Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: “Blue Moon†– Split Decisions: Part 4
Written by: Bruce Jones
Art by: Mike Deodato Jr.
Colored by: Studio F
Lettered by: Digital Calligraphy’s Cory Petit
Assistant Editor: John Miesegaes
Editor: Axel Alonso
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Could it be? Hulk is appearing in the pages of Hulk!
Last month, I was with my girlfriend (Hi, Patti!) as I read issue #62 of Hulk. I facetiously told her that there was a great guest spot at the end of the issue. Who might you ask? Why the Hulk, of course. Anyone who’s been following this book for the last couple of years, under the writing of Bruce Jones, knows that the Green Goliath hasn’t exactly been seen, in all of his glory, that much. Yet, here he was, not heavily shadowed, just standing there, and tearing things apart. The way it ought to be!
Minor Spoilers. It’s really stuff you already should know though.
Of course, the biggest thing that came out of the last issue, and this really is no longer a spoiler, is that Mr. Blue appears to in actuality be Betty Banner. The Betty Banner, wife of Bruce, the one that Peter David killed off at the end of his storied run on the book. PAD said he left an out, and it looks like someone finally decided to exploit it. It was a mistake killing Betty years ago, and I’m happy that Marvel is rectifying that problem. Death is really a bunch of bull in comics anyway; so I for one, am a very happy camper with regard to these recent developments.
End of any, and all, spoilers.
Other than the spoilers, this issue amounts to a big fight between the Hulk and swarm enemy, the Krill that are being employed by the X-Files-esque, “Home Base.†It’s more of an old school comic, with a fistfight as the centerpiece, than these pages have seen in quite some time. Bruce Jones adds in quite a bit of character development though, so it’s not a complete waste of an issue. As has been the case with most recent Marvel comics, the current storyline is a bit longer than is actually necessary.
While it’s taking its time to play out, this story looks to be coming up on a really big finish; a finish that will finally answer a bunch of the questions we’ve wanted to know since Bruce Jones stepped on board. The whole gang is here, and getting busy. It’s also the first issue I can remember in quite some time that we don’t see Bruce Banner at all. That alone, is a very welcome change of pace from the recent Bill Bixby–Hulk styled issues of wandering we’ve had.
Where we are. Where we’re going…
The one place we’ve be at most of the recent issues, is spectacular artwork. Mike Deodato Jr. has put forth some of the finest artwork on this title that I’ve seen, and I’ve read every single Hulk comic going back to Stan Lee’s stories in Tales to Astonish. He draws the Hulk with such a wonderful air about him. The ferocity of the character is simply ideal. It’s been great to see Deodato cut loose as the title character does the same.
I’ve really enjoyed this book, even with the lack of the Hulk for most of Bruce Jones’ run. I’m absolutely thrilled that the book appears ready to break away from its recent journey to the X-Files; a new era is once again on the cusp of happening for the Hulk, and I’m excited to see where things end up.
