hiro-Kala.

So, where have we been? Banner and Hulk have forged an uneasy alliance over their sons, and they're counting on the group's unique perspective as Hulks to allow them to accomplish what they feel the heroes of Earth can't. Their antagonism is barely contained, as shown in a terrific scene in #615 wherein a holo-image of Banner demands the Hulk let him out. (One wonders just what Banner has planned if, just once, the Hulk refuses Banner's request.) After the Hulk's meeting with Skaar in #611, finding him to be a decent sort, he meets Hiro-Kala in #616 and finds him to be the opposite of his brother. Hiro is, simply put, the monster Brian Banner always thought his son Bruce was, and that's the thrust of the story. However, Hiro has committed deeds far beyond Brian's imaginings, I'm sure, a fact which raises the stakes all the higher.

The psychology of Hiro-Kala is fitting, as Pak reaches back into Paul Jenkins' original Son of Hulk storyline (now available in the Son of Hulk: Dark Son Rising trade paperback) for a moment of continuity that makes sense, and connects with some comments made by the K'ai Worldmind a few issues earlier. I've always doubted the moment from Jenkins' script, and it's nice to see it exploited here.

Greg Pak's smart script offers a thrilling conclusion that relies increasingly less on fisticuffs and more on the psychologies of all the players. His Banner is complex as he solves the narrative, and you can see he does what needs to be done while his Hulk suffers. The character with arguably the most pivotal role here is Betty/Red She-Hulk, with a strong moment in the middle of the story with Banner, and another, equally strong moment with the Hulk at the finale. Betty's presence throughout ably fulfills Pak's teases that "nobody can save you from your anger like members of your family, but also nobody can drive you crazier." Truly this tale marks her as this team's wild card.

The weakest element of this issue, sadly, is on the art. As is often the case, with an accelerated schedule, cracks appear. Barry Kitson's layouts have been strong throughout, and the strongest art has come when he's been able to give his all, but it's in the finished art by Jay Leisten and Scott Hanna that the book suffers. Hanna just isn't more than a competent artist, and nothing exposes his flaws like having to carry the load on the last few issues.

The issue is rounded out by an incidental story involving the Hulk, Amadeus Cho, and some giant centaurs. New comer Victor Drujiniu provides the artwork, which isn't bad, and Pak's smart script (there's that word again!) illuminates some more of the Hulk's complex psychology when the green goliath talks about his "family" with Cho.

So, one arc into the new status quo of The Incredible Hulks, and where are we? Definitely somewhere I never thought we'd be. It's been a wild ride so far, filled with compelling characters and thrilling situations. While I didn't think Hiro-Kala & the K'ai story was the best place to start, I can't argue the results and the position Banner and the Hulk are in at the end of this arc. The Hulk and Banner always work best when they're emotionally tortured, and there's enough pathos to go around in "Dark Son." The upcoming "Chaos War" crossover only threatens to provide even more heightened emotions (along with the return of fan-favorite Paul Pelletier on art duties). If you're not reading The Incredible Hulks, you're missing one of Marvel's smartest efforts.

~G.

Incredible Hulks #614: Blast Off!

Howdy, folks! I'm back from my great trip east to New York Comic-Con. It was great--maybe I'll even tell you about it someday! For now, thrill to this review of the latest issue of The Incredible Hulks! Next week you'll see a belated Chaos War review as well as an exciting look into Greg Pak's new creator-owned project, Vision Machine. Hang loose, true believers!


The Incredible Hulks #614
"Dark Son, Part Five: Blast Off"

Writer: Greg Pak & Joshua Williamson
Artists: Barry Kitson, Scott Hanna & Mirco Pierfederici
Colorists: Matt Milla & Mirco Pierfederici
Letterers: Simon Bowland
Production: Irene Lee
Assistant Editor: Jordan D. White
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publisher: Marvel Comics

What's this, you say? The cover of this issue states we're on "Part Three of Six," and yet, the title of this story clearly states we're in part five! How can this be? Well, if you haven't been reading the Hiro-Kala stories in both of the previous issues, shame on you! Both #612 and 613 featured two parts to the ongoing saga of the Hulks and their perilous collision course with Skaar's mad brother. Although the last two issues were largely prologue, bringing more casual fans up to speed with all facets of recent Hulk history, this fifth part kicks the storyline into high gear with a battle between the Hulk's "family" and the Secret Avengers. It also features the debut of British artist Barry Kitson of Legion of Super-Heroes fame.

So, how does this part of the saga measure up, now that the team is set to encounter Hiro-Kala? Honestly, at this point, we're halfway through "Dark Son," and we're still hung up on the set-up. The final three issues had better be a slam-bang battle the likes of which have seldom been seen in this title. It's not that the set-up is bad, quite the opposite--but it still leaves one with a feeling of "are we there yet?"-ness. It's methodical, more than anything--first writer Greg Pak established the Hulk family, then the backstory of Hiro-Kala. Then Earth's heroes discovered the threat, and the Hulk didn't care, but then he found out the true nature of the threat. Here he comes needing a way to meet the threat, which leads him and his family into conflict with Steve Rogers and his Secret Avengers. Finally, at the end of this story, I don't think I'm surprising anyone when I say that the Hulk family appears to be headed to finally meet the conflict head-on. We hope.


The key concern I have with this new status quo more than what's in this storyline is that, when you break the story down, it's still predominantly a story about the Hulk, and not a group of Hulk-like individuals. Seriously, although there are six "Hulks" in this story, only three have had any substantial role in the story to date. It's been a tale about the Hulk, his ex-wife, and his son by his alien queen. It's not a story that is inclusive of A-Bomb, Jennifer Walters, or Korg, as is shown by their painfully minimal presence in the script. Oh, sure, Rick as A-Bomb gets a few lines in, but Korg and Jen? Not a line of dialogue, not a meaningful part to be played except to fight some Secret Avengers who themselves similarly barely have any lines. It's largely the same role as they've played in the previous two issues, and I'm getting to the point that I wonder if there's really some point giving the book a title it has barely managed to earn three issues in. If I read a book titled Fantastic Four, all four heroes do their part, and if I read the X-Men, the full team line-up that month has a pretty integral role. Why, then, do we only see about 50% of the Hulks do their thing in any given issue of this book?

Luckily, the Hulk has a nice, meaty part in this story, with he and Banner showing why they are who they are. Greg Pak has such a natural feel for both characters, it's hard to imagine why other writers have historically had such a problem with the dual personality. I must also give props to him for the Hulks' means of transportation--let's just say it should bring back pleasant memories of World War Hulk. And the art, oh, the art! Barry Kitson's first double-page spread (there are three!) is terrifically evocative of the "Planet Hulk" storyline with the Hulk tearing through the side of a ship. His artwork is wonderfully evocative of Sal Buscema in parts without slavishly copying. I've waited for many years to see Kitson draw the Hulk, and with this issue, I'm not disappointed in the least.

So, the story? Not bad, but I want to see Pak kick it up a couple notches next issue. The art? Absolutely astonishing. I'm very glad the next part is only two weeks away.

What do you think, sirs?

~G.