I would like to preface this review by stating that I personally own this entire series and almost 3/4 of the variant covers, so I have a personal and financial investment in this series as both reader and collector.
That being said. In my opinion,
3 incredible tragic things have happened in the world in the last week:
1)Some of Japan's food supply is radioactive.
2)Notre Dame is out of the NCAA tournament.
3)Hulk #30.1.Plagued by an initial storyline that many fans feel stretched on WAAAAAAAY too long, HULK has officially worn out it's welcome in my collection and #30.1 will not be a jumping-on issue, but rather a jumping-
off issue for me. To me, this series represents EVERYTHING that is evil about the comic industry.
Here are some quotes I've given in the past several months on CCL reviews concerning this title.
On May 18th, 2010 in a CCL review of
HULK #22, I said:
"HULK #22...ranks near the bottom for me....like one RULKING letdown after letdown that reminds me of having a close family member in constant rehab. You hope for the best, prepare for the worst then kick yourself for being an enabler." On February 17th, 2011, I called
HULK #30 a "
root canal " and "
everything a publisher should avoid ."
What once would be a review about what I would suggest you pick up, this review is for YOU, the reader, in the attempt to
save you money. Did you know that if Marvel continues to publish this title for the next 12-months at a $3.99 cover price, you would save yourself $47.88, not including any state or local taxes your LCS will be required to charge you? Sadly, if you bought this book, you are out $2.99. Call it
"stupid tax" and move on.
It's a $3.99 monthly junior prom. It's watching a "Gigli" marathon. It's reliving the funeral of your first goldfish. To paraphrase the TV show
"BEYOND SCARED STRAIGHT" , if I can save ONE reader...ONE READER...from buying this title, then my review is a success.
This series is called Hulk and it's NOT Hulk. If you're buying this book to see HULK, you'll be disappointed. It's like going to a Metallica concert and Van Halen shows up. It's ok, if you happen to like any incarnation of Van Halen, but you still feel cheated after you buy the ticket.
Jeph Loeb couldn't save this title.
Jeff Parker can't save this title. I would wager
Geoff Johns couldn't even make this title or character remotely interesting at this point.
In this issue, General Thunderbolt Ross (AKA RED HULK) is attacked by a former protege of Ross' who apparantly believes Hulk is responsbile for the Ross' own death.
Jeff Parker, who can be a very talented writer, gives us a story that could have been written by a 10-year old trying out for the latest
MARVEL TRY-OUT BOOK. At one point, the antagonist beats the living crap out of RED HULK and has him dead to rights...then pretty much challenges him to a final showdown
TOMORROW and lets him go! By the end of the issue, it is revealed Ross can no longer return to human form, lest he die...finally putting the nail in the proverbial coffin to the last shred of original character development this series originally had at inception.
HULK, a series once at least dabbling with potential, has officially reached the end, at least for this reader and collector. Don't buy the trades. Don't buy the hardcover. Don't even buy the
RED HULK ACTION FIGURE.
Not unlike your credit provider, your cable bill or the first girl you ever slept with, it will eventually let you down.
Now go spend that $3.99 on
ANY OTHER BOOK ON COMIC COLLECTOR LIVE EXCEPT THIS ONE. You can find biographical information for this series and every other comic in existance on CCL. Use the library search, type the title and you're off and running.