Hulk Annual #1 - What I Saved

    As I mentioned in a recent post, a few months back I sold three-fourths of my comic collection.

   But there were comics I saved, either out of sentiment, nostalgia or just because I couldn't bear to part with it.

   As I sort through those comics (once filed alphabetically, they're now jumbled up), I hope to write posts like this one, talking about "What I Saved."

   Up first is a comic I kept because of its cover - Hulk Annual #1.

   This is a comic I bought off the newsstand in 1968, and as a reader of The Incredible one's monthly comic, I couldn't resist this cover.

   I attended a talk by Jim Steranko several years back at a comics convention, and he talked about getting the assignment to do this cover - he was told, "We don't care what it is - we just need it fast." 

   So he turned this amazing work out in very short order and turned it in - but apparently the cover was a bit too intense, because they had Marie Severin redo the Hulk's face.

   Still, it was stunning - and the interiors were impressive too! Marie Severin and Syd Shores (with additional inks by "almost the whole blamed Bullpen") provided 51 pages of story, written by Gary Friedrich. 

   It dropped the Hulk into the Great Refuge where he found himself in a Civil War (of sorts) between the Inhumans (and Black Bolt in particular) and the forces of Maximus. So, lots of action, destruction and general mayhem in view.

   Marie's expressive art is always a treat, and if things get a bit rubbery in places, it was hard to complain since you got so much story for a mere quarter!

   I enjoyed (and read) this comic so much that that beautiful cover became detached from the comic. I'm afraid I spoiled the resale value at some point, as I committed the sin of using two small bits of scotch take to reconnect the cover - and hey, it's still hanging on there!

   How could I let this one go? (Obviously, I couldn't.)

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Grade: A

   

The Incredible Hulk #710

   For the Incredible Hulk it's back to Planet Hulk again for the first time.

    Let me explain.

   This version of the Hulk is not Bruce Banner, who paid a memorable visit to the world Sakaar, fought a number of strange alien creatures, overthrew the government and became ruler.

   This time around, it's the Amadeus Cho version of the character, who finds himself in deadly danger, fighting the Warlord of Sakaar for the lives of a threatened tribe.

   But who will win the day - the genius side of Cho, or the animal side of the Hulk?

   As always, Greg Pak writes a powerful story and Greg Land's art is terrific, crafting beautiful and / or intense creatures and a strange world for them to inhabit.

    The issue suffers slightly from gladiatorial creep - the traditional "face impossible odds in the fighting arena" bit - but the action is fierce and it'll be fun to see where the story goes from here.

Grade: B+

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Incredible Hulk #709

   The Planet Hulk storyline was a big one for Marvel.

   It gave the character a real shot in the arm, spawned lots of great stories, and eventually bloomed into a raucous "event" mini-series.

   (It also looks to be a central part of the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok movie.)

   The Hulk has been out of the limelight lately, what with Bruce Banner being "dead" and all. (Or is he? Wasn't he revived in Secret Empire?)

   So the green-skinned heritage is being carried by Amadeus Cho, who was tagged as the "Totally Awesome" Hulk.

   His adventures, thanks to the "Marvel Legacy" movement, are now in the pages of The Incredible Hulk, now with restored original numbering (which will make it fun to sort out the filing process).

   And with original Planet Hulk writer, Greg Pak, at the helm, Cho / Hulk has returned to the planet Sakaar - and so far, it looks like a return to greatness.

   (But I admit, I picked up this issue hoping for the return of Banner. He's "my" Hulk, after all.)

   Still, its great to see this book on track again.

Grade: A

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Hulk #4

   As a comic book reader, you learn patience.

   After all, the story is doled out a month at a time, and it can often take many months to get the whole story (typically four to six months in modern day increments - often more).

   But when you're starting a new series, you should really do something to hook readers right away - and that's something the new Hulk comic has not done.

   The series actually stars Jennifer Walters, usually known as She-Hulk - but apparently, in the wake of a brutal fight with Thanos and the death of the original Hulk, she has become a different person - and her gamma side is angry and brutal.

   Or at least that's what we assume. We're four issues in, and we still haven't see her "Hulk" side.

   That's not to say it's a bad comic - it's actually an interesting character study, as we see Jennifer learning to cope with her new insecurities, and the mystery of one of her clients grows into a full-fledged horror story.

   But I think it's past time to bring the title character into the mix. Comics fans are patient, but they're not going to wait forever.

