RIP: Peter David

I'm very sad to have heard writer Peter David passed away this weekend. Although he wrote in many mediums, I knew him best for his work as a comic book writer.

Certainly he'll be best-remembered for his many years as writer on the Incredible Hulk (1987-1998). He started shortly after the Hulk had become gray but wound up writing the gray Hulk for so long that he remains the writer most-associated with that version of the character. The years he spent writing the Hulk - paired with great artists like Todd McFarlane, Dale Keown, Gary Frank - he kept finding new ideas about where to take the Hulk and what could be done with the character. Even then, he wouldn't have left in 1998 except that his editor wanted a lot of changes to the book that he had no interest in implementing.

Plenty of Hulk writers before and since have delved into the character's multiple personalities and how he's rooted in Bruce Banner's earlier psychological traumas but aside from Al Ewing, no one has made it so central what the series was about. I was especially impressed with the story in Incredible Hulk #-1 where he revealed Banner had accidentally killed his own father but repressed the memory. David's story for what became Hulk: The End (originally a prose piece) is likewise a terrific exploration of Banner's trauma, in that instance set in a distant future where the Hulk is the last being left alive on Earth; where Banner simply wants to die, the Hulk views Banner as his enemy and sees their psychological conflict as another battle to be won.

And there was so much more; his X-Factor really surprised me in the 1990s. His version of that series was a team of mutant heroes (mostly those no other writers wanted to use at the time) working for the government. I think I started buying it just because I had been swayed by the impression it was a "hot" book. Then I stayed because it was funny and well-characterized. His story "X-aminations" (X-Factor #87) in which the team were psychoanalyzed remains by far the best-remembered issue in that series; I remember even at the time it came out, I was wowed by that one. It's certainly for me the defining version of Quicksilver's character.

At times his sense of humour was very obvious and a bit too pleased with his puns. Still, overall I enjoyed his writing. Past the 1990s I followed him on books like Captain Marvel and his 2nd version of X-Factor. I'm not certain if I ever read any of his DC comics, nor have I read any of his prose (not even his Star Trek novels), but I know he had a huge fanbase in those areas of his career as well. Back in the day I regularly visited his blog-- although mostly because I was interested in his political opinions.

Rest in peace, Mr. David.

Space-Born Super Hero Part 25: Captain Marvel #21

Welcome back to 'Space-Born Super Hero'! I'm now up to Captain Marvel #21 (1970) and the story "Here Comes the Hulk!" by Roy Thomas & Gil Kane (inks by Dan Adkins). The cover blurb declares, "The Hulk Invades the Campus!" which suggests this issue is attempting to seek the kind of relevance among contemporary youth culture as comics such as the previous year's Amazing Spider-Man #68 ("Crisis on Campus").

The story picks up where last issue ended off as the unconscious Rick Jones is about to be crushed by the Hulk (we seem to open several issues looking at Rick's unconscious body). However, the Hulk lands just short of Rick, having recognized him as his old friend. Hulk is tempted to 'smash' him, but refuses to strike someone who is smaller than he and unable to fight. The Hulk lumbers off to get some water to revive Rick and in doing so, calms down, becoming Bruce Banner again. The revived Rick greets Bruce and explains his current predicament, giving Kane an excuse to retell how Rick and Mar-Vell were bound together. Bruce knows Reed Richards is the specialist on the Negative Zone, but tells Rick that Reed thinks the Negative Zone is too dangerous for the public and probably wouldn't help him (although Rick could easily get an audience with Reed by asking via the Avengers).

As Bruce leads Rick back to his cavern laboratory, he notes Reed has noticed connections between the Negative Zone, Gamma Rays and Cosmic Rays, so in helping Mar-Vell to get out of the Negative Zone, Bruce might also stumble upon research which will rid him of being the Hulk. Bruce is actually glad to have someone else's problems to focus on for a change. After a lengthy period of research, Bruce comes up with a name: Josiah Weller, "one of the top brains in relativity theory... and head of the research department at Desert State University!" Bruce gives Weller a ring, but it seems student radicals are performing an anti-war rally outside his office, complete with a giant bonfire. Apparently the students are convinced Weller is working on research for warfare; hearing Weller is in danger makes Bruce stressed and he quickly erupts into anger, transforming back into the Hulk. There's no way Rick can face the Hulk alone, so Rick brings out Captain Marvel with the lines "Justice like lightning... ever shall appear!!" (quoting the same poem which later inspired the super hero team Thunderbolts)

Captain Marvel tries to calm the Hulk down, which works as well as you'd expect; a fight breaks out. Mar-Vell punches the Hulk, but the blow has no effect: "I could have smashed a robot with that blow--but you're still standing!" Yeesh, Marv, you really do fight robots too often. The Hulk swats Mar-Vell asides then smashes out of the laboratory, destroying Banner's research on the Negative Zone as he leaps away to Desert State University.

