Farewell, Greg Pak (An 'Incredible Hulks' #635 Review)

Yes, due to family issues, and other stuff, I haven't been able to post my overview of the work that's gone unreviewed (Skaar: Son of Hulk and Incredible Hulk #601-609). But at the very least, I owed it to you guys to make the review of Incredible Hulks #635 as timely as I could. And I've failed at that, too! Alas, good things come to those who beg, snivel and cajole. Without further ado...

The Incredible Hulks #635
"Heart of the Monster" Part 6


Writer: Greg Pak
Artists: Paul Pelletier, Tom Grummett, Danny Miki, Cory Hamscher & Scott Hanna
Colorists: Morry Hollowell & Jesus Aburtov
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Production: Irene Y. Lee
Assistant Editor: Jake Thomas
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publisher: Marvel Comics

"It hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die
This is the end."

--The Doors, "The End" (1967)

After five-and-a-half years and eighty-six issues (excluding variant covers), writer Greg Pak has left the building. He's written more of the Hulk's adventures than any other writer save Peter David. That he'll be missed goes without saying. But did he go out on a high note? That is the question.

After reading issue #635 on Wednesday evening, I think the answer has to be a resounding "yes!" The finale of the six-part storyline, "Heart of the Monster," is about as fulfilling a story as there could be given the circumstances. We already know, for example, that Bruce and Betty were seen together in Marvel's Fear Itself event, wherein the Hulk becomes Nul, Breaker of Worlds and begins a rampage not even Red She-Hulk can stop. We also know that Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk, appears live and well in the Fear Itself: Fearsome Four limited series, so she must regain her lost powers before this series' end. And news broke last week of Fred Van Lente and Kyle Hotz's miniseries event Destroyers, which will feature both She-Hulk and A-Bomb, indicating Rick Jones wouldn't be cured, either. But really, are any of the above facts a surprise, given that Marvel and Disney are developing Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., starring all of the gamma-irradiated heroes so prevalent in the last two years, as an animated series for 2012?

Alas, I've gotten ahead of myself. This issue features two related stories: the twenty-page, actual sixth part of "Heart" by Pak and the regular art team of Pelletier, Miki and Hollowell; and the ten-page epilogue by Pak and his "Spy Who Smashed Me" art team of Grummett and Hamscher (with Scott Hanna) that caps not only the current storyline but serves as a coda for everything since Incredible Hulk #92. Pak contributes an afterword dedicated to eighties Hulk writer Bill Mantlo, and the book ends with a pair of bonuses including a five-page "exit interview" and a cover gallery including almost every Hulk-related story Pak's ever written.

The lead story picks up where the previous issue left off, with Hulk and Red She-Hulk locked in battle in Umar's Dark Dimension. No sooner do they kill each other and everything else there with their power than is everything reincarnated so they can live to punch and hit anew. It's the Hulk's dream come true, inadvertently brought him by the enemies that wished him harm. The "Wishing War" begun when A.I.M. Scientist Supreme Monica Rappaccini turned Tyrannus' Fountain of Youth into a literal wishing well has reached its apex, and nobody is safe. That the Hulk is so at home, where he needs not worry about harming anyone, least of all the woman he loves, is awfully telling of the character's psychology. As one of this blog's readers noted, the Hulk seems to make a correlation between sex and violence--first with Caiera and now with Betty--and it all comes back to how his father used to abuse his mother. When you take that aspect into consideration, the relationship between Bruce/Hulk and Betty/Red She-Hulk becomes especially creepy, no?

Of course, an eternity of the Hulks smashing each other would quickly become repetitive, so Tyrannus must escape the Dark Dimension with Fin Fang Foom to begin the end run. They arrive at the government's not-so-secret stash of Gamma Bombs in Yuma, AZ, long ago thought destroyed in the wake of "Gammagate" during Peter David's epic "Ground Zero" storyline of 1988. Ol' Foomy munches as many as he can, and soon he can launch them out his mouth at his foes. Guess who has to return to Earth to save the day?

The story carries to an epic conclusion all of the Silver-Age silliness that Greg Pak has ably handled since he and Jeph Loeb teamed up on the uber-events "Fall of the Hulks" and "World War Hulks." "Heart" in particular--with its physics-defying wishes, impossible displays of power, and villains from across the Green Goliath's storied history--acts as an refreshing, insane counterpoint to all the "serious" Hulk tales out there that have cropped up ever since Bill Mantlo revealed the Hulk as victim of child abuse. What's more, Greg Pak accomplishes all this while acknowledging the character's terrifying history, his tragic self-loathing, and his propensity for emotional extremes. For, as the writer notes, when the emotional stakes are at their highest, that's when Hulk smashing is most satisfying.

Particularly, I loved the way in which the Hulk's final wish echoed Banner's, but at the same time highlighted a key distinction between the two. While Banner wanted his "family" to be cured only because he didn't want them to be monsters like him, the Hulk's wish (and I won't spoil it here) showed a surprising selflessness that was touching. It made Betty's realization afterward, about the nature of Banner and Hulk's relationship, all the more poignant.

A few points just seemed to fall through the cracks this issue, and that's unfortunately to be expected when dealing with the larger, more important through-arc that concludes here. Tyrannus' defeat was glossed over, Fin Fang Foom was more a generic force of nature than an actual character, and we never do quite learn what happens to all of the bad guys left (or so it appears) in the Dark Dimension from last issue. Still, the emphasis is where it must be: on the Hulk and his relationship with Betty and the remainder of his "family." Is the main story perfect? No, of course not. But with the following ten pages, it doesn't need to be.

In "Hulk Out," Pak and Grummett use a conversation between Banner and Pak stand-in Amadeus Cho to put an exclamation point on the last five-and-a-half years. Cho says what many a fan has likely wanted to tell Banner for years. The results are engaging, but in the last few pages the tide turns again. Pak shows he's a big ol' romantic at heart, and gives Banner and his emerald alter-ego an honest-to-gosh happy ending that's quietly evocative of Peter David's Incredible Hulk #372. And while we know the happiness won't last, the last page--you'll know it when you get there--made me smile. And laugh. And maybe a tear dribbled down my cheek.

Quite the counterpoint to "The Lone and Level Sands" (in Incredible Hulk #467), that's for damn sure.

As for the artistic chores, I thought Paul Pelletier and Tom Grummett served admirably in this finale. While nowhere near the heights of, say, Incredible Hulk #611 (still the high water mark for art since the book's most recent relaunch), Pelletier hit most of the right notes here, his layouts full of dynamism and power. On the other hand, Grummett's chapter relied heavily on emotion and body language. His was a quieter power, but the work was no less solid.

So, now that it's done, what does everyone think of The Incredible Hulks #635? Was it worth the hype? Was it all a final issue from one of the best Hulk writers could be? Sound off, Hulkophiles!

~G.

(P.S.: No, I didn't do an "exit interview" with Greg Pak, but that's because Comics Alliance columnist Chris Sims beat me to the punch. Check it out here! Alas, if I have my way, you'll see more about another new project coming soon. Stay tuned!)

Taking the Good with the Meh: Incredible Hulks #634, Fear Itself #5 Reviews

I usually wait a few days to review books. While one of my reviews here is--let's face it--more than a few weeks late, it figures into the outcome of another of the books I'm reviewing that was only released today (or, if you're on the East Coast, then it'll be yesterday by the time I post). Shall we dive right in?

FEAR ITSELF: THE WORTHY #1 - Marvel Comics, $3.99
"Nul: Breaker of Worlds" Feature by Greg Pak, Lee Weeks & Frank Martin Jr.

Certainly, I could say more about this issue, which features seven five-age stories each centered on one of the seven members of "The Worthy," possessed of mystical hammers granted them by Fear Itself's "big bad," The Serpent. Of the seven featured characters, only three regularly appear in a monthly book, and only one has a title all to himself. As all such books cobbled together from online mini-comics are, this one's a mixed bag. (On the plus side, Martin Jr.'s colors on the Titania story make Clayton Henry's art look the best it ever has!) Although I really should comment on all the stories, the only one that deserves full mention is the one that stands out because of its creative team alone.

