This is certainly one of the best covers ever! It’s so simple yet – so powerful! The great part is that this issue follows the story from The Incredible Hulk #231 and not only did the writer of TIH plot out this issue – one Mr. Sal Buscema penciled it! And even better, want to see the Hulk beat Cap? Pick up this issue and read the heck out of it! This issue gets an A for everything about it – including the fact that Moonstone appears in it!
Marvel Comics Presents #26
Fixit is on the job!
Another Fixit story by Purves and David. This little tale follows Fixit as he arrives to collect some money from a guy who owns a Sea World type amusement park called Maritime or something… anyways, the guy doesn’t have the money for Fixit so he offers up the park. The Hulk asks why he’d want the fish factory and the guy shows Hulk the Whale show. Suddenly the whale begins to get out of control – coincidentally this is part of the show that Fixit likes – but when the rogue whale starts to head for the crowd the Hulk springs into action and beats the whale up and sends it back into the sea. There the Hulk encounters some fish people who had been controlling the whale – I think… it’s been a while since I read it – but hey, I remember it as being one of the best little Fixit stories in the MCP series. Grade: B+
Who knew Fixit was a Sea World fan?
Hulk - taking care of business!
I just picked this book up - courtesy of my friend Corry and ZAPP Comics – thanks bro! And, I’ll admit it now, I haven’t even opened the book - so I don’t know what part the Hulk plays in it… sorry. I’ll get around to reviewing it at some point – but this is such an impressive cover! I love the little bubble at the top with the Hulk in it! “A special No Prize goes to the person who can figure out what the Hulk is doing in this book” – well, I guess I won’t be getting that prize because I have no idea at the moment.
Tiny Hulk Smash!
I liked getting those little figures out of the machines that dispense them – if anything, it really feels like you won something when you get what you want! But these little figures were in my LCS in a bin – so I didn’t have to try over and over to get this little guy. I did, however, have to search through the bin – so it’s still sort of a prize. Maybe I’m kidding myself.
It comes with all you see here! And is part of a nutritious breakfast!
It comes in 3 little pieces – the legs, torso+head+arms, and the little bit of rubble he’s standing on. They go together pretty easily and are snug and tight. For comparison purposes I have him posed with the ML Green Hulk variant. As you can see – it’s a tiny little guy – but for a tiny figure it’s pretty cool – sculpted really well and a nice little addition to my ever growing collection!
Meet Mini-Hulk-Me!
A Jim Steranko Cover – that’s absolutely fantastic and classic – and that’s Rick Jones as Bucky. Rick remains with cap for the next 6 issues – but it’s this issue that you see HOW Rick came to be the new Bucky. You also get to see the Hulk and Cap tussle for a bit. Cap is not a hero I’d ever like to tangle with – not because he’d totally kick my ass but because he dresses so fancy! I’d hate to get that pretty suit dirty!
Hulk #17
So, this storyline has wrapped up and the only reason for it was to basically give a reason for the Red Hulk to team up with the Green Hulk in the upcoming Fall of the Hulks. It took 4 issues just to get to this – and maybe that’s the bigger problem. In the classic days of comics – when comics were the best – they would have epic story lines wrapped up in 2 to 3 issues. The coming of Galactus, anyone? We are now 2 years into this comic and not only has nothing really happened to move the plot along – most of the stories negated themselves. For example, Wendigos can now create new Wendigos by biting them – never explained why all of a sudden the mythology of the character changed – just did it. But in the end they cured everyone and things went back to normal. No explanation… never mind the fact that Loeb wrote Fixit into the story line with a reason either. I mean, this is just bad writing! The Offenders/Defenders story arc? How horrible and useless was that? I mean – the Red Hulk killed EVERYONE! Without even really trying! And then they returned in the end – not even with the memories of what happened. Then Loeb takes the actual Hulk away – which is fine since we know he’s due to return at some point -
Shrulk puts on over on Rulk - or maybe they realize their names are so stupid they decided to jump
But then this storyline comes along. Most every single person, fan or not, that I talk to has hated this storyline. The art is horrendous – sorry Churchill – I’ve liked some of your work in the past but this is just not up to snuff. And it took 4 issues for Domino to see the Red Hulk change – for the Red Hulk to gather a team, for the team to find and fight Domino’s team – for the new She Hulk to show up – for the team to double cross and then not double cross the Red Hulk – and it all seemed… so boring…
Red Hulk talks to Elektra - or maybe is looking for camel toe...
