Chaos War: Thor #2 – Review

By: J.M. Dematteis (writer), Brian Ching (pencils), Rick Ketcham (inks), Rob Schwager (colors), Simon Bowland (letters) & Mark Paniccia (editor)

The Story: An amnesiac Thor, in Donald Blake form, does battle with Glory while protecting a comely widow.

What’s Good: The art is pretty good in this tie-in to Chaos War.  Brian Ching is given lots of opportunities to draw Glory.  This isn’t the normal version of Glory, but a demonic looking thing that has fallen to Earth after being smote by Thor in Chaos War: Thor #1.  This demon looks very…well…demonic and Ching draws him really well.  The art tells the story very effectively and coloring is right on point too.  He even gets in a few very nice pages of Thor once Don Blake get’s his mojo back.

Chaos War: Thor #1 – Review

By: J.M. DeMatteis (writer), Brian Ching (pencils), Rick Ketcham (inks), Rob Schwager (colors), Simon Bowland (letters) & Mark Paniccia (editor)

The Story: Thor engages in cosmic-level battle with Oblivion before falling to Earth as an amnesiac Donald Blake and being taken in by a beautiful widow.  Together they will find healing.

What’s Good: If you feel like Thor is too strong to be on Earth because he would break things if he really unloaded with his full might, you’ll probably enjoy the first part of this issue.  Here we see Thor as his cosmic best, doing battle with Oblivion, a cosmic entity who is in league with the Chaos King.  This portion of the issue is really good cosmic action.  It has BIG scenes, bright colors and Thor standing alone against a real heavy hitter.  It also allows the art team to shine, especially the colors from Schwagner.  Cosmic action is all about the colors.  Just think how nice these comics will look digitally instead of printed on cheap paper!

The best thing about this issue is the art.  It is really nice.  It is just a shame that the story isn’t better.

Incredible Hulks #612 – Advance Review

by Greg Pak & Scott Reed (writers), Tom Raney & Brian Ching (artists)

The Story: The Hulks enjoy a family barbecue at the beach as Bruce Banner confronts his newly resurrected wife Betty in regards to their marriage.  This being a Hulk book, that equals Green Hulk vs. Red She-Hulk action!  Meanwhile, lost son of the Hulk, Hiro-Kala (Who’s going to be pretty peeved when he finds out everyone else in his family can turn into a Hulk except him.  What a gyp!) travels through space as he suffers revolt from his followers on all sides.

What’s Good: I admire what Pak is attempting to do with this title.  The acclaimed writer has been put into a position where he not only has one Hulk at his disposal, but six, and he’s milking that storytelling opportunity for all it’s worth.  The title change, going from Incredible Hulk to Incredible HulkS, is more than just a gimmick.  Pak’s exploration of the concept of family and relationships continues here from his previous work on the Hulk titles.  If anything, that theme is stronger than ever thanks to so many actual members of Bruce Banner’s genetic family being present.  The Hulk’s Warbound in Planet Hulk and World War Hulk and the relationship between Skaar and Banner during the lead up to Fall of the Hulks were all studies in family dynamics and this new iteration of the title seems to be bringing that examination to a head.  If there were any doubt about Pak’s intentions, he even has the Hulk family enjoying a beach barbecue for crissakes!  That decision, and Banner’s relationship problems with his estranged ex-wife Betty (which of course turn into a Hulk vs. Hulk smackdown) both do a nice job of showing the positives and negatives to being surrounded by those you consider family.  I’m intrigued by the direction this title is taking, and while there’s always the danger that we’ll journey into Fantastic Four territory (I’ve never been a fan of the “family of super-heroes” concept), I trust Pak to take the tale of a clan of aggressive, super-strong Hulks to its logical conclusion.  Oh, and Tom Raney’s artwork?  Perfect for this new direction.  The man knows how to draw him some Hulks.  Nuff said.