"Hulk: Who is the Red Hulk?"

 

            The following is a review of the graphic novel “Hulk: Who is the Red Hulk?” as presented in Marvel Modern Era Epic Collection format.

            Robert Bruce Banner was a brilliant nuclear scientist. He created a device called a Gamma Bomb. During the test, a young man named Rick Jones entered the testing zone. Bruce rushed in to save Rick and was caught in the blast. He survived, but now, during times when he becomes angry or scared, he turns into a giant, green, out of control, rage monster called the Hulk, a force of destruction. The madder the Hulk gets, the stronger he gets.

            One of the Hulk’s old foes, Emil Blonsky, AKA the Abomination, was found murdered in Russia. S.H.I.E.L.D., General Thadeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, and civilians Jennifer Walters, AKA the She-Hulk and cousin of Bruce Banner, and gamma powered psychologist Leonard Samson are called in to investigate. Signs start to point to the Hulk, but some things don’t add up. Abomination was murdered with a gun, something the Hulk has never been known to use before. The only gun able to fit in the hands of the Hulk is also of S.H.I.E.L.D. design. Also, the Hulk’s footprints had crystallized in the sand. To top all that off, Bruce Banner is currently in government custody in Gamma Base in Death Valley, Nevada.

            Aboard the new S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, Director Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man, Maria Hill, and She-Hulk are examining the line of weaponry the Hulk could have used when they are attacked by the Hulk. Only this time, he’s… red? A fight ensues aboard the Helicarrier between Iron Man and the Red Hulk, ending with the Red Hulk escaping and the Helicarrier crashing in New Jersey. After that, the Red Hulk came across Rick Jones outside of Gamma Base in Nevada, who now gamma mutates into a blue abomination calling himself A-Bomb. While Red Hulk and A-Bomb battle, Tony Stark attempts to analyze a video recording of a conversation between Banner and Ross where Banner makes an inaudible comment that even their technology cannot hear. Red Hulk and A-Bomb’s battle cause a fissure powerful enough to rattle Banner’s cell, and this releases the original green Hulk, who joins the fight. S.H.I.E.L.D. is also left with the task of trying to find out the identity of the new Red Hulk. The Hulks red and green take their battle to San Franscisco. The Red Hulk is victorious, but the battle is then joined by Thor, who also loses to the Red Hulk. A-Bomb rescues the green Hulk, who once again battles the Red Hulk, but this time, the outcome is different. With the aid of A-Bomb and Thor, Hulk is able to defeat the Red Hulk.

            Now free, Bruce Banner travels to Las Vegas, to a casino overrun by cursed creatures called Wendigos. Banner turns into his Joe Fixit gray Hulk persona to battle the monsters, but the arrival of Moon Knight, Sentry, and Ms. Marvel end up turning him green again. During the fight with the heroes and the Wendigos, Hulk is bitten by the Wendigos and transforms into the Wendihulk. Brother Voodoo is able to arrive to cure all the Wendigos and the Wendihulk, and Banner once again escapes.

            She-Hulk decides she wants to bring in the Red Hulk but knows she can’t do it on her own. She calls in fellow super heroines Valkyrie and Thundra (who were not at the top of her list) and gear up with the help of S.H.I.E.L.D. Deputy Director Maria Hill to take down the red menace. They unfortunately prove not to be enough, but the arrival of Spider-Woman. Tigra, Invisible Woman, Storm, Black Widow, and Hellcat are enough to turn the tables in the favor of the ladies, but still the Red Hulk is able to escape.

            Two Elders of the Universe, the Grandmaster and the Collector decide to have a competition of champions. Grandmaster promises Hulk if he wins, his lost love Jarella will be returned to him. Hulk is allowed to pick his team. Hulk chooses the Silver Surfer, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and Doctor Stephen Strange, his teammates as the Defenders, but picked from times before they all met. Meanwhile, the Collector allies with the Red Hulk, who chooses Baron Mordo, Terrax and Tiger Shark as his Offenders. The two teams are then instructed to battle… to the death.

            She-Hulk, determined to uncover the Red Hulk’s identity, calls in Front Line Newspaper reporter Ben Urich, who along with Peter Parker, AKA Spider-Man and Leonard Samson, go to investigate Gamma Base, which has been overtaken by MODOK and A.I.M.

