Walt Simonson SMASHES Onto INDESTRUCTABLE HULK

@nappystr8 said:

Marvel really needs to strive to keep some consistency in their artists. With double shipping obviously no title will keep their original artist for long, but at least replace them with someone who has a somewhat similar style. I actually like Walt Simonson, but I can't imagine Leinil Yu fans being very happy with this change-up.

Dude I've been reading hulk since Marc Silvestri did it for 2 issues, Whilce Portacio stepped in for 1 issue, Lenil stepped in for an issue, and then two dudes were flipping it back and forth every few issues. I've NEVER seen so many artist changes in one year of a comic book series as long as I have been collecting comics. This is one of the reasons I am not into american comics and more into Manga since I know everything is going to have a familiar look to it.

I was kind of excited that Yu was going to work on the series but I knew in my bones that he wasn't going to stick with the title, the guy is trying to do so much I don't think he can just commit to one thing anymore in his career, he's quickly becoming the new Travis Charest but he actually finishes his work.

If the story is good then I'll continue to read Hulk, I don't particularly care who the artist is, but if I see some bullshit like I did in batwing number 4 or 5 where it looked like a 7 year old drew it. Then it will get removed from the pull list ASAP!!!

- Wayne

@sweetesttoaster said:

Man, I really hope this is a temporary thing, like a fill in to give Yu a break. Leinil Yu is an awesome artist and I don't want him to leave this book.

Ditto

@TheCheeseStabber: I'm on the same page with that notion.

@TheCheeseStabber: Me too. Would be pretty epic. I wonder if Hulk would then get a mystical hammer of his own in a similar fashion that Beta-Ray Bill did.

Interesting news. I've been hoping for another Hulk/Thor match up in the future. Glad Waid hasn't disappointed me in that regard.

@Om1kron said:

Dude I've been reading hulk since Marc Silvestri did it for 2 issues, Whilce Portacio stepped in for 1 issue, Lenil stepped in for an issue, and then two dudes were flipping it back and forth every few issues. I've NEVER seen so many artist changes in one year of a comic book series as long as I have been collecting comics. This is one of the reasons I am not into american comics and more into Manga since I know everything is going to have a familiar look to it.

I was kind of excited that Yu was going to work on the series but I knew in my bones that he wasn't going to stick with the title, the guy is trying to do so much I don't think he can just commit to one thing anymore in his career, he's quickly becoming the new Travis Charest but he actually finishes his work.

If the story is good then I'll continue to read Hulk, I don't particularly care who the artist is, but if I see some bullshit like I did in batwing number 4 or 5 where it looked like a 7 year old drew it. Then it will get removed from the pull list ASAP!!!

- Wayne

Yeah, I started reading the previous Incredible Hulk series because Marc Silvestri was on the book. And to be fair I think he had some health issues that cut his run short, but for what seemed to be a high profile book, Marvel seemed to do very little on damage control. The book never recovered from inconsistent art and I ended up dropping the series because the art was so inconsistent, the 3.99 price point, and the double shipping. I ended up getting a few of the issues I missed from a 50 cent bin, and Jason Aaron was doing some terrific stories and character work, but each issue had completely different art. It's just sad that it feels like Marvel was sabotaging Aaron with the art.

It's great to see Simonson is going to be doing something for Marvel again.

The Hulk better not be able to lift Mjolnir, though. That would ruin the weapon's mystique forever and diminish Thor's standing way to much.

@PowerHerc said:

It's great to see Simonson is going to be doing something for Marvel again.

The Hulk better not be able to lift Mjolnir, though. That would ruin the weapon's mystique forever and diminish Thor's standing way to much.

Then tell me your opinion on this.

I'll try to sum up what a good friend of mine, JaxtheJester over at Marvel.com, who is a fan of both Hulk & Thor, informed me and others on the subject.

I can see an intelligent Hulk lifting the hammer for a noble purpose. I could defend the notion of the Green Scar Hulk in "Planet Hulk", or a similar incarnation lifting Thor's hammer to save the Nine Realms, for example. I'm hoping that this is a sign that we are soon to see a smarter Hulk that is worthy enough to wield Thor's hammer Mjolnir.

There are a couple of ways this could go down (if it does go down):

1. We may finally see a talking, motivated, intelligent Hulk in Mark Waid's Indestructible Hulk. One that fits the above scenario and is a worthy “Viking Warrior” in the eye of Odin.

2. We may see Hulk amp up to the point that he breaks Odin's enchantment and lifts the hammer of his own volition. However, my main concern with this is that this should only occur if Hulk is hitting insane WB levels of power.

Now, the plot would need to be well written, and extremely intense, with Hulk at crazy levels of power for true buy-in. If Hulk once again grows strong enough to shatter worlds just by walking on them, then Marvel could sell the idea of Hulk overpowering such a legendary magical force, and thus be able to lift Mjolnir.

There needs to be a VERY strong motivator at play to sell why he would be able to break a Pantheon Leader's (and one of Marvel’s most iconic) enchantments. It should take epic levels of power for him to do so. Judging from the character of the Hulk and his unique powerset, I do believe it is very possible for he could warp reality and overcome Mjolnir's enchantment. But I expect the writer, Mark Waid, to show us what would drive the Hulk to that level of power.

However, if Marvel's current think-tank allows modern Hulk to simply growl a few times and then lift Mjolnir with a smile, with no explanation as to how this occurred, and without first having him hit levels of rage that are akin to Heart of the Monster…

Then Marvel would do Thor an immense injustice.

And they would bring a level of heat down on the Jade Giant that would likewise do Hulk fans an immense injustice.

I believe that Hulk's potential along with his past feats of directly affecting magic with his bare hands would allow for such a feat to occur if written correctly. Limitless potential is just that. But that said; if Hulk amps up enough to lift Mjolnir, then he really should be stronger, at least World-Breaker levels of sheer power, than any version of Hulk that has tried the same in the past and failed.

Bottom line.

I'm hoping that the story arch is either written very well if it's a strength feat; or it is a sign of the return of an intelegent and worthy Hulk akin to what we all enjoyed near the end of Greg Pak's "Planet Hulk".