The Incredible Hulk in Museum Piece

The Literary Hulk part 3

Marvel Super Heroes Novel No. 9

By Mark Ricard

MarvelSuperheroes9This review is a bit different from the last two. First,the Hulk only appears in a single novella. This is a story collection and a full length novel. Second,this is a adaption of a two part story written by a one time regular Hulk writer Len Wein. The story “Museum Piece” is based on Incredible Hulk issues 197-198. This is was during the early part of Sal Bucesma’s long run as artist on title. As a Hulk it is interesting because it involved a team up with The Man Thing. This was one of if not the very first time these heroes had ever met it also involved the villain known as the Collector. In it the Hulk and Man-Thing are taken to the Collector’s ship as prisoner’s for his collection. To tell more would spoil the story. There are small changes. Any reference to continuity are taken out. The connections to the Gerber Man-Thing story are understandably removed and the Glob becomes the Golem of European folklore. At it’s basic level it is the same story. There are even appearances of other races including a Skrull and a Badoon.

Why Len Wein chose this story is hard to understand. While it is certainly not overly action oriented it is not one of his more introspective works. It is a decent story but if it was going to be translated into prose you would expect Wein to take the opportunity to go farther into depth with the characters or the situation. But he never does this. We get the same dialogue and characters as before. This is disappointing. He could have taken the opportunity to develop the characters of the human prisoners to a greater degree than the comic. The story’s early pages involving a fight between the Hulk and could have eliminated to spend more time for us to learn about the Collector his motivations.

There are other stories may have made a better fit to prose. Unlike few other writers on the title Len Wein understand the child like nature of the “Savage” Hulk. If he could have translated that some of those stories that showed that side of the character we could have had a great instead of okay story. Still I recommend this to Hulk fans. It is entertaining and is still the first non novel length prose for the character. Perhaps it is just a matter of the reviewer’s expectations.

The other Stories

Here is a brief review of the other stories.

Children of the Atom By Mary Jo Duffy.

This is another story written by a then current Marvel Comic book writer. Mary Jo Duffy does a good job of showing the personalities of each of the X-men. Though this was written in the Claremont/Byrne era some of the regular cast is missing. Wolverine getting into a bar fight is the most entertaining part of the story.

The Evil Undying By Jim Shooter

This is an Avengers verses Ultron story. I found this the weakest of the stories. Jim Shooter tried to push the envelope in making things more “adult” with some parts. It does not really come off. Iron Man seems just slightly off in this story. Mostly in the parts that are try to be more mature. Still it was thought of highly be David Michellene to become translated into a Avengers comic book two part story in Avengers 201 and 202. The reverse situation of the books Hulk story.

Blind Justice By Kyle Christropher

This is arguably the best story in the book. Kyle Christopher is pseudonym of Comic book writer Martin Pasko. Unlike the other writers in this collection Pasko was working mostly for DC Comics at the time this was written. What Pasko did that the other writers did not was to use prose effectively. He describes how Daredevil experiences his powers and what it feels like to be inside his head. Some of the background about the origin is slightly different. But this is not a big deal. We get a Pre-Miller Daredevil story that involves Organized Crime and one of his then current comic book villains. Pasko story is one of the main influences on Mark Waid’s current Daredevil run. Waid himself lists it in this article. The Five Most Underrated DAREDEVIL Stories You Must Read, by MARK WAID | 13th Dimension, Comics, Creators, Culture

Though it is not perfect I can easily recommend this collection to any Marvel Comics fan.

Hulk of Arabia

With the conclusion of Greg Pak’s Incredible Hulks just a month away and the introduction of Jason Aaron and Mark Silvestri’s new Incredible Hulk (singular) ongoing just around the corner, you’d think that Marvel had forgotten about its ruby hued engine of destruction, the Red Hulk.

Red Hulk

Introduced in 2008, the Red Hulk was a devious villain operating with a secret goal in mind. Appearing with a S.H.I.E.L.D. issue blaster in hand, his first appearance spelled the death of the Abomination. This Hulk was far more dangerous than the jade giant. While many readers struggled to guess the character’s human identity, personally I was tipped off the first time he used the phrase ‘milksop,’ a term that I have only seen General Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross use. The eventual backstory told the tale of a frustrated soldier overcome by a lifetime of failure looking for a way to make things right. Manipulated by the Leader, one of the Hulk’s oldest foes, Ross underwent an intense exposure to gamma rays that transformed him into a red-skinned powerhouse. Teaming up with the Leader’s Intelligencia, the Red Hulk was part of a massive plot to spread havoc using gamma-irradiated soldiers and take control of America in the confusion.

