Hulk Gray Mini-Series Review

Title:	Hulk Gray
Contributors:	Jeph Loeb Tim Sale
Publisher:	Marvel
Issue #:	1 - 6
Year:	2003
Pages:	32 Pages each issue
Age Rating:	12+ (Violence, Adult Themes)
Story Grade:	A+
Art Grade:	A+

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Hulk Gray by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale is less about the color of Hulk's skin and more about psychological study of the not-so black and white nature people; Banner, Betty, Ross and Rick. The books retell the origin of Hulk, but from a first person perspective, from Banner's memories, as Banner himself sits with his friend and psychiatrists Dr. Leonard Samson's office recanting the tales that are known and and unknown up to this point.

This first book really breaks some grounds in understanding, not only the mindset of Banner, but his relationship with perceived the monster inside him and their relationship with the world and people around them, again from Bruce's perspective. Loeb spins a genuine and fresh tale of Hulk's origin, while remaining true to the original material and this is important for this tale to work properly.

While it is not directly mentioned in any of the books, it is not so subtly suggested that this discussion between Doc Samson and Bruce Banner takes place at some point following the death of Betty Ross. This would help make some sense of Banner going to Doc Samson, a psychologist, to talk through his emotions.

Tim Sale's artwork is a dark and moody blend of reality mixed with a fun caricature portrayal of known characters that really makes the story really pop off the pages. Sale's art truly comes across as a tribute to Kirby's original drawings, but at the same time is also a unique representation of said designs, making the panel's Tim's own.  

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Issue #1 is where Betty first meets the Hulk and it goes about as well as one would expect it to go... Hulk Confesses his hatred of Banner and Betty faints.

There is considerable value added dialog between Banner and Samson about Bruce's interpretation of the relationship between him [Bruce] and Betty and Hulk and Betty which is enlightening.

You also get to see a snakey side of old Thunderbolt. Not only is he a hardened military man, he also has fears about his daughter, and his own ineptitude as a father and general, being too much like her mother and also begins exposing his ultra-controlling nature. He really comes across as a dick, which is a lot different than in the original tale in which he is simply a hard-ass military man. His "Gray" becomes very apparent. In this book you really start seeing Ross for more than a hard nosed general.

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Issue #3 introduces Iron Man into the mix, but not until the end of the book. Tony Stark is trying to build a name for himself and his technology and Ross is trying to pull his name out the mud as he his becoming known as the guy who can't defeat the Hulk and that doesn't set well with Ross' ego.

You get a lot more insight into Ross as he falls deeper into the rabbit hole showing that he has little to no regard for anyone else's life if it gets in the way of him winning. You also get to see Stark come in and manipulate Ross into trying out his new Iron Man prototype. Ross's "Gray" gets a little darker.

In this issue, you also get to see Hulk's first kill. It is an innocent scene where Hulk accidentally kills the one thing, other than Betty, that he comes to love. It is a touching, albeit brief moment in the book, but it is sad to read this play out. In the end it sets up the story for some important storytelling in book three.

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Issue #4 is all about the battle between Iron Man and Hulk. Each get their licks in, but this isn't a Hulkbuster Iron Man suit if you get my drift.

During the battle, Hulk accidentally hurts Betty. And he absconds her away to a quiet place.

Near the end of the book, Ross makes another appearance with Tony literally trapped in his prototype suit, and orders the men to leave him where he lies, quoting; That man got himself into that tin can, he can get himself out of the tin can." The "Gray" gets darker.

This scene is crucial to confirming just how little value for human life Ross has.

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In Issue #5, well this was completely lifted by the director of The Incredible Hulk with Edward Norton playing Banner.

In addition to a touching moment between Hulk and Betty, the book does a great job of painting Betty as less of a damsel in distress and more like a woman on the edge. Betty's "Gray" starts coming through.

It also does a great job of showing Hulk as something other than a mindless rage machine. Can you see the "Gray" theme playing out here?

Loeb shows that Hulk has compassion, understanding and reasoning all within a few short pages. But it mixes that with also showing that the Hulk is unstable, and that rage can be turned on in a heart beat. That is truly the gray of the hulk.

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Issue # 6 brings the series to a dramatic close. Hulk and Ross have a final confrontation in which Hulk is truly ready to kill Ross and Ross is more than ready to give his life to prove that Hulk is a monster. But just before Hulk kills Ross, Betty steps in with a plea for compassion from the big gray brute. Which side of the "Gray" does Hulk take; white or black?

All in all this series is deep psychological study of the characters in the Hulk Universe and their underlying motivations; everyone is not always black or white, but almost always in that gray middle in between the two extremes. This is a first in the Hulk books that I have read and is well worth a look.

This series gets a solid A+ grade. From start to finish it is an entertaining and educational page turner.

Until next time... remember A is for Apple.