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“Psuedo-military operative Hulk is far less interesting than editorial
believes....”
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-BOX O'CREDITS-
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Can Sweet |
Writer:
Jeff Parker |
Artist:
Carlo Pagulayan & Wellinton Alves |
Publisher:
Marvel Comics |
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Shipped On:
101012 |
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Reviewed On:
101012 |
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MSRP:
$2.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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 As
a comic book fan, and a self-proclaimed ‘Marvel Zombie’, I’m quite aware of the
existence of the Red She-Hulk. I know that she’s Betty Ross, former lover of
Bruce Banner, and daughter of Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross, the current Red Hulk.
I know all of that because the multicolored Hulks have been running around the
Marvel U for the better part of five or so years now. What I DON’T know is Ms.
Ross’s motivation for doing what she does; why she has opted for a life of
super-heroics. Just what IS her motivation?
With all of these questions surrounding the character, I figured the best place
to find answers would be within the confines of her ‘new’ book, which is
actually just the adjectiveless “Hulk”, repurposed for a new star. After all,
this is the Marvel NOW era, and if there was ever a time to join someone’s
bandwagon it’s NOW, because jumping-on-points are often few and far between. So
while I had read SOME of Betty’s exploits in the gone-too-soon “Defenders”
series, I went into this book with a fresh set of eyes, ready to be awed by the
crimson amazon’s awesome adventures…but that’s not really what went down.
Jeff Parker is one of my favorite sleeper-writers at the House of Ideas. He’s
not on their list of “Architects” or whatever they’re calling it, but his series
have consistently caught my eye and maintained my attention, until they get the
axe. It’s rough for me to admit, but I just can’t seem to find the vibe with
regard to this title; there just weren’t enough meat and potatoes to sink my
teeth into. I’m not satisfied; I’m not sated, and I’m not sure I want to come
back for more.
The ‘story’, which is actually more of an extended fight sequence, revolves
around the government (an eternal enemy of anyone who is a Hulk; red, green,
chartreuse, or otherwise) and their plan to enhance soldiers using gene
splicing, manipulation, mutation, radiation, and whatever else sounds weird
enough to work. After all, a world full of super heroes is rather pointless if
you can’t aim them at a target like a weapon, obliterating our foes without
question as any good SOLDIER would.
So while a bunch of stuffed-shirts discuss how much tax-payer dollars will be
funneled into a program to create living weapons, Red She-Hulk (whose moniker I
find especially droll) shows up and starts to wreck stuff, because how else
should a Hulk of any shade attempt to prove their point? Fight, fight, fight,
smash, smash, smash, Hulk-banter (example: “Superhuman is HULK!” *sigh*)
followed by a bit more fighting and smashing…and…yup that’s about it.
Captain America guest stars, but only briefly, as does Machine Man, but only to
set up whatever fighting and smashing is going to go into the next issue. I was
looking for a bit more from Mr. Parker and Ms. Ross, as there’s no better time
like the present to breathe some fresh air into an old and tired concept such as
She-Hulk, even if this time around she’s red instead of green. Psuedo-military
operative Hulk is far less interesting than editorial believes, and I’m sure
this title isn’t going to last too long if it doesn’t find some sort of creative
direction without aping any number of other titles. Oh, and where the heck is
She-Rulk’s sword? I really miss that sword. |
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"Sweet" Dan Sweet is a Chicago-based aspiring writer and long time
customer at Alternate Reality. |
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