When the student protestors hear the Hulk is coming, they cheer his imminent arrival: "That green brother's as much anti-establishment as any of us!" Er, just 'cause the Hulk fights the army, it doesn't mean he's anti-war. Captain Marvel catches up before the Hulk can do any damage. Mar-Vell hits the Hulk with his most powerful blows, but they do no good and the Hulk smashes him again; with that, the three hours are up and Mar-Vell is exchanged with Rick Jones. Rick then puts his own life on the line. Standing between the Hulk and the protestors, Rick tells him if he's going to hurt anyone, he'll have to kill him first. Unable to injure Rick, the Hulk turns and walks away. Mar-Vell is proud of Rick for ending the fight. "Perhaps--we make a better team than we thought, Rick!"

Thoughts: It's a pity that nothing comes of Dr. Weller - Bruce brings him up and he's the subject of the protest, but he's ultimately nothing more than a device to get Bruce angry about something. Even the protestors disappear once the last Captain Marvel vs. Hulk fight begins. What if Weller really was developing something for the army? What if the protestors were right? What if the protestors were seriously over-zealous and learned a valuable lesson from seeing the Hulk's thoughtless rampage? They're just a backdrop, unfortunately.

With this issue, Captain Marvel was quietly cancelled. The final panel announced: "And thus ends the final chapter of our second try-out of the sensational new Captain Marvel!" The book would eventually return with an issue #22, but this time the series would be off the racks for more than six months.

Fortunately for Captain Marvel, Roy Thomas wasn't done with him yet, and Roy was writing plenty of Marvel Comics!

Next: Sub-Mariner #30!

Space-Born Super Hero Part 24: Captain Marvel #20

Welcome back to 'Space-Born Super Hero', my look back at the hero Captain Marvel in his pre-Jim Starlin days. Today we're up to Captain Marvel #20 and the story "The Hunter and the Holocaust" again by Roy Thomas & Gil Kane (inks by Dan Adkins). It's worth noting that six months passed between this issue and the previous one; in fact, Captain Marvel is stumbling towards a long-term hiatus. This issue contains a milestone! It's the first issue of Captain Marvel to have a dialogue blurb on the cover! Hey, I didn't claim it was an important milestone.

We open in Greenwich Village (I guess Rick stuck around New York after the events of Avengers #72) where Rick is playing his guitar in a basement coffee house. Give us some mood, Rascally One: "The mood is electric... the sound is full of quiet fury... and who's to say if it signifies nothing... or everything...?" In fact, the women in the audience seem to be swooning over Rick's singing as though he were Elvis. "No doubt about it... that's the sound of the seventies!" One claims. "Boy, would I like a meaningful relationship with him!!" states another woman, woodenly. As Rick exits the shop, he finds Mordecai P. Boggs waiting for him, still trying to hire Rick as a client. Rick brushes him off again, although he admits to himself he's not sure why he doesn't get a manager.

Back at Rick's apartment, Mar-Vell's voice summons Rick to look in a mirror, where Rick sees Mar-Vell's face instead of his own. Mar-Vell has to remind Rick that they're still bound together and he needed to "shock" Rick into paying attention to him. Apparently it's been weeks since Rick let Marv out of the Negative Zone, which is a bit cruel to poor Mar-Vell. Rick seems to be having an identity crisis, so Mar-Vell reminds Rick how much he longed to be a super hero back when he first met the Hulk (specifically referencing the events of Incredible Hulk #3, where Rick had temporary control over the Hulk's mind), as well as his time with the Avengers and Captain America, then recaps how Rick donned the Nega-Bands and bested Yon-Rogg (having been 6 months since the last issue, Roy the Boy must have felt a recap was in order).

Before Rick and Mar-Vell can finish sorting out their issues, Rick hears a scream from the apartment below and he races downstairs, where he finds two men roughing up an elderly man. Rick tries to fight off the men despite Mar-Vell's insistence that they switch places. After repeatedly getting pummeled, Rick finally concedes and strikes his Nega-Bands together, releasing Captain Marvel. Mar-Vell easily bests the two men, then he and Rick have a mental conversation about how to solve their problem and release themselves from the Negative Zone. Rick suggests they look up his old pal Dr. Bruce Banner, otherwise known as the Hulk, figuring Banner would have an idea on how to liberate them. Rick directs Mar-Vell out to the deserts where Banner's secret laboratories were established so they can begin their hunt.

The search is waylaid when Mar-Vell spies a tornado, which had just ravaged a nearby town. Mar-Vell flies in to help rescued injured people, not noticing a band of green-clad men in masks who come moving into the town. They're a team of looters called the Rat Pack. The Rat Pack are not only after money and jewels from the banks and jewelry stores, they're also targeting the hospitals to get valuable medical supplies. As Captain Marvel is carrying an injured little girl to safety, the girl sees the Rat Pack below and draws the hero's attention to them; once the girl is returned to her mother, Mar-Vell flies back to confront the Rat Pack. The Rat Pack's leader (the only member without a mask) draws his gun while berating his men: "You spot a fancy costume--and you think Captain America's on yer tail! Well, he ain't Captain America--and he ain't Thor--and another thing I'll bet he ain't--is bulletproof!" Mar-Vell seems to agree, which is odd, considering his skin is tough enough to shrug off laser blasts from Kree pistols. Are Kree handguns less lethal than a Saturday night special?