Greg Pak and Lee Weeks have crafted a story in just four pages that cuts to the heart of the Hulk character, and provides an interesting take that mirrors what Pak has been doing in his final arc, "Heart of the Monster." "By Design..." recaps Green Genes' origin in the words of the man-monster himself, and marks one of the precious few instances of such a retelling. It's not Pak's first time retelling pieces of the puzzle, and at first glance, the writer appears to contradict himself from Incredible Hulk #94 In that story, he told the Warbound that Banner intended the gamma bomb to kill him, but that it only succeeded in making him stronger. By contrast, here the Hulk concludes that Banner used the G-Bomb to give birth to his own dark side incarnate so he had someone to blame/hate for his own failures. The Hulk is Banner's way of dismissing the guilt over killing his own father, and over not being able to save his mother from his father's wrath. He sublimates his self-hatred into the hatred of a being everyone can hate. That's a tortured psychology at its finest.

It's simple. It's brilliant. Yes, Frank Martin Jr. spends all the goodwill he earned on coloring the Titania story by miscoloring the Hulk green during the flashbacks to his first appearance. But this story alone? Buy It. If you don't want to fork over the cash, it can be read for free online at Marvel's website. Go. Now.

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FEAR ITSELF #5 - Marvel Comics, $3.99
By Matt Fraction, Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger & Laura Martin

In "Brawl," the latest part of Marvel's summer event that chiefly draws attention to its "Captain America" and "Thor" franchises, the Avengers fight the Serpent while Thor takes on the Hulk and Thing--er, Nul and Angrir (now that they've got those fancy-ass hammers).

I can say "ass" in this review; after all, Thor said it himself in the comic. "And him I liked," he says over the fallen body of the Thing. "But you?" He looks at the Hulk. "You were always a giant pain in the ass." Okay, I guess--to be fair, Thor's trippin' because his daddy mistreated him, and he's really trying to hold back the end of the world. Is this an excuse to walk back a lot of recent characterization? You be the judge.

Of course, with this book being one that's clearly set up Thor, on the strength of his summer movie, as "the good guy," and the Hulk, as one of the Worthy, as "the bad guy," you can see the battle's denouement a century away.Honestly, Hulk is less a character here than a prop for Thor to wallop on. On the opposite tack, the resolution surrounding the Thing comes out of absolutely nowhere and is a deus ex machina if ever I've seen one. And in the first real clash between a core of heroes and the mighty Serpent, you can bet it won't amount to much because there are two issues left in the series.

In spite of some pretty fight scenes, it's really an issue full of banal dialogue and situations, with an air of utterly contrived hopelessness that makes one want to slit his own wrists. With each issue, this book continues to fall to new depths just like its cousin Flashpoint. I expected better of Fraction, Immonen & co., but the plotted-by-consensus event does the opposite of impress. Fear Itself is too unwieldy and should have honestly been restrained to the original Cap/Thor event it was intended to be. At least that way, its focus could have been necessarily tighter, and the book could well have been far better for it. For now, Burn It!

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THE INCREDIBLE HULKS #634 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Greg Pak, Paul Pelletier, Danny Miki, Morry Hollowell & Jesus Aburtov

Whereas Marvel's big event of the summer is shaping up to be as much a dud as DC's, the penultimate chapter of Greg Pak's final Hulk story proves to be every bit the engaging affair one imagined it would be. Stepping back from the abyss of last month's lackluster chapter, "Heart of the Monster" part five gets back to a talking lead character and the deciphering of the ongoing mystery of who made what wishes, leading to a thrilling cliffhanger that brings the Hulk and his cast to Ground Zero--in more ways than one.

This issue brings together the Hulk, Red She-Hulk, Dr. Strange, Amadeus Cho, Dr. De Cosimo and all the villains unleashed over previous months for one big powwow in the Dark Dimension. That means, of course, that this time we don't see Rick, Jen or anyone left on Earth this time, but we're reminded they're there, and the time they spend off-panel leave one to hope things are improving for them. In the meantime, it's incredible, rampaging Hulk action as only Greg Pak and Paul Pelletier can deliver, plumbing the depths of the character's unique psychology while providing powerful, evocative visuals and some of the biggest fights this title's seen.

From the halfway point forward, the story kicks up a few notches, with Pak playing up the aspect of the "Worldbreaker" he introduced in World War Hulk above and beyond any previous showing. It won't do fans who prefer a more realistic, less Silver-Age take on ol' Greenskin any favors, but for those who like seeing him let loose, you'll get that and more here, all dynamically drawn by Pelletier and Miki. Hulk fans from the early Peter David years will get a special kick out of the last page, but really, Greg Pak is pulling no punches in providing the enormous finale fans have earned. With only one chapter left in the Incredible Hulks opus, I'm happy to say that the whole team brings the pathos needed here. Buy It!

What d'you think, sirs?

~G.

Gamma Reviews: Incredible Hulks #633 & Skaar #5

Ladies & gentlemen, hobos & tramps:

Welcome to another review jam session! Before we get back to my discussion of continuity vis-a-vis DC's Relaunch, I'm afraid I have to give my weekly round-up of all things Hulk! Don't get used to it, folks, for I'm going to be doing my level best to diversify in the days and weeks to come. (To see just how much I can diversify, check the earliest blog entries from 2005! Just scroll down and find the archives at right.)

Onward? Onward!

THE INCREDIBLE HULKS #633 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Greg Pak, Paul Pelletier, Danny Miki, Crimelab Studios & Morry Hollowell

We're officially past the halfway point of Greg Pak's Incredible Hulks finale, "Heart of the Monster," so all of the varied pieces of the puzzle are starting to congeal. Of all the adversaries lined up in issue #630, only two haven't had their shots at ol' greenskin. From this issue's cover, you can see the villain this time is Doctor Strange's sometime enemy, the sinful sister to the Dread Dormammu himself, Umar the Unrelenting! And boy, does she have a history with ol' Hulky...

To those not in the know (and hey, who can blame you, since certain events occurred outside the Hulk's own book?), one of the last times the Defenders assembled to fight evil, they tried to halt a scheme whereby Dormammu and Umar conspired to defeat Eternity and remake the universe in their loathsome image. In the story--written by J.M. DeMatteis & Keith Giffen of Justice League International fame--the Hulk was--ahem--seduced by Umar. He lasted all of a few minutes before collapsing, and changed back to a more-mellow-than-usual Banner. Take from that what you will.

Thanks to the wishing well created by A.I.M. Scientist Supreme (and Banner's ex) Monica Rappaccini and appropriated by Banner's other ex, Red She-Hulk, Umar has returned to plague the Hulk. Or rather, it appears, to help him burn off all that Worldbreaker energy he's built up from seeing his friends poisoned by Arm'Chedon last issue. As result, the entire issue becomes less a focus on the Hulk--who's far too happy to care about anything else, too happy to even speak--and more a focus on Amadeus Cho and friends' efforts to track him down and put an end to this "wishing war" business posthaste.

So powerful is Pak's ongoing narrative that I didn't even realize Hulk's placement as a MacGuffin until my third read-through! He functions as an object of the plot, taken by Umar, sought by Cho and friends, and apparently wanted for death by the other villains of the piece. While it's not necessarily bad because, let's face it, the supporting cast is so well fleshed-out that you hardly notice, I still thought we were through with, for want of a better term, plot-device Hulk (TM).

Still, the book succeeds on the strength of the other characters in the story, as well as on the immaculate artwork by Paul Pelletier, who with inker Danny Miki and colorist Morry Hollowell shows no signs of letting up in this end run. The art tells the story, sells the story, and otherwise makes "Heart of the Monster" even more of a compulsive page-turner than it would be without his involvement. Over previous arcs, Pelletier has shown he belongs among the upper echelons of Hulk artists--perhaps not nearly in the same breath as the all-time greats like Keown, Trimpe and Buscema, but awful close.

