X-Factor #41 (1989)

X-Factor #41 (June, 1989)
"Golden Boy!"
Writer - Louise Simonson
Pencils - Arthur Adams
Inks - Allen Milgrom
Letters - Joe Rosen
Colors - Tom Vincent
Edits - Bob Harras
Chief - Tom DeFalco
Cover Price: $1.00

Here's a book that holds a very special place in my heart.  It is... my first-ever X-Men back-issue.  The first one I ever plucked out of the back-issue bins... and, boy howdy... did I feel like I was hot-stuff after finding it!

Ya see, not only was this an X-Book back-issue... it also featured, gasp, a first appearance!  This was like 1992, so that sort of thing informed many of our buying habits.  Our good friends at Wizard Magazine really had a hand in this... ya see, if ya flip over to the X's, to check out this issue... you'd see the magical and coveted "one-colon".

Not proud of it... but, also... not ashamed of it.  It's one of those things where you really had to be there to understand.

Anyhoo, X-Factor was kind of the unsung X-Book back then... especially in light of the bombastic launches of X-Force and X-Men (vol.2).  X-Factor kind of flew under the radar in the back-issue market.  Whereas the new "hot" books were climbing in value on an almost daily basis... these mid-run X-Factors sort of stagnated.  Nobody wanted 'em... and so, once I realized that a) X-Factor wasn't a brand new book when I started collecting*, and b) X-Factor wasn't going up in value... I decided this would be the X-Book I collected!

*If you've listened to the first episode of From Claremont to Claremont (which I don't assume most have), I told my "X-Factor Origin Story", which included my revelation that circa X-Cutioner's Song, I noticed that the book was rapidly approaching its 100th issue!  I was shocked... and stunned, when I realized the book had launched with the "original five"!

So... what else makes this issue so special?  Well, it's the first-appearance of bah-gawd Alchemy!  Who the hell is Alchemy?  I'm so glad you asked!  Let's jump back to the X-Books, cover-dated December, 1987.  Marvel was running a contest... a "Mutant Registration" Contest.  Here, take a look (pics from my copy of X-Factor #23):

In addition to promoting the upcoming Fall of the Mutants, we've got us a contest.  A contest that would ultimately be won by a fella named Paul Bestow... the creator of the kid we'll soon know as Alchemy.

Now, you might've noticed that the contest states that your "new mutant" would appear in the pages of... well, New Mutants, but some scheduling conflicts (possibly due to the number of crossovers and events that were brewing among the X-Books) pushed it back to this here issue of X-Factor.  I do believe that both New Mutants and X-Factor were being written by Louise Simonson at this point... so, it's not like this was a "pawned off" story or anything.

Having this as my first X-Back-Issue really inflated the importance of young Alchemy among Marvel Comics lore (it probably helped that he looked a heckuva lot like your humble host back in the long ago)... but, it just wasn't to be.  Oddly, even though he'd only appear a handful of times from then til now, Alchemy proved... uh, important (?) enough to be one of the 198 mutants to retain their powers after the Bendis "No More Mutants" boner!

I'm going to guess they just kept him powered for "cred" and to show the fans that "hey, we know our obscure muties!".  There were a handful of odd "gimmes" in that 198 list.

Anyhoo... with all that pre-ramble out of the way... let's get into it!

--

We open with a Troll emerging from an opening... under a bridge.  I wonder if this fella realizing what a cliche he's being... and how he's setting Trolls back decades in as far as stereotyping goes?  Tsk, tsk.  Whatever the case, we're in London and this bugger smells gold... and, so... he follows his nose to the loot.  What he finds is a young teen named Thomas, who is dutifully working on his Chemistry homework.  As the boy taps his pen, it transmutes into different elements... lead, platinum, and finally... gold!  Tom's mom calls him down to dinner, and it looks like the lad doesn't even realize what he'd just done.