Well, I guess we won't learn whether Mar-Vell is bulletproof today, as he throws one of the Rat Pack members at the leader before he can shoot the gun. With that, it seems the Rat Pack are all washed up. Mar-Vell sees more Red Cross trucks coming to help the wounded so he spends more time digging through rubble, helping them reach trapped people. "You can't hear me--but you understand, don't you, Rick? This is all that really matters--not our names in the papers--not a rock music career--but this--a chance to save a life--or dry a child's first tear! This is why I renounced my Kree heritage--my membership in a people without pity! And, this is how I'll spend the rest of my life--once I'm forever free of the Negative Zone!!" I have to say, Mar-Vell had a reputation as being a noble hero which wasn't really borne out through his earlier adventures, but with this moment it feels like his nobility has finally been made firm. When the Red Cross have things under control Mar-Vell continues on to Banner's laboratory, but his three-hour time limit runs out and he falls from the sky, then switches places with Rick. Rick, of course, is driven unconscious as he still inherits Marv's exhaustion.

From inside his lab, Bruce Banner sees Rick. The Hulk had just recently fought the Avengers and Banner wonders whether Rick is still affiliated with them and might be leading the Avengers to his doorstep. Overwhelmed by paranoia, the frustrated Banner transforms into the Hulk, who smashes his way out of the lab then takes a jump towards Rick, intending to crush him beneath his feet. To be Hulk-tinued!!!

Thoughts: Captain Marvel is becoming more comfortable with guest stars in its pages as the Hulk's involvement flows pretty naturally for the characters, whereas other guest stars like the Black Widow and Iron Man came out of left field. The Rat Pack were spotlighted on the cover, but were very easily bested in this story. Despite this, they've gone on to many more appearances in odd places, like as the primary foes of Tigra during her Marvel Chillers stories and fighting the Thunderbolts in their first issue. A team of professional looters who follow natural disasters is a pretty good fit for the Marvel Universe, considering the upheaval super hero battles usually create. They should appear more often.

Gil Kane drew the Hulk's adventures for a while and his Hulk is kind of wonderful. His action sequences continue to be energetic; Kane is the MVP of this Captain Marvel revamp.

Next: Captain Marvel versus the Hulk in Captain Marvel #21!

Thinking back on Planet Hulk

Thanks to the new film Thor: Ragnarok borrowing a few ideas from the comic book storyline "Planet Hulk", that story is hopefully acquiring a few new fans. As a fan of that story, I was a little disappointed that such a rich tale was barely tapped into at all for the film, as it could have anchored a motion picture of its own. Let's take a moment to look back on Planet Hulk together.

When the storyline "Planet Hulk" began running in Incredible Hulk #92 (2006), I was at the time a freelance employee of Marvel Comics working on the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and related projects. At the time, Marvel didn't supply me with comps of all their titles so I had to spend my own money on their new products. Usually I only purchased books which I needed for research and as our staff of writers had each eaked out particular corners of the Marvel Universe, the Hulk was one such character I could safely set aside. My friend Anthony Flamini had the Hulk material under control at the time as he wrote the book Planet Hulk: Gladiator's Guidebook.

I hadn't been reading the Hulk for a very long time - this was just after a brief, unlamented 2nd run by Peter David, but I hadn't followed the book regularly since that author's 1st run had ended the previous decade. Then and now, the Hulk was a character who I could enjoy, but it depended on the creators. The creative team for Planet Hulk of writer Greg Pak & artist Carlo Pagulayan made almost no impact on me. I knew Pak only for a revamp of Adam Warlock which I hadn't liked at all and Pagulayan I wasn't familiar with. The concept which was being promoted - that the Hulk goes into space and becomes a gladiator - didn't thrill me.

Fortunately for me, one of my areas of expertise in the Marvel Universe were the alien race the Kronans and I came into Planet Hulk when Kronans appeared in the 2nd chapter (I wrote an entry on the Kronans for the Marvel Appendix). I had previously thought Planet Hulk was using only new alien races and was pleasantly surprised to discover that although Sakaar was a new environment with its own history it had ties to familiar Marvel aliens like the Kronans and Brood. The trappings of the Marvel Universe can at times feel like they've been so set in stone that no new significant corners of said universe can be revealed without seeming out-of-place. Sakaar not only proved to have a very well-thought-out and interesting history which was slowly expanded on throughout Pak's stories, but also a unique mythos (everything to do with the stone priests and repeated mantras such as "Sakaarson, hear my cry..." or "May he who dies, die well.") and weight within the larger Marvel Universe via the use of the Brood, Kronans and Silver Surfer.

