Thursday 10 September 2009

Hey yo, im a pundit now.


http://www.rte.ie/news/morningireland/player.html?20090901,

Reviews I don't even remember writing.

Aparently these were in an issue of Verbal. I dont rememeber writing this.

Hulk Smash!


As far as mainstream recognition of comic book characters goes the Hulk is right up there with the big guns (chiefly those who wear their pants outside their ludicrously tight tights).

So it’s something of a shame that most people remember him as either a giant, green, radioactive simpleton; jumping round the desert shouting “Hulk smash!” (as portrayed in the early comics), or as a hitchhiker in awful looking flares, walking down the road to sad piano music; alternating between thumbing a lift to the next town and turning into a giant, emerald steroid addict. Which is a pity, because the Hulkster has spent over 20 years in the hands of some of comic’s best creators, and writers like Peter David and Bruce Jones have taken what is a simple spin on Jekyll and Hyde and transformed it into a tragic, modern day Hamlet. Albeit a Hamlet who has been bombarded by Gamma Rays.
Recent events have taken an even more tragic turn as the leading superheroes on the planet have decided that the Hulk’s rampages must cease. Their solution: stick him in a rocket and send him away. Planet Hulk is an account of the Hulk’s Proustian travails on the planet Skarr, where he becomes a Gladiator, an outlaw, and eventually King. It’s a little heavy-handed to be frank, considering it is almost the Plot of the film Gladiator in reverse, however it never drags and the art and dialogue are excellent. It’s FUN, like a Hulk comic should be. Unfortunately, being who he is, it all goes belly-up for the Hulk when the planet he is king of explodes. Being who he is, the Hulk decides to raise what is left of his army and return to Earth to seek revenge on those he holds responsible (because inevitably, Hulk will smash). World War Hulk is a big, bold, ballsy crossover that encompasses the entire Marvel universe and took up nearly 150 comics. Fortunately for us it has been condensed down into one easy to digest mouthful and I’m happy to say it loses nothing in terms of storytelling.
Both these books are fine as stand-alones, but act as excellent compliments to each other. THIS is the way comics should be. Good times.