The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect Review

Title:	The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect
Contributors:	Peter David George Perez
Publisher:	Marvel
Issue #:	1 & 2
Year:	1992
Pages:	96 Pages
Age Rating:	16+ (Violence, Gore, Adult Themes)
Story Grade:	A
Art Grade:	A

In Issue #1 and #2 of The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect the writing of Peter David and the art of George Perez takes us 100 years into the future where Hulk is brought forward in time to battle his greatest foe....

Himself.

A nuclear war has killed almost all of Earth's superhumans and has taken the world to the brink of extinction. A bitter Hulk has seized control of the surviving population of the world after a nuclear war has decimated the planet. Insanity caused by the nuclear radiation Hulk absorbed during the war and the bitterness he feels towards the world has caused Hulk to become the tyrant Maestro. He has the intelligence of Banner combined with enhanced his strength from the radiation exposure.

Future Imperfect is possibly some of David's best work. That says a lot considering his body of work and the fact that this is a time-travel storyline. But this is some of the most mature Hulk content in a non-"Max" book I have ever seen. With visual references to orgies, dialog references to prostitution and sexuality...

This is not a kid-friendly Hulk series.

Peter David writes a bleak dystopian future under the Rule of Hulk. And looking back at history, it seems fitting, even plausible. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Caesars, kings, princes, presidents, senators... you name a role that delivers power and you can find abuses of that power all throughout history.

So with Hulk being the most powerful being to survive the nuclear war, there is nobody to keep him in check, no balance of power. All of the other super-powered beings died during the war. You get to see a trophy room filled with artifacts and even some skeletons of superheroes that fell during the war. As a bonus; in the trophy room is one of the robots from Mystery Science Theater 3000. I'm not sure if Perez added that as joke or as a nod to the show, but I found it funny.

David does a great job handling the common cruxes that fail in most time-travel stories, like the what if paradox of future Hulk killing past Hulk. David really thought this story through and provided some solid science-based answers to the issues that arise.

Perez comes at the artwork in this book with both barrels blazing non-stop. The action sequences are tight, flowing and vivid. The non-action sequences are detailed and thoughtful. This is likely some of my favorite work from both David and Perez.

This is a very deep story that can lead more intelligent or self-aware readers into some deep thoughts about themselves. How well do I really know myself? How would I handle absolute power? Would I give back to the people I share this planet with or would become a self indulging glutton for the seven deadly sins?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story arc and would recommend it to anyone who wants something more than "Hulk Smash".

I grade this series an A+. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of the hardback collection or the two volume trades. It will be worth your time.