Pak was coming to the Incredible Hulk at a time when Marvel's comics were largely segregated from each other (although Civil War was primed to change all that). There was not a great sense of continuity from one creator to another as popular writers like Brian Michael Bendis didn't particularly care about whether their characterizations of Marvel characters held with prior interpretations. This is one way in which Pak's characterization of the Hulk was a nice surprise as Pak invoked continuity within Planet Hulk's first four-parter, noting how when the Hulk first met the Silver Surfer he had asked the Surfer to bring him to another world. This was some incredible continuity-fu Pak employed, giving added weight to the idea of the Hulk making an alien world his new home.

Pak has said at various times that his take on the Hulk's theme is "the price of anger" -- that however cathartic it might feel to see the Hulk tear down a deserving foe (namely the Red King in Planet Hulk), eventually there is a price for that violence. In the case of Planet Hulk, the Hulk's own decisions and actions set into motion the climax in which his queen Caiera is murdered, thus setting up Pak's World War Hulk and Skaar: Son of Hulk. Planet Hulk is a tragedy.

...And yet, it is a tale of many tones. There are spectacular action scenes of the Hulk and his Warbound surfing across a bed of lava and battling hordes of zombiefied Spike; there's the gentle humour of Miek in the early chapters, or the sardonic robot ARCH-E-5912; the fire-forged bond of friendship between the Warbound which helps the reader care for the Hulk's allies Korg, Miek, Elloe Kaifi, Hiroim and No-Name.

But yes, ultimately it's a tragedy. There are haunting images of Caiera holding a child which is burned until it crumbles in her arms; Miek's own tale is a tragedy run in parallel to the Hulk's as the Hulk doesn't see how Miek is adopting his values for himself and Miek's inability to cope without an enemy to fight leads to the greatest tragedy in the story's conclusion.

Then and now I give Planet Hulk high marks for the emotions it provokes in me. I enjoy the high adventure of seeing the Hulk as a gladiator, rebel and king; I love the Warbound, particularly Korg and Hiroim; the Silver Surfer's farewell to the Hulk is a heart-warming occasion; so is the Hulk choosing to become Banner for Caiera. Planet Hulk is ultimately my favourite Marvel super hero comic of the 21st century so far. If you still haven't checked it out, please do.

Remedial Creator Credits: Incredible Hulk (2008)

Edward Norton's Hulk! Remember when that was something?

Stan Lee: co-creator of the Hulk, Bruce Banner, a physicist who transforms into a massive, brutish creature with superhuman strength after exposure to gamma radiation; Hulk wearing purple pants; General Thaddeus Ross, a military officer who formerly employed Bruce Banner and becomes an enemy of the Hulk; Betty Ross, daughter of General Ross and love interest of Bruce; Rick Jones, a young man who befriends the Hulk (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of the Leader, an intelligent man (Tales to Astonish #62, 1964); of the Abomination, a Russian man exposed to gamma rays which transform him into a monstrous creature who fights the Hulk (Tales to Astonish #90, 1967); of Banner transforming into the Hulk during periods of high emotional stress; of the Hulk having a savage or childlike disposition (Tales to Astonish #60, 1964); of the Hulk producing a shockwave by clapping his hands (Tales to Astonish #65, 1965); of Banner's identity as the Hulk becoming public knowledge, forcing Banner to give up his normal life and live as a fugitive from General Ross and others (Tales to Astonish #77, 1966); of the Leader being a gamma-irradiated man with a large head (Tales to Astonish #63, 1965); of Tony Stark, a wealthy industrialist who wears a suit of armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of Tony Stark and the Hulk serving on a team together (Avengers #1, 1963); the Hulk's green skin (Incredible Hulk #2, 1962); the Hulk traveling vast distances by leaping (Incredible Hulk #3, 1963); Hulk's quote "Hulk smash" (Tales to Astonish #88, 1967)

Jack Kirby: co-creator of the Hulk, Bruce Banner, a physicist who transforms into a massive, brutish creature with superhuman strength after exposure to gamma radiation; Hulk wearing purple pants; General Thaddeus Ross, a military officer who formerly employed Bruce Banner and becomes an enemy of the Hulk; Betty Ross, daughter of General Ross and love interest of Bruce; Rick Jones, a young man who befriends the Hulk (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of Banner's identity as the Hulk becoming public knowledge, forcing Banner to give up his normal life and live as a fugitive from General Ross and others (Tales to Astonish #77, 1966); of Tony Stark, a wealthy industrialist who wears a suit of armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of Tony Stark and the Hulk serving on a team together (Avengers #1, 1963); the Hulk's green skin (Incredible Hulk #2, 1962); the Hulk traveling vast distances by leaping (Incredible Hulk #3, 1963); of the Super-Soldier Serum which created Captain America in the 1940s (Captain America Comics #1, 1941)

Steve Ditko: co-creator of the Leader, an intelligent man (Tales to Astonish #62, 1964); of Banner transforming into the Hulk during periods of high emotional stress; of the Hulk having a savage or childlike disposition (Tales to Astonish #60, 1964); of the Hulk producing a shockwave by clapping his hands (Tales to Astonish #65, 1965); of the Leader being a gamma-irradiated man with a large head (Tales to Astonish #63, 1965)