Hampered by a story that for about the only time in Pak's tenure relegates the lead character to a thoughtless plot contrivance, this story should by rights earn a "Skip It" rating. However, buoyed by terrific artwork by Pelletier & co. and thoughtful characterization by Pak on the entire rest of the cast (including a guest appearance that makes total sense), I've got to bump up this story's rating. You've got to at least Read It.

SKAAR: KING OF THE SAVAGE LAND #5 (of 5) - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Rob Williams, Brian Ching, Rick Ketcham & Guru-eFX

Thanks to a strong introduction by his creator, Greg Pak, Skaar blossomed from an eye-rolling, derivative idea into a legitimate character worthy of his father's heritage. It's unfortunate, then, that the first writer to seriously tackle Skaar outside his creator would misfire so badly as in Skaar: King of the Savage Land. In this finale, the storyline, which has thus far been a Ka-Zar riff guest-starring the green-skinned half-breed, degenerates into a morass of unparalleled depths and is, quite simply, the worst thing to come out of the Hulk's corner of the Marvel Universe since Bruce Jones made Betty into the enigmatic "Mr. Blue" and the Leader into a giant brain in a jar.

Am I being too harsh? I don't think so. Bizarrely, as much as this story is a Ka-Zar tale bundled up to fit under the Hulk banner, it's got elements that echo early Hulk stories. (Featuring Ka-Zar, of course.) Specifically, it's got elements designed to attract fans of sixties Hulk artist Herb Trimpe, including the cover with its obvious homage to 1969's Incredible Hulk #110, the villainy of Umbu the Unliving (as seen on the cover), and a non-sequitur of a guest appearance by someone who seems to be the Phantom Eagle, one of Trimpe's favorite creations from WWI. Add more, equally senseless appearances from prehistory's heroes Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy, as well as western hero Kid Colt, then involve a wormhole that somehow sucked people in over the decades, and you have something more ridiculous. Finish the whole thing off with a blatant "look at me" cameo by Steve Rogers and the Avengers (including Red Hulk!), and the issue feels like everyone's throwing whatever they can at the wall and seeing what will stick. And from out of nowhere--spoiler warning--Skaar saves the day in two pages (by tossing a possessed guy off a cliff to his death!) and Ka-Zar sees fit to crown him new King of the Savage Land.

I hope I'm doing this book justice. And by doing justice, I mean telling you it's a nonsensical book with very few redeeming features. At the very least, Brian Ching's artwork is quite good here, and Guru-eFX keeps the Photoshopped pictures at a minimum this time out. Still, I can't excuse the weak villains, the poor pacing, the limited involvement of the lead character, and the out-of-nowhere conclusion. Truthfully, it may have been a stronger story if Williams had been able to plot it as exclusively a Ka-Zar adventure, as there's really no place for Skaar here. (And that's sad, as from Pak's "Planet Savage" I'd have thought the Savage Land the perfect place for him. I was wrong! I was wrong!)

Please, just Burn It and read this instead:

Questions?

~G.

From Arm'Chedon To Imperfect Futures (& Fear, Too!)(Incredible Hulks #632 Review & More)

Hulk news roundup, kids! Somewhere in here, I'll even stuff in a review of Incredible Hulks #632 for good measure, because I love you guys so much. In order to give you the most news for your mouseclick, I'm experimenting with format. If you don't like my plethora of gobbledygook, you'll let me know and we'll be back to where we began the next time, yeah? (Can I get a "Hell yeah"?)

First, may I present the two covers to the October-shipping Hulk #42, one of which is by Patrick Zircher, and the variant by Greg Pak's former Incredible Hulk partner-in-crime, Ariel Olivetti, which itself conjures a comparison to...well, just you look! (Click for larger versions.)

 

Olivetti's definitely giving us a Rulk-tastic homage to Walt Simonson's thrilling cover to The Mighty Thor #337. But a "50th Anniversary Variant"? Not the Hulk's anniversary, certainly--that isn't until next year. Might Marvel be pulling a fast one and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Marvel Age of Comics that began with Fantastic Four #1 in November 1961? Seems logical. Wait and see! (Although it does strike me as strange that we'll be entering the Hulk's 50th anniversary year, 2012, with no Hulk book centered on Bruce Banner, unless solicitations change.)

Still, are we getting a hint as to Gabriel Hardman's Hulk successor with the main cover being by issue #36's superstar artist Zircher? Next week we'll have our answer, Hulk fans...

---

Speaking of Bruce Banner, this little gem hit stores on Wednesday:

The Incredible Hulks #632 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Greg Pak, Paul Pelletier, Danny Miki & Morry Hollowell

Picking up where they left off three weeks ago, Greg Pak & Paul Pelletier masterfully craft another entry in this final stage of The Incredible Hulks. Whereas last issue centered on two villains in the classic Hulk mold (i.e. baddies that love to punch and hit for pretty much no other reason than to do so), this issue reintroduces perhaps the biggest threat of Peter David's tenure short of the Maestro himself: Arm'Chedon, the alien warlord first known as Armageddon. Like Bi-Beast and Wendigo, he too has been summoned thanks to the wishing well at the center of "Heart of the Monster," and he provides the most direct focus on the Hulk's family to date.

Y'see, back in the mid-1990s, the Hulk killed his son, Troh-Maw, and Arm'Chedon pursued the green goliath for vengeance. He tried to use the Hulk's strength to resurrect Troh-Maw, but his power was too much and as soon as he lived again, he died again. Hence it makes dramatic sense for the villain to target the Hulk's own family in his quest for vengeance, and the results are, unsurprisingly, incredible.

How angry do Arm'Chedon's actions make the Hulk. Probably as angry as you're thinking, which brings all Pak's themes stretching back to World War Hulk into the narrative. This time, however, he has his family and friends to back him up, which ratchets up the tension. Seldom have the Hulk's struggles been so clear and so well-depicted. Thanks to Pak's grasp of the character, and the combination of Pelletier's brilliant artwork and Hollowell's verdant hues, I can safely say this is what the Hulk's all about.

Like the Hulk himself, Pak's finale gets stronger with every issue, after an already-impressive start. For twists, turns, and a taste of everything that's made the Hulk great over the last five decades, "Heart of the Monster" is where it's at. Miss it at your peril. Buy It!

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Moving onward, some of you, my constant readers, have asked me to review Fear Itself; after all, the seven-issue limited series features the ever-lovin' Hulk as Nur, the Breaker of Worlds, wielder of one of the hammers that marks him as The Worthy. It's true that I have reviewed the first two issues, so why wouldn't I review the subsequent issues?

Maybe because it's not as much of a Hulk story as it seemed in the beginning? While we did get a few decent pages starring ol' greenskin in issue #3, the following story released last week featured him for all of four panels. (Okay, five, counting the preview page at the end.) No? How about I voice my ever-growing disenchantment with the limited series as not being an event that's easily digested by itself, like, say, the original Crisis On Infinite Earths or even Secret Wars II or The Infinity Gauntlet? Whereas event miniseries of earlier vintage could be read by themselves with all the vital parts contained therein (and you could read the crossovers to truly "enhance" the overall experience), series like Fear Itself and its DC Comics counterpart FlashPoint seem to mainly exist to drive the larger event throughout the comics' mainstream lines, with many important plot points seemingly dealt with only in crossovers in which I have painfully little interest (and even less cash to spend on).

Remember when I complained that nowhere in the main series was it shown how the Absorbing Man obtained his hammer? And how Attuma was never shown obtaining his? These are inexcusable lapses in storytelling that wouldn't have made it outside the planning stages if this were Jim Shooter's Marvel. And they're just the beginning. Writer Matt Fraction, who has been a decent writer in The Invincible Iron Man and especially alongside Ed Brubaker in The Immortal Iron Fist, only hints at large developments and then hastily refers readers to this issue or that issue where we'll find out what "really" happens when characters X and Y meet/talk/fightfightfight. At best it's an annoyance, and at worst it's just sloppy soap-opera writing (where you pause for dramatic effect and pick up later, leaving the resolution to said plot to the audience's imagination).

