The Good
Have you ever wondered what would happen if Hulk met King Arthur and Merlin? Why of course you have! Writer Mark Waid seems to be having a real blast with this time travel story and, luckily for us, it's a real joy to read each and every month, too.
Time travel isn't an easy subject to tackle, and instead of overcomplicating matters or filling the pages with excessive techno-babble, Waid simply says, "Wouldn't it be terrific to see Hulk in various time periods?" With his writing, the answer is a very clear "yes." Just like the previous issue (dinosaurs in the wild west!), this chapter takes full advantage of its absurdity. Knights, wizards, and even a more powerful fiend are present this time around. Thanks to Waid, it's all a real treat to read.
Unlike last time, the locals take a little more convincing before agreeing to stand by the Green Goliath's side and it plays out in an organic fashion. What's especially appreciated is the time restrain that was placed on the bit of exposition, too. It was just enough to give us everything we needed to know before flying face first into more fun. And it should go without saying, but there's a line or two in here which made me legitimately laugh out loud (sword > stupid ray).
No surprise: Matteo Scalera's artwork is phenomenal yet again. The dude has this uncanny ability to capture raw energy and motion like no other. Waid could have an entire issue of Hulk simply running and Scalera could make it jaw-droppingly awesome looking and thrilling. Joining him is Kim Jacinto -- an illustrator who did a stellar job on VENOM whenever Flash was in the symbiote and there was action to be found. In this case, Jacinto once again thrives on action and, while it's not nearly as frenetic as Scalera, it's still solid work nonetheless. Meanwhile, Val Staples had A LOT to play with. Everything from wizard attacks to technologically advanced weaponry was dished out in this issue and it all looked great. I've come to expect gorgeous and bold coloring when Staples is on board and this issue is no exception.
The Bad
I do have some minor gripes with Jacinto's work (the biggest is facial expressions) and the transition between artists is very noticeable. Aside from that small complaint, this is yet another serving of pure enjoyment.
The Verdict
This series continues to be an absurd amount of fun. On paper, this premise is downright ridiculous, but thanks to Waid's creativity and clear desire to make things all kinds of fun, it works extraordinarily well and is escapism at its finest. To top it off, Scalera and Staples are always able to provide visuals that'll live up to Waid's inventive scenarios. If you just want to enjoy a laugh and have a dose of high quality amusement, it really doesn't get much better than INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK.
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