John Romita Jr.: co-creator of Banner using the online alias "Mr. Green" for correspondence with a mysterious figure known only as "Mr. Blue"; of Banner using meditation techniques to calm himself (Incredible Hulk #34, 2002); of Sterns trying to obtain Banner's blood for his experiments (Incredible Hulk #36, 2002)

Bruce Jones: co-creator of Banner using the online alias "Mr. Green" for correspondence with a mysterious figure known only as "Mr. Blue"; of Banner using meditation techniques to calm himself (Incredible Hulk #34, 2002); of Sterns trying to obtain Banner's blood for his experiments (Incredible Hulk #36, 2002)

Gil Kane: co-creator of the Abomination, a Russian man exposed to gamma rays which transform him into a monstrous creature who fights the Hulk (Tales to Astonish #90, 1967); Hulk's quote "Hulk smash" (Tales to Astonish #88, 1967)

John Romita: co-creator of Banner's identity as the Hulk becoming public knowledge, forcing Banner to give up his normal life and live as a fugitive from General Ross and others (Tales to Astonish #77, 1966)

Mark Millar: co-creator of the Abomination being massive and partially armored (Ultimates 2 #9, 2006); the Hulk resulting from an attempt to recreate Captain America (Ultimates #2, 2002)

Bryan Hitch: co-creator of the Abomination being massive and partially armored (Ultimates 2 #9, 2006); the Hulk resulting from an attempt to recreate Captain America (Ultimates #2, 2002)

Herb Trimpe: co-creator of Leonard Samson, a rival for Bruce's affections toward Betty (Incredible Hulk #141, 1971); of the Leader's name Samuel Sterns (Incredible Hulk #129, 1970)

Roy Thomas: co-creator of Leonard Samson, a rival for Bruce's affections toward Betty (Incredible Hulk #141, 1971); of the Leader's name Samuel Sterns (Incredible Hulk #129, 1970)

Joe Simon: co-creator of the Super-Soldier Serum which created Captain America in the 1940s (Captain America Comics #1, 1941)

Larry Lieber: co-creator of Tony Stark, a wealthy industrialist who wears a suit of armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963)

Todd MacFarlane: co-creator of the Leader's head being round to indicate a larger brain (Incredible Hulk #342, 1988)

Don Heck: co-creator of Tony Stark, a wealthy industrialist who wears a suit of armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963)

Mark Gruenwald: creator of the Abomination's name Emil Blonsky (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1, 1983)

Peter David: co-creator of the Leader's head being round to indicate a larger brain (Incredible Hulk #342, 1988)

Gary Friedrich: co-creator of Hulk's stated desire to be left alone (Incredible Hulk #102, 1968)

Marie Severin: co-creator of Hulk's stated desire to be left alone (Incredible Hulk #102, 1968)

RIP: Herb Trimpe, 1939-2015

Herb Trimpe

Herb Trimpe

Herb Trimpe

Herb Trimpe

Herb Trimpe

When we talk about the Marvel Comics of the 1960s we always bring up Kirby and Ditko. Steranko. Adams. Everett. Severin. Colan. Ayers. Buscema. Smith. Even divisive talents such as Colletta and Heck receive their share of attention (both positive and negative). We've never spoken about Herb Trimpe at length.

Sure, we made fun of his art in the 1990s when he changed his style to imitate Rob Liefeld. Then we wept for him when he went to the New York Times and revealed how Marvel had let him go after three decades, pretending that we cared.

You can't talk about Wolverine for very long without at least noting he drew Wolvie's first appearance. Likewise G.I. Joe. Captain Britain. And he must surely have drawn more Hulk stories than any other artist.

What can we say? He began his career imitating Kirby and wound up imitating Liefeld. He and Severin were a great team. He loved to draw airplanes, such as in the Phantom Eagle example I've posted above. He spent most of the last two decades teaching art classes.

Will he be forgotten? ...Yes. He'll survive as a footnote in the histories of Wolverine & G.I. Joe.

Want to evaluate him for yourself? Here's my recommended reading list of his Marvel Comics career:

• Marvel Super-Heroes #16 (Phantom Eagle)
• Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #8
• Incredible Hulk #140
• Machine Man #1-4
• Rawhide Kid #1-4
• G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1, 3-4, 6-8, 50
• G.I. Joe: Special Missions #1-21, 23, 25-26, 28

Considering 2010: Comics

During 2010 the flow of comic books into my home took on a crazed life of its own. Marvel themselves provided me with a hefty supply of titles, but I also bought into plenty of graphic novels and continued to branch out into other publishers' work.

So, I think it makes the most sense to divvy up 2010 into what I most enjoyed from Marvel...and everything else.

