I’m just posting a few more pics before I’ll be posting the art soon! But tomorrow I’ll be getting reviews ready – Hulk #16 – or is #17? Who cares really – all I now is it’s a safe bet it will suck and have a bunch of variants – including a new Deadpool 200:1 variant. Turns out Marvel knows how to keep the numbers up on this fledgling story – just make incentive covers that force the retailer to purchase more than they can sell… ugh.
Alright – we’re getting closer to me posting the art I got – but let’s take a look at more of the Con! I am always amazed at the grail pieces I see at the cons. In fact – I will tell you about one business that was there selling original art – He had the original cover to Iron Man #9 – the one comic I was looking for – and this guy had the ACTUAL COVER! After talking to the guy and browsing through some art I found a great Buscema page for an unbelievable price! I put some money down on it – as I had spent most of my wad already – and will be picking up my Buscema very soon in the future! Here are more shots of the convention! Including a shot of Sale working on MY piece!
I hope everyone that went had as a good a time as I did – I will be posting the art pieces I got the following Fridays – and post the pics of the con a few at a time – just to have some fun! I picked up 4 pieces – 4 fantastic, amazing, wonderful pieces – this is one of the best con experiences I’ve ever had – I met Trimpe (really great guy) and his wife (a lovely lady) I talked to some of the artists there for WAY too long – but again, one of the best times I’ve ever had.
So, one of the perks of this website is meeting people, hearing from different Hulk fans everywhere – but an unexpected perk was connecting with people who have Hulk treasure’s they are willing to donate! A great guy named Randy wrote me last week and asked if I had this piece in my collection. I wrote back saying that I did not – funny enough though – I came across this set in Waltham a few weeks back. The owner was asking too much, in my opinion, so I passed on it – and then Randy asked me if I would like it. I asked for details – he wrote back saying he wasn’t looking for money – he just wanted to know if I wanted it! I said of course! Thanks to Randy for his very generous offer!
As you can see – this set is not complete – but the most important character is still in there – the Hulk! But it also contains the Human Torch, Mr. Fantastic, Thor and Spider-Woman. I believe the missing ones are the Thing and Spiderman – but I am very happy to get this set to add to the ever-growing collection.
Heading to the Back Bay Convention center tomorrow! Cannot wait to meet Herb Trimpe! I will certainly be posting pictures and stuff – but, and I admit, I should have posted this last week – but anyone have any questions that you would like me to ask him? I ave a whole bunch myself – but I thought I’d ask… Anyways – you’ll see pics this week!
Alright, here’s the 411. My Hulk room is located in my basement. I am putting an addition on to the house – it’s somewhat of a “in-law apartment” except that it isn’t – it’s for my actual parents. Here’s the kicker… they have to cut a hole in the wall in the foundation – right through my basement… right through my Hulk room. As of right now… the Hulk room is in complete disarray. Won’t even be able to get it back into any kind of order until construction is done – which will be in something like 3 months. Mind you, I wasn’t aware of this until about a week ago. No one was – except the builder who neglected to tell us this bit of information. Of course, when I say “I have thousands upon thousands worth of collectibles in that room” The builder responds with “Oh! Yeah, you better get that stuff out!”
No kidding Sherlock – problem is, not only is there no room for it anywhere – it’s going to take a whole lot more time than a week to get it put away. Let’s just say, I have taken the more expensive and hard to find pieces OUT of the Hulk room and have covered the rest of the room in plastic. Man, I really hope that works – because I will be so pissed if it doesn’t! I am taking every precaution that I can – but man are my nerves shot just thinking about it!
Not to say too much here except – Hawkeye is in so much trouble!
I told you I’d get these posted by today! I’m so proud of myself! And look at this: Two Pak books in one week?!? I was giddy! Too bad that there’s still no Hulk to speak of. The only let down – of course that’s a huge let down. But this issue does give us hope! Let me begin…
Dr. Wanesboro is being held captive and having the Old Power sucked right out of her by Norman’s lackey, Ms. Hand. Even though they tell her that it’s killing her she says to keep it up. Suddenly, with alarms sounding, they see Banner coming to rescue Wanesboro. Banner easily walks in and takes control over their facility. Hand releases some… wait, this sentence started with “Hand releases…” – tee hee! Anyways, yeah – a bunch of robots ready to kill – but Banner releases his own security – Skaar – swinging his huge sword.
We cut to Hand discussing Banner with Osborn – and Osborn sends her back out to take Banner out – but with help – Moonstone! Or Ms. Marvel as some of you have come to know her. As they fly to where Banner is their plane is blown apart. Hand sends 1000 missiles at Bruce and Skaar – Bruce uses some of them at Osborn’s facility, blowing it up. As he’s distracted – Hand comes up from behind and gets the best of Bruce. She seals him in a bubble that slows time down. She tries to kill him – but to no avail – because Bruce is a smarty pants!