Grade: B

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Hulk #1

   It seems that the She-Hulk has come full circle.

   In her first appearance (back in 1980) she was The Savage She-Hulk, and while she wasn't as slow-witted as the Hulk (at that time), she was certainly just as angry.

   Since then, she's been through a stunning array of changes - becoming intelligent, joining the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, having several solo series, working as an Agent of SHIELD - sometimes she couldn't change form, other times she worked as a lawyer.

   In the wake of Civil War II, we find a different version of the character. She's back to being Jennifer Walters, an attorney starting her new job for a new law firm - but she's still shaken by what happened to her cousin Bruce Banner (the original Hulk), and by the terrible injuries she suffered at the hands of Thanos.

    The Hulkish cover aside, the focus here is on setting up the new series - so there's a lot of setup and not much actual Hulk content.

   Which is fine - the story by Mariko Tamaki is focusing on characters, not mayhem.

   The art by Nico Leon is very good - a nice, clean "real world" style that sets the stage nicely.

   So, it's something of a slow start - and a fresh start - for this long-running hero. So far, I like it - I'll be hanging around.

Grade: B+

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Totally Awesome Hulk #12

   As Marvel continues to go through its "all your favorite heroes are now completely different" phase (perhaps someday someone will explain why this was a good idea), one of the better efforts along those lines can be found in the pages of The Totally Awesome Hulk.

   That's because the new, young Hulk is already a terrific character - Amadeus Cho, a teen genius - and the writer who created him, Greg Pak, is guiding his new adventures.

   I'm happy to report that, so far, his stories have been a lot of fun.

   And that's no easy task, considering that the Civil War II mini-series has thrown a shadow over the proceedings.

   The deadly events in that series have left Cho upset and looking for a confrontation with Hawkeye, who's at the heart of one of those deadly moments.

   First the Hulk has to deal with a foe who may be unbeatable - and victory may come with a much higher price than Cho expected.

   Nice to see the Black Panther making an appearance, too - he's used to good effect (but that cover would have fit last issue better).

   The art by Mahmud Asrar is excellent, brimming with action, animation, energy and emotion.

   It looks like Cho is going to keep on being green for a while, so here's hoping we can get past the "event books" and focus more on the fun.

Grade: B+

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Totally Awesome Hulk #10

   You get the sense that Marvel is having trouble.

   And I think the main problem is that they keep getting in the way of their own stories.

   Today's example is Totally Awesome Hulk, which has given Bruce Banner a break from the curse of being the Hulk, and transferred the title (and the green tint) to the young genius Amadeus Cho.

   The series offered a fresh take on the Hulk - a light-hearted, smartly-written, action-oriented look, courtesy of writer Greg Pak, with powerful art, courtesy of Mahmud Asrar.

   But with the last couple of issues, the focus has been thrown aside to deal with the effects from Civil War II - a dark story that runs counter to the feel of this series.

   On the plus side, the issue features a battle between the Hulk and the new, improved Black Panther - and it's not as one-sided as you might expect.

   Now comes word that the "Hulk" comic will soon be turned over to a savage version of She-Hulk, which begs the question: what about the Amadeus version? What about Banner - how long until he's revived? (Come on, you know he'll be revived eventually, right?)

   I've been enjoying this series and would hate to see it all tossed as Marvel throws another idea against the wall to see if it sticks.

   Or here's an idea: the original Hulk is a great character. How about telling stories about him?

Grade: B

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Totally Awesome Hulk #4

   Four issues in and we're finally getting a handle on how Amadeus Cho became the latest version of the Totally Awesome Hulk.

   The tone of this book continues to be upbeat, making great use of the art by Frank Cho - which means you get lots of giant monsters, a sexy alien hunter trying to corral the Hulk, the She-Hulk and a few guest stars thrown in for good measure.

   While the focus is on humor, there are some poignant moments, too, as we see the inner struggle Amadeus is facing - and the lengths he was ready to go to for his friends.

   Writer Greg Pak is skillfully managing the balancing act between drama and humor, and Cho is crafting his usual amazing artwork - making this comic with the silly title a heck of a lot of fun.

Grade: A-

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The Totally Awesome Hulk #2

   I wasn't expecting much from this series.

   That's mostly because of the title, but I have to admit that (so far) The Totally Awesome Hulk is a lot of fun!

   I knew the art was going to be great - Frank Cho is an amazing artist, born to draw humorous stories loaded up with monsters, beautiful women and lots of action. Check, check and check!