The Troll enters Thomas' bedroom to go check out the pen.  Sinking his teeth into it, he knows this is real-deal.  The Troll decides to hide out in the kid's room... and plans to kidnap him upon his return from dinner.  Ya see, the Troll Associates could really use an influx of gold.

We shift scenes to X-Factor's Ship, and it's a packed house!  We've got X-Factor, we've got the New Mutants, we got the X-Terminators... and, of course we've got li'l baby Cable.  We enter the scene as Cannonball is being put through a techno-organic obstacle course, courtesy of Warlock.

The rest of the kids are looking on... with Boom Boom looking quite dejected.  Ya see, she's got the hot-pants for Sam... but, he's not paying her much mind.  Also, Dani's got some residual flu-like symptoms from a previous adventure.  Tabitha decides to spice-up Sam's training session by... well, tossing a time bomb into the mix.  She's a little idiot... and thankfully, X-Factor is able to (literally) diffuse the situation before it explodes.

Iceman, of all people, heads over to Boom Boom in full-on lecture mode.  Worth noting, this was back when Bobby had to wear that inhibitor belt in order to control his powers.  Sam flies into the scene to kind of stick up for Tabitha... which totally melts her ice cream, if ya know what I'm sayin'.

Warren and Jean are watching all of this go down... and are in the middle of a rather heavy discussion about all the changes they'd all undergone of late.  This is a really good way to drop a bit of exposition... it's done so naturally, you almost don't even notice that we're being "caught up".

Back in London, Thomas returns to his studies... only to be nabbed by, well... the big Troll.  Being the polite beast that he is, our Troll informs Thomas that he's being taken for his alchemical powers.  Our boy, however, doesn't have the faintest idea what he's getting on about.  A struggle ensues, with the Troll eventually overcoming this gangly teen-ager.  Not this Troll's best showing, izzit?  Thomas calls out, and his mother arrives... and proceeds to beat the Troll about the head 'n shoulders with a broom!  Really, dude... is this your first time trolling?  Anyhoo... the Troll eventually gets away... and we can see that the bricks that Thomas was holding onto for dear life are now... solid gold.

Back to Ship.  The Muties are having a barbecue... roasting weenies on... er, Warlock's Phalanxian phalanges?  That's... kinda gross, right?  What's more, ol' Rusty is making the fire to cook 'em with... so, uh... that's a bit nasty too, innit?  Note to self, don't ever attend a mutant bbq.  Rictor gives Boom Boom a soda, which naturally explodes in her face.  I mean, would you ever accept something carbonated and combustible from a dude who's power is shaking things?  Dani's symptoms are getting worse.  Jean tells her they'll get her to a doctor the following day.

Suddenly... Ship has a message!  Young (and totally not unusual) Thomas Jones has been kidnapped by a "giant mutant" in London.  Are X-Factor bad enough dudes to save him?  Do they even want to in the first place?  Well... Cyclops isn't too sure at first.  Ya see, they've got their hands full with the New Mutants and Baby Cable.  The kids interject, and assure Slim that they're more than capable of holding down the fort while the elders are away on mission.  Jean co-signs with the kids, and Scott decides they're London-bound.

Before we know it, X-Factor are at Tom Jones' house... where his mother fills them in on the 'napping.  Oh!  Also worth noting... for whatever reason, Scott decided to bring baby Cable with them!  Well, I guess fighting Trolls might be a little bit safer than leaving the tot with a girl who makes time bombs...

After getting the low-down, and learning that Mama Jones' windowsill had turned to gold... X-Factor heads out on the town to track down the teen.  What they find is... almost a path of golden breadcrumbs left by Thomas.  He alchemitized a whole bunch of stuff during his struggle... finally leading the team into a Red Hot Chili Peppers song.  Under the bridge, X-Factor find a door of... you guessed it, solid gold.  They know they're getting close.

Cyclops pulverizes the wall with an optic blast... and inside, well... there be gold in them thar tunnels.

