Customer Reviews

Hulk - Volume 3: Hulk No More (Hulk (Marvel))

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Hulk, Dr. Strange, the Surfer, Namor, Baron Mordo, Tiger Shark, Terrax, the Red Hulk, Grandmaster, and the Collector is a pretty good line up. Plus Galactus, Dormammu, and the Psycho Man even put in appearances. It's the standard contest of the Elders of the Universe playing a game of super human chess. I never get tired of it. Terrax should have his own series. I'm always pleased to see Tiger Shark in his orginal costume. Give him one of the trillion Wolverine books. A lot of people piss on the Red Hulk (including me) but to be honest, I like big dudes who pummel opponents. I don't need a lot of character development or motivation. The only thing I want from a Hulk movie is 90 minutes of Hulk Smash. With this book, you get a lot of Smash. I dig it.

I've grown a fan of the Rulk and the overcharged and understaffed Marvel Universe in which he was placed in the previous two volumes. This latest volume is lacking all of the umph. The cockiness and ruthless aggression the Rulk demonstrated and the legions that united just to fall at his feet has been replaced by some marginal Mxyzptlk plot battle royal. The pairings were lacking, the plot was lacking, and the ultimate bailout from every uninspired creative writing class at your local community college, at the end everything is undone, like it never happened. I am not a fan. I'm hoping volume IV will usher in She-Rulk and bring back the beat downs that made this a flagship of the Hulk armada.

***SPOILERS***

Okay there are two stories in this trade paperback and we're going to touch on both of them.

So this comic starts out really goofy. The Hulk is in a mini-universe inside an atom and if that right there doesn't make you put this comic down right away then stay tuned, cuz it gets even more ridiculous. The Hulk's wife/girlfriend/roommate is killed and the Hulk is offered a chance to have her brought back to life if he can get a group of other heroes together and fight with him in a kind of gladiatorial style combat and have them win. Why? Cuz I guess two brothers who happened to be gods just happened to be bored and made a lame bet.

All the Hulk's allies are pulled from different points in time in the 616 universe from the exact point when they lost a loved one and they are given the same promise that the Hulk is given. Win, and your loved ones will be brought back to life good as new. It doesn't work and all the fighters are returned to their respective points in time with all memories of these events removed. This story is just dumb and pointless since it technically never happened.

The second story was about the Red Hulk draining all of the Hulk's gamma energy so he can't turn into the hulk and all of his powers are taken away (which we all know isn't going to last). Then we are treated to a guest appearance of a 4th rate Iron Man villain, enter Modok! This sad waste of ink ranks on the same level of stupidity and incompetence as Stilt Man, The Ringer and Super-Skrull. All of which are just professional punching bags and only show up when the writers need someone for the heroes to knock out. I really have no idea why Modok is here, but apparently he's there for the same reason that She-Hulk, Spiderman and Aeres show up, to boost sales.

This comic is just lame! We have one story that didn't need to be written since it technically never happened and another that just has random guest stars showing up because the writers apparently can't write a story good enough to interest the Hulk fans. Instead they rely on the readers of other comics to buy this comic cuz we'll put characters in our comic that they usually buy and hope that they stick with our comic. That's just lazy writing.

Plus this story uses a plot twist that has been done to DEATH. Let's try and de-power the Hulk... AGAIN!!! Okay, this has been done at least a dozen times, and it NEVER lasts. I mean seriously, how can you have a book called The Incredible Hulk, if there is no Hulk? So we all know that in 5 or 10 issues at the most he'll be back.

Don't waste your money.

Red Hulk is the ultimate Rudo in this cosmic 8-man tag team battle! The guy continues to use his power with utter contempt for the traditional cosmic demi-gods of the universe. He punched out a Watcher. And you ever wonder what would happen if the Hulk just punched an elder of the universe right in the face? Well, so did the authors of this comic book, and they make it happen! The set up is familiar and never gets old: two elders of the universe choose two teams to fight for... bragging rights. As incentive to the combatants - they will resurrect the dead sweethearts of the winners, and to win, you must kill your opponent. So its Hulks Defenders vs. Red Hulks Offenders. Cool enough. But Red Hulk just runs amouk and ruins the game for everyone by killing not only his opponent but everyone who gets in his way until he runs into someone too big for even his energy-absorbing fists cant punch out! (Hint - the Hulk refers to that someone as Hockey-stick head). So, the pictures are awesome. If you like your heroes to look strong, with strong jaw muscles (As of course the hulk should look), then you will like McGuinness. If you like the sort of, "What if so and so fought such and such"-type of unlikely yet intruiguing match-ups then you will like Jeph Loeb as a writer. These book have big time fights in big time places, unexpected endings, and a satisfying "finish" that sets the stage for the fall and the war of the hulks. I liked it. I havent read comics since the 80s, and I like it. Theyve come a long way. I think if youre looking for deep, thought-provoking stories, then DCs even comics (kingdom come, darkest night), are good, but when it comes to straight, in your face smashing, Loeb and McGhuinnesses Hulk is the Strongest One There Is!!!

This is straight-ahead mindless cartoony Hulk action - what works about it is indeed the unabashed fighting (that's been going on since the series started 2 volumes ago) - and Vol. 3 serves up more of the same. The plot this time shows the "Defenders" being reformed from a different time stream to fight in a duel set up between the Grandmaster and the Collector.

As I've said before - the big panel artwork of Ed McGuinness really works well for the Hulk and Red Hulk. You're just not going to see such artwork in any other book. There's a nice retro feel to the big panels as well - reminding me of mid period Jack Kirby Fantastic Four or John Buscema Silver Surfer comics.

The downside for some - if it is a downside - is that the story lacks the emotional core some of us have come to expect with the Hulk. Meaning, if you're reading this to identify with the angst of Bruce Banner and his alter-ego, fergit about it...Jeph Loeb doesn't take any of this very seriously.

Action first, angst later...if you've been tracking the series since Red Hulk appears, then this will satiate you. Plot wise, refinements are welcome, but for Hulk fans, I think it hits the G-spot. ENJOY!

It's unbelievable how lame this story is. I was going to go into detail on what makes it crap, but I'll keep it short. In #11 Rulk stops Hulk in a way that well-read Hulk fans know is impossible [see #398 (1992) or #103 (2007)]. In #13 Rulk stops Hulk in another way well-read Hulk fans know is also impossible [see #123 (1970) for a far better attempt that still failed)]. There are MANY more instances than these, but they came to mind first.

Jeph Loeb seems to want Hulk gone so badly that he has no regard for how sloppily it's accomplished. Perhaps the same could be argued about the defeat of Hulk in World War Hulk, which was quite ridiculous and pitiful.

There is one thing I do like about this book. In #12 Rulk's ego is smashed by a contemptuous Galactus. That's a real prize, because Rulk is an absolute toilet. I will say this about the character: he shows us how dangerous Hulk would be if he really were a monster.

I consider this worth reading, but do not waste your money on its purchase unless you're a Hulk collector.

This is a totally mindless action comic which has been getting trashed in all reviews. I must say that I kind of like it and have enjoyed this Red Hulk a lot. Loeb has certainly not been putting out anything of substance in a while but I enjoy this book and can read through it in 30 min.

I did not see the point of this book being writtin. First of all the characters are from dffierent eras or time and they come together to fight for a prize. But at the end it means nuthuing and adds nuthing. Good art though and its a homage to comics of the past.