   And I figured the story was in good hands, since Greg Pak has returned to his most famous character (sorta), having made his name with the Planet Hulk series.

   Together they've given this series - and the character - a fresh look and a unique story (and they're slowly letting us know what happened to the original Hulk).

   My only question is: why is Rom depicted in the circle on the corner of the cover?

   (I kid - it's not really Rom. But it got my hopes up for a second there.)

Grade: A-

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The Totally Awesome Hulk #1

   I think Marvel has lost its mind.

   Of all its marquee (Avengers) heroes, at least half of them have been replaced. So the Falcon is now Captain America, Thor is now a woman, Wolverine is now a woman, and the Hulk is now... "Totally Awesome."

   Yep, for reasons yet unclear, Bruce Banner is out of the picture, so now wearing the big purple pants (I mean, shorts) is Amadeus Cho, one of the world's smartest humans - and a young man on a mission.

   Don't get me wrong, I like Cho (I like smart characters who are written like smart characters) and he's set up in an interesting job as a tracker of monsters.

   Writer Greg Pak makes a welcome return to the Hulk (I believe Pak created Cho), and brings with his the outstanding artwork of Frank Cho.

   Cho is a powerful artist, with impressive character (and monster) designs, a great sense of humor and, of course, he's one of the best in the business at drawing beautiful women. It's no surprise that the opening action sequence takes place on a beach.

   So is Marvel crazy like a fox? They have a strong concept and a great creative team, but is the Hulk Banner - or whoever is wearing the gamma-irradiated body? Perhaps we'll find out as this story rolls on.

Grade: A-

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Hulk #15

   I have to admit I'm surprised at the ongoing story in this version of the Hulk.

   That's because stuff has actually... well, been happening!

   His brain amped up by Extremis, the Hulk has created a new persona - Doc Green - and has focused his considerable resources on the job of "curing" all those other gamma-powered characters (some good, some bad).

   That's great, because there are way too many such characters running around - but it's surprising, because those characters are all merchandisable - so you'd think the money folks would want to keep them around.

   But when you have too many gamma-powered characters (including at least three She-Hulks), it waters down the brand.

   This series has been sharp and well-written by Gerry Duggan, with terrific art by the dynamic Mark Bagley and Drew Hennessy.

   Next issue wraps it up, so we'll see if these changes "stick." One can only hope!

Grade: A-

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Hulk #10

   I have never liked the Red Hulk.

   The character just seems one step removed from a silly Silver Age concept. (I'm still waiting for Blue Hulk and Purple Hulk and Orange Hulk to show up.)

   But this series almost makes me interested in the character. The continuing plot has the "real" Hulk twisted into a new, intelligent character - Doc Green - who's trying to "cure" the small army of gamma-irradiated characters who make up the "Hulk Family."

   His confrontation with Thunderbolt Ross - big Red - collapses into a donnybrook, a violent and vicious no-holds-barred battle that gives artists Mark Bagley and Drew Hennesey a change to cut loose.

   But it's writer Gerry Duggan who gets credit for crafting an adventure that's often funny and always compelling.

   Can't wait to see where it goes from here.

Grade: A-

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Hulk #9

   While I generally object when heroes are converted to villain status (see Superior Spider-Man and Superior Iron Man), I have to admit that I've been enjoying the Doc Green version of the Hulk.

   One reason for that is because he's being played as the smartest, uh, guy in the room - a super-intelligent force working a mysterious agenda. But is he a force for evil - or a higher good that we can't see yet?

   The issue starts with an unusual crossover with the Uncanny X-Men (specifically Kitty Pryde and Magik), but quickly moves to a cat-and-mouse game between "Doc" and Bruce Banner - and it all seems to be leading to a dark and deadly future.

   The dialogue is sharp, the story moves along fast and it's very clever. Kudos to writer Gerry Duggan for his work on this series.

   The art is excellent as always - Mark Bagley and Drew Hennessy seem inspired by the story, with terrific art and powerful layouts.

   The beauty of the Hulk's adventures is that there's a lot of leeway with the character - he can be "dumb" Hulk, smart Hulk or anything in between. This creative team is making the most of that potential.

   Highly recommended!

Grade: A-

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Thanos vs. the Hulk #1 (of 4)

   I was prepared to pass this issue by, since on the surface it seems like a standard slugfest - Marvel's strongest mortal against one of its most formidable villains (and one who is the central big bad guy in Marvel's movies). It sounded like a four-issue series that would be mighty thin.

