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PIPELINE COMMENTARY AND REVIEW SPECIAL:
THE END OF THE INCREDIBLE HULK
17 June 1998
by Augie De Blieck Jr.
http://www.nic.com/~augie/pipeline
Rarely has reading a single comic moved me to write a special issue of
Pipeline at midweek within a few hours of reading it. (Actually,
that should actually read "Never has a single comic...") Tonight, I am
doing so. I'm not numbering this one. This is a special. Because the
Hulk is a special book which Marvel has now officially screwed over, and
Peter David's amazing tenure must not be forgotten.
When I first started reading comics in 1989, the first on-going series I
latched onto was THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. I stayed firmly attached to that
for something like 50-75 issues. It was a run I wasn't sure I'd ever top.
I just realized this past week that THE INCREDIBLE HULK probably has it
beat. I've been reading HULK since issue #377, and without missing an
issue since #379. I've gone back since then and started putting together
as good a run on the title as I could find. Imagine -- one writer for
twelve years with artists such as McFarlane, Larsen, Keown, Frank, and
Kubert contributing to the greatness. (It's a feat surpassed only by
Chris Claremont's days on X-MEN.) We all have our favorite runs on the
book. Artistically, mine is probably the Keown years. You can't beat the
art on those issues. It was beautiful stuff. Story-wise, I'm kind of
partial to the Pantheon, which overlaps with the Keown years and moves
through Gary Frank's tenure.
Along the way, Peter David has brought us some wonderful memories,
wonderful moments, and wonderful stories. Rick and Marlo's wedding. The
Hulk and the Punisher teaming up in Vegas. And the final issue, for three.
He sculpted these people into characters we cared about. He did it with
flair and with a sense of humor second-to-none. Some may complain that the
Smart Hulk is not the True Hulk, but to me he was always the most
entertaining.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK #467 came out today, with story by PAD, art by Adam
Kubert, lettering by John Workman, and coloring by Steve Buccellato. It's
the perfect ending not just to PAD's tenure but, as far as I'm concerned,
to the series. I don't know; Maybe I'm just overreacting to the sudden
change. After all, the fate of this character has been in the capable hands
of one man for the past dozen years. Maybe such a radical change isn't
sitting well with me. But it's more than just that.
To me, the Incredible Hulk, whether this is fair or not, will always be
Peter David's character. He's the one who made him so interesting. I've
read some spare issues of pre-PAD Hulk and I'm not very interested.
Maybe this is just anger at Marvel. Let's face it -- Marvel has shown
repeated contempt for its fans vis a vis this series. I've always said
that the period between Gary Frank's departure and Adam Kubert's tenure was
more or less forgettable. Not entirely, but mostly.
Why? Let's see what happened in those years. Marvel split up its line into
various factions. The HULK got put into the harder-edged line and was told
to add political and darker more "relevant" tones to it. Then HEROES
REBORN came about. All of a sudden, Marvel dictates that HR must include
the Hulk. Why? It makes no sense, but such was the decree. In these
times, the title lost complete track of itself and seemed to meander all
about.
For two solid years there, Marvel put the creator who made the title as
popular as it was, behind the eight ball. It's classic. It's amazing we
didn't all see this day coming many moons ago. When a series is mostly
forgotten, the comics company will put anyone on it. Once a creator gets
the book popular -- mostly due to being left alone and allowed to pursue
that individual creator's own edict -- the company starts fiddling with the
book again. THEY know what's best, not the creator. So they jerk him
around. (It happened once before. 7 of Marvel's most popular artists left
and formed some start-up company. Wonder what ever happened to it?)
Oh, and did I almost mention it was only fan outcry which saved the popular
series from being cancelled around the time of HEROES REBORN? Yup, they
almost cancelled it. Of course, there were some of us who thought that
might have been a merciful death given the crappy things Marvel was doing
to the book and the crappy artists they assigned to it. (Liam Sharp will
forever be on my sh!t-list for his issues. I mean, you know it's bad when
Mike Deodato is a big improvement.)
The final issue is a masterpiece in an of itself. Yet Marvel tries to ruin
it. How? Well, right after the letters page, they throw in a two-page
prologue which automatically invalidates a chunk of the previous PAD
finale. I'm half-tempted to just rip that last page out of the comic and
forget I ever saw it.
But it points to one thing: Marvel has no respect for PAD's work. They're
already working to undermine it and return things to the status quo.
It is also my firm belief now that PAD was more or less forced off the
book. Nothing Marvel's done vis a vis this title in the past year has made
any sense. And their dictate of direction which forced PAD off the book is
just screwy. Do yourself a favor and go look up Rich Johnston's web site.
( http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com ) He has a wonderful essay on his
Ramblings page devoted to this topic which outlines everything.
When it comes right down to it, Politics almost ruins this great title.
But not for me. John Byrne or not, this series ends for me with this
issue. It's a wonderful ending and it's the ending I'm choosing for the
book. I feel no need to read on.
I don't mean to sound bitter and cynical. It should be a celebration, as
PAD uses the issue to have an epilogue, of sorts, keeping track of what
happened to all the characters in the years after the current storyline
finishes. And that shall be my continuity. The issue itself is a wonderful
mixture of splash pages and panel-to-panel storytelling, with a couple of
absolutely unforgettable images, including the funeral and Doctor Banner
lighting up his pipe and Rick Jones sitting in a room which could only
serve as a precursor to the trophy room in FUTURE IMPERFECT... In
spots, you can read it like a science-fiction short story. Andy Kubert's
art has never looked so good.
Sit back, take your time, have a hanky ready, and read the grand finale.
So long, PAD, and thanks for all the fish.
-Augie
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