Ross saw the error of his ways just in time to team up with Banner and put an end to the Intelligencia’s World War of Hulks. In the aftermath, he became Banner’s lackey, sent on operations to stop several doomsday operations set in motion by the Leader and MODOK called the Scorched Earth Protocols. Banner knows that Ross cannot risk showing his real face to a world that thinks him dead without losing what pride he still has in his military career. Commander Steve Rogers, working with Banner, has taken the Red Hulk in, on a limited basis, always keeping his eye closely on Ross, waiting for him to make the first rebellious move. With only Life Model Decoys for company, Ross has struggled to maintain his sanity and composure, but this September he finally goes off the rails and it’s destruction on a grand scale.

Jeff Parker spoke to CBR recently about the ideas behind the Hulk of Arabia story.

CBR News: Jeff, the action in “Hulk of Arabia” begins with the death of one of Ross’ old friends. Can you tell us a little bit about who this friend was and what he meant to Ross?

Jeff Parker: Ross’ friend was Will Krugauer, a Major who seemed to be career military, and then left for the private sector. Which didn’t sit well with Ross, who frowns on the kind of mercenary work Will did after they parted ways. It’s this job that led to him being killed in the country of Qatar.

CBR: When Ross learns of his friend’s death he sets out on a mission of revenge. How much does he know about things going in though? Is the “Hulk of Arabia” arc more an espionage thriller where Ross has to find out who killed his friend and why? Or is this a straight up revenge story where Ross knows his targets and sets out to take them down?

JP: It’s both of those kinds of stories. Like a Hulk, he gets upset and goes charging into a war zone. But things are never that simple in global disputes. And frankly, he’s having a hard time figuring where he should place blame, he just wants so badly to smash something.

CBR: The Middle East is a complex, politically-charged area of the world that’s been the scene of much conflict and strife in recent years. What’s it like writing Ross in that environment? We imagine as a solider, and an opinionated one at that, Ross might have an interesting perspective on the area.

JP: The area appears to be more in flux than ever. Currently, many are hoping for a domino effect of government changes across the region-the Arab Spring as it’s called. But even though he has more power than ever, Ross isn’t interested in affecting change. Really, we get a sense that was never something he was big into, he was more about direct threats to the U.S. I don’t clean up the way he would likely regard the Middle East, and we do meet some counter point-heroes like Arabian Knight.

CBR: Earlier you mentioned Qatar. Will Ross be traveling to real Middle East nations in “Hulk of Arabia,” or are we going to see some fictional Marvel Universe locales as well?

JP: The initial fighting is in Qatar, [which is] real of course. And the disputed region he goes to is at the border of Libya and Egypt. That’s where we discover a place being carved out that is completely fictional, but really amazing to see!

CBR: Ross has been working as an agent for the U.S. government in the pages of “Hulk,” but for this arc he goes rogue and charges into the Middle East without authorization. Ross’ government handler, Steve Rogers, dispatches the Secret Avengers to bring him back and keep him from creating an international incident. What’s it like writing the dynamic between the Hulk and the Secret Avengers? Do they believe Ross must be stopped, or are any of them sympathetic to what he’s trying to do?

JP: It’s important to remember a couple of the SA joined She-Hulk to fight Red before: Black Widow and Valkyrie. So that comes up right away! War Machine of course will unleash all the armament he has to to follow Steve’s mission, but also a surprise Marvel character gets drafted into this operation.

Attendees of the 2011 San Diego International Comic Con got a free ashcan preview, something that Hulk fans unable to make it to the comic book mecca are desperate to get their hands on. Well, your humble narrator managed to find a copy and it is a doozy.

Color preview

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The ashcan is of course in B&W which really shows off Zircher’s phenomenal artwork. Like many fans of the Jeff Parker era of the Red Hulk series, I have become attached to the fantastic art by Gabriel Hardman and while I was sad to see him off the title, the Hulk is in good hands with Zircher. The explosions and fisticuffs are still just as big, the monstrous close-ups just as horrific and the action is non-stop.

Under Parker’s pen, the Red Hulk series has been a nostalgic trip down memory lane for me. The Hulk is on the run from the military, unable to show his face in public and under attack from strange enemies. I do appreciate what Greg Pak is up to in his final storyline over in Incredible Hulks, but the only thing missing from the Red Hulk comic that would make it the ideal Hulk book is a change in color.

A new addition to the growing gallery of villains for the Red Hulk is General Fortean, an old friend of Ross’ who blames the Red Hulk for General Ross’ death. It’s complicated but essentially Parker has recreated the old Ross hunting the Hulk using high tech weaponry angle with a new twist. Fortean has no idea that Ross is actually the Red Hulk and Ross of course cannot tell his old friend that he is mistaken. The result is a fire fight that grows more intense with each issue as Fortean tries more ingenious and deadly means to destroy the creature that murdered his friend and mentor.

