‘Hulk #6’ Review
Written by Mariko Tamaki | Art by Nico Leon | Published by Marvel Comics
I give writer Mariko Tamaki a lot of credit because it could not have been easy to pitch a Hulk story that did not have Hulk into it until the sixth issue. I cannot think of another situation quite like this since Brian Michael Bendis launched Ultimate Spider-Man. Now Hulk is in no way on the same level quality wise but Tamaki’s approach does gives the character of She-Hulk or Hulk new life.
When you wait six issues to show your titular character you do build up a lot of hype. Since the series debuted it has been hinting that this was going to be a different type of Hulk that we have ever seen as a result of the stress and trauma Jennifer endured. Nico Leon does gives us a much more savage Hulk that very much resembles a demonic beast. It is the type of character you would expect someone like Doctor Strange to do battle with.
Outside of the look of the Hulk there is not much different in the way the character acts or behaves. Tamaki has done a superb job building to this moment. We have seen the extreme struggles Jennifer has gone through and the fear she has over turning back into this monster. Typically with a Hulk book you are just waiting for Hulk to show up, but here there is concern for Hulk to appear. Buildup is great but when the payoff is not there you run the risk of derailing all the momentum that has been established.
Here the ending is rather underwhelming. Hulk deals with the monster in the normal way you would expect, and on a character standpoint neither Jenn or Maise have compelling resolutions. It was as if Tamaki was concerned about giving Maise too tragic of an ending no matter if it fit the story that was being told or not.
Anytime you are able to approach such a classic character in a new way I am all for it. Civil War II was quite the disappointment but in that some good did come. Hulk’s first arc may not have had the thrilling or satisfying conclusion it was capable of achieving, but it was no means a total loss. Much of the dramatic dilemmas that were forged in the beginning are still there and clearly have much better fruit to bear.
**½ 2.5/5