            Okay, so that’s it for the synopsis, now let’s get into my personal opinions. First off, I will say I was a bit disappointed with this book. Now, I’ve been reading Marvel Comics on and off for over twenty-two years now, and I already know who the Red Hulk is. Now, the issues in this book were originally published between 2008-2009, which was a point where I was not regularly reading, and I don’t know the origin of the Red Hulk, I don’t know how the person who is Red Hulk became the Red Hulk. I first learned there WAS a Red Hulk in 2012. When I first heard about this book several months ago, I was excited because I figured I’d finally get my answer as to how the Red Hulk came to be. Well, sadly to say, I did not. I’m upset they even called this book “Who is the Red Hulk?” They never actually answer that question in this book, even by the end. So, if you don’t know who the Red Hulk is, reading this book won’t tell you. As far as the stories themselves go, I just didn’t quite like them. They just didn’t thrill me. I read the book quickly, mostly because I was hoping for my answer, that’s what kept me reading. That might have created bias on my part; having a preconceived notion of what I was getting and by not getting what I was expecting might have ruined my enjoyment. I thought the stories were okay, for what they were, but they weren’t what I was hoping for. I can say, however, that I loved the artwork. I thought the art in this book was excellent. The details such as the veins were a brilliant touch. I thought the style was great, and the colors were extremely vibrant. At least SOMETHING met my expectations.

            Let’s talk about accessibility. Now, for those of you who have never read a Tim Cubbin review before, by accessibility, I mean how easy it is to pick up this book if you have limited or no prior knowledge of the Hulk or Marvel Comics. To me, I don’t feel like this is an entry level graphic novel. I feel like you should have a decent amount of knowledge of Marvel Comics to fully comprehend this graphic novel. This knowledge can extend to prior or post 2008-2009 (the original release dates of these comics), I really don’t think it matters. But I feel if you only know Marvel from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s not what you need to read this book. Or if you’re reading this review and think it sounds interesting but know nothing about Marvel Comics, this really would not be easy to pick up. I feel like it requires a comprehension of Marvel Comics to read this book. I could be wrong, don’t go just by what I say, I’m not perfect, I can’t make your decision for you, I’m just telling you about MY opinions on MY website, take them or leave them.

            Now, I think it’s time to move on to the main event: the score! Now, you can obviously tell at this point that the score won’t be good. I’m not an easy scorer, I don’t go around randomly throwing out tens, but looking back, I’d say I’m generous. So, this book may be getting my generosity. So, let’s review my criticisms. Didn’t answer the titular question. Didn’t meet my expectations. The stories were subpar. Art was fantastic. Let’s balance all that out. I’m thinking here, I’m thinking here, what is an appropriate score for this book? Honestly here, I think the best score I can give this book is a four. I’m sorry, but if you’re going to give a book a title with a question in it, YOU HAVE TO ANSWER IT IN THE BOOK! Like I said, I know who the Red Hulk is, but if you don’t, reading this book won’t tell you and it will be like a total waste of your interest. I gave my list of reasonings, so I don’t feel like I must go on any longer on the subject, but this book was a disappointment story-wise, but it was a visual treat.

            Now I’ll tell you if I recommend this book. Obviously, I don’t. HOWEVER! If you’re a fan of the Hulk, I CAN’T tell you NOT to read it. Like I said, this is all MY own opinion on this blog. Honestly, if you’ve read this book and have a different opinion on this book, I would LOVE to hear from you. Feel free to respond to me in whatever format you can. No one has ever commented yet, and I would love to hear from someone, you can be the first, that would be THE BEST! That’s the beauty of being human. We all have different opinions. I have mine, you have yours, please feel free to share. If you really love the Hulk, though, I wouldn’t turn you away from this book, especially because it has such great art, but in general, it’s not a book I’d go out and just tell anyone to read.

            Okay, I think I’ve said about enough for now. I will say that this website has over one-hundred posts on it, most of them reviews of Marvel Epic Collections, so if you liked this and you like Marvel, there’re dozens more for you to read here. You can expect another review coming sometime in the next three weeks. I’ve also written short stories, I’m in the stages of planning one for release soon, so you can keep an eye out for that one. I’ve written some free verse poetry; I dabble in that a wee bit. I’ve written some articles, essays, and editorials, and have a bachelor’s degree in journalism. If you’re bored and want to read sheer stupidity, you can check out my B’ings. There’s just so much more to see on this website, so keep looking, keep coming back, please comment, and until next time, Tim Cubbin… out!