Meanwhile, Ms. Marvel has her hands full with Skaar – but even better she lets him in on some secrets. As hand is about to kill Banner again – Skaar comes to the rescue – only to have Ms Marvel grab Bruce. But Skaar threatens to kill Ms. Hand – so Marvel releases Bruce – and Skaar releases Hand – but only after he realizes that the secrets that she spilled are true. Bruce and Skaar leave and Skaar lets Bruce in on the fact that the facility they blew up was also a Gamma Lab – Osborn is trying to turn Bruce back into the Hulk. (Thank goodness!) Everything seems to be going all to Osborn’s plan…
Now this issue was a little more exciting! I love the fact that Bruce is still a bad-ass – but Osborn is still smarter, almost anticipating every move Bruce will make. I’m excited to see what happens here By the way – I know there is a Cho variant, I am in the process of looking for a good, affordable copy of one, I’ll post it when I find it.- Grade: A-
Last we left the gruesome two-some they were in a comic shop and Wolverine came up ready to fight (how many places can Wolverine be? He’s in Hulk with his dark costume – in TIH in his yellow/blue costume – how many Wolverine’s are there?) And we begin with Skaar flattening Wolvie into the ground. He then jumps off and meets up with Daken , Wolverine’s son – now I don’t know too much about him – haven’t followed the character – but he seemed a bit redundant and kind of bored me to hell. The entire issue was a fight between these two – but some interesting things happened. For example, Skaar and Daken discuss how they are alike – “You were raised by Monsters – I was raised by assassins”) it was kind of silly – but at that point Skaar transforms back into the small child that he did in the last issue. As this happens Daken uses this moment to try and kill him – Banner comes to the rescue.
Actually, about Bannner, Pak has really re-established Banner as a no nonsense guy not to be messed with. I mean, if you look at the original comics, Banner was a nice guy – but he seemed all business and cold. There was a time when Banner was written as a scared, bumbling side to the personality – but Pak has shown the side of Banner that I think has been missing for years – and I like it! Some of the best parts of this issue is Logan and Banner sharing a beer watching their kids “bond”. What about you guys? How do you feel?
But like I said – Banner comes to the rescue. Or more like he throws Wolverine through the window at Daken. Skaar comes back and the battle continues between Skaar and Daken – and Daken is winning. His claws actually take away healing factors – and right as Daken is going to go for the kill Bruce holds his Old Power gun to Wolverine’s head. He Daken that he will shoot and kill Wolverine – and when Daken scoffs Bruce goes into how he thinks the Hulk was created to protect the world from him.
The heroes part ways and and as the story closes we see that the father and son are being monitored… by the Leader! Hulk*gasm!
As much as I like Pak’s writing, I really want to know where this story is going – after just 3 issues the story already feels a bit stagnant – I just don’t want to see a monthly “Skaar vs ….” title. I am certainly enjoying this more than the other title – and think that it’s crazy that this title doesn’t outsell Hulk – but I have to remember that most people are idiots and choose flash over substance 🙂 no offense to the idiots out there! Now, the other thing is that this issue has a few different artists working on the same issue – it’s a bit distracting. I’d like one artist on each issue. Having different styles from page to page takes you out of the story – at least it does for me. Anyways, still interesting and great – just still missing the Hulk. Although… that is until I read Hulk: The List! Review coming soon! Grade B-
Alright, while I work on the reviews for the comics came out today – I give you one of the baddest covers to rock a Hulk annual! The Hulk and Abomination have had some killer fights over the years – and I know he’s dead right now, shot by the Red Hulk, but I hope this isn’t for long – because you can’t replace the history of these two – the blow for blow fights and years of hatred. It just can’t be replaced with a red version of our favorite Jade Giant.
But yeah – reviews are on the way – I will hopefully get them posted by today…
This issue – from way back in 1991 – has an image of Abomination that reminds me a lot of the Bowen bust. But let’s face it – the X-Men have a hard enough time taking down the Hulk – the Abomination is a perfect villain for the X-Men. Isn’t Speedball another name for crack? I could be wrong about that – who knows – but I thought I heard that somewhere…
This, apparently, was a comic-con exclusive – but don’t ask me from where – because I have no idea. Maybe NYCC maybe SDCC – all I know is it is in my house – in my collection – and it’s pretty sweet! I do wish they made the Hulk have more of an angry look than what looks like a shocked or surprised look – but this 2-pack is pretty sweet. I actually enjoy the packaging more than the figures themselves!
In the later 90’s there were quite a few mini-series out there – including this mini called the Abominations. If you are a fan of Future: Imperfect – this may be a series you want to check out. It has a future version of the Abomination in it – just as ruthless as the Maestro.
Imagine my surprise this week, when reading The Life Fantastic TPB, when I came across a juicy little nugget of Hulk geekdom! So, If you don’t know what the story is about here it is in a nutshell. The Hulk (who is green when the story begins) is used to find out what kind of shenanigans Hydra is up to – but when he goes deep into a cave he finds a Gamma Bomb. And then it explodes – leaving the Hulk a savage, grey incarnation who is reliving the Hulks life – each painful moment to the next the Hulk smashes his way through each hallucination. The Thing and Johnny are sent to take the Hulk down. The Thing realizes that the Hulk isn’t himself and that some thing’s wrong.
Ultimately, the Hulk is about to land the killing blow to the Thing, Johnny goes nova. This doesn’t take the Hulk down – but it snaps him out of it. As the story ends Grimm says that he talked to Reed – and look what he says:
The whole idea came from the Thing! Wow! This was released at the same time as Prelude to Planet Hulk – how great is that?
You know what’s so great about the Abomination? That he’s not totally evil – and that is what makes a great villain – they may do evil things – but they can explain it in a way that makes it… almost okay… ALMOST. In this annual – which the Hulk doesn’t really appear in – except in flashbacks and make believe stories – we see the Abomination in a different light – we get to see the world through his eyes – how he feels that he’s the cursed hero…
Ratchet's Hulk Collection 