The Incredible Hulk....6 months later (Review)

The Incredible Hulk is an Icon.  You see big & green, and all you can think of is the Hulk!  The new, on-going series written by Jason Aaron follows a wonderful run by Greg Pak that produced Planet Hulk, World War Hulk, & tie-ins with Jeph Loeb's Hulk title that included a Red Hulk, & several other gamma-induced friends & enemies from Bruce Banner's life.

Jason Aaron had a lot of pressure to produce something good, and he has not disappointed. The Incredible Hulk thus far has been wonderful, including a mad scientist, a secret government agency, and a radioactive island filled with "Hulk-like" animals.  Marc Silvestri & Whilce Portacio have done all the artwork so far in this series.  Although some don't like their  "scratchy" art, I love it. It gives The Hulk that feel of feral rage and simplicity.  Leinil Francis Yu adds some of his work on the covers of some of the issues as well.

For years Dr. Bruce Banner has struggled with the Beast within. But now the Beast has done something the Scientist was never able to....split the Man from the Monster.

The Incredible Hulk (Review)

Citizen's Grade: O.K.

Edward Norton stars as Bruce Banner, the scientist who has been in hiding and living in the shadows...searching diligently for a cure to the uncontrollable rage that lurks within him. But when the military forces him out of the shadows, they don't get Banner, but his rage...known as The Hulk.

The only thing capable of calming the green monster is the lovely Betty Ross (played by Liv Tyler), though her father; General Ross (played by William Hurt) is the one masterminding the hunt for Banner's genetic alter-ego. An assassin turned Abomination (played by Tim Roth) hunts for the The Hulk, but goes beyond what he is able to control in his search for power and vengeance. Can Banner use The Hulk to save the the innocent, and those he loves and hates....or will his curse be their downfall as well?

Overall a decent film with good acting and great special effects. Compared to the abysmal Hulk (starring Eric Bana) of a few years before, The Incredible Hulk is awesomely better!

Planet Hulk animated (Review)

Citizen's Grade: O.K.

Tricked by those he considered allies, launched into deep space against his will, marooned on an alien planet, captured and forced to compete in gladiatorial games. The "Green Scar" rises above, goes through, and runs over those in his path, leading the rebels to freedom! That is the basic plot of Planet Hulk!

"The book is always better" opinion rings true here.

Planet Hulk (Review)

Citizen's Grade: Awesome.

Tricked by those he considered allies, launched into deep space against his will, marooned on an alien planet, captured and forced to compete in gladiatorial games. The "Green Scar" rises above, goes through, and runs over those in his path, leading the rebels to freedom! That is the basic plot of Planet Hulk!

Top 5 Graphic Novels

This list was extremely difficult to come up with. I wish I could just do a top 100 list….but that would be a lot of typing, and probably get a little boring. I made the list by deciding which five graphic novels I would grab & say belonged to someone else if the IRS took everything I owned.

1. Green Lantern: Rebirth. Written by Geoff Johns, artwork by Ethan Van Sciver. This collection re-introduces Hal Jordan as Green Lantern. I would have bought this on John’s name alone, but also just for the artwork by Van Sciver! A must-read if you’re new to comics or the Green Lantern character.

2. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. Written by Jeff Loeb, artwork by Ed McGuinness. The saying goes, “The book is always better than the movie”, and if you liked the DVD S/B: Public Enemies, than you’ll love the book! Loeb tells the story from both Superman’s & Batman’s perspective, and McGuinness’s artwork is top notch! A great read if you don’t collect Supes or Bats monthlies but want to know more about the characters.

3. Planet Hulk. Written by Greg Pak, artwork by various. Soon to be released on DVD, Planet Hulk is a great, original story about the Hulk! Marooned on a distant planet, forced to be a gladiator, the great rebel leader the Green Scar shows the Hulk; not as a mindless monster, but as a calculating and fearless rebel leader. Pak solidified my respect with this collected volume.

4. Identity Crisis. Written by Brad Meltzer, artwork by Rags Morales. This event has me wishing that Meltzer and Morales did more work together! A very mature story involving the violation of one of the Justice League’s wives, a rush to judgement, the death that ensues, and the crumbling of trust and respect among the heroes involved. I actually cried when Batman & Robin are rushing to try and save Robin’s father. This volume brought me back into collecting comics!

5. Superman: Red Son. Written by Mark Millar, artwork by various. Millar tells a wonderfully original story of Superman’s life. Crash landing in the Ukraine instead of Kansas, raised with the ideals of a communist utopia rather than the American Way, protector of the Proletariat! The artwork is fantastic and the Hammer & Sickle replacing the “S” on his chest makes you want to join the communist party.

Special Mentions go to Green Arrow: Quiver (Kevin Smith/Phil Hester), Superman/Batman: Supergirl (Loeb/Michael Turner), & Hip Flask: Unnatural Selection (Richard Starkings & Casey/Ladronn).