So begins 'The Incredible Hulk #1,' the latest relaunch of the Marvel line. Writer Jason Aaron, elevated now to the title of Marvel Architect, has the scripting and story duties while legendary artist Marc Silverstri handles the artwork.
That team-up is enough to make any fan boy (or fan girl) turn green in anticipation; Silverstri is a true master and Aaron is approaching legendary status, himself. I first became familiar with his work through Scalped, a critically acclaimed crime thriller set on an Indian reservation populated with a legion of hard-bitten crime lords, drug dealers, federal agents and several other vivid anti-heroes. His characterization of Frank Castle in Marvel's Punshier Max series is the best take on the character since Garth Ennis and Andy Dillon's.
I don't think he's a good fit for this title, and I'm sure it's no fault of his own, given all the work that has been piled on him (he now writes a Wolverine title, as well). You simply can't put as much attention on four or five titles as you can on one.
Time will tell, as this series is only two issues long. The second was released last week, and the storyline was a little better. The concept of Banner as a mad scientist type bent on finding the Hulk is a good one. It stands to reason that, after having the Hulk a part of him for so long, he would miss the ability to, well, smash everything in sight if the mood took him. I just think he'd be smarter about it.
Done well, it would be an intriguing storyline. If not, it will probably be erased--as so many other incarnations have been--through yet another relaunch.
Ahhh, makes me long for the old "Bill Bixby" days of Hulk, LOL. The story was a lot less complicated then, but this concept sounds interesting. I'll have to pick it up.
ReplyDeleteI may give #3 a shot when it comes out; it's supposed to conclude this initial story arc. I'll decide if I want to keep reading based on that (and budget, of course).
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading!