Indestructible Hulk #17 – Review

by Mark Waid (Writer), Clay Mann, Seth Mann, Miguel Sepulveda (Artists), Val Staples (Colorist)

The Story: The top scientists of the world are trying to solve the terrigenesis problem. It’s a pity that Bruce Banner does not want to play ball…

The Review: I have a lot of respect for Mark Waid. As a writer, he has done and participated in many books I have enjoyed, some that I even love. Kingdom Come, Superman: Birthright, 52 and many other of his work are stuff I re-read even to this day and his modern stuff, like his Daredevil run, are definitely very enjoyable. However, his run on Indestructible Hulk has been somewhat inconsistent. Very enjoyable at times and merely decent at times, it seems that this title fits the titular character quite well in term of mood swings. However, with the new arc dealing with Inhumanity properly starting, does Mark Waid provide readers with an issue more associated with quality than missed opportunities?

It’s a mixed result, for the most part, as some of the very best elements of the book are showcased, while some of the weaker one are present as well. Mark Waid has a particular style that can adapt itself to many heroes and concepts, but it does seem like he is struggling a bit on this particular title.

Gambit # 15 – Review

By: James Asmus (writer), Clay Man (pencils and inks), Seth Mann (Inks), Rachelle Rosenberg (colors)

The Story: Gambit has concocted his perfect heist, the one that makes his name forever, too bad it was stolen.

The Review: If you’ve been wondering why you haven’t seen Remy LeBeau hanging around the halls of the Jean Grey School lately, it’s because he’s been in this title, stealing as he pleases, charming a monarch or two, and looking good doing it.

This issue is actually a lot like Gambit himself. It’s clever, enjoys the sound of its own voice, can’t resist a bit of fan-service, and is a little too self-aware for its own good. Though they get some use this issue, we don’t see much of Gambit’s mutant powers. It seems that James Asmus believes (correctly, in my opinion) that Gambit’s status as a mutant isn’t nearly as essential to his character as his dual roles as thief and hero.

Despite the conflict between these two halves of his life, Gambit ends up playing detective in this issue, which ends up letting us spend a lot of time with Gambit, his thoughts, and a couple of friends he might not take back to the school.

Part of Gambit’s appeals is that, though his subtleties run deep, at the core he’s a character you know before you read the first page. Asmus does an excellent job of playing to that archetype while guiding readers to the specific iteration that is Remy LeBeau. Just as nice, he has a great feel for Remy’s voice, accent and all.

We also get a look at a world that a normal X-Men book simply wouldn’t show us, whether that’s investigating a simple crime, elaborate as it may be, or dealing in the in the seedy business of sneaking illegal aliens into New York. Asmus paces each of these scenes expertly, making this feel like a longer comic than it is and allowing Gambit to have a couple of small-scale adventures on the way to his larger goal and a, slightly predictable, twist ending.