Also... Trolls.

The next several pages see our heroes battling the trolls... and coming out of it much worse for wear.  They're ultimately beaten, and bound... in golden chains.  You'd figure those would be some easy chains to break free from, right?  Especially if you're the Beast, no?  Anyhoo, it's here that the Trolls introduce X-Factor to Thomas Jones.

Oh... and yeah, it's also here where the team realizes that Baby Cable's gone missing!  Whoops...

--

It's hard for me to be subjective about this issue.  I swear, it being my first X-Back Issue, I've read it cover-to-cover dozens... if not hundreds of times.  I just love it.  Even reading it back today... it was like I was 12 years old again.  It's almost enough to kick off some waterworks, and I'm not joking.  These are characters I've missed... so, so much.

Is it perfect?  Of course not.  But, it's "perfect X-Men" to me.  These are the characters I fell in love with back in the long ago.  I've typed and deleted the next several sentences... like a half-dozen times.  I'm just not sure how to put into words how important this silly, throwaway, side-issue of an X-Men side-series is to me.  I suppose it really speaks to the talents of Louise Simonson... she manages to craft a story with action, strong characterization, while dedicating half the book to a Troll kidnapping a kid in London!

I, in no way, feel like we were deprived of X-Factor/New Mutant "maturation" here.  It feels as though (nearly) every character involved gets a little bit of "shine"... and progression in their own specific stories.  This is the "bubbling subplot" approach that absolutely drew me into the X-Books.  What's wrong with Dani?  What's going to happen with Sam and Tabitha?  These are just little bits, added to the greater "whole"... that don't get much panel-time, and yet... you want to follow where they're headed.  Just wonderful stuff.

As for Alchemy?  I like him!  Granted, I'm not being totally subjective... this is an important introduction for me... and also, as mentioned above... this fella looks a lot like I did when I was reading this for the first (hundred) times!  I wanted to see more of this character during the 90's... but, (outside a two-parter in Excalibur which was too expensive for my blood at $1.75 an issue!) it just wasn't to be.  Would've been neat to see him pop up in some more random issues of whatever, to help out.  Would've popped me, anyway!  Oh well.

Anything else?  Ohhhhhh... yeah, this issue features interiors Art friggin' Adams!  What an absolute treat this was.  Could you imagine... like even for a half-second... creating a character for Marvel via a contest... and having Art friggin' Adams draw its first appearance?  I mean, just try and process that!  Goes without saying, this is a very pretty book... and only makes me wish we had more Adams interiors.

Overall... what can I say?  I've gushed a bit about this very special issue... so, I mean, yeah... I recommend it, with the caveat that... without my odd context, you might find this to be a very middling issue... with very pretty art.

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Letters Page:

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Sensational She-Hulk #1 (1989)

Sensational She-Hulk #1 (May, 1989)
"Second Chance"
Writer/Pencils - John Byrne
Inks - Bob Wiacek
Colors - Glynis Oliver
Letters - John Workman
Edits - Bobbie Chase
Chief - Tom DeFalco
Cover Price: $1.50

I'm not a dude who's good with change.  At some point yesterday, the good folks at Blogger/Blogspot... whatever we're calling the place that facilitates my writing stupid stuff each and every day... changed up the creator dashboard!  I just sat here, like a doofus, for the past twenty-minutes trying to figure out how to add a "new post".

Used to be, that it was a very clear... very obvious "New Post" button... right toward the top-left of the page.  That isn't the case anymore.  Instead, we have a little circular button with a "+" sign in the bottom right corner!  Man, I felt like a boob sitting here staring at that screen for as long as I did... I even thought, for a split-second, that the blog was "full"... ya know, like... I used up all my pages... and if I wanted to continue, I'd have to delete (or compile) my older stuff.  Yeesh... I'm an idiot.

Anyhoo, just a peek behind the curtain... now, we're going to watch She-Hulk bust through every wall there is... including the fourth!

