Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Hulk #1
Marvel Comics
Waid, Bagley, Hennessy & Keith
The re-launch of the Hulk is a comic book that boasts the tagline, "Who Shot Bruce Banner?" which implies a mystery of sorts. However, the opening issue feels like a recap and a very limited introduction to a plot. This issue simply doesn't have enough to pull in this reader for another twice a month, four dollar book. It's entertaining enough, but there isn't much in here that promises a consistently good or fun read for that kind of cash output. If you are curious I'd check it out but I'm not sure you are going to be adding it to your pull list immediately.
Banner's been shot and now he's being operated on. This book takes on the guilt felt by the doctor performing the operation. He's been asked to do something unethical, but he feels guilt for his role in Banner's odd upbringing. This is an entertaining idea and it helps to plug in some pieces to Banner's complicated past. The problem is the book lacks a focus.
The book dances around the conspiracy aimed at Banner and the Hulk. There are mysterious agents and murky plans but nothing really feels terribly tangible. It's just really hard to buy that one of the deadliest individuals on the planet can go under the radar and get manipulated to this extent. I'm not even touching on the oddity of how the Hulk doesn't pop out to either a) heal himself or b) defend himself from the invasive brain operation.
The artwork is good but nothing close to great or epic. To be fair there is barely any action and the majority of the scenes involve doctors with masks on their faces. There's not a whole lot to go on in this opening issue. There just isn't anything blatantly errant about the art but there isn't anything eye popping either.
The Hulk is a property that is always going to have a tough time finding something new to do with the character. You can put him in space, make him smart, make him dumb, spilt his mind in two, remove his mind, make him a villain, make him an agent, but ultimately you will run out of something new. This issue sort of proves that point. However, if the execution is good then the repetitive story won't matter. If this book wanders into the Bruce Jones conspiracy story then this book will be dead on arrival. Time will tell but this issue doesn't give me a ton of hope. We shall see how this plays out.
3 out of 5 Geek Goggles
