Hulk Issue 28
Hulk Team-Up continues! I mean, just uh, Hulk. Really though, it's Hulk Team-Up. The silly notion of having Hulk team-up with a different hero for every issue of this arc surprisingly works and will hopefully read well when put together in trade paperback. Jeff Parker and Gabriel Hardman are making a simple story work wonders for good ol' Rulky, but don't just take me word for it. Let's dive into Hulk issue 28 so I can show you why!
Our issue opens with the end of the Namor/Rulk team-up we saw from last issue. Rulk manages to barely escape Namor with his life and finds himself sent on another mission immediately. Meanwhile, on the Raft, Samuel Sterns is asked some questions in the hope that he has some form of residual memory of his time as the Leader, however it's of no use. Banner than proceeds to try talking with George Tarleton, formerly M.O.D.O.K., but finds that he too, is unaware. On monster island, Rulk goes on the hunt for Rick but ends up fighting him, as Rick is under mind control. Hulk manages to find the source though and it's not long before it's Rick and Rulk vs an island of monsters with the fate of the world in their hands!
Jeff Parker handles the writing on this issue and has many things going for him. He managed all of the characters well, from Bruce to Steve and especially Rick and Rulk. The moments where he lets Rulk be vulnerable and real are really my favorite, because they show who Rulk truly is. The way that Parker has Rulk handle the shenanigans around him are also great, as they show how dangerous the man is, even without powers. Ross directing Rick was a great thing to see and makes me kind of wish that one day he'll be in charge of all the Hulks, even though it'll never happen. My only fault with this issue is that it's the fourth in a row with the same format. Finish team-up, do some solo stuff, start new team-up. It's a simple formula and it works but I'm looking forward to seeing the next arc break up this style.
Since the back-up with Rick was combined with the main feature, this issue we have a story about how Uatu the Watcher has abandoned his post. This was really really boring. I mean, it didn't make sense to me, since we saw Uatu like two issues ago, and the characters of the Watchers really all blend together when in bulk. It reminds me of the Monitors in DC's countdown and how with one or two it worked but as a unit it lost its meaning. I could have easily done without this, especially to drop the price a dollar.
Overall, we get a great issue of Hulk where Parker and Hardman really let loose, and it pays off. I feel like this arc benefits from being easily accessible from every issue, but that's its flaw too, it's not really progressing. Add in a lame back-up and what should have been a 4.5 book goes down to being 4 out of 5 stars. Here's hoping the next chapter spices things up a bit with the appearance of the green Hulk.
