The recent release of the Hulk hardcover has reinvigorated my interest in this series, and despite a feeling that Jones's plotlines are running a bit long, I'm still very much in tune with his take on the character. This issue is a change of pace in that it provides more answers than questions, filling in the details of what happened in the last couple of issues to explain the story arc thus far as well as revealing an important tidbit about the villains' regenerative abilities. A mix of action, exposition and more puzzles makes for another intriguing issue of the Hulk.
Easily the biggest weakness of Jones's run has been his tendency to let his plots run long. Like Claremont long. It's been over a year now, and we're still very much in the first story arc for all intents and purposes. However, this issue struck me as perhaps an indication of the light at the end of the tunnel. The revelations about where Pratt and Verdugo get their abilities made sense in light of what we've seen, and Jones makes use of some convoluted (but relatively clear) maneuvers around that ability to explain the sudden reappearances of both characters in Banner's life, as well as the set of circumstances that landed Banner in prison last issue.
The sense of paranoia that permeates this book has been a big part of the appeal for me, and I've come to really enjoy Agent Pratt as a sort of intelligent version of the original Terminator, unstoppable and relentless in pursuit. In fact, one of the big things that Jones has brought to the book is a new supporting cast, whether it's new love interests like Laurie or unusual allies like Sandra Verdugo, and those new characters help to make the book feel fresh. I also quite enjoyed the twist on Banner's power this issue, reminiscent of something Peter David hinted at in his final issue on the book.
Where the book didn't impress me as much this month was in the artwork, which I keep going back and forth on. I'm generally not a fan of Koblish's inks, I find them too heavy and rough, losing a lot of the shape and subtlety that the penciller provides. Previously, I thought the dark and gritty nature he brought to Immonen's work to be an asset, but in this issue, the expressions of Banner, Verdugo, Laurie and Pratt are completely lost, and that deadens some of the emotional impact of the book. In addition, the final scene with Banner's demonstration of power requires a definite color change, and given that I know Studio F is capable of that kind of subtlety, I have to blame the artists for giving an angle where we can't see it.
My interest in the Hulk keeps switching from story arc to story arc. Sometimes I feel like the book needs to move a little faster, or at least provide a few answers to the many questions that it has raised. Other times I feel like Jones and his artistic co-creators have built such an interesting run that I'm inclined to give them my trust and let them run long. Right now, I'm onboard the book again, anxiously awaiting some more answers and more of the moody and atmospheric take on the Hulk that Jones has brought with him.