MARVEL

Many years ago (before I was a freelancer) I toyed with the idea of telling the story behind Jeff Mace, the man who (via retcons) served as Captain America circa 1946-1950. I was fascinated at the idea that he was a normal man filling in for a believed-dead hero at a time when no one (including readers) cared about super heroes. Fortunately, Karl Kesel has finally told this story in Captain America: Patriot and he hit on every point I wanted to see covered. This book hits the notes of continuity perfectly (which as a handbook writer I'm still impressed by), but I felt it also did a fine job of characterizing Mace and his personal struggles filling a role he didn't really want for people who don't really want him. Also, Kesel's Sub-Mariner is an absolute delight.

I'm constantly impressed at the work editor Stephen Wacker does on Amazing Spider-Man, employing some of my personal favourite writers (Mark Waid, Fred Van Lente, Roger Stern, Dan Slott) and teams of excellent artists, most notably Marcos Martin. In recent issues, I was stunned to find how much I enjoyed Humberto Ramos' art, having been disappointed with his work almost a decade ago. However I felt about the Ramos of 2001, the Ramos of 2010 is worth following!

As part of a research assignment, I went over Peter David's X-Factor, which I don't normally follow. I already knew some of the details of his most recent storylines, but it was eye-opening to read them for myself. In particular the X-Factor Special: Layla Miller which detailed the young mutant Layla surviving in a totalitarian future, X-Factor#39 with the birth of Jaime Madrox's son and X-Factor#40 featuring Madrox's grapple with life were some of the best stories of David's on this title.

Like so many on the internet, I loved Roger Langridge & Chris Samnee's Thor: the Mighty Avenger, sadly cancelled after a mere 8 issues. Written in a stand-alone continuity intended to bring in fans of the upcoming movie (who will, I guess, get to buy the trade paperback anyway), this is the best Thor comic I've read in about 15 years. The gentle humour and fun characterizations are part of what makes it so engaging, but more than anything it's that Langridge takes nothing for granted - nothing. He doesn't waste the reader's time and he doesn't invest in characters or scenes that aren't worth investing in. Every page and every panel matter to the story, so they matter to me.

Avengers Academy is Christos N. Gage's new series to replace Avengers: the Initiative. The concept - superhuman teenagers considered potential super villains being taught to be heroes by the Avengers - has endless potential. Although the series spun out of the Initiative it's actually the spritual successor to Brian K. Vaughn's Runaways as a series about teenagers grappling with their morality.

Even though Greg Pak returned to Incredible Hulk last year, I felt it wasn't up to the standards of Pak's earlier Planet Hulk or World War Hulk. Well, with an exception: Incredible Hulk#611 in which the Hulk battles his son Skaar led to an exceptional pay-off not only for readers of Pak's work, but for anyone who followed Bill Mantlo or Peter David's Hulk.

Fred Van Lente is always good (and needs to get his Comic Book Comics to ship regularly), but I felt his best work in 2010 was on the mini-series Shadowland: Power Man, featuring a teenager who adopts Luke Cage's old "Power Man" handle, along with Cage's old "Hero for Hire" job. Van Lente crafts a believable picture of life in Harlem...or, at least, the Marvel Universe version of Harlem where you're as likely to meet a ninja as anything.

...EVERYTHING ELSE

Sticking with super heroes, I've been giving Grant Morrison a sober second look lately by trying out some of his most esteemed work. So far that's included All-Star Superman, WE3 and the beginning of his Animal Man. I'm definitely learning to appreciate his writing, although I prefer him on stand-alone projects rather than his shared universe work at Marvel and DC. All-Star Superman has at least three panels which struck me with their visual, emotional power; I want to see more of his work. I blogged some more about WE3 here.

2010 was also the year I discovered Joe Sacco via Palestine, Safe Area Gorazde and Footnotes in Gaza. With all the flat-out fiction I read, it's nice to experience something of the real world in my comics. Sacco's work has done a lot to educate me on Israel and Bosnia and inspired me to learn more; it also helped inspire me to commit myself to a mission in Angola for 2011. After all the suffering I witnessed in Sacco's books, I felt the need to get overseas and help people. I blogged some more about Palestine here.

From Sacco I took an interest in How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden. This is an autobiographical story where the author goes on a birthright trip to Israel and confronts her prejudices about the Israelis. She never really confronts the issues about Palestine which formed her beliefs so her story's finish is a letdown...but that's real life, eh?

After promising myself for years that I would delve into Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo, I finally took the plunge in 2010 and it's been providing me with some of the most consistently enjoyable stories on my bookshelf. With more than 20 volumes of trade paperbacks in print Usagi seems daunting to outsiders, but as fans in the know promised me, you can start almost anywhere in the series and find the story easy to flow into; I'm currently devouring the snake at both ends, working my way through the trades in order while buying the new issues as they ship.

The concept of a cat-man who solves crimes sounds simplistic, right? It is. What isn't is the art of Juanjo Guarnido, whose ability to render a lush, verisimilitudinous "funny animal" version of 50s noir made Blacksad an instant favourite. The fact that John Blacksad has whiskers is a tool to catch your attention, and it certainly worked on me. I'm eager to see more of Blacksad as it's translated. I blogged some more about Blacksad (and Usagi Yojimbo) here.

