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No, really: "Planet Red Hulk." Jeff Parker. Carlo Pagulayan. June 2011.
Jeff, do you want to steal Greg's thunder, or what?
Let's all be there, shall we?
~G.
Showing posts with label General Ross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General Ross. Show all posts
21.3.11
Oh Hell Yes.
Three words: Planet. Red. Hulk.
'Nuff said?
No, really: "Planet Red Hulk." Jeff Parker. Carlo Pagulayan. June 2011.
Jeff, do you want to steal Greg's thunder, or what?
Let's all be there, shall we?
~G.
No, really: "Planet Red Hulk." Jeff Parker. Carlo Pagulayan. June 2011.
Jeff, do you want to steal Greg's thunder, or what?
Let's all be there, shall we?
~G.
20.3.11
Intestinal Fortean-tude (Hulk #30.1 in Review)
Greetings, Hulkamaniacs!
I wanted to provide a bit of a quickie review this time out--things are very hectic but I'm still looking to get a lot of blog entries done over this coming week. Without further ado, let's find out if Jeff Parker & Gabriel Hardman's "jumping-on point" Hulk #30.1 is worth the $2.99!
Writer: Jeff Parker
Artists: Gabriel Hardman & Tom Palmer
Colorist: Jim Charalampidis
Letterers: Ed Dukeshire
Production: Irene Lee
Assistant Editor: Jordan D. White
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publisher: Marvel Comics
The Hulk's entry into the "Marvel Point One" initiative, designed to lure new readers by offering a new, one-month-only low price point, begins with the right kind of story: a done-in-one that introduces the main player and a new, key antagonist while at the same time advancing the status quo. It's got a creative team consisting of the regular writer and pencil artist, teamed with a classic Marvel inker (Tom Palmer) and a cover artist of some renown to Hulk fans (Ron Garney). So far, so good, right?
The first page of this book has always featured a recounting of previous events, and this one's no different, and perhaps more important than all the others, because in an issue that's featured as a "jump-on point" at a special price point, you've got to show and tell why such a book deserves a reader's hard-earned cash. (Interestingly, there's only one more issue at $3.99; with issue #32, the book becomes $2.99 regularly, for the first time since issue #9.) The recap page tells all the basics of who the Red Hulk is, and we're off to the races with "Thunderbolt" Ross being attacked by the air command center that bears his name, commanded by the newly-promoted General Fortean, a former subordinate of Ross'.
At first I wondered why we were seeing a new military enemy for the Red Hulk when "World War Hulks" had apparently brought back the perfect man for the task: Colonel Glenn Talbot, Ross' former second-in-command at Gamma Base and Bruce Banner's rival for his daughter Betty's affections. Of course, Talbot was revealed to be a Life-Model Decoy in Hulk #23, and Greg Pak revealed the real Talbot to still be dead during the "Chaos War" crossover. After reading this issue, having Ross' chief military adversary not being Talbot makes total sense, and I'm 100% behind writer Jeff Parker this outing. Fortean does not possess the familiarity with Bruce Banner and Betty Ross that Talbot does. To him, the Red Hulk is the adversary that killed his commanding officer, and the entire government seems intent on telling some other story that absolves the creature of all his guilt. Steve Rogers' word isn't good enough for Fortean, which should tell you something of the nature of his quest.
The most intriguing and new development that comes as result of "Thunderbolt" Ross as Red Hulk being tracked by a military man is that this battle is clearly going to be a chess match, a strategy session that's not on the same level as when Bruce Banner was hounded by the military. Of course, Fortean doesn't know that Ross is who he's after, and truthfully I'm not sure what his reaction would be if he did know. But I'm going to hazard a guess that sooner or later, he's going to at least tumble to the fact that he's facing a Hulk with a military acumen. It nearly occurs in this issue, and granted, Parker slyly wiggles Ross free of the point, but it shows just how much Fortean gets under his skin, right from the beginning. Fortean is aggressive, as he ably demonstrates throughout the issue. He's also not above using advanced modern warfare techniques which are going to prove increasingly interesting as time passes. This isn't the army of General Ross' time--it's deadlier. Add in that to this point, nobody outside a very narrow circle knows the Red Hulk's true identity, and you have an engaging "Hulk vs. Army" story for the first time in years.
As clever as Parker's script is, even going as far as to give us a No-Prize-worthy explanation for why Ross had so often been labeled as both Army and Air Force, the art by Gabriel Hardman, Tom Palmer, and colorist Jim Charalampidis narrowly missed this book's usual excellent standards. I'm a big fan of Hardman's, as he's been truly impressive during the "Scorched Earth" arc; however, something about Palmer's old-school finishes didn't do justice to Hardman's breakdowns, and Charalampidis' colors are truly no match for regular colorist Bettie Breitweiser's dynamic palette. It's capable work, to be sure, and Hardman's underlying technique is terrific no matter the finisher, but the abrupt change--meant, no doubt, to get Hardman and Breitweiser ahead of schedule on subsequent issues (since Hardman usually inks his own work)--is very noticeable.
So, is Hulk #30.1 worth the "low" price? If you haven't given the series a chance yet since Jeph Loeb left, there's probably no better time. General Fortean is just the first of several new villains who will be making their debut in this series over the next few months. Next week we'll see the introduction of a new villainess, Zero/One, who's tied to the "Scorched Earth" storyline that began the Parker/Hardman/Breitweiser iteration of this book. General Ross makes a solid protagonist who's definitely not Bruce Banner, whose monster is a distinct counterpoint to Banner's beast. If you're bored with the Hulk's recent adventures with his family, or if you long for old-school Hulk action with the familiar tropes--man on the run, big smash 'em up action, and the U.S. Army--then this Hulk series might be just what the doctor (not Banner!) ordered.
(As an aside: You know, I'd really have liked Marvel to seize on their "Point One" initiative by highlighting the $2.99 price, like DC is with their "Holding the line at $2.99" promotion. But then, if they did, then they'd really be underscoring the fact that so much of their line is $3.99. File this one under "Can't Win For Losing.")
~G.
I wanted to provide a bit of a quickie review this time out--things are very hectic but I'm still looking to get a lot of blog entries done over this coming week. Without further ado, let's find out if Jeff Parker & Gabriel Hardman's "jumping-on point" Hulk #30.1 is worth the $2.99!