Mainly, Fear Itself is designed to function as the next big thing for Marvel's two movie titans of the summer, Captain America and Thor. It's an odd blend that never really gels due to the lack of basis in the histories of these characters leading up to this year. Heck, remember when several characters got the power of the Juggernaut a few years back ("The Eighth Day")? I guess that event wasn't big enough or remarkable enough, so Marvel's doing it again, this time with magical hammers like Thor. And they're giving characters nobody cares about these hammers just to throw a spotlight on them and show fans they haven't forgotten about them. And look! There's the Hulk! And the Thing! And yep, Juggernaut, too!

No psychological underpinnings in the main series. All action, action, action. No pathos. Tony Stark drinks again so he can make a deal with Odin? I can't be compelled to care.

Yes, I'm reading the main series, and I'm also picking up The Deep, Alpha Flight, Spider-Man, and whatever Hulk appearances are out there, including the forthcoming Hulk Vs. Dracula story. I'm also picking up the series I read anyway that just happen to have the crossover run through it. But I'm not going out of my way and picking up a lot of series to get the "full scope" of the event. I know better. Besides, my pocketbook would probably come to life and kill me if I did.

---

And that, my friends, leads us to the last set of bullet points on my slideshow. Following up on Wednesday's blog entry, where I assessed Red She-Hulk's involvement in an upcoming Marvel event that starts around Christmastime, this picture popped up on the 'nets today:

To date, we've seen five "It's either in you or it's not" teasers, and this one may be the most telling. One thing is sure: all of the images are not from new art, but instead culled from previous stories. (Iron Fist is from David Aja's cover to The Immortal Iron Fist #6; Dr. Strange, the second image, a riff of an old Paul Smith piece; Red She-Hulk, the third image, from Ed McGuinness art in Hulk #22; Silver Surfer, the fourth image, from Claudio Castellini's 90s work; and this one, from Frank Cho's cover to Dark Reign: The List - Hulk.)


What is the point of these teases? "It's either in you or it's not." Of all the words in the five images, what word occurs in almost every one? That's easy: "Defender." As in, the Defenders, the classic non-team originally comprised of Dr. Strange, the Sub-Mariner, the Hulk, and the Silver Surfer. Intriguingly, the only image in which the word "Defender" does not appear is the Hulk! His image contains the word "Offender" instead, which conjures memories of Jeph Loeb & Ed McGuinness' Defenders revival during the current Hulk series, in which the Red Hulk assembled a group of evildoers called, yup, the Offenders.

Is Marvel trying to make the Hulk go bad? It would make sense if the rumors we've heard about the "Avengers" movie were true, that the Hulk is being set up as the big bad guy for the film. But even that doesn't make sense. The Hulk, if anything, is Marvel's poster child for being misunderstood and engaging in fights with other heroes based on little to no provocation. Even World War Hulk featured a Hulk full of righteous indignation at the Illuminati who dared to exile him into space. Maybe they weren't directly responsible for the death of a million Sakaarians, but if they hadn't exiled him, none of what happened would ever have occurred. Even the few other times the Hulk might have been classified a "villain" in the mainstream 616 are few and far between, from his time in "Ghost of the Future" masquerading as the Maestro; to Apocalypse's selecting him to be his Horseman, War; to the actual Maestro; to today's Fear Itself event.

We might as well start asking now what happens at the end of Fear Itself to trigger a fight between a new team of Mighty Defenders and The Strongest One There Is.

And we better also start asking whether this is the Loeb/McGuinness super-project. (I'm hoping not.)

What the heck does "Onyx" have to do with the Hulk, anyway?

More thoughts soon. What d'you think, sirs?

~G.

Picking Up the Slack: Ruminations on Red She-Hulk

Yes, yes, I've been taking a bit of a break from posting. Blame it on family obligations, blame it on house hunting--just know that I'm back, and I'll be posting some fun stuff over the next few weeks. This particular nugget couldn't wait. I'm sure you've all seen the following illo making the rounds on the comics news sites on Wednesday, hyping Marvel's December series/event/launch/whatever. (Fair warning: here there be SPOILERS. Avast, ye mateys!)

Marvel has been releasing these promos every day this week, with the first character obviously being Iron Fist (one of my favorite characters--Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker's run being brilliant, and Duane Swierczynski's not lagging too far behind, even though I'm a sucker for Chris Claremont, Mary Jo Duffy and Christopher Priest/Jim Owsley). The second character was indubitably Doctor Strange (who's yet another of my favorite characters, from the Lee/Ditko days on through the Thomas/Colan/Palmer heyday, Englehart/Brunner, Roger Stern and just about everyone, on and on through today).

And now, they throw in Betty Ross.

On the quality of the characters involved in this thing alone, I'm hooked. Maybe Bendis writing the project would leave me apprehensive, but I hear the San Diego Comic-Con panel where we'll get some revelations about just what "The Mighty" is will involve Incredible Hulks writer emeritus Greg Pak and FF scribe Jonathan Hickman, so I'm hoping at least one of the two will be involved to a significant degree. Could be wrong.

One thing is certain: I think Marvel is proving, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the timeline between the current "Heart of the Monster" arc in Incredible Hulks and the concurrently-running event series, Fear Itself. "Heart" runs first, and then Bruce and Betty go onward into the event where Hulk is now traipsing around as Nul, Breaker of Worlds. This version of events lends credence to Marvel Senior VP of Publishing Tom Brevoort's recently revelation that the September-shipping Fear Itself: Hulk Vs. Dracula limited series was originally to have been Incredible Hulk #636-638 before the publishing plan changed. If we're seeing Betty as Red She-Hulk in promotional materials for product dated December, then obviously she can appear as Red She-Hulk in Fear Itself if it takes place following the end of Greg Pak's tenure.

I'm with Greg Pak, who in a recent Comic Book Resources interview stated the appeal of Betty as a She-Hulk character: "Of all the characters in the Hulk's orbit, Betty is the one who has probably eaten the most anger over the years. She's the one with the most repressed rage because she's had to deal with these men in her life that all have these ludicrous anger issues: Bruce Banner, Glen Talbot, her father Thunderbolt Ross. These are not men with a great deal of impulse control. She's been put into this role of being this mediating presence in their lives. That will eat at you. It made perfect emotional sense to me that Betty, once she got the chance to finally bust out, was going to bust out big. So now we're left with the ultimate questions is the true Betty Red She-Hulk? Is this really who she he is now? And was this nice girl the front?" That's about as solid a summary as any I've seen, and it works, it really works.

So, now you know--Betty's going to join this new group called "The Mighty" that's going to form near the end of Fear Itself, and as result she'll either get her own series, or be in a new miniseries or some other spinoff event come December. Meanwhile, there's no green-skinned Hulk in sight, folks.

Interestingly, the fate of Red Hulk is also in doubt. In the "may be nothing, may be something" department, Gabriel Hardman has confirmed via Twitter that issue #41 is his last issue of Hulk. Whether this event merely suggests an artistic change or a radical change in the status quo, nobody knows, and nobody's really talking. I suppose, however, we'll see in a week or so when Marvel's October solicitations become available. It's a shame, in any event, that Marvel's intent on breaking up the Jeff Parker/Gabriel Hardman team supreme when they've done such a bang-up job with the red-skinned rampager this last year. You really have to admit, however, that the new twice-a-month schedule on Hulk has to really hurt. There isn't an artist in the world that fast...well, unless you count Jack Kirby and Sal Buscema's output from the sixties and seventies. Godspeed in your new gig, whatever it may be, Gabe--even if it is Manhunter 2070.

Have I covered all the news that's fit to print? Let me know what you want to see here! (Also, for those of you wishing to join me over on Google+, click the link: http://gplus.to/garymiller!)

More to come!

~G.

Quick Reviews: Hulk #34-35, Incredible Hulks #631

(I swear, my review for last week's Alpha Flight #1 is forthcoming!)