Again, if you are a fan of this series – then more power to you – to be able to find pleasure in such a terrible comic is amazing. Let me give a perfect example of how this comic works: The Red Hulk takes She Hulk to the top of a skyscraper – he threatens to throw her off if she doesn’t tell him what he wants to hear – she dares him to throw her off. He doesn’t. Why he doesn’t – we will never know because that doesn’t fit with the character that Loeb has been “writing” for the past 17 issues. Are we to believe being double crossed made the Red Hulk nicer to his enemies? How – HOW does that make any sense? Or how about that the Red Hulk jumped into space in issue 5 – but had to climb the building in this issue? But after he puts her down – she turns and kicks him off the edge instead. Gee, who didn’t see that coming? But in the end we find out that Domino may or may not know who the Red Hulk is – and that he is going after A.I.M. now.
If you look back – I had high hopes for this series – I even gave the first few issues decent grades in hopes that it was heading somewhere – but now I see it on the rack and try to figure out if I should even bother buying it. I haven’t wanted to buy it for almost a year now and at this point I buy it so that I can review it for this site – and that’s the only reason. There is a variant for this issue – I don’t have it to show you – but the variant is actually kind of cool looking with Wolverine on the cover in the shadow of the Red Hulk. But this issue gets a D
The giving season is soon approaching! I have been working to make this one of the best Hulk websites I can – but I would like to know what, if anything, you think it’s missing…
I took the advice from many people who said to create a check list of comics the Hulk appears in… it is now the bane of my existence… but also some of the more popular pages that people visit. So, in the spirit of the giving season please fill out the form in the comment section below – be honest – without being brutal – and keep it clean! Help me make this website more appealing to every Hulk fan!
1. What do you like about the daily blogs? And what can be improved upon them?
2.What’s your favorite page on the site?
3. What’s your least favorite page – a page you feel like the site can do without?
4. Which page could be improved upon?
5. What pages can be added?
Let me know guys!
The last time I mentioned an Incredible Hulk #1 was 2 years ago. That was a 9.6 graded comic – it was the 2nd highest graded comic at the time – well this isn’t a 9.6 – it’s a shockingly lower 9.0! Still it sold for an amazing $100,000! What a fantastic looking comic! Looks almost as good as mine! … Almost
Silver Surfer #58
Some of the Defender’s appearances are literally a few pages long – these two issues are a perfect example of this. In Silver Surfer #58 – the Defenders aren’t actually attacking their sometime team mate. Instead Surfer is being made to see the Defenders but the Surfer does not fall for the trick for very long – and the Hulk, Namor and Strange crumble and disappear.
Thanos: Infinity Abyss #2
Even worse – in Thanos: Infinity Abyss Dr. Strange calls his allies to come aid him – but within a few seconds they are trapped in a cosmic cube and BAM! Hulk, Surfer and Namor are trapped! It’s almost insulting – but it’s more funny than anything!
Future Imperfect TPB
This is one of those stories that I read at least once a year. It’s that good! It has surprises and twists on practically every page – right down to Rick Jones “trophy” room filled with the fallen superheroes memorabilia. I will try to review the story without giving away too much – but it’s hard since everyone already knows who the Maestro is… Let’s begin with the obvious: This story takes place in a future devastated by a nuclear war where the land is ruled by an Evil dictator named Maestro. A group of rebels decide the best way to defeat the dictator is to bring the Hulk (who is the merged personality), through the use of Doom’s time machine, to face off against him. We meet Rick Jones Great, Great Granddaughter Janis – who is a bad ass! We also see Rick, still alive – just barely – and we learn it was his plan to bring the Hulk there. Now, the Hulk quickly makes an impact by defeating some of the Maestro’s soldiers and a cool looking robotic machine called a Dog O War. When the Maestro is alerted we get to meet him. A deranged, older version of the Hulk – who is not happy about having to leave his orgy… a great scene you have to see!