Hulk #30.1
"The Whale"
Writer: Jeff Parker
Artists: Gabriel Hardman & Tom Palmer
Colorist: Jim Charalampidis
Letterers: Ed Dukeshire
Production: Irene Lee
Assistant Editor: Jordan D. White
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publisher: Marvel Comics
The Hulk's entry into the "Marvel Point One" initiative, designed to lure new readers by offering a new, one-month-only low price point, begins with the right kind of story: a done-in-one that introduces the main player and a new, key antagonist while at the same time advancing the status quo. It's got a creative team consisting of the regular writer and pencil artist, teamed with a classic Marvel inker (Tom Palmer) and a cover artist of some renown to Hulk fans (Ron Garney). So far, so good, right?
The first page of this book has always featured a recounting of previous events, and this one's no different, and perhaps more important than all the others, because in an issue that's featured as a "jump-on point" at a special price point, you've got to show and tell why such a book deserves a reader's hard-earned cash. (Interestingly, there's only one more issue at $3.99; with issue #32, the book becomes $2.99 regularly, for the first time since issue #9.) The recap page tells all the basics of who the Red Hulk is, and we're off to the races with "Thunderbolt" Ross being attacked by the air command center that bears his name, commanded by the newly-promoted General Fortean, a former subordinate of Ross'.
At first I wondered why we were seeing a new military enemy for the Red Hulk when "World War Hulks" had apparently brought back the perfect man for the task: Colonel Glenn Talbot, Ross' former second-in-command at Gamma Base and Bruce Banner's rival for his daughter Betty's affections. Of course, Talbot was revealed to be a Life-Model Decoy in Hulk #23, and Greg Pak revealed the real Talbot to still be dead during the "Chaos War" crossover. After reading this issue, having Ross' chief military adversary not being Talbot makes total sense, and I'm 100% behind writer Jeff Parker this outing. Fortean does not possess the familiarity with Bruce Banner and Betty Ross that Talbot does. To him, the Red Hulk is the adversary that killed his commanding officer, and the entire government seems intent on telling some other story that absolves the creature of all his guilt. Steve Rogers' word isn't good enough for Fortean, which should tell you something of the nature of his quest.
The most intriguing and new development that comes as result of "Thunderbolt" Ross as Red Hulk being tracked by a military man is that this battle is clearly going to be a chess match, a strategy session that's not on the same level as when Bruce Banner was hounded by the military. Of course, Fortean doesn't know that Ross is who he's after, and truthfully I'm not sure what his reaction would be if he did know. But I'm going to hazard a guess that sooner or later, he's going to at least tumble to the fact that he's facing a Hulk with a military acumen. It nearly occurs in this issue, and granted, Parker slyly wiggles Ross free of the point, but it shows just how much Fortean gets under his skin, right from the beginning. Fortean is aggressive, as he ably demonstrates throughout the issue. He's also not above using advanced modern warfare techniques which are going to prove increasingly interesting as time passes. This isn't the army of General Ross' time--it's deadlier. Add in that to this point, nobody outside a very narrow circle knows the Red Hulk's true identity, and you have an engaging "Hulk vs. Army" story for the first time in years.
As clever as Parker's script is, even going as far as to give us a No-Prize-worthy explanation for why Ross had so often been labeled as both Army and Air Force, the art by Gabriel Hardman, Tom Palmer, and colorist Jim Charalampidis narrowly missed this book's usual excellent standards. I'm a big fan of Hardman's, as he's been truly impressive during the "Scorched Earth" arc; however, something about Palmer's old-school finishes didn't do justice to Hardman's breakdowns, and Charalampidis' colors are truly no match for regular colorist Bettie Breitweiser's dynamic palette. It's capable work, to be sure, and Hardman's underlying technique is terrific no matter the finisher, but the abrupt change--meant, no doubt, to get Hardman and Breitweiser ahead of schedule on subsequent issues (since Hardman usually inks his own work)--is very noticeable.
So, is Hulk #30.1 worth the "low" price? If you haven't given the series a chance yet since Jeph Loeb left, there's probably no better time. General Fortean is just the first of several new villains who will be making their debut in this series over the next few months. Next week we'll see the introduction of a new villainess, Zero/One, who's tied to the "Scorched Earth" storyline that began the Parker/Hardman/Breitweiser iteration of this book. General Ross makes a solid protagonist who's definitely not Bruce Banner, whose monster is a distinct counterpoint to Banner's beast. If you're bored with the Hulk's recent adventures with his family, or if you long for old-school Hulk action with the familiar tropes--man on the run, big smash 'em up action, and the U.S. Army--then this Hulk series might be just what the doctor (not Banner!) ordered.
(As an aside: You know, I'd really have liked Marvel to seize on their "Point One" initiative by highlighting the $2.99 price, like DC is with their "Holding the line at $2.99" promotion. But then, if they did, then they'd really be underscoring the fact that so much of their line is $3.99. File this one under "Can't Win For Losing.")
~G.
4.2.11
Scorched Earth: A Redemptive Moment for Red Hulk (HULK #26-29 4-in-1 Review)
Well, now, another day, and another promise from my list of New Year's Resolutions to fulfill. I must admit, in all the twice-a-month Incredible Hulks hoopla, I've been remiss in reviewing that other Hulk book that's been haunting the newssstands--you know, the one that, up until lately, had been Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness' personal toybox for all their Hulkish ideas and which had introduced the Red Hulk to the comic buying public. Well, as I reported before I went to New York Comic-Con, writer Jeff Parker, artist Gabriel Hardman, and colorista Bettie Breitweiser have lent their considerable talents to the Red Hulk's book upon Loeb & McGuinness' departure. A few months later, here I am finally reviewing the first story arc. Hopefully I'll bring to the fore some things you didn't see on the first pass.
(Note: I did review the first issue by the new creative team, Hulk #25, and you can find that review here. This entry, then, will briefly recap that issue but mainly focus on issues #26-29.)
