“Hulk #1” by Marc Alan Fishman – Snarky Synopsis | @MDWorld

April 27, 2014 Marc Fishman 0 Comments

Written by Mark Waid. Art by Mark Bagley, Andrew Hennessy, and Jason Keith.

The ‘Indestructible Hulk’ was one of the sharpest books I’d read in a good long time. I fell off of it months ago, due largely to all the crap that surrounded it. I wish now that I’d stuck on a bit longer. First? Because “Hulk #1” clearly starts where it’s predecessor left off. Second? Because I’d like to be reminded that Mark Waid is a strong storyteller. I can’t believe I’d say this off the bat… but there’s time in life you just have to rip the band-aid. Mark Waid failed me. And it makes me angry. You love me angry though, right? So let’s unleash the fury of my Snulk. That’s Snark-Hulk, for you who are a bit slow.

Before I rant and rail though, let me douse you in exposition juice. So someone put two bullets in the back of the head of Bruce Banner. The people behind the shooting (who don’t own a lightbulb) bring in a former classmate– and partial jackass– to perform the necessary brain surgery to keep Brucey alive. This comes of course with the caveat that they would force the good doctor to install some tech that would allow them to trigger the transformation into the Hulk at their discretion. But luckily, the anesthesiologist happened to be saved by the Hulk at one point (which was part of the evil people’s criteria for admission to surgery, apparently), and she would have nothing of it! She wakes up Bruce, who transforms into the Hulk, and he Hulks all over the place. Oh, and hey? He’s missing a part of his skull. Of all the healing and stuff the jade giant can muster, growing out a skull is not on the list. By episode’s end, Agent Coulson and Hill catch up with the commotion, and find Bruce; at a hospital, with permanent and severe brain damage.

Taken for what it is– a pilot– it’s not too shabby a concept. Dumbing down Bruce likely leads to an impossibly dumber Hulk. Maybe. The fact is though, this is a four dollar comic book, and it’s all set up. Twenty plus pages of it. And no where within those twenty pages is there a shred of personality, depth, or substance. The surgeon / former classmate toys quickly with questions of his personal ethics, and a pittance of pity for his former-self; one of many who either picked on or added to the isolation of a young Bruce Banner. But the fact is anyone who read Waid’s previous incarnation of the Hulk comes to this new series pained to find even a hint of the former betwixt the pages. The ‘Indestructible Hulk’ was a book seemingly founded on the nature of being smart, and wanting to explore the facets therein. Somehow, perhaps an unfunny joke, Waid seeks now to explore the dumb? But once again… I’ve digressed.

The notion of an irreversibly dumb Bruce Banner is cute – in an elseworlds tale, or a “what if”. Taken as cannon, it’s laughable, unless Waid is serious. Dan Slott proved that he had a year and more worth of Octo-Spidey. Perhaps Waid has similar intent? If so, then this may only be the first weak chapter in a strong storyline that will hold itself up as the next “how long can they keep this up?” yarn. I pray it is. But taken as presented? Waid misses the mark by several magnitudes. In his recent writings he’s been able to capture mood with the clarity of a sage. His Daredevil series captivated the masses with it’s ability to balance joy and pain. With his previous work in Banner’s world, he challenged the status quo, all while enjoying a day at the beach in the sandbox of Hulk villains. Issue one of ‘Hulk’ does none of that.

The workhorse Mark Bagley joins Andrew Hennessy, and Jason Keith to deliver nothing special. Per his normal MO, Bagley’s panels bounce and dip and duck with ease. Characters are easy to identify, and environments are well-detailed. But much as I’ve long felt about his work, Mark’s layouts leave no lasting memory of themselves by the turn of the last page. His storytelling is so strong, the issue flows without any sticky-points. In a static medium, in my opinion, this comes as a potential detriment. If a book leaves you without even a single panel with which to hang a coat on? You’re ambling through the story without pause. It’s hitting the fast forward button on your Tivo such that you end up reading the comic at 1.5x, and as a result, are ready to move on before you’ve really even settled in. Inks and colors hold up their end of the bargain; that is to say there were there, they were fine, and I don’t recall them standing out, or getting in the way. Color me beige, kiddos!

As presented… ‘Hulk #1’ is a singular info dump devoid of emotion; outside the predictable and banal. I hate to play my daddy card so early but I may have to: Mark Waid, after reading “Hulk #1”, it turns out I am not angry… just disappointed.