The Hulk of Arabia story will introduce a new villain, the deadly Sultan Magus, who has discovered a strange new source of power that is tilting the scales in his favor in Qatar. This leads to the death of an old friend of General Ross, Krugauer who had left the military to become a mercenary for hire. Wanting to avenge the death of his old friend, Ross takes off for the Middle East just as Fortean is headed there as well. Facing the locals in a firefight, the situation gets even worse when Rogers’ elite team of Secret Avengers arrives to take Ross to heel.

If you are looking for a good jumping on point, the forthcoming Hulk of Arabia story may be just the thing for you.

General Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross’ Chicken

Hey you milksops! Looking for a meal fit for a real man? Why not try making this dish and you’ll have the strength of character that makes this country great!

Ingredients
1 large egg, beaten
1/4 tsp. salt
pinch of white pepper
2 tsp. cornstarch
cubed 1 lb. chicken breast

Sauce
1 tsp. dark soy sauce
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tbsp. fresh minced ginger
1 tsp. ground ginger
2 tbsp. hoison sauce
4 tsp. sugar (more to taste if necessary)
3 tsp. chinese rice vinegar (or distilled vinegar)
1 1/2 tsp. white wine or sherry
3 tbsp. chili flakes

For dusting/frying
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1/2-2/3 cup vegetable oil

1. Mix egg, salt, pepper and 2 tbsp. corn starch in a large bowl. Add chicken. Mix to coat chicken cubes and let sit for 15 minutes.

2. In a small bowl, mix together sauce ingredients and set aside.

3. Heat wok over high heat. When it starts to smoke, add oil and lower heat a bit. With tongs, coat chicken cubes in 1 tbsp. corn starch and submerge in oil. Make sure that chicken cubes are submerged in the oil. Deep fry for 1-2 minutes until chicken is browned. Drop onto paper towels to soak up excess oil.

4. Leaving a small amount of oil in wok, add chicken and sauce, stirring continuously until cooked.

Serve over white or brown rice… I can’t tell you how to do every little thing!

Hulk: Gray

Grey
I’ll admit that I’m an ‘easy mark.’ I walked out of the cinema after seeing The Incredible Hulk thinking, ‘decent movie… it didn’t suck.’ The next day I kept thinking about the film, liking it more and more. Seeing as how it’s the first movie my soon-to-be-born son has ‘seen,’ maybe I’m being sentimental. My wife attempted to block out some of the dolby sound with her purse, but I’m sure the lil’ growing boy got the gist of the film.

After the movie I found myself ravenous for Hulk comics and it seemed like there was not enough to be found. For some reason I had missed out on the Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale project Hulk: Gray until now. As part of what has been called their Marvel Color Project Series (also consisting of Spider-Man: Blue, Daredevil: Yellow and now Captain America: White), I was sure that the story would be a sentimental take on the classic character, but I wasn’t ready for such a strong story.

The comic opens with Bruce Banner meeting with psychiatrist/super hero Leonard Sampson… not knowing why he has come to his old friend. The date is significant, the anniversary of his wedding to Betty Ross, now long dead. Following the development of Banner‘s first transformation into the Hulk, the comparisons between Betty’s hot-tempered father General Thadeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross and the Hulk‘s rage forms the spine of Hulk: Gray. A lost and confused character unsure of what he has become through the exposure of the gamma radiation and how much of the responsibility of the Hulk‘s destruction rests on his shoulders, Banner attempts to knit together his experiences into a cohesive history with Sampson‘s help. A self aware tale, Hulk: Gray is a powerfully emotional mini series that proved to be a pleasant surprise.

The guest appearance of a certain armored avenger just sweetens an already great comic.

If you find yourself, like me, hungry for Hulk comics after watching the summer’s blockbuster film, I can think of no better place to start than with this book.

Recommended:
Hulk: Gray

Frank Cho on Hulk!


At this weekend’s Heroes Con I met many professionals who were more than happy to chat and exchange fanboy talk about their favorite characters, who will play Captain America, etc. But one of the biggest bits of information I took away is that Frank Cho will be following Ed McGuinness on the hot new Hulk series.

Cho has built a strong fan base with his smooth linework and curvaceous ladies in Liberty Meadows. Super Hero fans got a treat when he took his pen to Marvel to work on Marvel Knight Spider-Man with Mark Millar and on Mighty Avengers with Brian Michael Bendis. It looks like we’ll be getting yet another sweet surprise when Cho joins Jeph Loeb on the new Hulk monthly series.

The mysterious Hulk series following the development of the ‘Red Hulk’ has been flying off the shelves thanks in part to a mixture of Hulk mania and smart marketing on Marvel‘s part. I look forward to the future issues of the series that is making the Hulk a household name again.

Exclusive Marvel Select Hulk Action Figures


Unsafe in either color, these Diamond Exclusive Hulk action figures from Marvel Select look just great! Each figure is 10″ tall with 14 points of articulation for all the smashing action you could want! A perfect compliment to this incredible Marvel Comics summer, these figures are available for pre-order for a September 2008 release.