| Title: | Savage Hulk |
| Contributors: | Alan Davis Mark Farmer |
| Publisher: | Marvel |
| Issue #: | 1 |
| Year: | 2014 |
| Pages: | 32 Pages, 22 dedicated to comics |
| Age Rating: | 10+ (Violence) |
| Story Grade: | B |
| Art Grade: | A |
We finally get to return to a Hulk that does what Hulk does; gets hunted by everyone while he simply tries to find some peace and quiet for himself. This is a root of who the Hulk is. And while it is nice to chase rabbits down trails, coming back home can be refreshing. And that is what this book is:
Hulk is home.
Issue #1 of Savage Hulk has an all-star cast including; the return of The Leader, most of the X-Men and the Abomination. There is more than enough wonderful action with new Hulkbuster weapons, X-Men hunting Hulk and flashbacks to X-Men #66. Nothing has changed; everyone is hunting the Hulk.
And that's one of the main challenges with the book. As a reader I find it difficult to fear for the safety of anyone because this is a flashback story, which means I already know that nobody is at any real risk of serious harm, disfigurement or death; unless Marvel allows this story to break continuity, which I doubt. The tension of the battle moments are not felt as real because there is no risk for me as the reader.
My main personal issue with the story is the point where Banner gets assistance from a random stranger in the desert. It feels shallow by the way it was left unfinished. Because of the way it was written and the way it hangs at the end, it serves as nothing but filler.
But aside from that issue, Alan Davis does a fantastic job on the story arc. The story is engaging, telling what has remained untold for so many years. The script is great, not too wordy and thereby effectively slowing down the action, but rather saying just enough to move the story along and allowing the action to carry the book.
One of my favorite sequences is Hulk, alone in the desert, finding peace just moments before changing back into Banner. It is a touching moment and it is sad at the same time.
It is part of the damaged psychology of Hulk.
All Hulk wants is peace. But the moment he finds peace, he vanishes unable to enjoy it but for a moment. The scenario speaks volumes about our own psychological question; would getting what we want really make us happy, or simply kill us?
Gotta love the Hulk. And now you gotta love Alan Davis for writing this little gem into the book.
All in all I grade Savage Hulk #1 a B+. The story is good, save the pages of filler used, and the artwork is stunning from page one to the last.
Until next time... Remember you may not always want what you wish for.
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