Another humongous book by Marvel this week. I would say it's about the same size as
Amazing #600, but . . there are a few ads in this one. Sure they're all for Marvel stuff, but . . they're still ads. And in this one we get a reprint from
Hulk Gray #1. I guess they used up all their new material in
Amazing. I liked the main story in the book . . it was narrated by Ben Urich. However, unlike the 65 page lead story in Amazing, this one was only 29 pages. It's by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness, as in the regular Hulk title, but Mark Farmer does the inks on this one. Don't get me wrong. I think Mark is very talented, but . . I much prefer Dexter Vines' lines over Ed's stuff. I know, Mark Farmer does some of the pencils on the regular book also, but . . it just looks different in this book. To me, it just didn't have the same 'cartoonish' type feel to it. You know . . that 'fun' look. Anyways, this first story is about the cost and price of keeping secrets. Jenn turns Ben on to the secret about the Red Hulk. She's hoping that somehow he'll get some news out there and maybe get something rolling . . media, police or otherwise . . into looking at this freak and where he came from. So far it seems as if he can run amok without consequence. Unfortunately, Ben does get the story, but . . he also attracts the attention of the Red Hulk. "Do you know how many buildings were knocked down the last time the Hulk went on a rampage? Twenty? Ten? Let's say it was only one. What if it were the building where everyone at Front Line worked? During a staff meeting. The entire staff meeting. Robbie Robertson. Peter Parker. Maybe you called in sick that day. You could write all about it." And the part about all of this that really has Ben pissed off? It's not the very thinly veiled threat. And it's not the Pulitzer that he's giving up by sitting on this story. No, what has Ben pissed off is that this story is so much more than "Who is the Red Hulk?" . . some important questions that need answering, but . . he'll never be able to submit it. "MODOK has activated the terrorist group AIM.
General Ross has committed treason. Together, they've started a gamma radiated super soldier program. If all you do is focus on the Red Hulk, you're going to miss the big picture. There is a war coming. The one we won't win." The next story by Stan Lee and Rodney Buchemi, I thought, was a bit . . 'simple'. It's a story about one of the fights between the Hulk and the Red Hulk in Canada. The authorities get involved, as does the Wendi-Hulk. Everyone can see that even though the Hulk is the mindless one, it's the Red Hulk that's perpetuating this battle and putting everyone in danger. During the battle, the Hulk actually tries to stop more than a few people from getting hurt. Eventually the fight gets so bad that Galactus has to get involved. It would be a simple task for him to eliminate one of them. The problem? "Which is which? . . . Sorry. Can't help you. I'm color blind!" First of all, why would Galactus even get involved? Secondly, why would he talk to the 'ants' that run amok on the ground . . they're beneath him. And finally . . what a cheesy way to end the story. We then have a story about She-Hulk and ARMOR. It's by Fred Van Lente and Michael Ryan. To be honest with you . . I got bored with this one and didn't even finish it. After the first 3 pages is was all just 'blah, blah, blah, blah blah'. Although, it's an important story about Lyra because it's going to carry over into
the Incredible Hulk #601. I just got really bored with it. Finally we end up with a cover gallery. We get 7 pages of full-pages splashes of upcoming covers. I thought that was a bit much. And then we get the 600+ covers from the entire Hulk run . . much as we did at the end of Captain America #600. It was interesting, but, I thought, a bit indulgent. Overall, I'd have to say that I was disappointed by the book. Especially after reading
Amazing #600. That book was so full of great stuff. This one seemed like they just shoved a bunch of stuff in there to reach the 100 pages . . probably less, actually with all of the ads. And tell me the story by Stan wasn't quickly put together on some afternoon because they needed a story to fill 10 more pages. Stan is an Icon . . hell, he created this character. I expected so much more from one of his stories. Again, I bought both covers so this one cost me $9.98 also. But, unlike the
Amazing book . . pun intended . . I felt like I was cheated on this one. I just expected so much more.