Let's see, what else is on the way? "Crossing" retrospective finale? Check. A blistering op/ed on DC Digital? That, too. A talk about why the Hulk had to change in the 1980s? You betcha. For now, here are three reviews for my adoring masses, due to popular demand. (You know who you are!) Where, you might ask, is my review for Skaar #4? My weekly comic shipment arrived without it, but it's apparently on the list for next week. Stay tuned, true believers!

Hulk #34-35 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Jeff Parker, Carlo Pagulayan, Danny Miki & Jesus Aburtov

"Planet Red Hulk" is the name of the game in this two-part storyline. "Thunderbolt" Ross starts out trying to help some Russian cosmonauts on a mission in space, but finds himself swept through a wormhole and living an adventure eerily similar to the one the Hulk had a few short years ago, deposing an alien monarch and becoming an, erm, "Red King." All the while, he's left wondering who's really behind putting him in such a similar situation as Banner, even contributing the scenario to Banner himself, only to find the real culprit and their true rationale in the concluding chapter.

One can't help but feel the very theme of this storyline is a blatant cash grab by conjuring fans' pleasant memories of Greg Pak's monumental "Planet Hulk" storyline. The storyline is similar enough, and it also features beautiful artwork by "Planet Hulk" illustrator Carlo Pagulayan. Fortunately, of course, the storyline is only two parts and not fourteen, which makes the effort only slightly more palatable than the initial concept implies. Unfortunately, writer Jeff Parker can't maneuver the plot points in a way that truly elevates the material beyond a near-slavish homage.

When Parker and artist supreme Gabriel Hardman last teamed together (issue #33), the threats Red Hulk was facing appeared imminent, so it would take drastic means to divert the ongoing storyline's momentum. "Planet Red Hulk" and the upcoming "Fear Itself" tie-ins appear to stall all that momentum for the sake of gimmickry, pure and simple. Although Pagulayan's art here is revelatory, almost superior to Paul Pelletier's efforts on the competing Hulk book, the story is such a distraction that I long for Hardman's return and the return of the many ongoing plots that have been cooking since Parker came aboard. The rationale for the entire "Planet Red Hulk" journey just underscores the bad timing of such a diversion.

Beautiful art. Distracting story at best. Quick verdict? Skip It.

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The Incredible Hulks #631 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Greg Pak, Paul Pelletier, Danny Miki, Morry Hollowell & Jesus Aburtov

When writer Greg Pak brought in a mess of old Hulk villains at the end of the first part of "Heart of the Monster," his swan song on the series, I called it the one misstep in an otherwise solid start. This time out, Pak wisely wastes no time in breaking up the team of evil titans so that they might menace the Hulk and his family on a more one-on-one basis, roughly in the order they appear on the interlocking cover images of the next three issues. This issue centers on the immediate aftermath of last issue's cliffhanger, and then shifts focus to the spotlight battle between the Hulk and the unusual tag-team of the Bi-Beast and the Wendigo who, next to Tyrannus, are the Hulk's oldest foes to grace this narrative. (Interestingly, the order the bad guys appear on the covers roughly coincides with the order in which he met them in his long history. Coincidence?)

Now, the key mystery driving the final arc is "What was Betty's wish?" Amadeus Cho has an interesting theory about the wishes being made before he, the Hulk, and even the Wendigo have their various wishes brought to life in some fashion this time out. Bi-Beast acts credibly in-character, and Wendigo is...well, much the same Wendigo he's always been. The main fight is terrific in scope, mostly due to the Hulk's unfortunate wish. The story this time out was well-paced and kept moving at a freight train's pace right up to the end--another cliffhanger that will certainly prove to make the Hulk even angrier next issue.

As before, Paul Pelletier provides powerful penciling this time, and Danny Miki delineates to the best of his ability. Morry Hollowell, assisted by Jesus Aburtov, gives the resulting inked work a considerable, colorful flourish. If all parties can keep this up, "Heart of the Monster" may be the best-looking of all arcs since The Incredible Hulks began. Certainly it's proving to be a lot of fun seeing the Hulk and his family put through their paces during the last issue and this one. I'm enjoying the ride in spite of my initial misgivings. The Hulk is certainly making his share of awesome feats of strength and derring-do, and I expect those feats to only increase in remaining issues.

Face it, effendi, my quick verdict is that you should definitely Buy It!

~G.

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: Incredible Hulks #631!

Courtesy Marvel Comics, hot on the heels of yesterday's interview with Greg Pak on "Heart of the Monster," here's an EXCLUSIVE preview of the next issue, Incredible Hulks #631, on sale June 22 at a comic shop near you! As in the last issue, art is by Paul Pelletier, Danny Miki and Morry Hollowell, and as you can see, these pictures are worth...you know! (Click for full-size versions.)

Is it my birthday?

~G.

5 Questions With Greg Pak: "Heart of the Monster"

This week marks the release of the first part of writer Greg Pak's swan song on The Incredible Hulks. Since beginning work on the Hulk character in 2006 on "Planet Hulk," he's become an authority on ol' Greenskin and easily the most admired writer to pen the series since the departure of Peter David. What opening salvo of his ultimate arc would be complete without an interview with the man himself?

(If all goes well, this post will soon be updated with new preview art!)

DELUSIONAL HONESTY: So, "Heart of the Monster" is your final Hulk story. What's it all about, and why end your story here?

GREG PAK: We're finally getting to the core of who the Hulk really is and what he really wants. And that's a very, very scary place. This is the culmination of the five-and-a-half year arc of stories that began with "Planet Hulk" back in 2006. Over the years, the Hulk, who always said he just wants to be left alone, has surrounded himself with friends and family. He's grown from monster to hero and then wavered back and forth a few times. And he's seen the terrible price that those who are close to him tend to pay, again and again. In "Heart of the Monster," the Hulk has finally had enough. And he'll finally get what he's always really wanted. Lord help us all.

DH: It appears Tyrannus and Red She-Hulk will be central to your finale, with their involvement in "The Spy Who Smashed Me" and that shocking conclusion. How did that tableau come to mind, and how do the characters stand to impact "Heart of the Monster"?

GP: Tyrannus and Red She-Hulk absolutely will pay a key role in this final story arc. Red She-Hulk, a.k.a. Betty Ross, is, of course, Bruce Banner's first love. There's no one who can push his buttons like she can -- and we're about to learn what she's really after. And Tyrannus is the Hulk's oldest surviving arch-enemy. He's had plenty of time to prepare for this final conflict.

DH: Why bring back these Hulk villains (Tyrannus, Umar, Armageddon, Wendigo, Fin Fang Foom)? Personal nostalgia, fan request, some combination or something else entirely?

GP: A big part of the story centers around a wishing well. Everyone's going to get what he or she wants, for better or for worse. And I guess I might have granted a few wishes to myself along the way. These are all Hulk villains I've loved forever and this seemed like a great place to be able to play with them. But they're all great characters with the right backstories and objectives to hit the Hulk in just the right way in this final, climactic storyline.

DH: Do you have any extra guest stars or villains in store for these last 6 issues?

GP: A brilliant and lovely Italian crypto-mythologist might make a reappearance. And a man whom some might call Bruce Banner's best friend in the superhero community will play a big role in the last two issues.

DH: What have you learned about the Hulk & his cast over your tenure?

GP: Whoa. That's a big question. Let me think...

The amazing thing about writing the Hulk is realizing how far previous writers were willing to take their stories and how willingly audiences followed. The Hulk's almost ridiculously simple -- when Banner gets mad, he Hulks out and smashes. But great writers and devoted readers have explored and embraced all of the different, deep, emotional stories that stem from that setup. The thing I'm most impressed by is how far Hulk fans are willing to go with the tragic aspects of the character. It's a human truth -- when you give yourself over to wrath, no matter how justified, your story more often than not will turn into a tragedy. I'm grateful for readers who are so willing to grapple with stories like that -- and who understand that the triumphs our beloved green goliath occasionally achieves are so much sweeter as a result.

