Indestructible Hulk #4, by Marc Alan Fishman – Snarky Synopsis | @MDWorld

February 28, 2013 Marc Fishman 0 Comments

Written by Mark Waid, Art by Leinil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan and Sunny Gho

It’s common amongst comic creators to declare Mark Waid is evil. It’s a common declaration because it’s true. No one else working today makes it look so damned easy. Maybe I’m still in the ‘honeymoon’ phase with his Indestructible Hulk, but I wager that this trip will last for a lot longer. Issue 4 is the first time Waid dared to use a ‘to be continued’ approach to his storytelling. Unlike Fantastic Four from last week, Hulk here feels like it’s earned it’s first stretch.

The premise is still brilliantly simple; “Hulk destroys, Banner builds.” With his lab and a home all set by S.H.I.E.L.D., things have reached a status quo. Choosing a path very similar to Matt Fraction’s Invincible Iron Man, Waid’s created a small environment, and populated it with a cadre of super scientists each there to help Banner gain the positive notoriety he’s longed for. Before we can really settle in with the good doctor and his ensemble, Maria Hill interjects. It’s time to Hulk out. A brief bit of exposition later, and Brucey is in the Pacific Ocean depths facing off against Attuma. Cue the punching and yelling. But unlike the previous 3 installments (versus the Mad Thinker, Iron Man (kinda) and Quintronic Man) this villain puts the green goliath on the ropes. A few underwater missiles, the crushing weight of the deep briny sea, and a potential lack of oxygen renders our hero out of commission. To be continued.

What makes Waid’s Hulk so enjoyable thus far is his pitch-perfect handling of Banner. Akin to say… Gregory House with a hair trigger, the book is solidly anchored by the human half. If nothing else? This was the single selling point I needed to return to book. You see, I left way back when the Red Hulk was introduced. Versus Jeph Loeb, Mark Waid’s tight scripts and light hand with the smashing makes for a breezy book that knows how to be compelling without gimmicks. Read my point above. Hulk thus far has fought the Mad Thinker (and not the crazy cool looking one from the Ultimate universe), and the friggin’ Quintronic Man! And now? An underwater villain! I compare it to pro-wrestlers when they debut. They’re booked into ‘squash matches’ where we the audience get a head of steam and zeal for the fighter. While Attuma was one of the ‘chosen’ back during the ‘Fear Itself’ crossover, let’s be real: ain’t no one expecting him to trash the Hulk. But he does, and he does it intelligently.

While 4 issues in have given way to a pretty predictable structure, as I’d mentioned earlier, it feels earned. Waid’s scripts mimic the drive of Bruce Banner himself. The more controlled he can be personally, the easier it is to let the beast out when he needs to. Waid channels his inner Jonathan Hickman in the issue as well. The psuedo-science is abound in the first half of the book. Call it a true trick of the magician—it’s infinitely followable, and actually exciting. In spite of his cocksure attitude with Maria Hill, Banner’s purpose is just and righteous. Sure he’s doing it out of ego, but issue 4 makes it clear: the means will justify the ends. Until everything is turned upside down. I can’t help but feel like this is all a slow burn until a heel turn (yup, pro-wrestling again). And with it? Real fury. Not Nick, either. To bring it back around again… when it comes time for the underpinning stresses that Waid is setting up in Banner’s lab, the ensuing storm will come well earned. Where it’s often easy to just yell Hulk Smash!, Mark Waid has restraint on his side.

Artistically, Leinil Yu continues to drive the visuals down his own path. He cramped panels, angular figures, and emotive faces all make the book a pleasure to flip through. And when we need a little green on the page? He’s smart to deliver the goods. Take his Banner-in-the-bomb flashback panel. It’s crispy, and shocking all at once. Tip of the hat to his colorist Sunny Gho, whose carefully chosen pallets and effect work only elevate things. When the book transfers to the briny deep, Gho and Yu drench the book in blues and softer lines. It’s subtle, but is everything one could hope for. Now, if I were to be a bit nit-picky, I would note that Hulk pages tend to be a bit too kinetic for me. I know though, that it’s the right choice to make. I may just find the action a bit too “western shaky-cam” for my personal tastes. That aside, the book is never not fun to look at. There’s no bigger compliment in my book than that. More than any other books I’m reading in the mainstream? This book is smart; both visually and literally.

And there it is, kiddos. Intelligence. While the Hulk himself is anything but, Waid, explicitly states it in the title’s mantra: The Hulk is a weapon. And thus far, he’s been treated as such. It underplays the emerald behemoth in lieu of a smart-aleck scientist who just wants to make a real difference. Add in a cast of new faces all with a few shades of grey (introduced perfectly in issue 3, and teased here in issue 4), and Maria Hill who is adamant on keeping Bruce under observation at all times? You get a complete world. If DC is reading my reviews (and why wouldn’t they, damn it?) I implore them to take some notes. 4 issues in, and there’s no creative team shifts. No epic book crossovers. No retconning the continuity of the character. Just a purpose, a new locale, and a character driven plot. Mark Waid IS evil. He figured out how to write a cape book that is equally mature and fun to read. Damn him.