Comic Vine Review

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Hulk #15 - The Ω Hulk Chapter Eleven

4

Doc Green and Red Hulk smash EVERYTHING.

The Good

Thunderbolt Ross and Bruce Banner may have one of the most underrated rivalries in the Marvel Universe. It’s doubtful that Ross tops any lists of favorite villains, and that’s likely because he’s not MUCH of a villain. It’s hard to argue that the Hulk is anything but a danger to everything and everyone around him, but Ross is SUCH a jerk about his methods that it’s hard to fully be on his side. Gerry Duggan has stripped away the years of plots, ploys and attempts at overly complicated schemes and finally had him throw DOWN on the arrogant Doc Green. Last issue left Banner in the most precarious position, but let’s face it: the smashing’s far, far, FAR from done. Duggan has made it a habit in this title of making all the fights have their own unique flavor, which makes this one, which is, by far, the most “Hulk-like” of fights actually feel earned and even cathartic. The frequent references to their blows causing seismic activity is a wonderful running joke, but it also lets the reader get a feel for the incredible power being thrown around. It’s a great example of showing not telling.

Mark Bagley’s pencils set the stage incredibly as well as pacing the fight, giving the reader just enough to keep that page turning and even throwing a few splash pages to reaaaaally play up just how epic and awesome the fight is. Drew Hennessy’s inks bring a tremendous sense of weight and impact to the proceedings, making both characters look beyond strong and crossing over into the truly epic. Color is, of course, an integral part to any Hulk story, and Jason Keith’s compliment the rest of the visuals perfectly, making the characters’ struggle seem all the more intense, while keeping the tone bombastic and bright.

The Bad

Last issue’s cliffhanger feels like a bit of a cheat for how easily and quickly it’s overcome and while the battle itself is a testament to the strength and savagery of the characters, it ultimately feels like it ends on an abrupt note. Everything leading up to the end is fantastic, but the end itself staggers at the last moment.

The Verdict

Even with a wobbly conclusion, this is the fight that readers have been waiting for and it delivered. The beginning wasn’t great, the ending wasn’t perfect, but everything in between in this issue was absolutely wall-to-wall bonkers in the best way possible. There are few battles that have had such a strong core of solid emotion and real stakes both for the characters physical and emotional well-beings, but this one manages to accomplish both and accomplishes them organically. There’s a tremendous sense of satisfaction after all is said and done, and it leaves on still another puzzling, shocking cliffhanger teasing the final issue.