Review: HULK #1

HULK #1
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Mark Bagley
Published by Marvel Comics
Release Date: April 16, 2014

HULK2014001_DC11_LRHulk #1 is the continuation of Mark Waid’s superb series Indestructible Hulk, the series that integrated Hulk into the world of S.H.I.E.L.D. The re-titling and re-numbering is fitting as it represents a tonal shift for the book. Gone is the “Hulk destroys, Banner builds” mantra Banner would recite in the past series. Instead we find Banner in very compromising situation, with two bullets lodged in his brain. Hulk #1 is a very intriguing new direction for the character.

The majority of the issue is written from the perspective of Dr. Aaron Carpenter, the man tasked with saving Bruce Banner’s life. Aaron went to college with Bruce. Through Aaron’s inner thoughts, Mark Waid uses it as an opportunity to delve into some of Bruce’s backstory. This is something we didn’t see much of in Indestructible Hulk, and it’s a welcome addition. We see Bruce as a genius in college. We see the gamma explosion. We see the moment the identity of the Hulk is revealed. We see all of this through the eyes of Dr. Aaron Carpenter. Aaron is a conflicted character. He made fun of Banner in college, and regrets not being nicer to him. He thinks that if he had done things differently Banner could have avoided his terrible fate. With very little (conscious) Bruce Banner in this issue, Mark Waid makes some bold choices narratively, and it pays off. Seeing how another person feels about the Banner/Hulk character is incredibly fascinating. Anytime we are given a new perspective of a well established character I’m likely to find it interesting. That is exactly the case with this issue.

The art by Mark Bagley is solid but it’s nothing special. I think he handles the pulpy, monster movie feel of this new direction well, but he’s not really bringing much energy to the book. For the most part his human characters feel a little stiff and lifeless. Also, his character designs are pretty generic, drawing characters with not many distinguishing features. However, when we finally see a Hulk action scene, he does a nice job with the look of the Hulk in particular. He feels appropriately weighted and impactful to the characters around him. The Hulk is like a deadly freight train barreling off the tracks headed straight for your face. I think he captures that feeling well.

Hulk #1 seems to have erased a lot of what came before in Indestructible Hulk, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Mark Waid did his thing on that book and now he wants to do a new thing. Just because things are different doesn’t mean we should dismiss it. This issue has a much darker brooding tone than we saw previously, and he ends it on an absolutely insane cliffhanger that hooks you so good. Knowing Mark Waid’s other work, I’m sure he’ll continue to explore interesting ideas with the Bruce Banner character, and pay off what he’s setting up. In Waid we trust.

The Verdict: 8.0/10

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