I knew it was out there! Ever since I found the grey – I knew the green one was out there – just avoiding me! But I did snag it, off of Amazon. I broke down and bought it off the net – I hate doing it, for some reason, but sometimes it’s your only real option left! I have already discussed my… blah-ness feelings about bobble head dolls – but these are a bit different. I really like the sculpt – the retro feel to it – the really great packaging! Big Thumbs up!
Alright, let’s get back on track here… I know it was a shaky week last week with my tusty old blog – but let’s get down to brass tacks! Here we have two of the later 90’s Leader figures. It’s funny – the “Smash and Crash” one actually used to have a red liquid in his noggin – but overtime it evaporated… or leaked out… or something… I haven’t seen many of these with the liquid still in place. Too bad it was kind of cool. The Leader below – well, all I can say is that his head was made WAY too small!
I have to tell you – I have read this comic about a half a dozen times over – and I can’t tell if I liked it or not. On the one hand, kudos to Parker for trying to make sense out of Loeb’s ridiculousness – but on the other hand, it’s like trying to fix a carburetor with a toothbrush! You might be able to do it – but it’s going to be really difficult! See, issue 3 deals with how Rick Jones was turned into A-Bomb. I mean, we need an entire different series on how he came to call himself A-Bomb – or why he thought it was a good idea – or why Loeb is still being allowed to write anything cause he’s a blathering idiot – but still – we are dealt his origin as follows:
Rick is fighting Red Hulk. The Red Hulk starts to trigger memories from Rick – like how at the end of WWH he was taken by A.I.M. and they used the Abomination’s DNA to make Rick into what he is today. Marlo helped him escape – all this time Rick is pretending to be the stupid A-Bomb again – but we learn that Rick was trying to tell Bruce about the plan way back in issue 6 – I have an issue with that scene – but let’s just move on…
We then learn that Rick was given a trigger to kill Bruce Banner. We don’t know what it is – but at some point Rick is supposed to turn on Bruce and kill him. So the Intel give Rick his brains back as A-Bomb and send him out – which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense here – like I said – I give kudos to Parker for trying to fix this mess – but it’s getting out of control here! In TIH #600 we see Bruce in a tank – we are not told how he was captured or why at that point – but he was in the tank. We see Rick – who we hadn’t seen since issue 6 – being experimented on. In the scuffle there Rick helps Bruce escape and they have been together ever since…
So when did they implant this trigger exactly? During that time? Because Bruce was still able to be turned into the Hulk – and Bruce wasn’t the wild card he turned into yet… and why then was M.O.D.O.C.K. so upset when the Red Hulk drained the Hulk out of Banner – wouldn’t that make him easier to kill? Man, I really get aggravated when thinking back to TIH #600 – you have a landmark issue tainted with one of the stupidest scenes ever written into a comic – the Red Hulk using his “draining” ability to destroy the Hulk. I mean, that was just really pathetic! Loeb continues to do the opposite of impress with this comic! How does this crap still sell? People let’s wake up here! Sorry – I got a little heated there… oy… I just remembered the scene in this issue – where the Red Hulk says that Hulk “overheated” him… referring, of course to issue #6 – another doozy.
Anyways, getting back on track… Bruce intentionally sets off the trigger and as tears after Bruce to kill him – Bruce talks the trigger right out of Rick. He tells him that he should not feel guilty – and that it wasn’t his fault. (Which totally isn’t true! It is most certainly his fault!) but Rick apologizes and they leave the cave together in a victory.
Like I said, Parker has done a great job of filling in the obvious gaps in Loeb’s brainless story – but here it just falls a little flat. That combines with the art – especially that horrible cover art by JRJR – this issue gets a C
You would not believe how freakin’ busy I am – hardly have time to even leave this post – I will absolutely post my review of Red Hulk #3 and finish off the Leader month – no worries – just bear with me here! Click on the image above for a cool little website – that featured this WWH doodle!