--

We open with She-Hulk getting her workout in... under the circus big-top!  Shulkie is benchin' elephants!  This is a very cool visual, which lends to a flashback to her cousin Bruce's time in the circus, all the way back during the opening pages of Avengers #1!  Bruto, her "spotter" tells her he doesn't keep up with the super-hero mags... but he thought he'd heard rumors that the Hulks were somehow related.

Jen sets the pachyderms down, and goes to exit the tent... only to find herself mind-zapped by... uh, well, this is a circus, so it probably doesn't take a Masters Degree in Marvel History to guess where this is headed.  It's the Ringmaster, duh.  She-Hulk is shocked stiff by the Hypnotic Hat.

We learn here that this is a "pay gig" for the Circus of Crime... as in, they've been contracted to get She-Hulk for the lofty sum of three million smackers.  But... by who?  Well, it's here that we shift scenes to the always nebulous "elsewhere"... where a shadowy man is watching this scene play out via his bank of monitors.  A Doctor inquires as to what's going on... ya see, he's not happy about employing felons to facilitate whatever it is they're trying to accomplish.

Back at the Circus, the Ringmaster has She-Hulk sat in a chair... and he begins to interrogate her.  Ya see, this is where we're going to get the quick and dirty on how She-Hulk became... She-Hulk, dig?  She begins her story with how her cousin Bruce Banner did that li'l ol' thing during the gamma testing and became the Hulk.  Ringmaster cuts her off, claiming that everybody already knows that story.  Finally, we get to the meat and potatoes, where Jen had that run-in with the mobster who nearly killed her... and how she was only saved via an emergency blood transfusion from... her gamma-irradiated cousin!

Once Jen gets into how she'd gone on to join the Avengers and Fantastic Four, the Ringmaster has clearly grown rather bored of the story.  He stops her, and we move into the next phase.  She-Hulk will have to be tested... physically.  And so, the big-bad calls for his "makeup wizard" to transform the instantly recognizable green gal into... Glamazonia!

Once transformed, the carnies can't help but to fawn over their newest member... which prompts Zelda, the Python Princess of the Circus to storm in in a jealous rage.  The Ringmaster assures her that Glamazonia is only there temporarily... and that Zelda's spot is safe.

Later that day, the "greatest show" begins.  Glamazonia is able to show off her ridiculous strength by... lifting up an entire section of the audience!

From here, the Ringmaster employs his "Hypnotic Whammy" to turn the crowd into "zombies"...

... after which, Glamazonia tilts the bleachers to the side, which causes all of the audiences' valuables to start raining down to the floor below.  Um... ya know... as fun a visual as this is... I gotta wonder.  If the Ringmaster has this ability... why did they need She-Hulk for this... or anything?  Oh well, I suppose we wouldn't have a story otherwise.

The Ringmaster places a suggestion in the minds of the audience, which tells them that they saw... and enjoyed the show.  Once they're gone, and we're left with the carnies... a wagon comes barreling down the way straight for Glamazonia!  She makes very short work of it.

Back in the "elsewhere", our shadowy friend isn't happy to see this.  In order to look a bit deeper into the situation, he asks the Doctor to fetch his disguise.  Bingo-bango, our shadowy benefactor changes into a gorilla costume!

Inside one of the circus trailers, allegations are being tossed like crazy... mostly at the very jealous Princess Python.  She swears she had nothing to do with the errant wagon.  At this point, Bruto peers out the window and realizes one of the gorillas has escaped.... before realizing that, uhhh... this circus doesn't have any gorillas!  Glamazonia busts through the trailer wall and engages in a bit of Donkey Kongin' with the presumed primate.

After some back 'n forth, the gorilla leaps over to the Ringmaster and nyoinks the hypno-hat from his head.  He points it at Glamazonia, and reverse the dial... breaking her free of her hypnotic state!

