By: Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (art), Elizabeth Breitweiser (colors), Ed Dukeshire (letters), Jake Thomas (assistant editor) & Mark Paniccia (editor)
She-Hulks/A-Bomb back-up by: Parker (writer), Tim Seeley (art), Matt Milla (colors), Dukeshire (letters), Thomas & Paniccia (editors)
The Story: A new story line kicks off for Red Hulk as a former ally is coming to kill him.
What’s Good: This issue is a great continuation from Hulk #30.1. That issue was a great jumping on point (the whole idea behind the .1 project) that recapped the Red Hulk story thus far while also laying out some new material. You’re going to see some cynics who think Marvel should have just stuck with consecutive numbering, but I really don’t mind them doing something to entice readers that a new story arc is coming and that it will be pretty accessible. It is far preferable to starting with a new #1 issue.
Lot’s of cool little elements to this story and in typical Parker fashion, he has more than one thing going on at the same time. The main story flows from #30.1 and shows that Red Hulk is now pursued by Gen. Thunderbolt Ross’ former protégé, Col. (?) Fortean. Fortean basically wants revenge for Red Hulk seemingly killing Ross, so there is a lot of irony here AND Fortean has access to years and years of Ross’ Hulk-busting arsenal. The attacks that Fortean has leveled at Red Hulk are such that it’s going to be very difficult for Red Hulk to get any back-up or rest. This whole story is great because it plays up Ross as the world-weary, grizzled old warrior. That’s really a perspective that we don’t get enough of in superhero comics. The main characters kinda stop aging in the 35-45 age range, so we miss having the cynical, but wise older dude who knows how things are going to turn out before the action starts. Seriously, what would be wrong with letting a few more characters get older?
The B-Story ties back into Parker and Hardman’s first arc story dealing with the Omnisapient Corporation and we meet Zero/One who seems to be a new villainess derived from the weird metallurgical technology at Omnisapient. Ordinarily, you’d think that Parker is just setting up his next story, but he has show himself so adept at juggling that he could conceivably wrap up both the Fortean and Zero/One stories in the very next issue. You have to pay attention to this series or you’ll miss something.
By now, I’ve made my thoughts pretty clear on the combination of Hardman linework with Breitweiser colors, but I’ll say it again: You should buy any issue by these two creators. Of course, we all know by now that Hardman draws a great Hulk, but he can also do the little things like showing a Hulk eating ribs. It’s the little things like this that make Hardman’s storytelling so complete. It is hard to focus on a quiet scene of Red Hulk trying to have a conversation/picnic with a young Life Model Decoy, when you’re staring at a panel of characters eating food that seems to be hovering in front of them with their hands merely nearby. But, with Hardman you just kinda accept that they’re eating and enjoy the scene (and that’s kinda the point).
Breitweiser is just awesome as a colorist. I officially never want to see shiny, overly rendered superheroes again, but the muted colors are just the beginning of her excellence. She has a real understanding of what objects in a panel you should be looking at and how to color those so that your eye is drawn to them.
What’s Not So Good: Obviously, since I have prattled on for ~600 words on how awesome this comic is, there isn’t much wrong with it. If I have a complaint, it is mostly that I didn’t love the way the Fortean and Zero/One stories were meshing. Usually Parker has two stories going, but he usually doesn’t make us cut away from one scene to a “Meanwhile, back in the other story…” It isn’t “bad”, but it isn’t quite as slick as Parker usually is; he’s spoiled us.
Also, in the tongue-in-cheek department… Although Red Hulk states that “he has money” in this issue, where is he keeping it? I don’t see any pockets on those pant…r does he have one of those mesh pouches inside the waistband like swimsuits have? And does he carry cash? Ross is an older dude who might be uncomfortable with debit cards, so I could see him having a money clip.
Conclusion: Another really strong issue of Hulk. You really should be reading this series if you aren’t because (a) it is awesome due to the talents of Parker, Breitweiser & Hardman and (b) it doesn’t ask you to read 5 other Marvel books to keep up.
Grade: A-
-Dean Stell
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