Rorschach Review's
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Rorschach's Journal, 19th December 2012: "The hunted has joined the hunter, the monster is now a weapon and the infected is now a curer. A friend enters, jealousy boils and motives arise...hrrmm..."
Comic Book: Indestructible Hulk No. 2
Creative Team: Story-Mark Waid
Art-Leinil Yu and Gerry Alanguilan
Colors-Sunny Gho
Letters-Chris Eliopoulos
Covers-Leini Yu, Mike Deodato and Rain Beredo
Release Date: 19th December 2012
Score: 8/10
Pros: -Mark Waid develops the jealousy within Bruce for Tony
-Iron Man guest star! Provided nice character development and is drawn better by Yu than in his own comic.
-Banner Work diary used as an inner monologue and thoughts
-Readers are given a tense situation with the crescendo launching at the point of Hulk's arrival.
-Perfectly mirrors the Bruce Banner and Tony Stark bromance from the Avengers movie, but also includes undertones on their professional rivalry.
-Humorous and offbeat
Cons:-Heavy inking takes away from the action scenes and drags the dialogue heavy panels
Main Events: Bruce Banner actually laughing!!! Bruce in his monologue presents cunning when acting like a hunter to Tony's hunted, Banner's first device is tested, Tony offers Banner to work at Stark Industries, Banner declines citing that it would mean him working under Tony Stark's shadow, Hulk and Iron Man face-off, Hulk saves Iron Man, Banner and Tony chill out and debate the situation of Hulk working for SHIELD, Tony (alone) reveals his inhibitions with Banner about to become a much greater scientist.
Memorable Quote(s): "...I think Bruce Banner wants to be you." Director of SHIELD Maria Hill to Tony Stark. Stark quips back "...wow. Then he'll have to set his sights lower."
Memorable Panel(s): Bruce Banner laughing (for the first time) with Tony Stark at a scientific pun with Maria Hill looking on with a bewildered face. After the fight, Tony Stark stares at the mirror, to reassure himself he simply says "You're still rich."
One of the best parts about the Avengers movie was the electric chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo, their casual science chatter and intellectual collisions were a riot. Fans of the movie and this budding bromance will love the new issue of the Mark Waid helmed Indestructible Hulk. There are however ulterior motives and undertones of professional jealousy between the two characters, as with every other Marvel NOW book there is a nod to the history between Tony and Bruce. Let's not forget Tony Stark was the reason Hulk got sent off to space (Planet Hulk)!!!
What essentially draws me and I believe a ton of readers is: Mark Waid's deconstruction of the crux of Hulk stories. Banner is always on the run, organizations like SHIELD always hunt him to destroy or use as a weapon, Banner needs to find the cure to Hulk. So it is finally entertaining to see Banner accept Hulk and his condition, join SHIELD, try to use his brilliant mind for a greater good and finally leave a much better legacy to stand with the likes of Tony Stark, Reed Richards and Hank Pym.
The use of a work diary as inner thoughts for Bruce Banner allows the reader to see into his plans including his method with which he begins to intimidate and then unfortunately ambush Iron Man. It gives off a cunning and reserved character look for Bruce Banner, which is offset by his own revelations of the jealousy and lack of respect he is given by Tony Stark. It's a deep psychological probe into Banner's mind that still reminds Hulk fans; that this is the man with psychological issues on his condition.
Comparisons to Daredevil cannot be avoided. Mark Waid presents a different story but with the same foundation as his Eisner award winning Daredevil book. We see a friend (Tony and is Daredevil's case Foggy Nelson) suspicious of the hero's (Bruce Banner and Matt Murdock) current and not so typical attitude.
The narrative is tense as the inner dialogues speak off Banner's attitude and thoughts towards Tony Stark as well as his unrevealed plans. It all reaches at peak once Banner realizes the mistake of underestimating Stark's arrogance and reveals his need to command respect from his peers, finally thus Hulking out. Marvel in recent years has overused the hero versus hero trope, but this one is a highlight of an exposition heavy book and allows Yu to do what he does best.
Yu draws the heroes in costume much better than he does when they are simply talking. His fine detail makes the Iron Man suit look quite mechanical and technologically advanced. His Iron Man looks much better than the one drawn in the character regular book. One of the best panels is when Banner Hulk's out, it brings back a cinematic sensation as a full page panel presents different phases of the transformation and highlights the size difference (even on all body parts) between the alter egos. The only issue is the excessive inking that makes talking scenes especially the close-ups on Maria Hill and Tony Stark a little murky and bogged down. The action scenes also seems like blurs.
