Not surprisingly given the tone of his work on Incredible Hulk, writer Bruce Jones has set up a tense atmosphere of foreboding in this story, drawing the reader in with strong characterization. There's a hurdle that presents itself right from the start, though: coincidence. In order to pull the various plots and characters together, Jones asks a lot of the reader. Once one gets past that obstacle, though, the reward is some strong storytelling.
A pair of double-crossing drug dealers books passage for Canada, looking to lay low and enjoy a bundle of cash. The spoiled teenage son of a wealthy mother makes his way northward to a summer camp that he wants nothing to do with. And a quiet man named Bruce Banner, looking to escape the long and corrupt arm of the law, eyes refuge in the same direction. They all meet on a private charter jet, and each has a pressing concern that threatens to shove the others' aside. Meanwhile, a certain feral mutant has already arrived in the Canadian wilderness for some much deserved and isolated) rest and relaxation.
Not surprisingly, Kolins tells the story clearly and captures the edgier mood of the script quite well. The most impressive visual, though, is his depiction of the Hulk. Even more monstrous than Kolins's interpretation of the Thing (from last eyar's The Thing: Freakshow limited series), his green goliath exudes power and presence. Loughridge's muted colors work well with Kolins's gritty style as well, and again, it's the Hulk's bright green hue and how it overwhelms the scene that realy impresses.
Jones places a sick kid, a couple of killers and a man-monster on the same plane surprisingly well. Despite all the coincidences, I didn't find myself questioning the premise at all, since all three factions are so divergent. It's when Wolverine comes into the equation that it becomes a bit much to swallow. One rage-filled super-hero type character is plenty, but bringing two together through coincidence -- let alone two with a history -- asks a bit much of the reader.
Of course, with this first issue, another part of the problem is that Wolverine's role in this drama is still negligent. At this early point, he doesn't seem to serve any purpose in the plot. I expect when his part takes shape, it'll be easier to ignore the coincidence and enjoy the conflicts.