Artists: Gabriel Hardman, Mark Robinson, Ben Oliver & Terry Pallot
Colorists: Bettie Breitweiser, Jim Charalampidis, Antonio Fabela & Frank Martin
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Production: Irene Lee
Associate Editors: Nathan Cosby & Jordan D. White
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Alas, the first arc of the Parker/Hardman/Breitweiser Hulk era is finished. One arc into the Loeb/McGuinness run, people were upset about Red Hulk beating up all their favorite heroes, and upset because they didn't learn his real identity at the conclusion of that sixth story. So what's the dirt on this arc, "Scorched Earth"? I'm loath to admit at the risk of shooting my wad too early, but Hulk under the new team perfectly captures the old-school feel of the best Hulk epics of yesteryear while giving a modern spin. While showing echoes of Banner and the green Hulk, "Thunderbolt" Ross is his own monster, with his own methods, and in some ways, the book outperforms Greg Pak's companion title.
I know you want me to put my money where my mouth is, because granted, that's a pretty bold statement to make. I'll start with the fact that "Scorched Earth" is the most direct epilogue to the events of the last six months' worth of Hulk stories. The premise here is elegantly simple, in that M.O.D.O.K. and the Leader set in motion a "doomsday scenario," aptly titled "Scorched Earth," in case they were captured or killed during "World War Hulks." While Bruce Banner works from the converted former A.I.M. outpost at Gamma Base to isolate and stop the ongoing attacks, he and Steve Rogers send Ross on related missions alongside some of Earth's most powerful heroes. In the back-up tales throughout #25-27, Banner also sends his best friend Rick Jones, a.k.a. A-Bomb, on a mission which dovetails with the main storyline and leads to its inevitable conclusion.
While the storyline starts off as little more than an apparent means of having all the heroes Red Hulk beat throughout his run take their revenge shots, thankfully it proves to be more than that under writer Jeff Parker's capable hands. To be fair, the hero-versus-hero fights became formulaic by the time Namor cornered the Red Hulk deep under the sea at the end of issue #27. (In spite of the formula, the Red Hulk vs. Thor fight in issue #26 was a definite highlight, made better still by Thor's admission to Banner after its climax.) Parker wisely shifts focus for the last two parts of the storyline, unifying the story with the A-Bomb back-ups. The obligatory fight between Red Hulk and A-Bomb feels less like another revenge beating because, simply, it's not, instead relying on another tried-and-true trope, namely mind control. Again, the fight doesn't last long, but it leaves Red Hulk overheated and changing back to Ross. Hence we transition to the final conflict, wherein a big secret about the Red Hulk's powers is revealed.
I've had a bit of an argument with Ratchet from his Hulk Collection blog about the turn that occurred in the last issue (SPOILER goggles on for this paragraph!) It's first hinted at when, as soon as the Hulk appears on Monster Isle, Ross is able to overcome his weakness and immediately change back to the Red Hulk. The Hulk reveals that Banner lied to Ross, and that he never lost his energy-absorbing abilities. Later in the story, when confronted with his betrayal, Banner admits the lie but states he did it to save Ross. Parker smartly sets up a likely hook for an eventual Red Hulk power-down because if Ross continues to use those energy absorption abilities, he risks losing one of his two forms--and Banner doesn't know which one it will be. Now, whereas my fellow blogger thinks this development is awfully convenient, I'm of the mind that it's very smart, taking the decision that had in #25 been out of Ross' hands and putting it squarely back in them. Each time he uses that power that differentiates him from the original Hulk, he risks either being trapped as man or monster forever. Conceptually it is sound, and certainly makes more sense than saying Banner suddenly learned how to perform brain surgery overnight. Consequently, it does make Betty Banner's situation as Red She-Hulk more interesting if these same elements are indeed in play over in Pak's Incredible Hulks in months to come.
Along the way, "Scorched Earth" has differentiated Ross' Hulk from Banner's in a few key ways, and yet interestingly, as remnant of Loeb's conclusion, moved him toward a "Bizarro" version of the Hulk from the 1970s TV show. This Hulk is a military genius, a tactician, who analyzes his foes' behaviors. He also not only convinces Banner to interrogate Sam Sterns, the former Leader, and George Tarleton, the former M.O.D.O.K., to find out what they may know about how to shut down the initiative, believing that regardless of what they may consciously know (which is essentially nothing), they may--and do--give subconscious clues. Ross' Hulk is an ironic twist on a secret agent, a big crimson goliath who's easily spotted, who is Steve Rogers' trump card because of his military background. The world believes Ross dead, just like David Banner in the aforementioned TV program, whose creator Ken Johnson's ruminations likely led to the development of a red-skinned Hulk in the first place. The only way he can make amends is through being the Red Hulk, and ironically, in #30.1 that will bring him into conflict with another army general who will be after him because he believes he killed Ross. (Holy echoes of Jack McGee!)
I've been going on and on about the story and the subtle nuances amid the bombast that I nearly forgot to mention the tremendous artistic talents of both Gabriel Hardman, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in New York in October, and Bettie Breitweiser. Yes, Gabe's artwork is a 180-degree turn from the sleek, stylish quality of Ed McGuinness' (no doubt why McGuinness has stayed on board to provide covers, as a means of easing the transition). But the man can draw anything, and I do mean anything. And if his art wasn't dynamic all by itself, the added artistry of Bettie Breitweiser just completes the package. That's right, I said artistry, as she brings more to the table than virtually any colorist out there, stunningly finishing pages that looked damned gorgeous and complete in ordinary black-and-white! (I should know, as I've seen many of Gabe's inked pages in New York. You can, too, right here.) At times, it's incredibly hard to believe that these pages are colored on a computer and not by hand. Lofty praise indeed. (There are pages Gabe drew that Bettie didn't ink. They're in #29 and they stick out like a sore thumb.) Simply put, I hope the Hardman/Breitweiser team sticks together a long, long time.
My only complaints, honestly, have more to do with nitpicks than any actual story problems: The Leader's human self is routinely referred to as Sam Stearns, and the final issue's chapter five is mislabeled as four, while chapter two's credits were left out of the issue entirely. However, I'm sure Marvel can get this product under control swiftly.
So, what do we have in the total of "Scorched Earth"? A solid start to the next major era of the Red Hulk, with an impressive, meaty plot; a smart, savvy script; and breathtakingly gorgeous artwork befitting Marvel's foremost crimson rampager. Look closer, and you'll see the development of at least two villains soon to face off against ol' Thunderbolt. (One, the Omegex in #29, is obvious, while the other--Zero/One--is more subtly shown in issues #25-26.) There's enough story fodder here to keep things going for at least a year. Overall, Jeff Parker, Gabriel Hardman and Bettie Breitweiser are poised to steamroll forward past their inaugural collaborations on Atlas, and I for one can't wait to see what they do next.