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Many thanks to Mr. Pak for teasing us with all the turbulent times just around the corner for everyone's favorite Green Goliath! Incredible Hulks #630 is now on sale at your local comics retailer. (Please support them!) The series ships biweekly, and the final issue, #635, is now available for order in Diamond Previews with several variants, including a blank one upon which you can obtain a snazzy original sketch!

~G.

Be Careful What You Wish For (Review: Incredible Hulks #630)

The Incredible Hulks #630
"Heart of the Monster," Part One

Writer: Greg Pak
Artists: Paul Pelletier & Danny Miki
Colorist: Morry Hollowell
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Production: Irene Y. Lee
Assistant Editor: Jake Thomas
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Let's be clear: I certainly didn't wish for the end of Greg Pak's tenure on the Hulk. But if you've been following this blog, you've known it was coming. (Exhibits A and B.)

That said, this issue gets the ball rolling with part one of Pak's six-part sendoff, the aptly-titled "Heart of the Monster." We pick up after the end of the last arc, with Bruce Banner deciding to repress his feelings and just move on from Betty, who has apparently forsaken her human identity in favor of the more "liberated" form of Red She-Hulk. Not just that, she's gone away with Tyrannus, one of the Hulk's oldest foes. How in the world, then, can Banner remain icily calm at a time like this? Can his friends help him in this time of need? And what in the world does Tyrannus have up his sleeve now?

In the last few arcs, Pak has progressively pared down the Hulk's supporting cast, which burgeoned under his watch these last few years. He's had the Hulk and family confront Skaar's twin brother Hiro-Kala in "Dark Son"; he's dealt with the character's new connections with Hercules and the Greek gods during "Chaos War"; he's had the Hulk say farewell to his son Skaar and the Warbound, now in the Savage Land, in "Planet Savage"; he's had the Hulk deal conclusively with Miek from "Planet Hulk" in the same story; and in the last arc he gave readers as bare bones a cast as ever, centering on the Bruce-Betty paradigm and bringing in Amadeus Cho to lighten the mood. Introduced by Pak and artist Takeshi Miyazawa in Amazing Fantasy #15 only a month or so before he began his tenure on this book (in a story guest-starring the Hulk, no less), his presence feels an important component of winding up the writer's tenure with ol' Greenskin. Rick Jones, who recently became "A-Bomb" in the wake of World War Hulk, and Jen Walters, the original She-Hulk, round out the team of Hulks. Although it's certainly possible others will return before the ending in #635, the story feels complete with these four as the protagonists.

Of course, I did say "protagonists," so it's only natural that more villains arrive to justify the six-part storyline. Yet another of Bruce Banner's former loves arrives during the story, kicking the narrative in another direction and also bringing Betty's situation squarely back in focus for the Hulk family. It's an interesting move, certainly, as is Pak's decision to involve even more villains on the story's final page. I'm honestly torn, as while I like virtually all the villains shown, from various eras in Hulk history, it feels like he may be trying to do too much, too quickly, especially given the flimsy explanation offered for their sudden presence. (Hint: Monkey's Paw.) Still, this first part of the storyline is meant to set up the rest of the arc, and in that respect Pak succeeds admirably in defining tension, heightened emotion, and terrifically high stakes.

Returning this issue to send Greg Pak and the Hulk off on their separate ways is the artistic team of Paul Pelletier and Danny Miki, aided by colorist Morry Hollowell (who formerly colored Ed McGuinness' end run on Hulk). Pelletier is a terrific storyteller, putting forth an excellent first installment, and Miki and Hollowell complement his linework superbly.  He can convey so much in a single panel, and ably shows the Hulk's power as well as quieter, emotional moments. I hope he can maintain this level of quality throughout all six parts of this storyline.

"Heart of the Monster" begins here, so we have five more issues of Greg Pak's awe-inspiring work with the Hulk and his supporting cast left. Part one has terrific artwork and a solid story, if a little reliant on coincidence and a need to make developments occur quickly. I imagine I'll have more to say as the story moves onward, but this issue's worth checking out. Please Read It today!

~G.

Quick Reviews: Alpha Flight #0.1, Incredible Hulks #629, Skaar #3

A round of much-delayed, eagerly-awaited reviews, mes amis!

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Alpha Flight #0.1 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Fred Van Lente, Greg Pak, Ben Oliver & Frank Martin

The eight-issue miniseries begins in earnest in a few weeks, but Alpha Flight #0.1, which shipped May 18, serves as a terrific introduction to the characters and concepts for the uninitiated. The twenty-page story, behind a cover by Phil Jiminez that shows nearly all the original Alpha Flight cast from their 1980s heyday, introduces the ensemble, as well as some other peripheral cast from the "good old days." It's true what writer Fred Van Lente said: this series marks the first time since the early days of John Byrne and Bill Mantlo that virtually the entire group has been the focus. Guardian, Vindicator, Sasquatch, Shaman, Marrina, Northstar and Aurora are all here, and purely from a nostalgic point of view, seeing them together just feels good.

Van Lente and Pak don't let nostalgia carry the story, however, wisely involving the Alphans in a plot to interrupt Canadian elections, ostensibly planned by someone very familiar to the title's middle years. Both that villainess and the specter of the elections themselves are portents of bigger things sure to erupt in the series proper. The only drawback in the book is in the artistic layouts by Ben Oliver. While the figures themselves look great, Oliver's panel shape--always jagged, seldom having 90 degree angles--are a distraction at best and a source of vertigo at worst. I must say I'm glad the miniseries itself will be illustrated by another artist (Dale Eaglesham).

I'm definitely expecting the storyline to ramp up with the actual first issue in June, but this is still a solid introduction with an accessible story, on-point characterization, and above-average artwork. Do yourself a favor and Buy It.

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The Incredible Hulks #629 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Greg Pak, Tom Grummett, Cory Hamscher, Rick Magyar & Edgar Delgado

For the conclusion of Greg Pak's penultimate arc, "The Spy Who Smashed Me," which had been a surprisingly off-beat and humorous arc in its previous three sections, this story takes a decidedly standard superheroic slant. Behind another generic cover, this time by fan-favorite Frank Cho, "License to Smash" nonetheless provides an emotional finale that serves as setup for "Heart of the Monster," beginning next issue.

When you're talking about emotional Hulk stories, it seems the powers-that-be can seldom do one without involving Betty Ross. It's her eyes through which we're supposed to see Banner and the Hulk this issue. However, Betty here bears little, if any, resemblance to the same strong character of Peter David's tenure on the book. Becoming Red She-Hulk appears to have split the character into her strong and weak personality halves, with neither one of them showing exactly why Bruce carries such a torch for her. And maybe that's the point, right?

Arch-foe Tyrannus descends into his traditional mad brand of villainy for this final chapter, leaving the real emotional arc to be solved between Bruce/Hulk and Betty/Red She-Hulk. True, we do finally see what's in the urn and that particular conclusion is perplexing (and may provide a hint to next issue's story). If nothing else, Greg Pak has provided an excellent emotional underpinning for his final arc with this issue's soft conclusion. Tom Grummett finishes the storyline in his same standard superheroic style, which is still far above most else out there. While still not as strong as the previous three parts, you should still definitely Read It.

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Skaar: King of the Savage Land #3 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Rob Williams, Brian Ching, Rick Ketcham & Guru eFX

The Savage Land adventure of Skaar, Son of Hulk, continues as he teams with Ka-Zar and delves deeper into the Designer's mysteries while encountering more of the area's unusual inhabitants. Rob Williams continues the story which seems to have less and less to do with the titular character and more to do with facets of Marvel continuity the writer wants to play with "just because." You can see one of the characters in question--Kid Colt--on the issue's cover, and while he looks a little different inside, he's still symptomatic of the "anything that will stick"-ness of the narrative.

On the plus side, Brian Ching's artwork continues to impress. He's really right at home in the jungle landscapes, drawing monsters of all shapes and sizes, from Skaar himself to dinosaurs. Guru-eFX similarly brings the pages to life with their colors. Still, I'm severely losing interest in the narrative as Skaar continues to be moved around like a pawn on a chessboard. I don't have much hope the remaining two issues will turn things around. Unless you have nothing better to read, I'm firmly of the opinion you should Skip It.

