Sunday 7 February 2010

Hulk Smash, or not



I'm not the greatest Hulk fan in the world. I find the lack of brains irritating in the character, Dr. Banner always worked better for me. So I was intrigued to read how it all started in Marvel Masterworks: The Incrediable Hulk Volume 1 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

It's interesting how often the ground rules for the Hulk change in this:
  1. He's grey, is intelligent and only happens at night
  2. Banner choses to change into the hulk via a ray gun - oh, and now the Hulk is green
  3. Hulk becomes a mindless tool of the side-kick
  4. Back to raygun and intelligent Hulk

I actually really enjoyed these stories as the Hulk's humour is quite sarcastic. Some of the other characters do seem quite cardboard, and you can definately tell by the language that its a product of the 1960s (Daddy-O is used a lot).

The artwork may not make it the most accessable for modern comic fans (one of my graphic novel reading group members refused to look at it), but the stories are interesting enough to merit a read. There is more to the Hulk, than 'Hulk Smash' of the cartoons. I enjoyed this more than the Wildcats book.

Age wise - there's nothing offensive in here, so suitable for all.

Tuesday 2 February 2010

Wildcats: World's End


Well, this lunchtimes reading was:

Wildcats: World's End by Christos Gage, Neil Googe and Pete Woods


To be honest, I've not read that much Wildcats, so didn't know the characters that well. It didn't matter, as whatever you needed to know was explained. It's set after 'The Number of the Beast' where a world is destroyed by evil supervillians. The good guys lost!


The post apocolyptic way of surviving as good guys who lost is quite intriguing. They try to save everyone they can, or decide that maybe superheroing isn't for them. On the strength of this graphic novel I might read more Wildcats, as the storyline is gripping.

Its definately for older teens as there are quite a few sexual references in it, one character is definately obsessed.

Monday 1 February 2010


Well, I finally found my way back here, well its been 2 years lol.


So what have I been reading recently:

The Batman Chronicles Vol. 4.



What struck me when I was reading it was how much it was a social commentary on the time it was written in - the early 1940s. In nearly every story, Batman/Bruce Wayne decides to buy War Bonds.


It is even more striking when Batman and Robin team up against a Nazi plot. you can tell they are Nazi's due to the big image clues pasted all around the script.


But is it a good read?

Yes, its fun. There's the odd story that you could see being written now. For example, when Batman does a lecture tour and is quoted as saying the Joker wants to be caught as he keeps leaving clues around the place. The Joker isn't happy so goes on a deliberate crime spree that even has Batman guessing.


I would recommend it if you like light Batman stories, with lots of 'Pow' in them. There's nothing in it that is too offensive, so its probably suitable for all. Just bear in mind when it was written.


What did I learn?

  • Bruce Wayne used to date someone called Linda, who thought they might get engaged.

  • Catwoman, used to have a full face cat mask, and can work as a beautician.

  • War bonds were very important to the US