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Incredible Hulk #89
Review posted: 05 Dec 2005
Writer: Daniel Way
Artist: Ken Cha
Publisher: Marvel Comics
4.00 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Adam White
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Finally. I check in on the Hulk every now and again, mainly
because I enjoy the character but rarely find a writer that can craft
an interesting story involving him (the notable exceptions being Peter
David and Bruce Jones). However, when I picked up this second issue
of Daniel Way’s run on the title, I was genuinely surprised at the
high quality of the story.
Way has done more with three
characters than many writers this month did with a variety of
ensembles.
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Daniel Way may have been promising on Wolverine #36 this
month, but he really shows what he’s got in Incredible Hulk
#89. The plot, involving Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D., and an
artificially intelligent satellite, draws in our large green friend
through subterfuge and lies. To Banner’s chagrin, Fury is
interested not in his intelligence to defeat the satellite, but in the
Hulk’s strength to smash it. There could also be ulterior
motives to Fury’s conniving ways, and that mystery adds to the
intrigue of the book. Way nails Fury’s characterization in a
way matched only by Garth Ennis, which is a huge compliment; he also
has down Banner and the Hulk, which helps considering it’s their
book. Way has made a believer out of me with this one issue, and I
only wish that he was staying on beyond this four issue arc.
Keu Cha’s art was the only reason this book didn’t get
five stars. While he draws a mean Hulk, his Banner and Fury left
something to be desired. Fury seemed “off” somehow, with
hair too thin and placed unnaturally far back on his head, enough
to be distracting. Banner seemed a bit brutish about the face, and
the background characters and non close-ups lacked detail. I’m
not saying it was outright horrible, but just not what it should have
been to match the excellent quality of the story.
Daniel Way has made the Hulk interesting again, and done so using
only Banner, Hulk, and Nick Fury. Way has done more with three
characters than many writers this month did with a variety of
ensembles. The minimalism works, and the story benefits from
Way’s use of Fury’s double-dealing ways. I wish
Cha’s art had been a little stronger, but on the whole I
overlooked it because the issue was just so unexpectedly good. I
highly recommend picking up Way’s run on Incredible Hulk, and
hope that the next writer can treat the characters with the same
respect that he has done.
—CCdC— Cover image used without explicit permission in accordance with the "Fair Use" provision of US copyright law.
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