   Then I saw the name of the writer and artist - Jim Starlin - and I picked it up.

   Starlin, of course, is the creator of Thanos and the guy who put the "cosmic" in Marvel's '70s comics (especially Captain Marvel and Warlock). He also created Gamora, Pip the Troll and the Infinity Gauntlet.

   The trick with the series is figuring out when it takes place. It apparently falls between the last Hulk series (that had Banner working for SHIELD, with the Hulk only having limited intelligence - not the super-smart "Doc Green" character now at the center of his adventures. It also takes place before the recent Thanos graphic novel.

   It's nice to see that Starlin is as sharp as ever - both in his art, which combines strange aliens, humorous encounters and menacing villains, and in his storytelling. The issue starts with the kidnapping of the Hulk by Pip (honest!), all tied to a major threat arising in the Negative Zone.

   Pip hopes to make amends by rescuing the Hulk, but to do that he'll have to turn to his deadly former ally - Thanos.

   The first issue is all set-up (with scarcely a punch thrown), but it's setting up a heck of a battle - and a crazy cast - for the rest of the series.

   It's great to see Starlin back in action, especially since he's one of the few who writes Thanos properly - he always manages the proper mix of menace, intelligence and dark humor.

   Hopefully the upcoming movies will do as well!

Grade: A-

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Hulk #8

   When writer Mark Waid left this title a few issues back, I expected a quick drop off in the quality.

   But kudos to new writer Gerry Duggan, because the series hasn't missed a step. I'm really enjoying the latest incarnation of the Hulk as "Doc Green" (being an apparent nod to pulp hero Doc Savage).

   He's now even more intelligent than his Bruce Banner identity (though how much compassion he has is in doubt), and he's set out on a quest to "cure" the other members of the Hulk "family" of their gamma-irradiated curse.

   It all feels like a somewhat twisted version of the ongoing cartoon, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. (which is actually pretty good, I have to admit).

    This issue has the added twist of pitting the Hulk against the Red She-Hulk - also know as Banner's (ex?) wife Betty Ross.

   Mark Bagley stuck around after Waid left, thankfully - his sculpted artwork is a great fit here, with powerful layouts and lots of intensity on display.

   The series feels like a real change in the status quo for this series - hopefully it'll continue to live up to that billing.

Grade: A-

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Hulk #5

   Over the years, the Hulk has gone through quite a few changes - from the ever-loving' "Hulk Smash" phase to the intelligent Hulk to the grey (and morally challenged) Mr. Fixit, and, well, you get the idea.

   He's gone through another major change in this series, as the latest storyline started with Bruce Banner being shot - in the head.

   While transforming into the Hulk has restored his physical condition, his intellect was still badly damaged, so Tony Stark took the unusual step of using Extermis (the technical MacGuffin that can work wonders on the body, though with often-dire side effects)

   The effect has been to make the Hulk incredibly intelligent - perhaps more so than Banner. He embarks on a mysterious program, and it's not until late in the issue that his plan becomes evident - and it's one that may affect the entire Hulk family.

   Mark Bagley's art (with Andy Hennessy on inks).is excellent here, kicking off with several high-powered splash pages. He seems liberated by the fact that he only has to  draw one hero, instead of the usual army.

   I'm sorry to see Mark Waid step down as writer, but so far, Gerry Dugan is carrying the torch with no signs of faltering.

   So far, so good!

Grade: A-

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Savage Hulk #1

   I didn't know what to expect from the new Savage Hulk series - all I knew was that it was written and drawn by Alan Davis (with inks by Mark Farmer), and that was good enough for me.

   Somewhat surprisingly, it takes us back in time to the '70s (real time, not Marvel time), and to one of the most shocking issues I can remember buying.

   Issue #66 of the original X-Men title featured a crossover between the original team (Cyclops, Beast, Marvel Girl, Iceman and the Angel) and the Hulk, as the mutants tried to find a cure for an ailing Professor Xavier - a cure Bruce Banner could provide.

   But none of that made it shocking - it was the fact that #66 was the last issue of the X-Men series - the title was canceled!

   I was stunned - with stories by Roy Thomas and (usually) art by the amazing Neal Adams, how could it be cut short? But it was sadly true.

   The title didn't completely disappear - it immediately went into reprints of earlier issues in the series, and a few years later it returned as the "New" (and much more successful) X-Men.

