Devil's Due Publishing's John Blaylock takes the Hulk into the world of the supernatural, and the result stands out as something new, something with plenty of potential. I'll be honest, though... I'm not totally hooked after reading this first issue, but I enjoyed the book far more than I expected I would. On the surface, this seems like a typical, "Kewl" comics storytelling, in keeping with Image's original line of books than the more diverse array we see today. But a novel concept and some solid characterization have piqued my interest.
A team of mercenaries break into a museum in Syria, intent on stealing an ancient artifact, one that is much more than it seems. Of course, that description suits the would-be thieves as well. Meanwhile, in Chicago, the artifact in question sits in a storage area in the museum to which it was shipped accidentally, and Alex Crane, a grunt working in the museum's shipping department, has no idea that his life is about to dramatically -- and horrifically -- altered. No, he's more focused on some financial woes and his girlfriend's thoroughly justified, angry tirade.
Seeley's work reminds me a great deal of the style of Arthur (Tom Strong's Terrific Tales) Adams, and you can really see it in those scenes featuring Mandy, Alex's girlfriend. While the art boasts a conventional tone, there's a sharp amount of detail, and Seeley actions quite well. There's energy in the visuals, and a good deal of the credit goes to Studio F and its coloring work here. Dreamer Design's split lettering motif later in the issue brings out the confusion of the main character and the weirdness of the amalgam that arises by issue's end.
Though the opening scene doesn't spotlight the main characters, it grabs the reader's attention with an unexpected revelation. I find I really want to know a lot more about this group of mercenaries, even though they're far from the most grounded collection of characters. Alex Crane is a typical loser character, an average guy in need of redemption. He's believable enough, I guess, but he's not all that engaging either. Mandy's a different story, though. Her exchange with her girlfriend brings balance to the character, showing more than just her woman-scorned side.
This Hulk-meets-Spawn story has its moments, but the story cries out for more grounded elements to really draw the reader in. I think the creators are aiming for a larger-than-life feel a la Authority, but I just don't feel it, not yet. I also have to admit that the demonic design for one of the main characters strikes me as somewhat generic, not nearly as eye-catching as one would expect from one of the story's main players.