Red Hulk: Scorched Earth may be coming in trade paperback to a comic shop near you in April 2011, but don't wait--pick these issues up now.
~G.
(Note: I did review the first issue by the new creative team, Hulk #25, and you can find that review here. This entry, then, will briefly recap that issue but mainly focus on issues #26-29.)
 |
| Covers to Hulk #26-29 by Ed McGuinness, easing the transition to interior artist Gabriel Hardman. |
Hulk #26-29
"Scorched Earth" Parts 2-5
Writer: Jeff ParkerArtists: Gabriel Hardman, Mark Robinson, Ben Oliver & Terry Pallot
Colorists: Bettie Breitweiser, Jim Charalampidis, Antonio Fabela & Frank Martin
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Production: Irene Lee
Associate Editors: Nathan Cosby & Jordan D. White
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Alas, the first arc of the Parker/Hardman/Breitweiser Hulk era is finished. One arc into the Loeb/McGuinness run, people were upset about Red Hulk beating up all their favorite heroes, and upset because they didn't learn his real identity at the conclusion of that sixth story. So what's the dirt on this arc, "Scorched Earth"? I'm loath to admit at the risk of shooting my wad too early, but Hulk under the new team perfectly captures the old-school feel of the best Hulk epics of yesteryear while giving a modern spin. While showing echoes of Banner and the green Hulk, "Thunderbolt" Ross is his own monster, with his own methods, and in some ways, the book outperforms Greg Pak's companion title.
I know you want me to put my money where my mouth is, because granted, that's a pretty bold statement to make. I'll start with the fact that "Scorched Earth" is the most direct epilogue to the events of the last six months' worth of Hulk stories. The premise here is elegantly simple, in that M.O.D.O.K. and the Leader set in motion a "doomsday scenario," aptly titled "Scorched Earth," in case they were captured or killed during "World War Hulks." While Bruce Banner works from the converted former A.I.M. outpost at Gamma Base to isolate and stop the ongoing attacks, he and Steve Rogers send Ross on related missions alongside some of Earth's most powerful heroes. In the back-up tales throughout #25-27, Banner also sends his best friend Rick Jones, a.k.a. A-Bomb, on a mission which dovetails with the main storyline and leads to its inevitable conclusion.
While the storyline starts off as little more than an apparent means of having all the heroes Red Hulk beat throughout his run take their revenge shots, thankfully it proves to be more than that under writer Jeff Parker's capable hands. To be fair, the hero-versus-hero fights became formulaic by the time Namor cornered the Red Hulk deep under the sea at the end of issue #27. (In spite of the formula, the Red Hulk vs. Thor fight in issue #26 was a definite highlight, made better still by Thor's admission to Banner after its climax.) Parker wisely shifts focus for the last two parts of the storyline, unifying the story with the A-Bomb back-ups. The obligatory fight between Red Hulk and A-Bomb feels less like another revenge beating because, simply, it's not, instead relying on another tried-and-true trope, namely mind control. Again, the fight doesn't last long, but it leaves Red Hulk overheated and changing back to Ross. Hence we transition to the final conflict, wherein a big secret about the Red Hulk's powers is revealed.
I've had a bit of an argument with Ratchet from his Hulk Collection blog about the turn that occurred in the last issue (SPOILER goggles on for this paragraph!) It's first hinted at when, as soon as the Hulk appears on Monster Isle, Ross is able to overcome his weakness and immediately change back to the Red Hulk. The Hulk reveals that Banner lied to Ross, and that he never lost his energy-absorbing abilities. Later in the story, when confronted with his betrayal, Banner admits the lie but states he did it to save Ross. Parker smartly sets up a likely hook for an eventual Red Hulk power-down because if Ross continues to use those energy absorption abilities, he risks losing one of his two forms--and Banner doesn't know which one it will be. Now, whereas my fellow blogger thinks this development is awfully convenient, I'm of the mind that it's very smart, taking the decision that had in #25 been out of Ross' hands and putting it squarely back in them. Each time he uses that power that differentiates him from the original Hulk, he risks either being trapped as man or monster forever. Conceptually it is sound, and certainly makes more sense than saying Banner suddenly learned how to perform brain surgery overnight. Consequently, it does make Betty Banner's situation as Red She-Hulk more interesting if these same elements are indeed in play over in Pak's Incredible Hulks in months to come.
Along the way, "Scorched Earth" has differentiated Ross' Hulk from Banner's in a few key ways, and yet interestingly, as remnant of Loeb's conclusion, moved him toward a "Bizarro" version of the Hulk from the 1970s TV show. This Hulk is a military genius, a tactician, who analyzes his foes' behaviors. He also not only convinces Banner to interrogate Sam Sterns, the former Leader, and George Tarleton, the former M.O.D.O.K., to find out what they may know about how to shut down the initiative, believing that regardless of what they may consciously know (which is essentially nothing), they may--and do--give subconscious clues. Ross' Hulk is an ironic twist on a secret agent, a big crimson goliath who's easily spotted, who is Steve Rogers' trump card because of his military background. The world believes Ross dead, just like David Banner in the aforementioned TV program, whose creator Ken Johnson's ruminations likely led to the development of a red-skinned Hulk in the first place. The only way he can make amends is through being the Red Hulk, and ironically, in #30.1 that will bring him into conflict with another army general who will be after him because he believes he killed Ross. (Holy echoes of Jack McGee!)
I've been going on and on about the story and the subtle nuances amid the bombast that I nearly forgot to mention the tremendous artistic talents of both Gabriel Hardman, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in New York in October, and Bettie Breitweiser. Yes, Gabe's artwork is a 180-degree turn from the sleek, stylish quality of Ed McGuinness' (no doubt why McGuinness has stayed on board to provide covers, as a means of easing the transition). But the man can draw anything, and I do mean anything. And if his art wasn't dynamic all by itself, the added artistry of Bettie Breitweiser just completes the package. That's right, I said artistry, as she brings more to the table than virtually any colorist out there, stunningly finishing pages that looked damned gorgeous and complete in ordinary black-and-white! (I should know, as I've seen many of Gabe's inked pages in New York. You can, too, right here.) At times, it's incredibly hard to believe that these pages are colored on a computer and not by hand. Lofty praise indeed. (There are pages Gabe drew that Bettie didn't ink. They're in #29 and they stick out like a sore thumb.) Simply put, I hope the Hardman/Breitweiser team sticks together a long, long time.
