Hulk #56 Review

The odds aren't looking too great for Red Hulk as the fourth chapter of  Mayan Rule opens. The majority of Alpha Flight and his gamma-powered allies have been drained by the rejuvenated Mayan gods, and only his robotic companions are left to aid Red Hulk in the fight. But when have the odds ever been in his favor?

Issue #56 offers less of an action-packed romp and more of a downbeat adventure that sheds more light on the nature and motivations of the gods. Some of this material seems a bit counterproductive. With so many religious and mythological pantheons co-existing in the Marvel Universe, why do the Mayan gods need a more logical, scientific explanation for being? Still, these revelations cast the conflict in a new light and should make for an interesting finale.

This approach also allows Machine Man to step up to the plate again, which is never a bad thing. Red Hulk is about as battered and weakened as he's ever been in this issue, and Parker takes the opportunity to reinforce just how much Ross has come to depend on both Aaron and Annie. What began as an ensemble storyline has become far more intimate and contained. But while it's disappointing that Alpha Flight have been relegated to the background, Parker is focusing on the character dynamics that have made the series such a blast from the beginning.

Dale Eaglesham's artwork isn't quite up to the quality established in the previous issues. Some of his framing is a little odd, with characters seeming to fade out of focus and into the background. On the plus side, the lengthy flashback to the origins of the gods allows Eaglesham to branch out and tackle some more unusual, non-super-heroic imagery. Hopefully Eaglesham will be back in top form for the finale issue.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and IGN Movies. He can't wait until he's old enough to feel ways about stuff. Follow Jesse on Twitter, or find him on IGN.

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Animal Man #12 Review

With any episodic story there inevitably comes the “recap” installment where the characters spend a majority of the issue reflecting on the past and little else. Luckily, Jeff Lemire and Scott Snyder sidestep the painful parts of this necessary evil and add in just enough new content to set up for the long-brewing Rotworld storyline.

With so much build up to Buddy Baker finding Swamp Thing, their first meeting proves to be underwhelming. Both are some of the best written characters in DC’s current stable, but they wind up having a bland interaction that merely serves as a giant information dump. Where’s the friction and personality to these two heroes that have made their books so enthralling to read? The one highlight of their interaction comes when Swamp Thing lifts up a startled Buddy and leaps into the Rot-pond. The look on Buddy’s face is priceless.

Steve Pugh ups his game for this crossover issue and provides more minute details to the setting than ever before. Vines creep up a railing, haunting figures are showcased in front of an apocalyptic backdrop, and the first journey into the Rot has a sickening amount of bones, teeth, and flies. A montage detailing the interactions between the Green, the Red, and the Rot looks stunning with its veiny structure not unlike Yanick Paquette’s plant-paneling in Swamp Thing. With the marrying of both art style and story concepts, the Animal Man and Swamp Thing creative teams have set up a crossover that I can’t wait to read. Given general hate for crossovers, that is a strange feat indeed.

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