~G.

Reviews: Incredible Hulks #628, Hulk #33

I've been remiss in reviewing last week's Incredible Hulks due to lots of other things happening. So this week, you get a two-in-one review, with Greg Pak & Tom Grummett's issue, followed in swift succession by Jeff Parker & Gabriel Hardman's Hulk. Can it get any better, folks?

Incredible Hulks #628 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Greg Pak, Tom Grummett, Cory Hamscher & Edgar Delgado

"Live and Let Smash," part three of the latest storyline, "The Spy Who Smashed Me," continues the James Bond-inspired globetrotting of previous chapters while upping the ante with more mythological underpinnings as in recent issues. The MacGuffin of the piece, Pandora's Box, continues to play a central role, with other agencies attempting to claim it, kidnapping both Tyrannus and Dr. Di Cosimo and leaving Hulk and Red She-Hulk to pursue them while sorting out their own issues. It's an intriguing imbroglio that's surprisingly lighthearted for a Hulk tale.

Greg Pak deserves a lot of credit for switching gears in his waning days on this series. In some ways, the stylistic shift reminds me of the kinds of stories Peter David used to tell using the merged Hulk incarnation of the early #400s. Such stories, often imbued with David's trademark off-center sense of humor, would in theory fail to work in the Hulk's tragic milieu. Yet, here we have another gifted writer, who opted to stay with the Banner/Hulk dichotomy, not only giving us another lighthearted romp, but making it look easy. Kudos, Mr. Pak. And playing up the ties between the Knights of Rome and recent foes, leading to a priceless exchange involving Tyrannus, Cho and the Hulks? Priceless.

Once again, Tom Grummett and Cory Hamscher do a slam-bang job with the art chores this issue, telling the story clearly and stylishly. Edgar Delgado's colors match the light tone of the script. It's a terrific package, made all the more surprising by the fact that the creators stuffed all this excitement into just 20 story pages. Conversely, that's also one of my only complaints about the issue. (The other is more about the arc's lack of covers appropriate to the story inside.) But then again, if cutting two story pages saves readers a whole dollar, then it's hard to dispute the point. Overall, there's still plenty to recommend this issue and series.

Quick Verdict: Buy It.

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Hulk #33 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Jeff Parker, Gabriel Hardman & Elizabeth Breitweiser

Another month passes, and Jeff Parker and his merry crew again step up to the plate and present another solid issue of the series that just over a year ago was being decried as a blight on the legend of the Hulk in the Marvel Universe. Since taking control in issue #25, Parker, Hardman & Breitweiser have delivered well-hewn stories month in and out, and this issue is no different.

Writer Jeff Parker definitely isn't shy about lining up opponents to face the Scarlet Smasher, as this issue features not one, not two, not three, but four antagonists for Thad Ross, the man who became the very thing he hated. He's been brewing this tableau for a few issues now, and it's to his great credit that the storm of foes surrounding Red Hulk never feels forced. Every development is a cleverly calculated result of what has come before. Keep in mind, yes, the issue's cover (and one of its variants by Ed McGuinness, above) isn't representative of an exact moment in the narrative; still, all four villains have a presence, and three of the four have a direct or indirect conflict with our hero. (The fourth will have his day soon.)

Unlike last issue, the Red Hulk has a meatier part to play at the center of this narrative. He's weary from being unable to rest, hounded by General Fortean, to the degree that he's an easy target for Zero/One's new minion, Black Fog. While making for a terrific action sequence, Parker's plot nonetheless highlights an increasing problem with the character--namely, his unfortunate position of always playing defense. He's being attacked from all sides, unable to shape a plan of his own to overcome his obstacles. And that's a failing that echoes his green-skinned progenitor in the 1970s. Maybe it's the point Parker's trying to make, but if it goes on too long it has the consequence of belittling the title character. I'm hoping Red Hulk gets the chance to strike back soon.

In the art department, Gabriel Hardman and Elizabeth Breitweiser continue to impress. The Red Hulk's battle with Black Fog is stunningly drawn by Hardman, and Breitweiser's colors establish the proper mood. I love the stylistic choices Hardman uses month in and out, employing a solid design sense, easy-to-follow layouts, and tools that very few other artists deign to use (screentone!) in order to produce a unique, dynamic look. My only regret is that we won't see this team together again until issue #39 (!) due to the upcoming biweekly schedule.

Hulk #33 continues the upward trend of this series, which may yet eclipse the terrific storytelling of its sister title. It already often exceeds the other book's fun quotient, in spite of having a protagonist not many fans liked upon his introduction.

Quick Verdict: A close call, but with four villains, a complex ongoing plot, and our Crimson Crusher, in spite of my misgivings about the Red Hulk's role, I'll say Buy It.

What do you think, sirs?

~G.

What? No INCREDIBLE HULK #650 in 2012?

Although I'm sure we're in for some surprises, it seems on the surface the question has been answered, "Who will take over for Greg Pak after his last issue of The Incredible Hulk?" Nobody! Press release, coming right up (all emphasis mine)...

Greg Pak’s biggest story yet, “Heart Of The Monster”, brings dire consequences to the Green Goliath and those close to him.

What happens when the furious monster inside Bruce Banner says, “ENOUGH”?

The writer of Planet Hulk and World War Hulk brings his critically acclaimed Incredible Hulks run to a close…with a SMASH.

Catch the oversized final issue of the long running series, with a monster sized story and dozens of extras celebrating Greg Pak’s run, that no fan of the Jade Giant can miss.

INCREDIBLE HULKS #635
Written by GREG PAK
Pencils and Cover by PAUL PELLETIER
Variant Cover by PAUL PELLETIER
Variant Cover by ADI GRANOV
Blank Cover Also Available
Rated A …$3.99
ON SALE THIS AUGUST!

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So, what's in the future for the ever-incredible Hulk? Will Thad Ross be the only Hulk with a title to call his own? What extras are we talking about in this issue aside from the multiple variant covers and that blank cover you can bet I'll be taking to conventions? Any extra backup stories inside? How big will the issue in question be? And might there be one final enemy beyond Fin Fang Foom, one long rumored to return? Mmmmmmmaybe?

One thing I'm relatively certain of is that once again, we're going to get a senseless renumbering of the series when it's on the cusp of a terrific anniversary number (#650, which if keeping the current schedule, would've been available just in time for the character's 50th anniversary next year). What it would also mean is, unless things change, the Red Hulk title will outnumber the title of the character from whom he spun off, and that's rather backwards. So, is there a sea change in store for Red Hulk, too?

So many questions, indeed...

~G.

Peeking in Pandora's Box: Incredible Hulks #627, Reviewed

The Incredible Hulks #627
"The Spy Who Smashed Me," Part 2

Writer: Greg Pak
Artists: Tom Grummett & Cory Hamscher
Colorist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Production: Irene Y. Lee
Assistant Editor: Jake Thomas
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Last issue and this, I've been struck by how effortlessly writer Greg Pak has shifted the tone of his Incredible Hulks adventures with "The Spy Who Smashed Me." Part James Bond-style action movie, part snarky rom-com, part big budget special effects blockbuster, this story is a refreshing turnaround considering the darkness of recent arcs.

For the last few years, Pak has kept his humorous side at play with co-writer Fred Van Lente over on The Incredible Hercules, the book that until recently had been home to the smartaleck sidekick Amadeus Cho. The Hulk appeared in Cho's introduction back in 2005's Amazing Fantasy #15 by Pak, so it's only fair that Cho repays the favor in time for Pak's exit from this book. Here, Cho plays "Q" to Banner's "Bond," infusing every scene with the same sardonic wit as with Herc. His mere presence infuses the narrative with a lightheartedness that's been rare in this title.