My only complaints, honestly, have more to do with nitpicks than any actual story problems: The Leader's human self is routinely referred to as Sam Stearns, and the final issue's chapter five is mislabeled as four, while chapter two's credits were left out of the issue entirely. However, I'm sure Marvel can get this product under control swiftly.
So, what do we have in the total of "Scorched Earth"? A solid start to the next major era of the Red Hulk, with an impressive, meaty plot; a smart, savvy script; and breathtakingly gorgeous artwork befitting Marvel's foremost crimson rampager. Look closer, and you'll see the development of at least two villains soon to face off against ol' Thunderbolt. (One, the Omegex in #29, is obvious, while the other--Zero/One--is more subtly shown in issues #25-26.) There's enough story fodder here to keep things going for at least a year. Overall, Jeff Parker, Gabriel Hardman and Bettie Breitweiser are poised to steamroll forward past their inaugural collaborations on Atlas, and I for one can't wait to see what they do next.
Red Hulk: Scorched Earth may be coming in trade paperback to a comic shop near you in April 2011, but don't wait--pick these issues up now.
~G.
20.9.10
Red Hulk District: A Jeff Parker HULK interview!
http://dailypop.wordpress.com/2010/09/20/red-hulk-district-an-interview-with-new-hulk-writer-jeff-parker/
Here's the bonus I promised last week--click the above link and you'll see my interview with new Hulk writer, Jeff Parker, who is teaming this Wednesday with Gabriel Hardman to produce the new adventures of "Thunderbolt" Ross, the Red Hulk.
I'll be back later this week with more fun news!
~G.
23.6.10
Something Different: 10 Points - HULK #23
Big ol' note: heavy duty SPOILERS lurk below.
It's here, at last. The origin of the Red Hulk! What many of you have been waiting for since HULK #1. And rather than do a direct review, which I don't think would be nearly interesting enough, let's take ten key points about this issue: what I loved, what I hated, and what just didn't make any sense. How can this issue fail to disappoint? Or can it? Ready? Go!
1. What the #@*! happened? In perhaps the most radical disconnect in this series since INCREDIBLE HULK #600 had Banner suddenly captured by MODOK at AIM's very own Gamma Base, we join ol' Thunderbolt when he wakes up in a room with the Cosmic Hulk. What happened after last issue's climax, where we discovered his secret just as he discovered his daughter Betty's? Did he pass out right then, and she tossed him aside to the Intel to have them lock him up? The thought seems utterly ridiculous that just as Betty discovered her father was alive, that she would just abandon him. I mean, it may be in-character to have her do just that, why are we not privy to that information? It makes little sense other than to have the dual revelations last month be a "good conclusion" for that issue and Ross' waking be a "good opener" for this issue. At the least, some better scripting could have filled in the gaps.
2. Sale good, dialogue bad. The origin of Red Hulk jumps from the childhood trauma that made him distrustful of doctors (I suppose all doctors are the same to Ross, from physicians to college professors, to scientists. Sigh.), over everything shown in INCREDIBLE HULK #291 (see last blog post!), to the events depicted in HULK:GRAY. That's right--it's not the events of INCREDIBLE HULK #1 to which Loeb refers, but the ham-fisted regurgitation of those events which apparently retconned the gray Hulk into the same inarticulate brute that his green self would, years later, become. Sale's art is terrific, as always, looking like it comes right out of the aforementioned series, and I suppose thematically it has to connect with that series right down to the dialogue--but the bottom line is, this is wrong and I don't like it.
3. Covet not thy nerdy scientist's gamma'd-up power. So, Ross saw the early Hulk as a "weapon of mass destruction" whose power he coveted. What then explains his fascination with destroying the beast? Has he felt these many years it was his God-given duty to destroy the creature, to prove that the might of the United States military was greater than that of some post-modern Prometheus turned monster? "Might makes right" is a very slight characterization to make. True, it may seem that with the Hulk, strength is the only language that matters. I guess it's the best characterization that makes sense in the pages permitted.
4. Sal Buscema still rocks. Even with an artistic snafu of sorts (Hulk needed shorts in that flashback to INCREDIBLE HULK #289!), Sal Buscema is still the classic Hulk artist to beat. In three pages, he flashed back to the events surrounding Ross' first treasonous actions in INCREDIBLE HULK #287-291. Solid storytelling, this.
5. Finally, a point for Loeb. "The treason charges were never filed." Ah, what this does to explain that Ross could be reinstated to the military following his resurrection by the Troyjans. So, Ross resigned his commission a second time shortly after INCREDIBLE HULK #291, being disgraced privately. Samson, under AIM's influence, testified that everything he did was under MODOK's suggestion. It's a small thing, but it worked.
6. And a point for the Leader. So, the Leader resurrected Ross as the Redeemer, which we knew, but he wasn't as much a vegetable as we thought. Shouldn't this fact engender a hatred of the Leader above and beyond any hatred for Banner? Ross knew everything that was happening when he was Redeemer, but couldn't react to any of it. You know, it makes what Ross does to the Leader at the end of the issue all the sweeter a victory. But I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I? Ah, and those Churchill pages were pretty decent. It's good to again see his traditional "cut and rendered" style here.
7. "So, three guys are in a bar..." The scene where the Leader and MODOK offer Ross his daughter's resurrection in return for his loyalty is delicious and well-timed (right after the death of Captain America). It was totally obvious that they'd dangle Betty before him, but the scene still plays well. Leinil Yu does a fair job on the art for these pages, as does John Romita Jr. on the pages that encompass WORLD WAR HULK. (Note that as in RED HULK #3, the event is referred to as the "Ground Zero Event.")
8. McGuinness triumphs in that metamorphosis shot. Ross into Rulk, and away go the eyebrows and mustache. A brilliant two-page spread. That is all.
