Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Marvel Knights Hulk #1 of 4
Marvel Comics
Keatinge, Kowalski & Filardi
The Marvel Comics imprint, Marvel Knights, is releasing a series of character-based mini-series by a variety of creators and this one is Keatinge's vision of the Hulk. The Hulk is a tough character because we've seen so many variations of his origins, alliances, power control and a host of other characteristics that's hard to find new ground to cover or make something interesting that was old. However, the premise is generally the same: it's a Jekyll and Hyde story. This one puts the character in France and gives him memory loss. It's a good start to a short mini-series. We'll see how well Keatinge can flesh out the character in a short amount of space. This is a decent start.
The comic opens as Banner is rescued out of a river by a woman named Dyane. The comic shows some of the rescue (present time) in some panels while other panels are of the moments that led to Dyana walking along the river to find Banner. The book establishes Dyane immediately as a deep and passionate character. This is an impressive achievement to accomplish in such a short space.
As the book progresses the story treads into familiar territory. One of the regular Marvel Universe agencies is hunting Banner and they use a secret weapon to contain him. All of this follows familiar Hulk story elements such as taunting Banner about getting him angry and a lot of running-for-your-life kind of destruction.
The book was becoming something different and unique when the focus of the story was on Dyane and her ambition to help Banner. It had mystery because Banner couldn't remember anything. There was some tension because the reader knows he's being hunted but he doesn't and there are too many pieces that are missing that could take the book in a bunch of different directions. The book loses steam when the threat is revealed and the book becomes too much of a chase that could be pulled from any Hulk book, such as Ultimate Hulk, Season One, Red Hulk or Incredible Hulk.
The visuals create a great noir feel in the beginning from the panel layouts, to the pencils to the clothing selections and backgrounds. I was really starting to enjoy the book for this old-time look and mysterious settings. However, when the action heats up the book still looks good but it loses something because it isn't the best version of the Hulk or Hulk-like villains out there and it becomes too ordinary. There was one panel where I was unsure if the character was transforming in motion, hence two characters of varying shapes or if it was two distinct characters. The artwork definitely has its highs and lows.
The Hulk is one of those characters that I am going to read every incarnation published. Perhaps I am unfair critic in that regard. However, I also know what kind of Hulk story I am looking for and what kind of Hulk story I've never seen before. This started off as something new and that was promising but the ending couldn't quite keep that going. We'll have to see where this mini-series goes but if the focus remains in the character work, such as with Dyane, then this book could be something special.
3 out of 5 Geek Goggles
