Reviewer: Tim Sheridan
Story Title: Tempest Fugit: Part 2 of 5
Written by Peter David
Penciled by Lee Weeks
Inked by Tom Palmer
Colored by: Studio F
Lettered by: VC’s Randy Gentile
Assistant Editors: Schmid, Wiley and Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Publisher: Marvel Comics
As of last issue, I was ready to give up on the Hulk. For months I was excited to read the return issue of longtime Hulk writer Peter David. See, when I started reading the Hulk, it was only at the tail end of David’s run in the ’90s, and I was impressed. So impressed that in years to come I would seek out and read every issue of his 12 year tenure on the title. I had enjoyed Hulk after David had left the book, but nonetheless, I was excited for his return.
But last issue didn’t sit well with me at all. Every other review I read about it was positive, but it just did nothing for me. Overall I was bored. I don’t quite know what I was expecting, but whatever it was, I didn’t get it. Anyways, I was scared to get this issue. But I did. I figured Peter David deserved at least another issue before I gave up on him.
And this was a lot better. This issue was a lot of fun, and it reminded me of why the Hulk was a book and a character that I looked forward to.
Now it seem that Hulk is on a sort of monster island. I don’t know if it’s ‘the’ monster island, of Mole Man fame, but it’s an island with monsters on it, and that’s all we know right now. And there are people on it. Two people with guns and flamethrowers. We don’t really know a whole lot about them either. But they seem keen on helping Bruce Banner, since he washed up on the shore of the last issue. There is just one thing wrong (well, many things, but we’re just gonna focus on one right now, ok?) and that is the fact that Bruce and the two nice island people are being attacked by Hulk.
Now it’s the grey Hulk, so it’s not really him. But within a few pages, Bruce turns into the “real” Hulk, so for most of the issue, we get to see Lee Weeks draw some very nice pages of some Hulk vs. Hulk action. And that’s fun.
But there seems to be more going on. When the real Hulk finishes of the fake one, he turns into…something. Not quite sure what. But then we see that someone is controling things from behind the scenes (of course!)
Lee Weeks is in top form in the action scenes. His art is always a joy to see. And Peter David shines in the flashback sequences of Bruce’s youth.
I’m not completly excited about this story quite yet, but it’s definatly an improvement over it’s first part.