9. And Mike Deodato is spectacularly wasted. And I don't mean he was drunk when he drew these pages. Most of what Mike drew on these pages amounts to homage after homage, redrawn page after redrawn page of events that occurred over the course of the proper "Red Hulk" saga. He redraws McGuinness' pages, he redraws Romita Jr.'s pages, and in between he helps Loeb fill in some gaps regarding who killed Clay Quartermain and why (well done), whose voice it was coming out of the Ross LMD at the end of issue #6, and the whys and wherefores of the Banner/Red Hulk alliance. Yet, for all the eager gap-filling, we still don't know what Banner said to Ross way back in issue #2! Sigh.
10. I never liked Talbot, anyway. So, there's the matter of that last page. Who remembers Greg Pak's INCREDIBLE HULK #608? Then look at the last page of this issue and tell me that's possible. Yeah, that's what I thought. Now, it's true that Amadeus Cho told a little story about Talbot doing some black ops work, so that may mean he's really still alive somewhere else, but wow. A double reverse. Can we have a decent explanation for this one, please? I'd hate to think that Bannertech really isn't worth a damn. At least I can say that's one powerful way to finish an issue, even if it makes no sense.
So, what do you think, sirs?
~G.
1. What the #@*! happened? In perhaps the most radical disconnect in this series since INCREDIBLE HULK #600 had Banner suddenly captured by MODOK at AIM's very own Gamma Base, we join ol' Thunderbolt when he wakes up in a room with the Cosmic Hulk. What happened after last issue's climax, where we discovered his secret just as he discovered his daughter Betty's? Did he pass out right then, and she tossed him aside to the Intel to have them lock him up? The thought seems utterly ridiculous that just as Betty discovered her father was alive, that she would just abandon him. I mean, it may be in-character to have her do just that, why are we not privy to that information? It makes little sense other than to have the dual revelations last month be a "good conclusion" for that issue and Ross' waking be a "good opener" for this issue. At the least, some better scripting could have filled in the gaps.
2. Sale good, dialogue bad. The origin of Red Hulk jumps from the childhood trauma that made him distrustful of doctors (I suppose all doctors are the same to Ross, from physicians to college professors, to scientists. Sigh.), over everything shown in INCREDIBLE HULK #291 (see last blog post!), to the events depicted in HULK:GRAY. That's right--it's not the events of INCREDIBLE HULK #1 to which Loeb refers, but the ham-fisted regurgitation of those events which apparently retconned the gray Hulk into the same inarticulate brute that his green self would, years later, become. Sale's art is terrific, as always, looking like it comes right out of the aforementioned series, and I suppose thematically it has to connect with that series right down to the dialogue--but the bottom line is, this is wrong and I don't like it.
3. Covet not thy nerdy scientist's gamma'd-up power. So, Ross saw the early Hulk as a "weapon of mass destruction" whose power he coveted. What then explains his fascination with destroying the beast? Has he felt these many years it was his God-given duty to destroy the creature, to prove that the might of the United States military was greater than that of some post-modern Prometheus turned monster? "Might makes right" is a very slight characterization to make. True, it may seem that with the Hulk, strength is the only language that matters. I guess it's the best characterization that makes sense in the pages permitted.
4. Sal Buscema still rocks. Even with an artistic snafu of sorts (Hulk needed shorts in that flashback to INCREDIBLE HULK #289!), Sal Buscema is still the classic Hulk artist to beat. In three pages, he flashed back to the events surrounding Ross' first treasonous actions in INCREDIBLE HULK #287-291. Solid storytelling, this.
5. Finally, a point for Loeb. "The treason charges were never filed." Ah, what this does to explain that Ross could be reinstated to the military following his resurrection by the Troyjans. So, Ross resigned his commission a second time shortly after INCREDIBLE HULK #291, being disgraced privately. Samson, under AIM's influence, testified that everything he did was under MODOK's suggestion. It's a small thing, but it worked.
6. And a point for the Leader. So, the Leader resurrected Ross as the Redeemer, which we knew, but he wasn't as much a vegetable as we thought. Shouldn't this fact engender a hatred of the Leader above and beyond any hatred for Banner? Ross knew everything that was happening when he was Redeemer, but couldn't react to any of it. You know, it makes what Ross does to the Leader at the end of the issue all the sweeter a victory. But I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I? Ah, and those Churchill pages were pretty decent. It's good to again see his traditional "cut and rendered" style here.
7. "So, three guys are in a bar..." The scene where the Leader and MODOK offer Ross his daughter's resurrection in return for his loyalty is delicious and well-timed (right after the death of Captain America). It was totally obvious that they'd dangle Betty before him, but the scene still plays well. Leinil Yu does a fair job on the art for these pages, as does John Romita Jr. on the pages that encompass WORLD WAR HULK. (Note that as in RED HULK #3, the event is referred to as the "Ground Zero Event.")
8. McGuinness triumphs in that metamorphosis shot. Ross into Rulk, and away go the eyebrows and mustache. A brilliant two-page spread. That is all.
9. And Mike Deodato is spectacularly wasted. And I don't mean he was drunk when he drew these pages. Most of what Mike drew on these pages amounts to homage after homage, redrawn page after redrawn page of events that occurred over the course of the proper "Red Hulk" saga. He redraws McGuinness' pages, he redraws Romita Jr.'s pages, and in between he helps Loeb fill in some gaps regarding who killed Clay Quartermain and why (well done), whose voice it was coming out of the Ross LMD at the end of issue #6, and the whys and wherefores of the Banner/Red Hulk alliance. Yet, for all the eager gap-filling, we still don't know what Banner said to Ross way back in issue #2! Sigh.
10. I never liked Talbot, anyway. So, there's the matter of that last page. Who remembers Greg Pak's INCREDIBLE HULK #608? Then look at the last page of this issue and tell me that's possible. Yeah, that's what I thought. Now, it's true that Amadeus Cho told a little story about Talbot doing some black ops work, so that may mean he's really still alive somewhere else, but wow. A double reverse. Can we have a decent explanation for this one, please? I'd hate to think that Bannertech really isn't worth a damn. At least I can say that's one powerful way to finish an issue, even if it makes no sense.
So, what do you think, sirs?
~G.
22.6.10
In Advance of Hulk #23: Flashing Back to INCREDIBLE HULK #291
Fellas (and Ladies)--
In advance of reviewing tomorrow's HULK #23 with its origin of the Red Hulk, whose identity and history I prognosticated many months ago, here I go reviewing a key issue in the matter. Unfortunately, this book has never been reprinted, aside from digitally in the GIT Corp. "The Incredible Hulk: The Complete Collection" DVD, now sadly out of print. The reason for its inclusion should be clear soon enough:
INCREDIBLE HULK #291
"Old Soldiers Never Die!"