Future Imperfect Part 1
When the Maestro and Hulk meet up – they instantly recognize that they are faced with themselves. Unfortunately, for the Hulk, the Maestro is older, wiser – maybe even a bit stronger – but wost of all, he knows everything the Hulk is going to do – and the battle that follows is great – but ends with the Hulk getting his neck broken. But the story only gets better! While the Hulk heals the Maestro continues to mess with the Hulk – until a chain of events has the Maestro following a trail of Hulk’s blood – only to be faced with Rick Jones in the trophy room. There – one of the greatest showdowns ever – that results in Rick Jones death - and the Maestro being tricked into Doom’s time machine. When Maestro realizes where he is it’s both one of the most surprising and refreshing fulfilling endings to any mini-series! You have to read it to really appreciate it! Grade: A++
Fututre Imperfect Part 2
Ground Zero TPB
Peter David gave us this absolute gem of a storyline. McFarlane helped with his amazing art in this one… and it would turn out to be his swan song for the Hulk. There’s an interesting behind the scenes story that made the rounds about McFarlane and David’s working relationship. The story goes:
TIH #340 - Wolvie vs the Hulk - one of the most famous covers!
When David began writing the Hulk, Marvel asked if he wanted to have McFarlane, a virtually unknown at the time, draw the book. David agreed. McFarlane didn’t take long to catch the public’s attention with his unusual style – and soon he was a superstar. In the middle of this storyline Marvel asked if Todd wanted the reigns on Amazing Spiderman – and he did – he called Peter to tell him about it. When David heard that Todd was leaving the Hulk he asked McFarlane to stay on until #350 – in fact, it is said that David asked McFarlane to stay on because he had a great storyline and there was to be tons of money to be made… and McFarlane got insulted and vowed never to work with Peter David again.
TIH #341 - Man Bull
Now – if you believe it is another story. McFarlane being insulted over someone saying he’ll make a ton of money? I just can’t see that… but let’s get on with this story back when Todd and Peter were making beautiful stories together! This is the first story I bought when I was introduced to the Hulk. See, it’s about this time when the Grey Hulk came back – and he was only transforming at night. Bruce learns about gamma bombs being mass produced and he is determined to see them destroyed. The issue is… Clay Quatermain and Rick Jones are along for the ride – and while they make progress during the day – they don’t at night because of Bruce’s other self. In fact, at first the Hulk could care less and tries to get away – but after a famous tussle with Wolverine (and coincidentally another one of the most reprinted Hulk issues ever) - Hulk becomes more agreeable.
TIH #342 - Half Life!
The next issue has the group stopping in a small town that has a little problem with a monstrosity called the Man-Bull – in an issue both eye opening and touching. In the next issue we meet Half Life – who gives the Hulk a fight to be seen - sent by the Leader, who has a plan of his own for one of those bombs… and has wrench to throw into the works – namely two inventions named The Rock and Redeemer (not the same Redeemer Todd uses later in his Spawn issues) and a pretty lady named Betty.
TIH #343 - The First Hulk Issue I Owned
Betty has a surprise for the Hulk – one that she really doesn’t want to share with him… she is pregnant. In one of the greatest issues of the Hulk ever - Betty squares off against the Hulk – trying to hold back the news – but when the Hulk won’t cooperate she breaks down and confesses her secret. She expects the Hulk to lash out – but instead he wraps his arms around her and comforts her.
TIH #344 - One of my favorite covers ever!
The finale is the most surprising, excellent, crushing and ballsy ending in Hulk history. For those of you who have read Planet Hulk – you think that ending was surprising and upsetting – think about it not knowing what happened to the title character of the book… you know he isn’t dead – it wasn’t gimmicky or anything Loeb-ish like that – it was startling! You had no idea what was going to happen with the Hulk – and even worse – the next issue didn’t feature the Hulk at all – but served as an epilogue to the storyline – but McFarlane left before this issue hit the stands – he did the layouts and Larsen did the art.