Another humongous book by Marvel this week. I would say it's about the same size as Amazing #600, but . . there are a few ads in this one. Sure they're all for Marvel stuff, but . . they're still ads. And in this one we get a reprint from Hulk Gray #1. I guess they used up all their new material in Amazing. I liked the main story in the book . . it was narrated by Ben Urich. However, unlike the 65 page lead story in Amazing, this one was only 29 pages. It's by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness, as in the regular Hulk title, but Mark Farmer does the inks on this one. Don't get me wrong. I think Mark is very talented, but . . I much prefer Dexter Vines' lines over Ed's stuff. I know, Mark Farmer does some of the pencils on the regular book also, but . . it just looks different in this book. To me, it just didn't have the same 'cartoonish' type feel to it. You know . . that 'fun' look. Anyways, this first story is about the cost and price of keeping secrets. Jenn turns Ben on to the secret about the Red Hulk. She's hoping that somehow he'll get some news out there and maybe get something rolling . . media, police or otherwise . . into looking at this freak and where he came from. So far it seems as if he can run amok without consequence. Unfortunately, Ben does get the story, but . . he also attracts the attention of the Red Hulk. "Do you know how many buildings were knocked down the last time the Hulk went on a rampage? Twenty? Ten? Let's say it was only one. What if it were the building where everyone at Front Line worked? During a staff meeting. The entire staff meeting. Robbie Robertson. Peter Parker. Maybe you called in sick that day. You could write all about it." And the part about all of this that really has Ben pissed off? It's not the very thinly veiled threat. And it's not the Pulitzer that he's giving up by sitting on this story. No, what has Ben pissed off is that this story is so much more than "Who is the Red Hulk?" . . some important questions that need answering, but . . he'll never be able to submit it. "MODOK has activated the terrorist group AIM. 
General Ross has committed treason. Together, they've started a gamma radiated super soldier program. If all you do is focus on the Red Hulk, you're going to miss the big picture. There is a war coming. The one we won't win." The next story by Stan Lee and Rodney Buchemi, I thought, was a bit . . 'simple'. It's a story about one of the fights between the Hulk and the Red Hulk in Canada. The authorities get involved, as does the Wendi-Hulk. Everyone can see that even though the Hulk is the mindless one, it's the Red Hulk that's perpetuating this battle and putting everyone in danger. During the battle, the Hulk actually tries to stop more than a few people from getting hurt. Eventually the fight gets so bad that Galactus has to get involved. It would be a simple task for him to eliminate one of them. The problem? "Which is which? . . . Sorry. Can't help you. I'm color blind!" First of all, why would Galactus even get involved? Secondly, why would he talk to the 'ants' that run amok on the ground . . they're beneath him. And finally . . what a cheesy way to end the story. We then have a story about She-Hulk and ARMOR. It's by Fred Van Lente and Michael Ryan. To be honest with you . . I got bored with this one and didn't even finish it. After the first 3 pages is was all just 'blah, blah, blah, blah blah'. Although, it's an important story about Lyra because it's going to carry over into the Incredible Hulk #601. I just got really bored with it. Finally we end up with a cover gallery. We get 7 pages of full-pages splashes of upcoming covers. I thought that was a bit much. And then we get the 600+ covers from the entire Hulk run . . much as we did at the end of Captain America #600. It was interesting, but, I thought, a bit indulgent. Overall, I'd have to say that I was disappointed by the book. Especially after reading Amazing #600. That book was so full of great stuff. This one seemed like they just shoved a bunch of stuff in there to reach the 100 pages . . probably less, actually with all of the ads. And tell me the story by Stan wasn't quickly put together on some afternoon because they needed a story to fill 10 more pages. Stan is an Icon . . hell, he created this character. I expected so much more from one of his stories. Again, I bought both covers so this one cost me $9.98 also. But, unlike the Amazing book . . pun intended . . I felt like I was cheated on this one. I just expected so much more.
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