January, 1984
Writer: Bill Mantlo / Artists: Sal Buscema & Gerry Talaoc
If you've been following the ongoing "World War Hulks" storyline, you'll know by now that General "Thunderbolt" Ross stands revealed as the Red Hulk. How did he get there? The answers are coming in tomorrow's HULK #23. However, just before that issue hits, I think it's a good idea to go back and review this little gem: the only previous time the "origin" of General Ross has seen the light of day. Now 26 years old, this book is an obvious companion piece to HULK #23, and I have no doubt thanks in large part to writer Greg Pak's tremendous affection for Bill Mantlo's tenure on the book, this issue will be referenced, so it's a good plan to "study up."
At the onset of this issue, General Ross stands a defeated man. He knowingly went against the orders of the United States government, allying himself with M.O.D.O.K., setting free the Abomination from a top secret military installation and commanding him against the Hulk. Why was this act treasonous? The President himself had pardoned the Hulk for all previous activities since, at the time this issue was written, the creature now possessed the full faculties of Bruce Banner, the monster within repressed seemingly forever.
Writer Mantlo clearly set up this story to function as an epitaph, a coda to the career of General Ross. As he sits at his desk, deciding whether to inform his superiors of his treasonous actions, Ross reflects upon the long life he's lived. (In this story, he is identified as 67 years old.) He came from a line of military men, with his grandfather serving in the Civil War under Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, while his father fought during World War I in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. He grew up hearing his father's tales of valor, and voraciously read every book on military history and strategy he could find. He enlisted in the military and graduated at the top of his class, and during his time there he met, romanced, and married his commanding officer's daughter, Karen Lee.
Ross didn't have to wait long after graduation to enter the trenches of war, as the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He entered the theater of war in the Pacific as a Captain, earning his still-current nickname for striking like a thunderbolt as he led his men into battle. He left World War II as a Major, and around that time, his daughter Betty was born. However, family obligations couldn't keep him from going back to war, with the conflict this time being Korea. He lived for war, and rose to Colonel, then General. Medals followed, and the war ended, which meant a return to a desk. He saw Betty grow up, having wished for a son but denied that. Years later, his wife Karen died, and instead of allowing Betty to comfort him, he sent her away. A military base was no place for a young woman, he argued; and besides, if he loved Karen as much as he loved the military, she might have still been alive.
Soon, of course, the government placed General Ross in charge of the G-Bomb project, which brought him in contact with Dr. Robert Bruce Banner. After having attended boarding school, Betty returned to her father, and found herself attracted to Banner, who was in every way the opposite of her father: a man of intellect, of kindness. We know what happened next, of course: Bruce Banner became the Hulk in the wake of the G-Bomb detonation, and General Ross regained a purpose, marshalling the military's forces against the green goliath. Having discovered Banner to be the very creature he intended to destroy, Ross redoubled his efforts to find his daughter a suitable husband, introducing her to Major Glenn Talbot. Banner briefly gained control over the Hulk, and he and Betty nearly married, only to lose control anew on their wedding day. Ross' resolve to kill the Hulk strengthened, and to that end, Hulkbuster Base was built. Soon afterward, time apparently healed Betty's broken heart, and she fell in love with Talbot, who married his commanding officer's daughter just like Ross had done before him.
But Talbot and Betty's marriage was not to be a happy one, for the Hulk often came between them. Talbot himself was presumed dead while on a mission to save Ross, but returned eventually, albeit in a vegetative state. The Hulk restored Talbot's psyche, but his marriage to Betty was irreparably damaged and the two divorced thereafter. Betty then realized she never stopped loving Bruce. The two resumed their relationship, while at the same time, torn over what he had done in pursuit of his own dreams, Ross resigned his command. Talbot wasn't deterred, picking up where Ross left off, having newly achieved a colonelship as well as control of the renamed Gamma Base. He chased the Hulk, whom he hated more than ever because he lost Betty to Banner, but only succeeded in destroying himself.
Shortly, Bruce Banner gained control over the Hulk anew. It wasn't what Betty wanted--she hoped for a cure over control--and she left, apparently for good. Ross became enraged that Banner had hurt his daughter, and once again donned his uniform. But it was too late, and the government pardoned the Hulk. Knowing in his heart that the Hulk would only return, more savage than ever (and how right he would later be!), he allied himself with M.O.D.O.K., thawing out the captured Abomination and setting him loose on the Hulk. The Abomination failed, and the whole plan came out, not just to the Hulk but also to Betty, who branded him with the word he never wanted to hear: "Traitor."
Confronted with the truth behind his actions--that his blind hatred for the Hulk overrode all rational thought--General Ross briefly contemplated suicide, but decided that was the "easy way out." The tougher, and more sensible road, was admitting his treasonous activities, and learning to live with his disgrace--in his words, "the toughest war this old soldier will ever have to fight."
Of course, General Ross wasn't finished with the Hulk after this issue. He would return to interfere in his daughter's wedding, by then a broken man. He again sought to kill Banner, contributing to events which returned the Hulk to his original, gray-skinned incarnation and briefly turned Rick Jones into a Hulk. He obtained the power of Zzzax, one of the Hulk's feared enemies, and later died. But fate wasn't through with him: the Leader resurrected him as the second Redeemer. Again dead, he was brought back for a third chance at life by the alien Troyjans, and was somehow reinstated in the military in spite of his previous treasonous activities. He and Banner reached a detente, but only until Betty died.
Oh, but all of these events are prologue. We'll find out how the dots connect tomorrow, and how the prior events I've described all contribute to the birth of the Red Hulk. That said, Bill Mantlo crafted a terrific "origin" for General Ross, the Hulk's greatest enemy. The story went a long way toward fleshing out the character back in 1984. It should be required reading for anyone looking at tomorrow's HULK #23 and wishing to see a counterpoint. I'm thinking the two books won't be as far apart as some out there would like to argue.
Join me...tomorrow.
Or Hulk will smash!
~G.