From here, it's elementary... Glamazonia starts wreckin' house... and winds up trapping the entire Circus of Crime in the debris.  The Police arrive, and the baddies are taken into custody.

At the station, She-Hulk has washed off all her Glamazonia makeup, and has been given some loaner-clothing.  We learn that it was the Makeup Wizard who was behind the sad li'l wagon attack.  Ya see, he's in love with Zelda... and tried to "off" the big G on her behalf.

Jen tries on the ill-fitting loaner duds... and comments that, with one deep inhale, her book might have to be rebranded under the EPIC line... which, is pretty funny.

She heads down to the cells to chat up the Ringmaster... and is informed that he's just a spoke in the wheel, and was working on someone else's behalf.  She-Hulk wonders who this might be... then turns to us... yes, us... to assure the readers that we'll probably all find out who the big-bad is on the very next page.

And, whattaya know... she's absolutely correct!  We learn on the next (and final) page that the people pullin' the strings here are... the Headmen!

--

This was a really fun issue!

I think the first thing people usually think of when reflecting on this series is the fact that Jen is able to "break the fourth wall"... which, believe it or not, used to be something quite novel (and clever).  These days (as in "current year"), maybe not so much.  This is pre-the Deadpoolization of the comics industry... so, this sort of thing wasn't quite the (relatively) prolific gimmick as it would eventually become.  I wanna say that it was because of this series that I'd first ever heard that the "fourth wall" was even a "thing".

As a gimmick... it was done pretty sparingly here.  I only noticed the two times.  First where Jen referred to the EPIC line, and then again when she addressed the readers directly.  I thought both instances were pretty cute... and well done.  It tells us that this series is willing to be silly... but, not at the expense of the actual story, ya know?  Because, we do get an actual story here.  Sure, Jen knows she's in a comic book... but, that doesn't stop her from actually playing her role in it.  I guess what I'm trying to say, but taking the extremely scenic route to do so is, Byrne use of the gimmick straddles the line of "overt" and "subtle"... and does so quite well.

Speaking of Byrne and quite well... the art here is pretty great!  I've always loved the way he draws She-Hulk... he's probably one of the better artists to have worked on her.  I feel like artists have a tendency to go too far to one extreme when it comes to Shulkie... either they greatly underplay her physique... or, wildly overplay it.  Byrne's looks excellent.  Zero complaints.

For the story... I really appreciated the mind-control gimmick as a way to facilitate She-Hulk sharing her origin.  This is a #1 issue... and, as such... it really ought to be as inviting to a "new reader" as possible.  Byrne, as usual, knocks that out of the park.  We get exposition... but, not in a way where it feels unnaturally forced, or like a lecture.  There are plenty of "current year" creators that should take note!  Going all the way back to the Hulk's time hiding out in the circus (nearly 30 years prior, real-time) was a great way to not only give a nod to Marvel lore... but, to sorta-kinda draw parallels between the greens.

The Headmen as baddies?  Ehh.  Didn't really "pop" me, but... whattayagonnado?  I had a great time with this up to the reveal... and, sometimes that's more than what we can ask for, right?  Overall... this issue (and series) is a lot of fun... and I'd recommend checking it out, if you haven't already!

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Incredible Hulk #331 (1987)

Incredible Hulk #331 (May, 1987)
"Inconstant Moon"
Writer - Peter David
Pencils - Todd McFarlane
Inks - Kim DeMulder
Letters - Rick Parker
Colors - Petra Scotese
Edits - Bob Harras
Chief - Jim Shooter
Cover Price: $0.75

In the face of nearly universal indifference... #MarvelMay rolls on!

A month or so back, I posted something about "comic book comfort foods" when I discussed an issue of Grant Morrison-era Doom Patrol.  Unfortunately, next to nobody actually read the thing.  I guess a lot of the folks high-fivin' over the Doom Patrol live-action thing didn't get the memo that it was based on a comic book.  Anyhoo... in that piece, I mentioned a few of my go-to "comfort foods"... and among them was the Peter David run on Incredible Hulk.