I owe a post… but here, on this cover – it shows no other comic character has a better porn-stache than the Leader!
Thanks for your patience. The end of March is a killer – I hardly have time to log on let alone leave a post – but I will try. Here’s the review that I should have posted last week: Let’s be honest here – I am putting these 2 issues in the same post because… well, they are basically the same comic – just written by 2 different writers. Loeb’s book has one of the most cringe worthy ideas since Wendi-Hulk – which is: Hulkpool. For freakin’ all that is holy! Really? Hulkpool? I and it was passed through the editor? Without question? Holy hell…
Well, let’s get down to the brass tacks – the Skaar, Wolvie, Banner, Spidey, etc. team are attacking the base – when it’s revealed that Banner is actually Cho – being hidden by a holographic cloaking device. Skaar pissed… again – because he’s being lied to… again. Betty doesn’t want to be saved and go with Banner, Cho, or anyone for that matter. Talbot is not an L.M.D. – nor is he the Red Hulk – which pretty much ONLY leaves Ross at this point. Even though he is dead… *chuckle* The Red Hulk is trying to take care of his part – but he is caught and used to help shoot a ray back to Earth that “Hulk-ifies” all the heroes, and soldiers on the planet. Bruce is caught and linked up with all the other geniuses. We do get a flash forward that shows Bruce in bed with Betty and Betty saying how he (Bruce) saved the day… was that a dream? Who knows at this point – I tend to lean on the side of non-dream – but we will see.
Shocking ending? Not really. I mean, it didn’t hit me like the ending to Ground Zero did. It was more like “Really? All that for nothing? Seems like a waste” And I still feel that way. It was a bummer. Here are some thoughts though… Banner WANTED to get caught. It’s all part of his plan that he hasn’t told anyone else about, including Red Hulk. Which would follow the personality traits that Banner has been displaying recently. I’m starting to grow a little weary of this “devious” Banner. It’s hard to root for someone who is constantly lying to the people relying on him. But we will see where this heads in the months to come. Grade for these comics: TIH – C+ / Hulk – D
Next month we get the conclusion to all of this. Come to think of it – we should have seen it coming – with the storyline titled Fall of the Hulks. I just can’t wait to get the actual Hulk back. It’s been way too long – looking forward to getting some better Hulk stories being told – putting this dark age behind us – and the whole terribly written mystery of “Who is the Red Hulk” over with! At this point if it’s not Ross – then… oh, right – I don’t care! I could really care less! It was supposed to be a 6 issue mini-series that actually turned into one of the darkest ages in Hulk history – right up there with Bruce Jones! Which was hard to beat! But congrats Loeb – you did it.
Sorry everyone – it was a whirlwind of a freakin’ day – I haven’t had a chance to read my comics yet – and so… the review will have to wait until Monday – or maybe I can squeak it out this weekend – but it is late and I am getting tired – but I did want to make sure to post the Leader cover – this one from the great Countdown storyline that introduced us to Madman, the Leader’s brother!
One of the Leader’s biggest plans in his early days was to create Humanoids to do his dirty work… and when the humanoids didn’t work he’d just create more – when more didn’t work he’d create bigger ones… which doesn’t seem like a brilliant plan – but hey, I’m not a genius!
I’m not sure when I actually got this – it might have been last April – and I just forgot to post it. But that’s just a shame – I like this artist’s pencils – although, I think the Hulk’s face could certainly be better, still – the details are fantastic! Another unknown artist that frequents the Boston Comic Con – speaking of which… the April Comic Con is coming! It’s in a new location – and it’s shaping up to be amazing! Check it out here:
http://www.bostoncomiccon.com/
So, if anyone is going to be there – drop me a line – maybe we can meet up and talk Hulk for a while… or not. Whatever. I will be reviewing the Hulk #21 and TIH #608 tomorrow – so be here or be square… although – this is where the squares hang out so… hmmmm…
Day 13? How is it we’ve gotten this far and I haven’t shown #400? Keown’s last cover! The day he left a million Hulk fans wept… and a million more just bought PITT… every 6 months when it actually came out!
