Review: Weapon H #6

Weapon H, perhaps one of Marvel’s strangest titles of the last few years, may be the best Hulk comic book in years. ComiConverse contributor Mitch Nissen takes a look.

Review: Weapon H #6

If you are one of those readers who thought Marvel was off their rocker when they announced their “Hulkverine” Hulk/Wolverine hybrid character, well, you’re in good company. When announced during the Totally Awesome Hulk/Weapon X crossover event Weapons of Mutant Destruction, I outright dismissed this idea of the Hulkverine. To put it plainly, I thought it was utterly ridiculous and that Marvel had gone temporarily insane.

But then I read Weapon H #4, not because of any interest in the titular character mind you but because I’ll read anything featuring the Man-Thing (which I realize qualifies me for questionable mental health as well). More than anything else Cory Smith’s art captured my attention. From their I went back to #3 for Man-Thing’s cameo appearance and then I picked up all the previous issues of Weapon H as solicitations revealed Man-Thing wasn’t leaving the book anytime soon (you can’t have issues #3 and onward).

Having caught up now, Greg Pak and Cory Smith have made a believer out of me.

Weapon H is the best “Incredible Hulk” book in years.

Synopsis:

After battling a super Wendigo, an Acanti space whale, Brood warriors, and the macabre Man-Thing, Weapon H prepares for his greatest battle yet: the untold horrors of Weirdworld! The Roxxon Corporation has unwittingly opened a portal between our world and Weirdworld, hordes of man-eating monsters waiting on the other side. Only Weapon H and some unlikely allies stand between humanity and invasion.

The Breakdown:

No one knows the Hulk better than Greg Pak (save for Peter David perhaps). The initial story arc for Weapon H is a classic “Hulk on the run” set up. “The world thinks that Clay is dead and that’s the way Clay wants it. Weapon H just wants to be left alone but the hero inside him can’t turn his back on those in need.”

Sound familiar? Bill Bixy/Lou Ferrigno anyone?

This is classic Hulk storytelling at its purest. There’s a distinctive Hulk/Betty Ross dynamic between Clay and his wife Sonia. Weapon H’s personality is reminiscent of a more brooding Peter David era Gray Hulk (pre-Mr. Fixit). Even match ups against the Wendigo and Man-Thing are tried and true Hulk traditions.

To sum it all up, Weapon H is classic Hulk at its best.

The Art

Greg Pak delivers fairly quick and simple reads with each issue. It doesn’t take much energy on the reader’s part to get through each issue which, if you’re begrudgingly reading the book, works in the book’s favor. The book relies heavily on the artwork in this respect, but Pak’s writing also provides the artists with plenty of opportunity to showcase their talents.

Cory Smith penciled issues #1 through #5, employing a realistic and vivid style. Smith showcased some truly amazing and dynamic artwork in those issues. With issue #6 artist Ario Anindito takes over penciling duties and provides a nearly seamless transition in art styles. You’d swear it was still Cory Smith’s art based off the first few pages.

Ario Anindito delivers high quality art in keeping with the serious tone and realistic style of the previous issues.

Bottom line: this is the Hulk comic book I’ve wanted since the conclusion of World War Hulk. The sad part of it all is that this isn’t a Hulk book, though it should be. It’s Weapon H. But it’s the best “Hulk” book in years.

The Hulk has been through dozens of iterations in the last decade, some more successful than others. There have also been a dozen or so different Hulks and Hulk-like characters during that time it seems. Personally I feel Bruce Banner is the only Hulk the world needs and I enjoyed the Doc Green arc where Hulk brought the number of other Hulks back to the old status quo. Now it seems with Amadeus Cho, Robert Maverick, and Weapon H that the number of Hulks is increasing again ‘sigh’…

At least Banner’s back now. And Amadeus is going by Brawn, finally becoming his own character. And the Hulkverine isn’t as silly as it sounds.

What did you think?

Drop us a comment below

Mitch Nissen is a Contributor to ComiConverse. Follow him on Twitter: @NinjaMitche