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INCREDIBLE HULK #30
"Spiral Staircase Part I"
Recommended (8/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writers: Sean McKeever & Paul Jenkins
Pencils: Joe Bennett
Inks: Tom Palmer
Colors: Avalon Studios
Letters: John Workman
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Price: $2.25 US/$3.50 CAN |
Sean McKeever is an
untapped talent in the mainstream market, and while I'm sure Bruce Jones will be
an interesting writer for the Hulk, I can't help being disappointed that
McKeever wasn't tapped for the ongoing writer spot. Especially after reading
this issue, which is a nice continuation (and ending?) of the story that Jenkins
began with his run, exploring the monster inside Banner in more detail and
featuring some heart-breaking developments in Banner's story, as well as the
intriguing return of an old villain.
While there are certainly some unusual,
super-heroic goings-on in this issue, including a subconscious battle depicted
as physical conflict and the presence of the Hulk himself, the strength of the
story is in the reactions of loved ones to a terminally ill person, and the
struggle of someone who can barely move or speak anymore, trapped inside his own
body. Bennett's artwork on this issue does a fantastic job of portraying just
how crippled Banner has become, and while his figure work is sometimes a bit
dicey (particularly the supermodel physique given to Angela), overall this is an
impressive display of artwork.
One of the more intriguing things that
Jenkins has done with his run on the Hulk has been to provide another split
personality, this one a malevolent presence. Banner has always had an enemy of
sorts in his own body, but the "savage" Hulk has childlike qualities and a basic
sense of right and wrong in most depictions, and the ruthless Joe Fixit is still
relatively good, given that his bad activities are usually small-time and
selfish in nature. This new sinister Hulk and his threats against Samson, Angela
and even Betty is chilling, and even though he doesn't pose any physical threat
when we see him this issue, he has the same kind of menace you'd get from a
restrained Hannibal Lector.
There's another interesting question going
on here, also introduced at the beginning of Jenkins's run, and that's "what
will become of Banner?" Is he really going to die, for all intents and purposes,
locking him forever inside the Hulk, who can withstand the disease that has
inflicted him? Or will there be some kind of cure, perhaps coming from the
enigmatic presence who makes an effective appearance on the final page?
One thing is for sure: McKeever and Jenkins
have gotten my attention, and despite my general distaste for the lead
character, I'm very curious to see what happens next.
Email Randy Lander comments about this review. |
