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The Hulk has been around for a long time and my experience of the
character up until recently wasn't all that exciting. Peter David had an
extremely long run on the book and a lot of people at the time gave it a
lot of praise and when Andy Kubert joined him on the book, I thought it was
time to check it out. Well the art was amazing, but after a few issues I
found the stories repeatative and pointless. I dropped the book and steered
well clear through Byrne's revamp and even through Paul Jenkins (I writer I
enjoyed) tenure. As far as I was concerned I couldn't see anyway in which
the Hulk could be made interesting.
But, when Paul Jenkins finished up on the title a creator I knew little
about took on writing duties, his name: Bruce Jones. I read a couple of
reviews that were favourable. I started to see Kaare Andrews awesome covers
in the local shop. My interest was slightly piqued. Then Marvel started but
the issues on their site as a dot comic. I decided to check it out (hey,
it's free) and was surprised when I was drawn in by the story and started
to eagerly await each chapter as it was published on the web. By the end of
the first arc on the web there was no way I could stop myself from picking
up the book at my local comic shop, especially since Lee Weeks was drawing
the next arc.
These days the Incredible Hulk really is an incredible comic title. It's
full of suspense and mystery and hardly ever actually includes the Hulk!
Gone are the repeatative "Hulk Smash" stories or the "I am the strongest
stories". Instead the story has been following Bruce Banner on the run from
the law, a secret organisation and himself. When the Hulk does appear it is
with dramatic effect. When he's not 'on screen' his presence is felt,
particularly in Bruce Banner's expectant horror of what the could might've
done and could do. It makes for an intense storyline. There's lots of
mystery too, but not so much that you feel totally lost or frustrated by
the lack of answers. Add this to the spectacular art and the best covers on
any comic title I've seen lately and what you've got is comic that's better
read than many of the books on the market.
So if like me you've been previously burnt by the Hulk or totally
uninterested, now is the time to pick up the title and check it out. I
don't think you'll be disapointed.
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