Spinach: Rob Haynes's short Hulk story seems to be based on a novel concept -- the harvesting of Hulk blood as a drug -- but the plot just doesn't hold up under scrutiny. He asks too much of the audience to believe that some young punk could have gotten so far in his criminal quest. Furthermore, the story suffers a lack of clarity, not just credibility. The antagonist is never clearly identified.
That lack of clarity extends to the art as well. The story is limited by Haynes's choice of thin panels that extend the width of each page. The art is a sketchy cross between a manga style and Bill Siekiewicz or Frank Miller, but it just doesn't work. Haynes's usual style is a smooth, sleek one, and it looks as though he tried to inject a harsher quality that would better suit the Hulk. But it just doesn't click here.
Dear Thor: More than a decade ago, I read an unusual novel about child abuse and preteen angst. Called The Kyrptonite Kid, it told of the tragic life of a boy who believed in Superman. The novel was composed entirely of his letters -- and those of a friend's -- to the Man of Steel. There's a similar touching tone to this story, though the script is far too disconnected from the art.
Since she was a child, Elise was enthralled with Thor, the God of Thunder. While some told her he was a myth or just a hero but not a god, she still believed. She would occasionally write him letters, asking for his blessing or his help. It never came, but a difficult life did. Innocence, despair, anger and happiness pour out over the course of a lifetime, and Elise wonders if Thor ever read her words.
Asamiya's artwork certainly captures the power and grandeur of the God of Thunder. The full-page splashes convey his larger-than-life nature. Sadly, the art seems to have little to do with the story being told in the letters. I wanted to see more of Elise. The splash pages almost seem like random pin-ups, stock artwork rather than something intended to go hand-in-hand with the script.