I never imagined I'd get the opportunity to discuss that run here, considering "rules" I'd self-enforced on this site... but, here we are nonetheless!  I guess all it took was DC Comics devolving into whatever it is at the moment for me to actually start looking in those long-ignored "other" longboxes in my library!

Now, this is the "official" start to the Peter David run... he would occupy the writer's chair a few issues prior for a fill-in... but, this is where his (mostly) uninterrupted run kicks off.  Gotta be careful how I present this one on social media... if I say it's the "start" of his run, I'm sure someone (who won't bother to visit the site) will *correct me* that he accccccctually wrote an issue before this.

Anyhoo...

The other day, we talked about another launch of an epic run in the John Byrne Fantastic Four... and, we might do some comparing and contrasting before we're done.

Let's do it!

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We open with Rick Jones... as the Hulk... on the loose!  Meanwhile, at Gamma Base, the Hulkbusters are trying to figure out their best course of action moving forward.  Ya can't have a Hulk runnin' about, right?  Anyhoo, Bruce Banner... who has been freed of the Hulk persona for a little while, offers himself up to be exposed to Gamma Radiation once again in hopes of tracking down his pal.  Betty, who is Bruce's relatively newly-minted wife at this point is most certainly not cool with that idea.

Bruce, understanding that ol' "happy life... happy wife" axiom comes around quick to the fact that this is a pretty bad idea.  Worth noting that this issue comes on the heels of the death of Betty's father, General Thunderbolt Ross... in fact, they still haven't wheeled his body out at this point!  He had just sacrificed himself to halt the Nevermind.

The Hulkbusters continue to brainstorm, and decide it best to, ya know... bust that Hulk.  Clay Quartermain appears to be especially "randy" about this... he's really down with the idea of, not only catching this new Hulk... but destroying it!

We shift scenes over to the nearest morgue, where a call is coming in to pick up Ross's corpse.  Upon learning that this pick-up is at Gamma Base, the Morgueman ain't too keen on heading out.  The fella running the place says to bring their newest employee to help out... a certain weirdo broom-pusher named "Sterns".  Sterns smiles...

Back to Base, where the Hulkbusters are in the air and on patrol.  Banner looks on via the monitors... despite the fact that his new wife would really prefer he step away so they can... I dunno... consummate?  He, however, still cannot let go of the idea of transforming back into the Hulk to help his pal... and refers to the times he'd done it in the past.  This really rattles Betty... who, always viewed Bruce as more a hapless victim of the Hulk-outs, and not so much a willing participant.

Before this argument can completely boil over, the Banners are interrupted by a distress all from the 'busters.  The Hulk has leapt onto Hulkbuster Hideko's ship... and it looks like our cover-image might be just about to play out!  Worth noting, this might be the first panel in this issue where Todd's art actually looks like Todd's art.

Bruce gets on mic, and starts pleading with the Hulk to let go... accidentally letting it slip that this Hulk is actually: Rick Jones!  This is apparently all-new information to the Hulkbusters...

Hideko manages to turn the craft upside-down, and with Hulk-Rick hanging from the roof of the rig... plows the green guy right into the side of a cliff!  This will buy them a few precious moments of time...

Back at Base, Sterns and Co. have arrived to haul off the body of General Ross.  Betty is still, as one might imagine, torn up over the death of her father.  Bruce tries to offer her some comfort... but, she ain't havin' it.  Bruce stomps out of the room, accidentally bumping into Sterns on his way.  Sterns, is actually quite captivated by what he's seeing play out on the monitors... a Hulk... with all the powers he'll need to... well, do something.

We follow the MorgueMen outside and into their van.  It's here that Sterns beats his partner to death with a wrench!

