Hulk #5 Review

Title:	Hulk
Contributors:	Gerry Duggan Mark Bagley
Publisher:	Marvel
Issue #:	5
Year:	2014
Pages:	32 Pages
Age Rating:	10+ (Violence)
Story Grade:	B
Art Grade:	B

As a result of events in the first four issues, Hulk, now under the helm of writer Gerry Duggan, now has headed into yet another direction. Don't call him Hulk and don't call him Banner. You may now call him Dr. Green. Duggan has grabbed the reins to make the hulk his own. It will take a few issues to see where this ultimately is headed, but it looks like a fun ride starting out.

But then again, I bet the Donner Party thought they were just  heading out on a pleasant little wagon ride as well, and look what happened to them. And while, yes, this is yet another change of direction, three total this year, for the Hulk story arc (Indestructible Hulk, Hulk under Waid and now Hulk under Duggan, this change isn't too bad, and Duggan is holding on to some of the continuity of the previous two arcs. This retention of the continuity and the continued laboring of Bagley at the helm of the pencils makes the transition into a new direction bearable.

As a result of the experimental extremis treatment Tony Stark provided to Banner to treat is gunshot inflicted brain damage, Hulk has now retained all of Banner's intelligence without the consciousness of Banner. And while there are some obvious "Fixit" comparisons to be made, this Hulk isn't as gruff, sports a mohawk and it looks like Hulk might be headed down the path of world domination.

Hulk's first objective, to rid the world of Gamma powered beings. His first target... His closest friend.

The artwork by Bagley is wonderful. The artwork is a little experimental, but succeeds more than not in this book. Bagley included several full page as well as multi-page spreads of explosive action, as well as nicely laid out panels to make it easy to follow along in the action and story.

I was a little pessimistic about the direction at first, but Guggan is having some fun and taking us along for the ride. This new direction comes with a great deal of potential for a fantastic story arc. All in all I grade this book a solid B.

 Until next time, remember this; When in doubt, Hulk Smash.