Adam Graham's Blog: Christians and Superheroes - Posts Tagged "hulk"

Silver Surfer #5:

I really was somewhat nervous when Issue 4 of Silver Surfer ended with our hero somewhat earthbound. But I shouldn't have been. It's not a matter of Galactus' barrier being put in place, it's just that every life on the planet is in danger and only one person can actually save them.

I appreciated the call back of Hulk and Doctor Strange, the Surfer's former colleagues on the Defenders as was appropriate for such a big threat.

More importantly, Slott made Dawn's continuing roll in the series plausible as we see how the same type of love that makes it hard for Dawn to leave, makes it hard for them to hold her there. Overall, this was a great issue in a wonderful book. Forward to greater adventures ahead.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5.0

She-Hulk #3:

Every Marvel hero worth their salt has to battle Doctor Doom every once in a while. It's safe to say that this particular battle is certainly unusual one. Doom's heir Kristoff wants asylum because he fears becoming Doom's heir and puppet. However, Kristoff has been in the country more than a year and for him to have any prayer of getting asylum, Jennifer Walters has to get him to court, but she has to go through Doom's efficient robots to do it.

Overall, I'd rate this comic 3.5 stars. The first flash page was a bit unsettling though somewhat justified by later parts of the story. The story was humorous but not near as funny as the prior issues.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0

Indestructible Hulk #20

This issue wrapped up the Inhumanity saga and the 20-issue Indestructible Hulk series with a change of character for Banner. It was similar in some way that experienced by Matt Murdoch in the final issue of Daredevil Volume 3, though not quite as well-realized. The Inhumanity storyline showed the ugliness in Bruce Banner who's frustration with his life as the Hulk wasn't that his having to focus on running away as the Hulk or on curing the Hulk cost the world the advances he could discover but rather that fate had left him second rate. This issue sees him confront the issue, but his realization is short-lived as our attention demanded by the close which sets up the next series.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

Green Hornet #4:

The theme of Waid's Green Hornet in the first three issues has been the ability of power to corrupt. Issue 3 showed how corrupt the Hornet could get and how blind power made Britt Reid. In this issue, the fall begins and it is a stunning occurrence. We don't see who the man who pulls the strings is but we see that he is diabolically clever and Reid isn't prepared for what he's about to go through. I should say the book does it earns 15+ rating with violence that's a bit more extreme than your typical comic book. The book left me very curious what Issue 5 would hold.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Justice League Unlimited #34:

General Zod from the Phantom Zone by Mr. Mxyzptlik and it's up to the Justice League to save Superman. This issue illustrates what every bad issue of JLU did in the most extreme.

The story had lazy continuity with Superman having claimed never having met Zod, despite the fact this occurred in Superman: The Animated Series. It might be too much to expect the writers for JLU to know every comic story published for the DC Animated Universe, but someone editing this should've known the TV shows. They don't and it shows here.

The story is very slow getting going which leads to a very rushed conclusion. This horrific pacing is added to by the fact that Mr. Mxyzptlik is acting totally out of character by spring Zod. In fact, he's only in the story as a plot device.

This is a lazy and boring story that fails to entertain.

Rating: 1.25 out of 5.0

Batman and Robin Adventures #18:

This story finds Joker depressed as all of his criminal efforts seem in vain. However, Harley is determined to cheer him up the only way she knows how: killing Batman.

In many ways, this story seems like a lighter version of Paul Dini's classic, Mad Love. However, this particular story takes a couple different turns. The relationship between Joker and Harley remains center stage and Templeton's writing really captures its disturbing yet hilarious nature. The end is a nice touch too.

Rating: 3.75 out of 4.0

Batman '66 #43:

This issue wasn't quite as good as what came before. Batman and Robin have to talk their way out of the death trap and really there's far too much standing around talking in this issue. Also, I'm very share of writing "whack whack whack" into the Penguin's dialogue as it doesn't quite seem right for a comic book, particularly when he does it so much. The book has some good moments and while the Penguin's actions were predictable, it was still fun to read. Overall, the Widow saves this story though it's not quite as fun as the one that came before it.

Rating 3.0 out of 5.0

Defenders Masterworks Vol. 1 (Defenders by Steve Englehart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book collects Issues 34 and 35 of Sub-mariner, Marvel Feature 1-3 1-3, and Defenders 1-6 and introduces Marvel’s novel non-team of Superheroes. The Sub-mariner story is kind of a backdoor pilot that sees Namor recuring the Silver Surfer and the Hulk to save humanity from an ill-advised experiment. Then the Marvel Feature stories are more full-blown that has Doctor Strange calling for aide fro m Sub-mariner and the Hulk. Those three issues ended on a note that could have wrapped up the Defenders, but instead we got the full series which stars Strange, Namor, and the Incredile Hulk, but also an occasional from the Silver Surfer. The most important issue in this book may be Issue 4 which introduced Valkyrie who joined the Defenders as much as anyone can.

Of course, the Defenders is a non-team, and I didn’t fully grasp what that actually meant until reading the book. They have no secret headquarters and communicators. If one of them runs into a crisis they can’t handle, they call on as many of the others as they can. The book features a combustive mixture of personalities that makes the 1977 Yankees look tame by comparison with Namor being the second most level-headed member of the group. The Defenders are so entertaining and fun to read together that it makes the book worth reading. The art is well-done and manages to give the team a lot to do. You get to see some of the most combustible characters in the Marvel Universe let loose in glorious four colors.

Probably the worst thing to say about the book is that the villains are obscure, and I think that’s almost inherent with the format. Though one villain they face twice almost destroys the world, so it’s not the villains are weak, so much as they are little known.

Overall, I enjoyed this and will definitely check out Volume 2.




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