James Turner's Warlord of Io seems to have run its (troubled) course, drifting from serialized print format to electronic-only to trade paperback. It's much more plot driven than Turner's earlier Rex Libris, but the plot - video game crazy Zing being named emperor but facing an immediate coup - serves to introduce all sorts of fun characters, situations and opportunities for Turner to flex his artistic muscles. I blogged some more about Warlord of Io here.

Two of my favourite humourous writers came out with projects in 2010: Jim Rugg with his blaxploitation satire Afrodisiac and Bryan Lee O'Malley with Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour. Actually, while Afrodisiac is straight-up satire on every page (to the point where you can predict the outcomes - Afrodisiac gets every woman because every woman wants him; lather, wash, repeat), O'Malley's final Scott Pilgrim took itself with a smidge of seriousness when it came to Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers' relationship (as in the previous volume).

I took a gamble on American Born Chinese, but considering it had already won a few awards, it seemed like a safe bet. This book collects seemingly-unconnected tales about people who want to be something other than what they are (notably the titular Chinese-American protagonist). I can't know how growing up Asian in a mostly-white society feels, but I empathized with the feelings of otherness and ultimately, it's why I read fiction - to gain insight into other people's experiences.

For decades now, Batton Lash has been producing Supernatural Law - currently on the web - yet it's seldom brought up in comic book circles and the collections are difficult to locate. Happily, I found the volume Sonovawitch! in which Wolff & Byrd, Counselors of the Macabre, represent a man accused of bewitching a woman to love him. In reality, he's a victim of his witch mother, who just wants her son to get married. Sonovawitch! is just one of the stories collected in that trade but it's typical of Wolff & Byrd's misadventures; I look forward to finding the rest of the series.

Finally, I delved into two well-described titles by John Ostrander: Grimjack and the Spectre. The Grimjack Omnibus was a nice little tome with interesting mash-ups of detective, horror, science fiction and comedy; my favourite was a story where Grimjack was hired by a vampire to catch his killer. Ostrander's Spectre may be the best of his work I've read; over 60 issues he delves into Jim Corrigan, a murdered police man bound to the spirit of vengeance, cursed to combat evil until he understands it. Corrigan's journey through the series, particularly his grief at losing his closest mortal friend, a fight with Superman that's unlike any I'd seen before, the character's philosophical and theological discussions with the level-headed Father Craemer and that final issue, with Corrigan's funeral...seek out the Spectre; back issues can be difficult to locate, but it's well worth the effort.

Tomorrow: books!

Collected in October: Fall of Hulks

Will these collections include the bios I wrote in Fall of Hulks: Alpha & Gamma?

Shoot, I don't know.

They're worth reading again anyway.

INCREDIBLE HULK VOL. 2: FALL OF THE HULKS TPB

Written by GREG PAK & JEFF PARKER Penciled by PAUL PELLETIER Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.

When Hulks fall, they fall hard! Skaar is loose on Earth, hunting down his father with blood on his mind! Bruce Banner is a man free of the Hulk’s gamma-irradiated grip, but maniacally in pursuit of a long-dead lover. And Red Hulk wants to put a big red hurt on the Intelligencia, and he’ll need Banner to do it. But Red Hulk hates Banner, and the feeling is most definitely mutual. With the Leader’s Intelligencia corrupting and controlling even the powerful intellects of Reed Richards and Doctor Doom, can a house of Hulks divided do anything but fall? Guest-starring Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hank Pym’s Mighty Avengers, Thor and more! Collecting INCREDIBLE HULK #606-608 and FALL OF THE HULKS: ALPHA. 120 PGS./Rated A …$15.99 ISBN: 978-0-7851-4414-4

HULK VOL. 5: FALL OF THE HULKS TPB

Written by JEPH LOEB Penciled by ED MCGUINNESS Cover by ED MCGUINNESS

HULKS. WILL. FALL. But who will take the biggest fall of all? The Red Hulk and Bruce Banner form an uneasy alliance to defeat a conspiracy bent on taking down the U.S. Government. But will they destroy each other before they can triumph? Guest-starring Thor, Captain America, the X-Men, Black Panther, the Fantastic Four and more, FALL OF THE HULKS starts with the death of a Hulk legend and ends with the most mind-bending twist that fans won’t see coming! Collecting HULK #19-21 and FALL OF THE HULKS: GAMMA. 136 PGS./Rated A …$14.99 ISBN: 978-0-7851-4054-2

This May the Fall of Hulks collections begin

Fall of Hulks: Alpha & Fall of Hulks: Gamma will both be collected in May...but in separate books:

HULK: FALL OF THE HULKS PREMIERE HC

Written by JEPH LOEB Penciled by ED MCGUINNESS & JOHN ROMITA JR. Cover by ED MCGUINNESS

This is it! The Fall of The Hulks begins here. The opening round: THE RED HULK VS. THE THING with Reed Richards' life at stake. When the Baxter Building is attacked by the all-new, all-deadly Frightful Four, who will save the Fantastic Four? How about THE RED HULK? Not a chance. Next up, it’s THE RED HULK vs. THE UNCANNY X-MEN. Also, what do RED GHOST AND THE SUPER-APES want with Beast and The Black Panther? And in GAMMA, JEPH LOEB and original WORLD WAR HULK artist JOHN ROMITA JR. bring you the set-up to the event of 2010. With the Hulk family growing exponentially over the past year, it was only a matter of time before things came to a smashing head. Collecting HULK #19-21 and FALL OF HULKS: GAMMA. 112 PGS./Rated A ...$19.99

INCREDIBLE HULK: FALL OF THE HULKS PREMIERE HC

Written by GREG PAK & JEFF PARKER Penciled by PAUL PELLETIER Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.