In advance of reviewing tomorrow's HULK #23 with its origin of the Red Hulk, whose identity and history I prognosticated many months ago, here I go reviewing a key issue in the matter. Unfortunately, this book has never been reprinted, aside from digitally in the GIT Corp. "The Incredible Hulk: The Complete Collection" DVD, now sadly out of print. The reason for its inclusion should be clear soon enough:
INCREDIBLE HULK #291
"Old Soldiers Never Die!"
January, 1984
Writer: Bill Mantlo / Artists: Sal Buscema & Gerry Talaoc
If you've been following the ongoing "World War Hulks" storyline, you'll know by now that General "Thunderbolt" Ross stands revealed as the Red Hulk. How did he get there? The answers are coming in tomorrow's HULK #23. However, just before that issue hits, I think it's a good idea to go back and review this little gem: the only previous time the "origin" of General Ross has seen the light of day. Now 26 years old, this book is an obvious companion piece to HULK #23, and I have no doubt thanks in large part to writer Greg Pak's tremendous affection for Bill Mantlo's tenure on the book, this issue will be referenced, so it's a good plan to "study up."
At the onset of this issue, General Ross stands a defeated man. He knowingly went against the orders of the United States government, allying himself with M.O.D.O.K., setting free the Abomination from a top secret military installation and commanding him against the Hulk. Why was this act treasonous? The President himself had pardoned the Hulk for all previous activities since, at the time this issue was written, the creature now possessed the full faculties of Bruce Banner, the monster within repressed seemingly forever.
Writer Mantlo clearly set up this story to function as an epitaph, a coda to the career of General Ross. As he sits at his desk, deciding whether to inform his superiors of his treasonous actions, Ross reflects upon the long life he's lived. (In this story, he is identified as 67 years old.) He came from a line of military men, with his grandfather serving in the Civil War under Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, while his father fought during World War I in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. He grew up hearing his father's tales of valor, and voraciously read every book on military history and strategy he could find. He enlisted in the military and graduated at the top of his class, and during his time there he met, romanced, and married his commanding officer's daughter, Karen Lee.
Ross didn't have to wait long after graduation to enter the trenches of war, as the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He entered the theater of war in the Pacific as a Captain, earning his still-current nickname for striking like a thunderbolt as he led his men into battle. He left World War II as a Major, and around that time, his daughter Betty was born. However, family obligations couldn't keep him from going back to war, with the conflict this time being Korea. He lived for war, and rose to Colonel, then General. Medals followed, and the war ended, which meant a return to a desk. He saw Betty grow up, having wished for a son but denied that. Years later, his wife Karen died, and instead of allowing Betty to comfort him, he sent her away. A military base was no place for a young woman, he argued; and besides, if he loved Karen as much as he loved the military, she might have still been alive.
Soon, of course, the government placed General Ross in charge of the G-Bomb project, which brought him in contact with Dr. Robert Bruce Banner. After having attended boarding school, Betty returned to her father, and found herself attracted to Banner, who was in every way the opposite of her father: a man of intellect, of kindness. We know what happened next, of course: Bruce Banner became the Hulk in the wake of the G-Bomb detonation, and General Ross regained a purpose, marshalling the military's forces against the green goliath. Having discovered Banner to be the very creature he intended to destroy, Ross redoubled his efforts to find his daughter a suitable husband, introducing her to Major Glenn Talbot. Banner briefly gained control over the Hulk, and he and Betty nearly married, only to lose control anew on their wedding day. Ross' resolve to kill the Hulk strengthened, and to that end, Hulkbuster Base was built. Soon afterward, time apparently healed Betty's broken heart, and she fell in love with Talbot, who married his commanding officer's daughter just like Ross had done before him.
But Talbot and Betty's marriage was not to be a happy one, for the Hulk often came between them. Talbot himself was presumed dead while on a mission to save Ross, but returned eventually, albeit in a vegetative state. The Hulk restored Talbot's psyche, but his marriage to Betty was irreparably damaged and the two divorced thereafter. Betty then realized she never stopped loving Bruce. The two resumed their relationship, while at the same time, torn over what he had done in pursuit of his own dreams, Ross resigned his command. Talbot wasn't deterred, picking up where Ross left off, having newly achieved a colonelship as well as control of the renamed Gamma Base. He chased the Hulk, whom he hated more than ever because he lost Betty to Banner, but only succeeded in destroying himself.
Shortly, Bruce Banner gained control over the Hulk anew. It wasn't what Betty wanted--she hoped for a cure over control--and she left, apparently for good. Ross became enraged that Banner had hurt his daughter, and once again donned his uniform. But it was too late, and the government pardoned the Hulk. Knowing in his heart that the Hulk would only return, more savage than ever (and how right he would later be!), he allied himself with M.O.D.O.K., thawing out the captured Abomination and setting him loose on the Hulk. The Abomination failed, and the whole plan came out, not just to the Hulk but also to Betty, who branded him with the word he never wanted to hear: "Traitor."
Confronted with the truth behind his actions--that his blind hatred for the Hulk overrode all rational thought--General Ross briefly contemplated suicide, but decided that was the "easy way out." The tougher, and more sensible road, was admitting his treasonous activities, and learning to live with his disgrace--in his words, "the toughest war this old soldier will ever have to fight."
Of course, General Ross wasn't finished with the Hulk after this issue. He would return to interfere in his daughter's wedding, by then a broken man. He again sought to kill Banner, contributing to events which returned the Hulk to his original, gray-skinned incarnation and briefly turned Rick Jones into a Hulk. He obtained the power of Zzzax, one of the Hulk's feared enemies, and later died. But fate wasn't through with him: the Leader resurrected him as the second Redeemer. Again dead, he was brought back for a third chance at life by the alien Troyjans, and was somehow reinstated in the military in spite of his previous treasonous activities. He and Banner reached a detente, but only until Betty died.
Oh, but all of these events are prologue. We'll find out how the dots connect tomorrow, and how the prior events I've described all contribute to the birth of the Red Hulk. That said, Bill Mantlo crafted a terrific "origin" for General Ross, the Hulk's greatest enemy. The story went a long way toward fleshing out the character back in 1984. It should be required reading for anyone looking at tomorrow's HULK #23 and wishing to see a counterpoint. I'm thinking the two books won't be as far apart as some out there would like to argue.
Join me...tomorrow.
Or Hulk will smash!
~G.
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