Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Incredible Hulk #1
Marvel Comics
Aaron, Silvestri & Gho
Marvel's big re-launch of the Incredible Hulk brings a high profile creative team and a new direction. All of which makes for good criteria for a re-launch. With DC Comics rebooting and launching their entire line in September I find myself comparing this number one with the likes of those number ones but that may not be totally applicable because the history of the character remains intact. In any case I found this issue to be lacking in many areas. Essentially this issue doesn't provide much story and I'm not sure the slow burn approach is the way to go with a high profile first issue as this one seems to do.
The issue spends the bulk of the beginning of the issue with Hulk's internal thoughts. He's separated from Banner and he apparently didn't lose any brain cells in the process. He decides to go into the center of the Earth to hang out with some small creatures that appear to have miniature Iron Man masks for faces. After Hulk gets there, his little buddies beg him to be with them, to celebrate with them. Hulk tries to explain that eventually "they" will find him so basically doesn't want to get attached to anyone. The question then is why isn't he just alone somewhere, like on Mars?
Eventually someone comes looking for the Hulk. It's the US government and they have a mission for Hulk. One that he couldn't possibly pass up. The cliffhanger is an odd one but a good one.
The issue is virtually inaccessible to a new reader. Anyone coming in cold would have no understanding about how or why Banner and the Hulk have been separated. Sure, it's a nice mystery but a footnote reference would be nice if it relates to a prior story. As a new reader I would have too many puzzles coming out of this issue I believe.
The issue I found to be rather dull. This is a Hulk comic book. I sort of expect some smashing and some level of anger. Hulk seems calculated and willing to meditate. Not to mention that the first ten pages of the book are snail pace slow with no real payoff. The book picks up in the second half but I couldn't help but feel like I had read this before. A government official approaches the Hulk about a mission. It seems like it happens all the time and it never ends well for Hulk so why would he even fall for it?
The artwork was a big disappointment. Silvestri needed help on the pencils and it shows. Add in that there are three inkers and the artwork ranges from breathtaking to sloppy and blurry. The best part of the issue is the last page. Based on what was sent out in the previews a few weeks ago I found the art to be a big letdown. Perhaps they should have delayed the issue's release.
I'm a huge fan of the Hulk and a bigger fan of Jason Aaron but this issue completely missed with me. The issue is way too slow, to the point of being pretentious, as it seems to take forever to lift into a story. It wouldn't be so terrible if the opening established something but it really didn't do much other than to show that a Banner-less Hulk is still pretty smart. I need more story or Hulk-like action and I definitely need more consistent art. Hopefully the next issue will be better.
2 out of 5 Geek Goggles