That lighthearted quality is emphasized by the wonderfully expressive, clean artwork of Tom Grummett and Cory Hamscher. They're having a ball drawing big scary monsters of both the human and inhuman variety, beautiful women, and a certain green-skinned goliath. While the artwork has a fun feel, it also strongly hearkens to the best superheroic work in the biz. Edgar Delgado contributes his usual strong colors. Overall, it's quite the attractive artistic package.

The plot continues this issue with Tyrannus having recruited Betty in his plan to steal the Pandora's Box of legend. Similarly, Banner recruits an expert in Roman crypto-mythology to help him stop the long-lived former emperor. Of course, he's also got another stake in rescuing Betty, who risks being stuck as Red She-Hulk with each metamorphosis. These underpinnings are there in nearly every panel, but wisely Pak doesn't let them overwhelm the narrative to the degree they hamper the fun quotient.

We're halfway through "Spy," and it's still as rollickin' a ride as it was last issue. With the supporting cast pared down to the bare essentials and hardly a gamma-enhanced being in sight, Pak has upped his game in this, his penultimate arc as Hulk writer, and Grummett, Hamscher and Delgado bring his vivid visions to life. If you've been wondering when the Hulk's tale would lighten up a bit, wonder no more. Incredible Hulks #627 brings the myth and humor of Incredible Hercules home in exciting fashion.

The Verdict: Buy It.

~G.

3-in-1 Review: Incredible Hulks, Hulk, Skaar

Greetings, all!

Yes, I've been remiss in recent weeks, giving you a noticeable dearth of new blog entries. I want to begin blogging every day I can so I can bring you guys (and gals) as many new insights as I'm able. That'll mean retrospectives, interviews, and spotlights on some rare comics you just won't see on these shores (and that's a major hint to at least one new feature!). I went back to Pittsburgh, my hometown, and attended the Pittsburgh Comicon, getting about eleven sketches (that you'll see soon, both here and at my Comic Art Fans page) and buying a few unusual items. I've also catalogued more of my collection that remains on the east coast, and soon I'll be putting those books on eBay (or, if anyone wants to give me offers here, feel free!).

Speaking of old books for sale, I recently re-bought several issues of Incredible Hulk from the 1970s and 80s, replacing my lower-grade (Very Good and lower) issues with nice, Fine-or-better copies. They were deals I couldn't resist, but it does leave me with dozens of duplicate issues. They're "reader" copies so I'm willing to sell them on the cheap. Yes, virtually all of the Todd McFarlane issues are for sale, including the battle with Wolverine in #340. The earliest book I'm selling is #122, and the latest is #431. If interested, shoot me an email at delusionalhonesty [at] gmail [dot] com and I'll play Monty Hall. (And if you want to inquire about what non-Hulk books might be for sale, do so!)

Now then, what've we got today? Since I haven't blogged on them during the last couple weeks, I figured I'd take time out today before any more issues hit to review three books. They won't be my usual in-depth reviews since I'm squeezing three issues into one entry, but you'll get the idea. As in my last round of quick reviews, these ones will be summed up with four main classifications you can easily make sense of: Buy It (highly recommended), Read It (recommended), Skip It (unless it's a light week...), Burn It (a very special kind of hell).

Incredible Hulks #626 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Greg Pak, Tom Grummett, Cory Hamscher & Edgar Delgado

One of my longstanding wishes comes true this issue as artist Tom Grummett takes the Hulk's artistic reins for the four-part arc, "The Spy Who Smashed Me." He doesn't disappoint one bit, giving a classic feel to this saga that features the return of one of the Hulk's oldest foes. Although Greg Pak teased Tyrannus in a one-off story (#605), he devotes substantially more energy to his return here. It's a perfect storm of elements that Pak has at play, with Betty at risk of remaining Red She-Hulk forever even as she joins forces with Tyrannus, and Banner donning a tux (made from unstable molecules, natch) and teaming with Amadeus Cho in a wonderfully off kilter Bond-and-Q tag-team scheme.  The narrative moves fast, and Pak works overtime to involve the Hulk in a storyline that, when announced, didn't remotely seem like a "Hulk story." With Betty being at the center of the storyline, this arc may prove to be the most personal yet for Banner since the book became pluralized last fall. (Speaking of which, wasn't this issue solicited with the Hulk back in the singular role?)

This is a well-oiled, gamma-irradiated engine of storytelling, and it just might challenge Roger Stern & Sal Buscema's "They Who Wield Power" arc in the 80s for best Tyrannus story. Cheap hype? Perhaps. Regardless, this book was a treat after the darkness of "Planet Savage," brought to vivid life with Pak's knack for clever dialogue and Grummett's superb superheroic art. It's a fun, fun bit before the emotional torture that's sure to come in "Heart of the Monster." Simply put, Buy It.

Skaar: King of the Savage Land #2 (of 5) - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Rob Williams, Brian Ching, Rick Ketcham & Guru-eFX

Skaar's second go-round at a solo title continues, with the Son of Hulk involved inconsequentially in a battle with "Kirby Kreations" Moonboy and Devil Dinosaur, while the real action occurs in the tribal council of the Savage Land, where a possessed Shanna sheds blood and turns the tribes against Ka-Zar.

A few short weeks ago, I lauded Rob Williams and Brian Ching's efforts on the first issue of this title, overlooking the unusual nature of the "tribal council" where Ka-Zar addressed the people while wearing a business suit. Obviously, it is writer Williams' effort to establish a dichotomy between the Savage Land's name and what it has become, making Ka-Zar out to be too wrapped up in the ways of more developed countries to be a suitable leader. That point is doubly the thrust of the Designer, who has possessed Shanna. The comparison doesn't quite work when you consider the Savage Land's history and that this series marks the first occasion for the tribal council to be presented thusly. This issue downplays Skaar's involvement, which is unusual considering his name's on the cover, and the lion's share of the narrative involves Ka-Zar and the Designer/Shanna. Now, it looks like Skaar will again be near the center of events with the next issue, as he's poised to attempt a rescue of his fellow Sakaarians (mentioned in this issue at last) from the Designer's, um, designs.

As it is, in spite of the continual lush artwork by Brian Ching, Williams' Skaar is a weak leading man. I hope that changes, and very soon, because the character, who's been well-developed under Greg Pak, risks being trampled by the grandoise narrative around him. Sadly, my concerns from the first issue, amplified through this issue's events, force me to downgrade my opinion. For now, you should definitely Skip It.

Hulk #32 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Jeff Parker, Gabriel Hardman & Bettie Breitweiser

It's been fascinating stuff during these last several months since Jeff Parker and Gabriel Hardman attained control of the Scarlet Smasher's book. Parker brings old-school sensibilities to the book, effortlessly weaving sub-plots through the main story and through the recently-finished series of back-up tales. Several of those elements are going to come to a head next month, where if the cover's any indication, the Red Hulk will face four new foes, the final of which Parker introduces this month in Black Fog.

Speaking of the Red Hulk, this month's adventure for him amounts to little more than reminding readers of his ongoing troubles with General Fortean (with, don't get me wrong, a terrific dream sequence as drawn by Hardman) and giving him an unremarkable foe to fight in the form of...a tornado. In virtually all ways, the storyline echoes every old Len Wein/Herb Trimpe story where the Hulk was on the run from the military, wandering into some small town and helping them against some nebulous menace. In this, Parker only succeeds in marking time--dynamically illustrated time, as is always the case when Hardman and Breitweiser are involved, but time nonetheless.

He is much more successful in the other storyline in this issue, the origin of Black Fog, a serial killer endowed with superhuman abilities by Zero/One. Zero/One's childhood memories of the killer as a "boogeyman" become chilling reality thanks to her new power. His transformation is an excellent centerpiece, and I'm intrigued to see just where the character goes from here. I just hope there's time to examine his state of mind with the grand conclusion impending next month. Truly, his is an excellent lead-up, but add in the less-than-incredible Red Hulk plot means you should just Read It.

Next: Firestorm? The Crossing? More fun with the Hulk family? A convention sketch? Or something totally different, yes? Just wait!

~G.