The comic itself ends in a humorous way as we see the heroes finally enjoy a quite time laughing together, it captures their friendship and the relation of friendships in general. It is also noteworthy to witness Bruce intimidate and question whether Stark can be and really is a great scientist, this prompts a deeper character development for what is essentially a guest appearance which strentghens the concept of the bigger Marvel Universe. It also brings Robert Downey Jr. like hilarity once Tony regards Banner's comments to heart and quips to himself "You're still rich".
Fun and exciting but still a little word heavy. Mark Waid seems intent on crafting another classic with the Indestructible Hulk. His writing for the past few years has been a sheer delight, and this decade has been fruitful. Hope to see a spectacular continuation of both Hulk and Daredevil in the coming new year.
'Nuff Said
Aneesh Raikundalia
Memorable Quote(s): "...I think Bruce Banner wants to be you." Director of SHIELD Maria Hill to Tony Stark. Stark quips back "...wow. Then he'll have to set his sights lower."
Memorable Panel(s): Bruce Banner laughing (for the first time) with Tony Stark at a scientific pun with Maria Hill looking on with a bewildered face. After the fight, Tony Stark stares at the mirror, to reassure himself he simply says "You're still rich."
One of the best parts about the Avengers movie was the electric chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo, their casual science chatter and intellectual collisions were a riot. Fans of the movie and this budding bromance will love the new issue of the Mark Waid helmed Indestructible Hulk. There are however ulterior motives and undertones of professional jealousy between the two characters, as with every other Marvel NOW book there is a nod to the history between Tony and Bruce. Let's not forget Tony Stark was the reason Hulk got sent off to space (Planet Hulk)!!!
What essentially draws me and I believe a ton of readers is: Mark Waid's deconstruction of the crux of Hulk stories. Banner is always on the run, organizations like SHIELD always hunt him to destroy or use as a weapon, Banner needs to find the cure to Hulk. So it is finally entertaining to see Banner accept Hulk and his condition, join SHIELD, try to use his brilliant mind for a greater good and finally leave a much better legacy to stand with the likes of Tony Stark, Reed Richards and Hank Pym.
The use of a work diary as inner thoughts for Bruce Banner allows the reader to see into his plans including his method with which he begins to intimidate and then unfortunately ambush Iron Man. It gives off a cunning and reserved character look for Bruce Banner, which is offset by his own revelations of the jealousy and lack of respect he is given by Tony Stark. It's a deep psychological probe into Banner's mind that still reminds Hulk fans; that this is the man with psychological issues on his condition.
Comparisons to Daredevil cannot be avoided. Mark Waid presents a different story but with the same foundation as his Eisner award winning Daredevil book. We see a friend (Tony and is Daredevil's case Foggy Nelson) suspicious of the hero's (Bruce Banner and Matt Murdock) current and not so typical attitude.
The narrative is tense as the inner dialogues speak off Banner's attitude and thoughts towards Tony Stark as well as his unrevealed plans. It all reaches at peak once Banner realizes the mistake of underestimating Stark's arrogance and reveals his need to command respect from his peers, finally thus Hulking out. Marvel in recent years has overused the hero versus hero trope, but this one is a highlight of an exposition heavy book and allows Yu to do what he does best.
Yu draws the heroes in costume much better than he does when they are simply talking. His fine detail makes the Iron Man suit look quite mechanical and technologically advanced. His Iron Man looks much better than the one drawn in the character regular book. One of the best panels is when Banner Hulk's out, it brings back a cinematic sensation as a full page panel presents different phases of the transformation and highlights the size difference (even on all body parts) between the alter egos. The only issue is the excessive inking that makes talking scenes especially the close-ups on Maria Hill and Tony Stark a little murky and bogged down. The action scenes also seems like blurs.
Interiors from Indestructible Hulk No. 1 show deep inking
The comic itself ends in a humorous way as we see the heroes finally enjoy a quite time laughing together, it captures their friendship and the relation of friendships in general. It is also noteworthy to witness Bruce intimidate and question whether Stark can be and really is a great scientist, this prompts a deeper character development for what is essentially a guest appearance which strentghens the concept of the bigger Marvel Universe. It also brings Robert Downey Jr. like hilarity once Tony regards Banner's comments to heart and quips to himself "You're still rich".
Fun and exciting but still a little word heavy. Mark Waid seems intent on crafting another classic with the Indestructible Hulk. His writing for the past few years has been a sheer delight, and this decade has been fruitful. Hope to see a spectacular continuation of both Hulk and Daredevil in the coming new year.
'Nuff Said
Aneesh Raikundalia
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