He's fought Thor, Black Bolt, the Juggernaut, and virtually every Avenger on the planet. But nothing's ever hit Bruce Banner as hard as "The Fall of the Hulks"! As the epic storyline unfolds, Bruce Banner makes the best and worst discovery of his life, Skaar, the savage Son of Hulk, finally shows his true colors, and a Green Goliath in purple pants takes on Doctor Doom himself! "Planet Hulk" writer Greg Pak teams up with fan favorite penciler Paul Pelletier to deliver massive revelations, shocking emotional twists, and epic smashing that will transform Bruce Banner's life forever. And in ALPHA, watch as M.O.D.O.K., The Leader, Mad Thinker, Egghead, Red Ghost and the Super-Apes, and Doctor Doom devise the perfect plan to take down the Hulk family. Collecting INCREDIBLE HULK #606-608 and FALL OF THE HULKS: ALPHA. 112 PGS./Rated A ...$19.99

Bah, humbug

Sometimes for Christmas you get a playful snowball in the face.

And sometimes, that snowball has rocks in it.

Today is the release day of Fall of Hulks: Gamma. You might recall that I was pretty excited about the previous release, Fall of Hulks: Alpha because I had helped advise on continuity matters and was listed in the main credits while also being credited for a set of back-up biographies I contributed.

I had nothing to do with Gamma's continuity, but I did contribute a few pages of biographies again. The difference is, this time I wasn't credited.

I'd be lying if I said this doesn't bother me; I'd also be lying if I said I wanted anyone to buy this book; you certainly shouldn't buy it for my sake...so far as the credits are concerned, I don't exist.

So...Merry Christmas, won't you?

May I offer you some falling Hulks?

Tomorrow is the release day for Fall of Hulks: Alpha, the kick-off to the Fall of Hulks mini-event. Apparently the way to sell a Hulk event in 2009 is to name check an X-Men event from 1988.

As was mentioned previously, I have a special thanks in this issue for my contributions to the continuity/chronology.

As was not mentioned previously, I have also contributed a bonus feature section with biographies of the Intel, the villains of this event!

See my name in close proximity to Jeph Loeb's!

A preview for Fall of Hulks: Alpha has been released. You may recall that I blogged about this comic a while ago, but I didn't know if I would have a credit for my assistance in this issue. If you check the preview's credit page, you'll find my name at the end of the special thanks!

More about this book later; a few things have changed since it was first solicited!

Fall of Hulks begins in December

FALL OF THE HULKS ALPHA

Written by JEFF PARKER Pencils by PAUL PELLETIER Cover by ED MCGUINNESS

M.O.D.O.K. The Leader. Mad Thinker. Egghead. Red Ghost and the Super-Apes. Doctor Doom. They make up the secret group who have analyzed every victory and every defeat in the Marvel Universe to create the perfect battle plan that results in FALL OF THE HULKS! The origins and shocking truths of some of Marvel's most dangerous villains are revealed as the biggest HULK EVENT yet begins! From fan-favorite creators JEFF PARKER (AGENTS OF ATLAS) and PAUL PELLETIER (WAR OF KINGS) comes this tale of the “Smartest There Is” and their quest to prove it, once and for all. 32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

Under normal circumstances I only promote comics in advance which I had a hand in producing. However, I have a few reasons for promoting this comic:

1. It's the beginning of the next big Hulk crossover and ever since Greg Pak took the reigns of the Hulk franchise it's been extremely well done.
2. Two words: Jeff Parker.
3. Well, maybe a few more words; Parker is one of my favorite writers in the business right now, from Agents of Atlas to Interman to Marvel Adventures Avengers to Exiles to X-Men: First Class, he's one of the best talents in editor Mark Paniccia's stable of creators (and I have high regard for Paniccia's acquisitions). From the hilarity of "Doom, Where's My Car?" to the espionage of the Interman, he brings a great game to the business.
4. Then there's Paul Pelletier, whose style is pleasantly similar to Alan Davis (in my opinion, one of the all-time top talents) and has brought excellent artwork to books like Exiles and War of Kings. Always a pleasure to see him.
5. Oh yeah...although I didn't produce this book, I helped proofread it. If you consider yourself a potential customer, let me assure you: it has more faces than Dr. Lao, more soul than Soul Train and more Wizard-ry than the Wizard of Oz. Plan to buy it.

That is all.