Here we have another TRU exclusive. They just got these in at my TRU – and I was there to get it! I gotta say – I love the little details in this 2-pack! The WWH is fantastic! He has the silver arm – the crown, the leather garb he had in the storyline… but the awesome part of this 2-pack? It comes with a Stretch Attack Mr. Fantastic – who has a HUGE strecthy arm! I was surprised when they put these 2 in the pack together – much like when they released the Doom/Hulk 2-pack – but this is better than any other combination – mainly because Reed seems to get too much of a pass on his contribution on sending the Hulk into space. Maybe this will remind people that Reed isn’t as Fantastic as he should’ve been!
Check this issue out – it the Leader was somewhat behind the events that took place in Hulk #181
So, I have sort of a treat today – I was going to post the new WWH minimate – but I just got this in the mail and I have to talk about it! I will post the minimates tomorrow – but today, let’s talk about this landmark issue, shall we? I mean, who hasn’t read this issue? One of the most popular issues of the Hulk… well, ever! It sold out and they released a 2nd print – and the 2nd print cover, although the same, the new colors were WAY cooler! But a funny thing happened… I’ll get to that in a minute –
First I will discuss what happens in this issue. Samson, with the help of the Ring Master, was out to “cure” Bruce Banner. So, into the mind of Banner Samson went to talk to Bruce, Green Hulk and the Grey Hulk. The three battled for control of Banner’s mind – and we follow along as they remember Bruce’s childhood, and his abusive Father – who ultimately killed his Mother – and his alienation of his formative teen years – even his suppressed college years. In the end, Banner’s Mother was the figure who convinced the three personalities to merge into one body – and thus was born – the”Smart” Hulk!
This was in the plans for some time – from the very beginning of PD’s run he said that this was always his intent. Now, PD didn’t lay the ground work for the abusive Father or even the Grey Hulk’s return – that was all writers before him – but it was PD who put all the history and continuity of the Hulk to great use. The “Smart” or “Merged” Hulk – I prefer “Merged” – dominated the comic for years to come – some people love that incarnation – while some purists were soured on PD’s writing of the Hulk ever since…
Now back to the copies of this book. As you can imagine – this book coming out in such a popular time for comic books in general – this is not a rare book – in fact, the second printing is pretty common as well. You can find both pretty readily. It’s only when Gary Miller helped me a bit in compiling the COMICS pages that I was told about an extremely rare 3rd printing of the book. That’s right – a 3rd printing! I was immediately skeptical, as I had never heard of such a book existing, and even inquired with every comic book shop owner I knew. NO ONE HAD HEARD OF THIS BOOK! It’s not even listed in Overstreet, which is odd – but, are you ready for this? Scroll down, take a gander at this:
That’s right! It’s the elusive 3rd printing of #377! Anyone who has this issue has a rare piece of Hulk history. I did find it listed in the Comic Book Data Base – but the information on the site isn’t exactly correct. See, if you look at the little price box at the top, the original price was $1.00 – but the 3rd printing was released much later – and has a price of $1.75. In fact, if you look at the copyright information – the original is dated 1991 – but the 3rd printing? 1994.
Three years later? I would love to know the story behind WHY this was released so much later. It’s an oddity to be sure – and I am really excited to finally have one on my collection! Hope you guys are as impressed as I was about this little known comic in the Hulk series! So, thank you Gary Miller for making me aware of this great issue! – boy it was a hard one to track down! And good luck to anyone out there who is now on the hunt!
I love the way these guys break down what is going down in comics… click on the image for the video.
Very few comics, other than the Hulk, used the Leader – but he has a great stint in She Hulk – while Hulk was away on an alien planet! His head looks so gross on this cover… I love it!
Ratchet's Hulk Collection 