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

Despite what most of the online sources say, the Annual of this series was written by Jeff Parker, not Mark Waid who wrote the main series. The story was not bad per se but it was a tad repetitive. Iron Man is the key guest star and he appeared back in Indestructible Hulk #2, only a year previously. The big opportunity of the issue would be exploration of the relationship between Bruce Banner and Tony Star, but compared to what Waid did back in Issue 2, this doesn't add much.

The book begins with four pages of a man speaking to a college seminar where both Tony Stark and Banner attended. If the book has a big point it's that there's not enough spending on non-defense related science. Whatever the merits, the argument is pounded in with a sledgehammer, so it's just annoying. The interactions between Hulk and Stark are okay, but it really feels like Parker didn't read the main title as he trode over a lot of familiar ground. The art is good and some of the traps were clever, but not so the resolution.

Annuals used to be huge stories worthy of reader's attentions but this story just doesn't do it. It features too much pointless talking, a retread of themes explored less than a year ago, and a villain who makes one and only one appearances. You may enjoy this book more if you haven't been following the series, but given the price of annuals, if you haven't been following the series, why bother?

Review: 2.25 out of 5.0

Silver Surfer, Vol. 7, Issue 1:

My curiosity was peaked about the Silver Surfer when I read the preview in Superior Spider-man. I have very limited experience with the Surfer beyond his Silver Age Fantastic Four appearances, and cartoons and found this pretty easy to follow as it established his backstory as a herald of Galactus and also introduced Dawn Greenwood who, based on the preview, will end up travelling the galaxy with the Surfer. (Doctor Surfer, perhaps.)

Dawn and the Surfer are apart until the last page. Dawn lives at a family run New England Bed and Breakfast in Anchor Baby and her sister decides to become a world traveler while Dawn is a homebody who only shows any regrets about the path she's chosen towards the end of the book.

The Surfer meanwhile has found a species that hidden itself from him seeking his assistance on their very big and crowded homeworld. This one point in the book where the art kind of failed as the Planet just looked very crowded and busy and it really should have been more breathtaking based on the dialogue.

The story was okay throughout but some of the changes towards the end really peaked my interest Nothing breathtaking happens, but for a first issue, I think it does it's job. It introduces the characters and some interesting concepts, and personally I'm looking forward to more from the Surfer and Dawn.

Rating 3.75 out of 5.0

Masks, Issue 7:

At this point, the story has gotten to the point where it's not moving a whole lot. Our heroes have finally gotten to their location. We have the introduction of a very convenient army and we finally learn who's behind the Justice Party. The book is competently done and sets up Issue 8

Rating: 3.25 out of 5.0

Batman '66 #34:

This issue brings back a lesser-remember Batman villain from the TV series, Marsha Queen of Diamonds and she has a totally outlandish and audacious scheme that strikes at the heart of the Dynamic duo. This was just a fun story that really was in keeping with the spirit of the TV show.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Indestructible Hulk #16:

This book served as a prelude to the inhumanity saga and finds Bruce Banner frustrated as things haven't quite gone according to plan with him giving SHIELD use of the hulk in exchange to being able to build and create scientifically. Banner's shown having to intimidate people to get more funding. (You going to argue with a guy who turns into the Hulk?) However, even his efforts to be a groundbreaking scientist are frustrated as on three straight days, the groundbreaking scientific project he's trying to create is actually solved by fellow Marvel science guys Tony Stark, Reed Richards, and Hank Pym.

Banner needs to hulk out but he needs to be restrained until it's time and for that, he needs the help of his lab assistant Randall Jessup to keep calm until the Hulk is actually needed. Jessup in some ways is reminiscent of Rick Jones. The book explains how he became equipped for dealing with out of control angry people in some nice flashbacks. Jessup's a good character though I'm dubious at why Waid so openly tips his hands as to what will happen to him.

Overall, this was a nice issue that sets up the next story arch.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Silver Surfer #2:

At the end of the last issue, the Surfer is challenged to protect an alien world and told that even if he doesn't the most important person to him, Dawn Greenwood, will be killed. He has no idea who Dawn Greenwood is but because he's Norin Radd, he will do what he can to protect the innocent and confront the Never Queen.

The Never Queen is just a great character and concept. Dawn Greenwood also is just incredibly likable and plucky. The plot takes a couple nice turns as the Surfer learns that he hasn't been told the whole truth.

Overall, I'm really enjoying this arch and the new Silver Surfer. It's the type of fun that makes people fans of science fiction in the first place.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5.0

Iron Man Volume 1 #53:

Mostly this was a decent issue, continuing Iron Man's battle with the flame powered cultist from Issue 52. There's nothing great or bad about the issue other than it spends a lot of time telling us backstory about a character who would never be seen again. Still Jim Starlin writes a competently done Iron Man story here.

Rating: 2.75 out of 5.0

Masks #8

This final issue of the pulp miniseries wraps up with the heroes battling the villain for the first part and then having an ethical debate about their differences, particularly in regards to their willingness to kill ranging from: none at all (Green Lama) to only if forced (Green Hornet) to as he sees fit (The Shadow). This was kind of interesting but the last issue wasn't that place. The story did end on a positive note.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0

My overall thoughts on the series: It did a good job with what it had to do. With few true "superpowers" among the group of pulp heroes, they needed an enemy big enough to draw them together, but not absurdly over the top, and they succeeded. Most of the cast did get screen time and the art really does carry the story with the solid art direction of Alex Ross. While we don't get too deep with most characters, we get deep enough with everyone.

Overall series rating: 4.0 out of 5.0.

Justice League Unlimited #9:

This story features the Justice League travelling back to Camelot, which is a pretty fun concept, and there's some nice art of this battle with Morgana Le Fey.

The story is dragged down by massive amounts of padding to get this thing to 20 pages. We're given the origin story of shining night, which is great, except his role in the story is minimal. The focus of the story is Vixen (Green Lantern's rebound girlfriend after Shiera in the TV series) who spends the entire issue refusing to listen to Merlin and dragging out the story.

Rating: 1.75 out of 5.0