manuelte's review against another edition
3.0
The Marvel NOW! Hulk book is titled Indestructible Hulk, and it is a great new status quo for the character.
The 3 main premises of the character are:
* Hulk Smashes, Banner builds: being one of the smartest characters in the Marvel universe, Bruce Banner is set to create world changing/Nobel price worthy technological advances as a way to compensate all the destruction the Hulk causes.
* Banner has accepted that the Hulk is an chronic condition that must be managed, just as diabetes, cancer, or multiple sclerosis (his words).
* Hulk should no longer be seen as a bomb set to explode at any time, but as a cannon that can be directed.
To accomplish the above, Banner offers his services as The Hulk to S.H.I.E.L.D. in exchange for an equipped lab, access to the latest research and technology, and a team of researchers to work for him.
The premise is amazing, the delivery is not as great. We don't get to see much of the "Banner builds" side of the equation, and the Iron Man encounter seems to fulfill no role other than give the fans a battle to talk about. However, I did enjoy the book and am reading volumes 2 and 3 with the expectation that the writers can do more with such a good character state.
The 3 main premises of the character are:
* Hulk Smashes, Banner builds: being one of the smartest characters in the Marvel universe, Bruce Banner is set to create world changing/Nobel price worthy technological advances as a way to compensate all the destruction the Hulk causes.
* Banner has accepted that the Hulk is an chronic condition that must be managed, just as diabetes, cancer, or multiple sclerosis (his words).
* Hulk should no longer be seen as a bomb set to explode at any time, but as a cannon that can be directed.
To accomplish the above, Banner offers his services as The Hulk to S.H.I.E.L.D. in exchange for an equipped lab, access to the latest research and technology, and a team of researchers to work for him.
The premise is amazing, the delivery is not as great. We don't get to see much of the "Banner builds" side of the equation, and the Iron Man encounter seems to fulfill no role other than give the fans a battle to talk about. However, I did enjoy the book and am reading volumes 2 and 3 with the expectation that the writers can do more with such a good character state.
crookedtreehouse's review against another edition
3.0
If you're reading this because it was tagged "Daredevil" and wondering what sort of drug I was on when I confused these two books, there is a connection, even though Daredevil does not appear anywhere in this title.
The easy part of the connection is that they're both written by Mark Waid. I enjoy much of Waid's superhero work, and his concept: Bruce Banner decides to use his Hulk curse to his advantage by deploying him for SHIELD missions is well-executed. Unfortunately, I don't quite care about any of the characters in this book. I know it leads into Waid's Daredevil storyline, as issues #9 and #10 of Indetructible Hulk are in [b:Daredevil, Vol. 6: Serpenti|39294205|Daredevil, Vol. 6 Serpenti|Mark Waid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1521174341l/39294205._SY75_.jpg|25073662]. But do you need the story that leads up to it?
Nah.
If you're a Hulk fan this may be your cup of smash but, for me it didn't hook me enough to want to read volume two, even though I can see it from where I'm sitting.
The easy part of the connection is that they're both written by Mark Waid. I enjoy much of Waid's superhero work, and his concept: Bruce Banner decides to use his Hulk curse to his advantage by deploying him for SHIELD missions is well-executed. Unfortunately, I don't quite care about any of the characters in this book. I know it leads into Waid's Daredevil storyline, as issues #9 and #10 of Indetructible Hulk are in [b:Daredevil, Vol. 6: Serpenti|39294205|Daredevil, Vol. 6 Serpenti|Mark Waid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1521174341l/39294205._SY75_.jpg|25073662]. But do you need the story that leads up to it?
Nah.