Elsewhere... we visit a nearby Police Station, where a man has arrived in search of a woman.  This woman is Betty Ross... who he claims is his wife.  This fella is (Rrrrrrrazor) Rrrrrrramon.  Hey yo.

Back in the battle... the Hulkbusters continue taking the fight to the beast, and ultimately snag Rick inside an electrified net... 

... or so they thought.  Rick-Hulk is able to free himself, before launching the net into the Hulkbuster craft... electrifying the whole tub... and, more or less blinding the pilot, Saunders!

The ship soars directly into a butte... Saunders only barely managing to bail out in time.  The Hulkbusters decide it might be best to call it a night... and head back to base to lick their wounds, and come up with a "Plan B".

We now head off to Bruce Banner's secret cave lab... he's come to the conclusion that he's going to have to become the Hulk again.  He does the ol' Gamma-Ray dealie once more... and becomes the Hulk.  Not just any Hulk, however... the gray one!

This Hulk, being of decent intelligence, decides it's in his best interests to destroy the Gamma Projector... this way, he can never be "sent back", ya know?  Turns out, Sterns sees this all go down, and he's rather beside himself... ya see, he needed that Gamma thingie!

We wrap up with Sterns revealing to the Hulk that he is actually... the Leader (duh), and he makes the Hulk an offer he might not be able to refuse... if the Hulk helps Sterns get his powers back, he will in turn help save Rick Jones... annnnnd, more important than that... he can help the Hulk be rid of Bruce Banner forever!

--

It's funny reading this issue so close to the first Byrne issue of Fantastic Four.  As we discussed the other day, the Byrne FF issue was a really good "jumping-on point"... I think I might've even referred to it as a "perfect" jumping-on point.  Byrne was able to introduce the team, in both personality and power-set... and, delivered one heckuva strong "chapter one" for his run.

Here... what we're getting is a bit different.  Though, in fairness... and with all due respect, I think Byrne hopping from Uncanny X-Men to Fantastic Four might've been a bigger deal than Peter David taking over a book nobody else wanted in the Incredible Hulk.  While Byrne was handed (more or less) a blank slate to do with as he wanted... David had a very weird mess on his plate, much of it, oddly enough... attributable to Byrne!

Byrne's "back to basics" approach for the Hulk had Banner... separated from the Hulk, and married off!  Yeah, "back to basics" indeed.  Peter David inherited some very weird loose ends that needed to be tied off... and, being the super-talent (and team-player) that he is... pulled it off, and then took this title to creative heights, the likes of which it'd rarely ever see!

This issue, in all honesty, is a toughie if you're coming in fresh.  Again, in fairness, this was a time where, with a few exceptions, a new writer taking over a book wasn't quite as big a deal as it is today.  This didn't get a brand-new number-one, or a new adjective over the word "Hulk" in the title... it wasn't touted as a "bold new" direction for the character.  This was kind of an afterthought... that would become the success it does almost in spite of itself.

Let's talk about Todd.  His art here... while not bad, is... I dunno... "immature"?  Is that a good word for it?  I mean, we can see that it's Todd... and we see flashes of what Todd would become within the next half-decade... but, there is a looseness, and an... "immaturity" to it.  It's still nice... and definitely, in hindsight, a treat to experience... but, he's still got a little ways to go before he becomes the Todd we know today.  That's not a slam... but, an indictment on how he will hone and tighten his craft as he gets more pages under his belt.  Not every artist bothers to do that!

Overall... as stated, this one's a bit of a toughie for a new-reader.  Probably not the "jumping-on point" that FF #232 was... but, it's good!  Solid storytelling, playing the ball where it lay... and really neat early-McFarlane art.  This bugger's been collected a number of times... and, even though I don't know diddly about Marvel Unlimited... I gotta assume this one's up there, right?  I'd recommend giving it a look!

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If you're a Podcast Listener...

A new Episode of Morituri Mondays released today!



Also, the twelve-hour From Claremont to Claremont, Episode 2 dropped this past Saturday!