Writer: Paul Benjamin
Artists: Dave Nakayama (p), Gary Martin (i)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Lately, I have found myself flipping through a great deal of Marvel Adventures titles. I’ve always liked the Fantastic Four incarnation, and thus far I love the Iron Man incarnation. I can’t help but enjoy the carefree and “big event-free" versions of the Marvel characters. If you pair that up with my recent sparked interest in the Hulk, a character I’ve never really religiously followed, and not to mention that I'm still playing Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, I was really excited to pick up the first issue of Marvel Adventures Hulk. One of the employees at the shop looked at me and said, “another kid’s book?” (Referring to Marvel Adventures Iron Man and my occasional pick up of Justice League Unlimited and The Batman Strikes!), and my only response to her was this: “These aren’t really kid’s books. They are books featuring 'big event-free' versions of our classic heroes suitable and simple enough for all ages to follow.” Sounds good enough. Am I wrong?
Marvel Adventures Hulk is a great title for any type of comic book readers, but two in particular. First, there are the young readers, the ones who could care less about plot, character development and story structure and simply want to see the Hulk smash. Then there are the comic book fans, both veteran and new, who have never really followed the Hulk closely, like me. This title is perfect for a quick Hulk story that is great on the eyes and full throttle on the action.
The story contained in this first issue is essentially the origin of the Hulk. It’s a short-hand version of the story, but it’s fast and convenient enough for any age. It gets to the point, and that’s what works the best, especially for younger readers. The way it works is kind of point and fact: this is how it happened and this is why Bruce Banner transforms into the Hulk. Basic, simple and effective.
The relationships in the Hulk’s life are also captured true and brilliantly, like the way that Betty serves as the Hulk's “sedative.” General Ross is the main antagonist, the main trigger of the Hulk’s anger. Rick Jones serves perfectly as the Hulk’s buddy and friend, and I was actually quite amazed at how quickly and effectively these relationships were covered. And of course, there is plenty of Hulk action to make any fan of any age satisfied.
I love the artwork of all the Marvel Adventures titles, and that resonates true with this latest series as well. The art borders the line between cartoon and realistic. It’s actually quite good, and like all of the Adventures titles, it is vibrant and definitely worth the price. I commend the art team for getting me excited about the “all ages” and somewhat classic version of the Hulk.
I really recommend this title for any age group. Marvel Adventures is a great way for parents to get their kids reading and following classic characters. Marvel Adventures Hulk is a great title because it does a great job capturing the spirit of the Hulk both in character and action.
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