When I saw "the Incredible Hulk," what words come to mind? "Smash"? "Savage"? "Green"? "Strength" or "power"? All sensible answers, for sure. But after reading this latest issue, the first word that came to mind for me was "sex." Jones has injected a dark, raw sexual energy into the title, and it's never been more apparent as it is here. Deodato has maintained a dark, foreboding atmopshere with his new stint as regular artist, but he's also brought a sense of the exotic to the book as well.
Bruce Banner continues his hedonistic stay with Nadia in the small desert town where she runs a shop. The two of them are thoroughly enjoying their company, but it soon becomes clear that Nadia knows that they are being watched. She's been tasked with occupying Banner, unbeknownst to him. Meanwhile, two agents involved in different sides of the Hulk conspiracy turn up in another small nowhere town in a hail of bullets, and in a hidden facility, the Abomination considers an offer he can't refuse.
Deodato's work here reminds me a fair bit of Stuart Immonen's work, and since Immonen preceded him on the book, it creates an air of consistency on the title. Mind you, Deodato's not aping Immonen's style. The Abomination stands out as a block of power when contrasted against the other characters' smooth, lithe lines. The women are dangerously beautiful here. When it actually comes to the title character, though, it seems Deodato is influenced by Dale (Pitt) Keown's take on the Green Goliath. And while that interpretation conveys the creature's power and savagery, I was expecting something darker and more mysterious.
I honestly have no idea what's going on with the Secret Conspiracy, but rather than being confused and disinterested, I'm riveted by the mysterious atmosphere. This is The X-Files without any good guys to cheer for. Jones keeps us guessing as to which side to cheer for, and as to how many sides there acturally are. Just about every character is portrayed as both pawn and player, and it brings a complex, challenging tone to the story that keeps the reader coming back for more. Mind you, it might not make for the most accessible of ongoing story arcs.
This issue's greatest strength is the erotic overtones that dominate the book. Jones seems to be exploring different definitions of power. The male characters here -- Banner and the Abomination -- are all about brute strength and power. But the women employ a different kind of power to achieve their ends, and that power stems from their sexuality. There's something empowering yet unfortunate about it all at once. It certainly makes for delicious reading.