If you're a Hulk fan this may be your cup of smash but, for me it didn't hook me enough to want to read volume two, even though I can see it from where I'm sitting.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
Surprisingly good. One of the advantages of reading everything on a list is that occasionally stuff I'd never read is worth reading, as this one certainly is. The art around Hulk could be a little bit better but the writing was pretty impressive. Especially the little bits around Phil Coulson and Tony Stark which perfectly echoed the live-action versions which I think is a good thing. I'm very much looking forward to see what Banner (and to a lesser degree Hulk) does next.
gohawks's review against another edition
3.0
I love the idea of Hulk working for SHIELD and being an agent. I'm just not all that interested in the fighting with underwater races storyline. It just seemed like a storyline that ultimately won't go anywhere with characters that are not worth hearing from again. I like Waid, but this first plot line was not so hot.
devinr's review against another edition
4.0
Boy, that Mark Waid sure can write some good comics. With an interesting take on the Hulk and on Bruce Banner, Mark Waid has really opened up the door to completely new Hulk stories. While the potential for Hulk/Banner conflict is still there, he puts it on the back burner, and gives one of the most brilliant minds in the Marvel universe his due. He's a scientist, he's a problem solver, and (for now, at least), he's solved the Hulk problem. With Lenil Yu putting in some beautiful ugliness and great action, this is a Hulk title that I'm actually excited to read for the first time since Planet Hulk.
"I knew it. You wouldn't like me when I'm happy." Brilliant.
"I knew it. You wouldn't like me when I'm happy." Brilliant.
ohnoflora's review against another edition
4.0
Read for the Stan Lee Excelsior Award 2014 - http://www.excelsioraward.co.uk
icarys's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trike's review against another edition
2.0
This book is... okay, I guess.
It suffers from two main problems: S.H.I.E.L.D. uses Hulk to solve their problem du jour and the Hulk is indestructible. So each story feels the same and the Hulk is literally never in danger. Douse him in magma? No problem. Have a super-strong mythic beast which can digest anything swallow him whole? No problem.
That just leads to boring storytelling.
The idea is interesting: Banner has become tired of trying to cure himself of the Hulk and decides to instead treat Hulk like a chronic disease that needs to be managed. He also wants to be a famous scientist/inventor like Tony Stark and Reed Richards, rather than being known as the guy who smashes everything.
But Waid makes Banner a super-savant who is good at everything, which again just becomes boring. Characters are far more interesting when they have limitations, but Waid's version of this character removes the intellectual and emotional limits on Banner and the physical limits of Hulk. (Exemplified by the final shot of Hulk picking up Thor's hammer.)
You know what? I've talked myself out of 3 stars and into two.
It does have some decent lines ("You wouldn't like it when I'm happy.") and cool set pieces, but they aren't enough to overcome the inherent problems.
It suffers from two main problems: S.H.I.E.L.D. uses Hulk to solve their problem du jour and the Hulk is indestructible. So each story feels the same and the Hulk is literally never in danger. Douse him in magma? No problem. Have a super-strong mythic beast which can digest anything swallow him whole? No problem.
That just leads to boring storytelling.
The idea is interesting: Banner has become tired of trying to cure himself of the Hulk and decides to instead treat Hulk like a chronic disease that needs to be managed. He also wants to be a famous scientist/inventor like Tony Stark and Reed Richards, rather than being known as the guy who smashes everything.
But Waid makes Banner a super-savant who is good at everything, which again just becomes boring. Characters are far more interesting when they have limitations, but Waid's version of this character removes the intellectual and emotional limits on Banner and the physical limits of Hulk. (Exemplified by the final shot of Hulk picking up Thor's hammer.)
You know what? I've talked myself out of 3 stars and into two.
It does have some decent lines ("You wouldn't like it when I'm happy.") and cool set pieces, but they aren't enough to overcome the inherent problems.
familyguy026's review against another edition
5.0
Never much in to Hulk. This treated him more like Banner said, a missile. Hulk barely spoke, proving Banner can get his life back a little from the green man. I want to read the next volume
i_dream_of_books's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
I didn’t hate this by any means and at times thought it was funny and interesting, but it just wasn’t for me. I would like to continue and see what else they have in store for this storyline.
I didn’t hate this by any means and at times thought it was funny and interesting, but it just wasn’t for me. I would like to continue and see what else they have in store for this storyline.