I’m kind of a borderline Hulk fan. For the longest time I
didn’t really see why he was anything more than a throw away character, but
slowly, Hulk has been seeping into my comic reading, and I’ve grown to quite
like him as a character. The first real appealing moment for me was Jason Aaron’s
recent run on Incredible Hulk, where
he had Dr. Bruce Banner and the Hulk entity spilt into two beings, with the
story told from the Hulk’s point of view. The Hulk was finally free to be
happy, and Banner had gone completely mad scientist. The second time I connected
with Hulk was reading Hulk Grey by
Loeb and Sale, as they recounted Banner’s early days as the Hulk and what it
cost him and who it impacted (and Sale’s art was to die for). The third Hulk
story that I read and loved, and finally cementing my appreciation for the
character, was an old storyline of Peter David’s where the Hulk becomes a Vas
Vegas casino leg breaker, and while a bit cornball, was fun and entertaining.
All of this to say that I recently decided to give the new Indestructible Hulk series a try.
The fascinating thing about Hulk is how new writers are able
to take a character that could easily be a one trick pony and find something
new to say about the character. Waid’s new spin on the character is that Bruce
Banner has finally come to terms with the fact that the monster is part of who
he is, (as Waid puts it “Being the Hulk is a chronic condition, like diabetes
or cancer or M.S. The secret to living with it isn’t obsessing over a cure. It’s
managing what exists.”), and he needs to use his time as Banner to do good. To
accomplish this, Banner makes a deal with S.H.E.I.L.D. to get state-of-the-art
lab space and funding in return for them being able to use the Hulk as weapon
when they require it. As a premise it’s brilliant, and it got me extremely
excited and expectant of great things to come.
The first issue is mostly a conversation between Banner and
Maria Hill of S.H.I.E.L.D. about Banner’s proposal, and while there is also a
large action scene, it was the discussion setting up the premise of the book
that sticks out for me. So much so in fact, that when I read references to the
action scene in later issues I didn’t even remember it happening and worried that
I had somehow skipped an issue.
The second issue was a solid little story that further
defined what Waid wants to say during his run on the book. The main feature is
Banner prepping a new invention and Tony Stark butting heads with Banner, with
Stark realizing in the end that Banner is much more brilliant that Stark ever
gave him credit for. The issue is a stand out for me, especially as it shows
Stark’s easily shattered confidence in himself, as he must at one point excuse
himself from Banner’s presence and, looking at himself in the mirror, reminds
himself that at least he’s still rich even if he isn’t the genius that Banner
is. It’s interesting that Stark has really taken over the role of most
brilliant mind from Reed Richards, and this book suggests that they could
easily take that title away from him and shift it once again, onto the head of
Bruce Banner.
The rest of the issues build a bit more on the grand plan of
having Banner atone for the damage he wreaks as Hulk, but mostly just turn into
a bunch of issues of Hulk smashing things. The action sequences are well choreographed
and rendered by Yu, but for me, they didn’t excite me nearly as much as the
first two issues did simply because it’s the cerebral part of Hulk stories I
enjoy more than the all-out action scenes.
The first few issues suggested that Waid had a very focused
story he wanted to tell, but looking back on issue one through five as a whole,
I feel that there are elements introduced that don’t really pay off because
there simply isn’t room to tell those stories plus have the Hulk let loose. The
elements that I currently feel have been left on the back burner will hopefully
be dealt with soon, so I’m definitely in for a few more issues to see if the
title delivers what it suggested it was going to. The big storyline I want to
see continued is the group of scientists that have been gathered to work under
Banner, as they clearly all have interesting backstories and some have
potentially nefarious reasons for wanting to work with Banner, and yet as soon
as they are introduced they are left alone until it’s convenient to mention
them again. The other element, is the
introduction of R.O.B., a floating robot orb that would probably be at home in
another Portal sequel, that has been
put in place by S.H.I.E.L.D. to monitor Banner and the Hulk, and seems to
mostly be used by Waid as a running gag, as it is destroyed over and over
again. As humor, I felt if fell a bit flat, but if there is another reason for
it existing, then I’m all for that being revealed soon.
Indestructible Hulk
has the potential to be a great series, and right now it’s keeping me engaged enough
to stick around, especially since Walt Simonson coming on art duties for a run
is just starting, so I’m in this for at least a few months more. I do really
hope that the initial premise that was so well laid out in the first issue
really blossoms into something great, but for now, it’s going to be a matter of
waiting and seeing.
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