The Manhattan Projects #1 – Review

By: Jonathan Hickman (writer), Nick Pitarra (artist), Cris Peter (colors) and Rus Wooton (letters)

The Story: What if there was more going on during the Manhattan Project than we were told?

Review: This was really good.  Anyone who has been a fan of Hickman’s creator owned works knows that he can whip up some crazy ideas and he likes to dwell in an area of secret conspiracies that is right up my alley.  Seriously, if you haven’t read Nightly News and Pax Romana you should correct that post haste!  Transhuman is pretty good too.

 I’m going to SPOIL one aspect of this first issue right now, it isn’t a huge spoiler, and nevertheless you’ve been warned.  You know that the series is going to be supercool when we see a military officer welcoming Robert Oppenheimer to “The Manhattan Projects”.  Did you catch that?  Yes, he used the plural form of “project” as in “the atomic bomb is only ONE thing we’re working on.”  So, one of the central themes of this story seems to be: What if there was a LOT more going on during the big World War II science projects than we were told?  We know a little bit about crazy projects that the Nazis and Soviets were working on during that era because they either (i) lost the war OR (ii) had their governments fall apart…. and it was some really trippy stuff.  We’re talking science that was seemingly decades before its time that took place due to the total war environment of WWII.  But, our secret projects are still nothing but the subject of conspiracy theories because we won the war and our government never fell apart.  The concept of a series written by Hickman that explores THOSE secrets is really tantalizing!  Sign me up!

Hulk #19 – Review

By: Jeph Loeb (writer), Ed McGuinness (penciller), Mark Farmer (inker), Dave Stewart (colorist)

The Story: The Intelligencia, having split with their ally the Red Hulk, send the Fearsome Four to invade the Baxter Building under the leadership of one of their own, the Wizard. Red Hulk sneaks in too, acting on a larger plan. And in a secret lair, MODOK and Doc Samson trade barbs over what to do next about the Red Hulk.

What’s Good: The Fall of the Hulks one-shots set up this arc, and now Fall of the Hulks is upon us! Loeb opens with a bang, as he launches plotting and counter-plotting forces, each sneaking around the other, feinting and moving for position. It’s a caper plot with more than two sides and it’s a lot of fun to watch! I’m fascinated (and have been for about a year) with the new, plotting, scrawny Banner that has influence over so many people stronger than him. What also intrigued me were the references to the top eight smartest people in the world. Reed Richards was obviously a target and I love that McCoy was mentioned as well. And, if memory serves, that means that Amadeus Cho will also become involved in this, thereby pulling in Hercules? Interesting….

The art was a treat. I’ve always been a fan of Farmer’s inks. He adds a soft humanity to the faces. McGuinness is obviously very talented as well and I loved the level of detail and texture he brought to the Thing, the Wizard and Klaw. Muscles move the way they’re supposed to under McGuinness’s pencil and the dynamism of the action makes me slow down the reading.