   This series takes us back to the events after that last (pre-cancellation) issue and continues the story from there, adding in some classic Hulk villains and a few plot twists. At this time, the Hulk was a dim creature, given to simple sentences and bouts of rage - you know, "Hulk Smash!" and all that.

   Davis is at the top of his game here, often channeling Adams (or at least his version of the X-Men), and giving us a fast-moving and action-packed story that needs no set-up.

   With terrific art and a sharp story, what's not to like? It's as though the series was never canceled - just postponed.

   I'm enjoying this title - lots of fun for this old X-fan, and it's also fun to see the return of the original Hulk.

Grade: A-

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Hulk #1

   The beauty of the concept behind the Hulk is that it's very flexible - so with great regularity the series takes sudden turns and moves in unexpected directions.

   So we have had a Hulk who was an Agent of SHIELD, a fugitive, a gangster, a hero and a mindless monster (to name a few).

   Writer Mark Waid may have come up with the most unexpected direction of all.

   The Hulk is, of course, virtually indestructible - and efforts to hurt his mortal side (Bruce Banner) tend to result in an immediate appearance by the big green guy.

   So a mysterious group tries a different approach - they use an assassination attempt to set up an even darker plan. The result is a terrible decision facing a surgeon - and more than a few surprises along the way.

   The new art team on the series is one of my favorites, Mark Bagley, with inks by Andrew Hennessy. Perhaps it's the inking and perhaps it's the subject matter, but this is a grittier look for Bagley, whose style is usually more slick and precise. Here's it's darker, edgier - but strong storytelling as always.  

   With that twist on the last page, it's hard to see where the series goes from here - but I'll bet it'll be well worth following.

Grade: A-

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Indestructible Hulk #14

   LIke his work on Daredevil, writer Mark Waid has crafted the Indestructible Hulk into a clever, idea-filled comic that keeps rolling along in unexpected directions.

   He's placed the Hulk and Bruce Banner in the service of SHIELD, tackling the cases most agents would never survive.

   The latest adventure sends him traveling through time, attempting to stop a group of terrorists who plan to change the course of history - including the Hulk's personal history.

   It's a fun mix of incarnations of the Hulk from different time periods, pitted against familiar foes who've also traveled through time.

   It's all over the top and a bit wonky, but it all rockets along to an unexpected twist.

   My only complaint with the issue is the odd mix of artists - Mahmud Asrar kicks the issue off with a solid five pages, but the rest of the issue by Kim Jacinto seems to be very rough around the edges. The styles don't mesh at all.

   But the story makes up for any other problems, as Waid mixes new and old elements and whips up a fresh tale that makes the most of its wild premise. He's made the Hulk another comic to watch.

Grade: B+

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The Classics - Tales to Astonish #60

In the history of comics, it's typical for more than one comic book character to appear in an anthology title, but I think Marvel was the first to make extensive use of the "split" comic, where two characters who have little in common share the issue equally.

Part of the reason was because Marvel was limited in how many comics it could get distributed each month. A split comic gave the reader two characters to choose from - if he or she didn't like one character, perhaps they'd like the other.

There were three comics that featured a double-billing: Tales of Suspense hosted Iron Man and Captain America; Strange Tales featured the Human Torch (later replaced by Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD) and Dr. Strange; and Tales to Astonish featured Giant-Man and, starting with this issue in 1964, the Hulk.

Sadly, the stories didn't always live up to the promise. The Giant-Man story in this issue, for example, is mighty weak. An FBI Agent is captured by the Commies, so Giant-Man races to the rescue. Along the way he has to fight a small army of intelligent gorillas - and that's all you need to know. It's not Stan Lee or artist Dick Ayers' finest moment.

The Hulk story is only a little better - thanks in no small part to the classic team of Lee and Steve Ditko. The story focuses on a new invention by Bruce Banner - an indestructible suit of armor that is hijacked by a spy. Can even the Hulk stand against a creature that can't be hurt? But because of the page limitations, the story is just getting going when we get to the "To Be Continued" line.

As a kid, I loved the split books, and they're still a nostalgic treat. But as a grownup, I find I don't care for them as much. Ten pages just doesn't give the story much time to get going, and the books didn't really take off until the continued story became a common storytelling tool.

But even if the stories were shaky, the characters were wonderful - I wish Giant-Man and the Wasp will one day receive the kind of care and storytelling that they deserve.

Grade: C+

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