TIH #345 - Todd knocks this one out of the park!
All in all this is the story I suggest to any person wanting a classic Hulk storyline – a story so good you’ll look for more as soon as you finish. In this 7 issue storyline we see the kind of stories we were in store for with PD at the helm – we see McFarlane, issue to issue, become a phenomenon. His unique style takes shape page by page and he shows his worth as an artist. We also get to see one of the best Hulk foes actually do something devastating and that makes us invest in seeing the Hulk take the Leader down! But we won’t see that for many, many issues later. Get the TPB if you can’t afford to get the individual issues – especially since #340 goes for like $40 now. I got my issue for cover price though – and it’s still BEAUTIFUL! Grade: A++
TIH #346 - Todd leaves... Larsen steps in...
Marvel Feature Presents #1
This, technically, is the first appearance of the Defenders… I say technically because, well, I’ll get into that later. First let’s start with these three – Marvel Feature Presents – the first time the group is dubbed “The Defenders” – named by… hmmm – a good question for a no prize! Oh – who am I kidding 465 will get it even before I finish typing this post 
The best part of the Defenders of course is with each meeting the members are never happy to help each other – and a lot of the time complain that they got together in the first place and sometimes vow never to team up again!
MFP #2 - Dormmamu in the house!
I love these guys! The covers to these issues are amazing as well – I love the old time covers too! And in the next issue the Defenders face off against a villain that is not only one of Strange’s biggest nemisis..s’s? Is nemisis’s right? Anyways, the villain is not only Strange’s biggest foe but also faces off against the Defenders many, many times – making him one of the Defender’s biggest foes! Bowen has released sneaks of a new bust of none other than DORMAMMU! I cannot wait for that!
MFP #3 - When Gossamer attacks!
The last of the MFP covers features one of my favorite looking villains – Xenmu – who reminds me of the Looney Tunes character Gossamer except… you know… white. Anyways – here are the first 3 comics that preceded the Defenders getting their own title!
The Eternals By Jack Kirby - Book 2
Jack Kirby wrote and drew this inventive series about immortal superheroes – and funny enough – they never fought the Hulk. The cover above may be misleading – or confusing you – but it’s true. See, at the Maryland Institute of Technology, 2 students are creating a Hulk robot as a mascot, but when the Uni-Mind enters the area anything electronic begins to go on the fritz – including the mechanical Hulk.
The Eternals #14 - Cosmic powered Hulk Robot!
Now, wielding a cosmic power, the Hulk robot begins a rampage. The Eternals try to stop it, mainly Ikaris, - but do not have much luck. See, the Eternals can’t die – which they remind you many times in this series – but they can be hurt and can remain disfigured for the rest of their life. So, this Hulk robot continues to destroy the town – one of the Eternals , Sersi, uses mind games… on a robot. Mind games? On a robot? But hey, who am I question a genius like Kirby. Can I admit he’s a genius AND say that this story doesn’t really make a lot of sense? Because that’s what I’m sticking to…
The Eternals #15 - Kind of cheating on the guest star, huh?
How many Hulk robots has there been anyways? I’m going to have to do a little research to figure this one out – I know Iron Man has fought a Hulk robot – as did the Hulk himself… and how many Hulk robots did the Hulkbusters create over the years? Anyways, this is the only Hulk robot that I know of who was infused with Cosmic energy – which allows it to do things that the actual Hulk could not – it’s only until the eldest Eternal – Zuras – arrives that the Hulk is taken down. All he does is touch the robot and it begins to release the Cosmic Energy. The Hulk robot runs away into the sewers and blows up.
The Eternals #16 - Robot Hulk goes KA-BLOOMY!
It’s a pretty entertaining storyline – if you have the chance pick it up! They’ve also collected the issues in a TPB – The Eternals by Jack Kirby Book 2. So yeah – here it is. And if you can remember specific issues that featured a Hulk robot then let me know below – we’ll try to get a list together! There’s another Hulk robot in the new Ultimate Avengers #3 as well!
