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!
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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!
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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 (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!
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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!
Amazing Spider-Man #267 (August, 1985)
"The Commuter Cometh!"
Writer - Peter David
Art - Bob McLeod
Letters - Joe Rosen
Colors - Bob Sharen
Edits - Jim Owsley
Chief - Jim Shooter
Cover Price: $0.65
I've said it time and again... if you ever start your pitch with "Wouldn't it be funny if..." you've got a stinker on your hands. Well... maybe I'd forgotten about the little ditty we're going to discuss today. Because, we're about to learn when Peter David asks "Wouldn't it be funny if Spider-Man went to the suburbs... where there are no tall buildings to swing from?", the answer is most definitely... Yes!
But first, I wanna thank everyone for their comments... and, again apologize for my lack of interaction. Been a hectic-er than usual week with school and content-creation... I'll hopefully be more chatty very soon!
Now, let's hit da 'burbs!
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We open with Spidey bein' all sullen-like, sticking on to a building, wallowing in some recent misfortune. That's... kinda one of the things he does. His thought process is interrupted by the arrival of the Human Torch, with whom he shares a little bit of small-talk... and accidentally happens across some topless-rooftop-sunbathers. After chatting for a bit before Peter decides he's just going to call it a night. They part company, and Spidey spies a fella in a nearby boutique who looks like he's about to loot the place.
Our man swoops in to get a better look, and sure 'nuff this dude has designs on robbin' the joint. Upon seeing Spidey, the baddie grabs a nearby mannequin, and threatens to shoot it. Well, this must be one life-like dummy, because Spider-Man buys it! Not helping matters is the fact that the mannequin actually looks a bit freaked out... almost like it knows it's been taken hostage! Ehh, maybe I'm just seein' things... Whatever the case, the would-be robber gives Spidey the slip with this subterfuge, and flees down into the subway.
Our thief hops the turn-styles and quickly goes to hop on board a train. Spidey follows, but is stopped by the police. Ya see, this is still early yet in the Black Costume Saga, and New York's Finest aren't quite sure what to make of this "new" vigilante. Before he's able to get on the Grand Central-bound train, Spider-Man does manage to toss a Spider-Tracer onto the bad-guy's back.
We jump ahead to later that night. Both Spider-Man and Ron (the bad guy) arrive at their respective homes. Peter, naturally is at his New York City apartment, while Ron lives wayyy out in da burbs. Pete watches (I'm assuming) Dallas all by his lonesome, while Ron dines and sleeps with his wife.
The following morning, Peter gets up, has breakfast, and heads out on the town in hopes of tracking down his Spider-Tracer... and, also... the bad guy. Ron sleeps in. Looks like he's not going to work in the City today. Worth noting, Peter has cereal with milk. Nothing weird about that, right? Only thing is, the quickest way to make me sick... to make me gag... is to see someone eating cereal and milk. There is really nothing more disgusting to me. Just the thought of soggy cereal, and discolored milk... and, and... and... when the cereal's gone, and whoever's eating it kinda tips the bowl into their mouth to finish the rest of the milk? Ugh... you can't see it, but I'm fighting off the urge to gag as I type this!
Anyhoo, Spidey (in his red-and-blues) spends the better part of the day trying to trace the tracer... but, is coming up short. He eventually deduces that this feller probably ain't in the City... and so, he heads back to his pad to pick up his Tracer-Tracer Gimmick, to amplify the signal... which places him atop a train bound for... suburbia!
Our hero gets a pretty lousy welcome to the 'burbs by... a Doberman! Spidey shuts the pup up quick.
On the sidewalk, he runs into a tot on a bigwheel named Shana. She asks if he's a stranger... and, uh... kid, if you have to ask... Anyhoo, she offers up her trike for Spidey to get around the neighborhood... but, he turns her down... claiming, if she's Shana... he's going to make like Ka-Zar. Let's not think too deeply about that one, okay? In a funny bit, he shoots his web at... nothing! Ya see, there are no skyscrapers to swing from out here! Spidey winds up in a tree... which breaks... nearly crushing poor Shana!
At this point, our man is confronted by a pair of nudnick suburbanites (hey, I can say that... I am a suburban nudnick). The fella is ticked that Spidey broke his tree... the fella's wife seems to just wanna feel up our hero's butt!
After getting hassled (and felt up?) for a bit, Spidey webs them to the roof of their car. He hops a lift on a passing bus to continue tracing-the-tracer. The driver, upon realizing he's got a rooftop stowaway, pulls over and demands Spider-Man pay his fare! Welp, no pockets... no money, so Spidey's outta luck!
In a pretty funny scene, we watch as Spider-Man just... walks... though a suburban neighborhood. Love it!
He finally comes across a pair of Spider-Fans, in the form of garbage men! They offer Spidey a lift on their truck... and, ya know what they say about beggars and choosers, right?
We jump back to Ron's house, where he's spending his day off doing a bit of laundry. All the while, Spider-Man draws ever nearer to finding his tracer. Ronnie discovers the tracer while tossing a load into the wash... and, upon realizing just what it is... stomps it to pieces!
Spidey was so close... yet so far. Thankfully, ol' Ron figures the jig is up... and so, he grabs a bunch of dirty dough, and decides to make a break for it... nearly running over our hero in the process!
Spider-Man fires a web at the back of Ron's Volvo... but, unfortunately only manages to yank its rear bumper off!
As luck would have it, a taxicab happens to drive by. In the suburbs? Before Uber? C'maaaaahn. This driver doesn't speak any English either... which, I guess we'll allow. Doesn't seem like he'd do great business in this lilly-white neighborhood though. Anyhoo, Spidey's all "follow that car!" (which he thankfully doesn't follow up with "I always wanted to say that") and a chase... is on!
As the chase makes its way through the neighborhood, we catch glimpses of all our new friends... Shana, the creepy-couple, the garbage men, the bus... it's like old home week! Everything goes to pot pretty quick, we've got some fender-bending... and Spider-Man bounds over the trash truck and lands right on Ronnie's ride!
We wrap up with Spider-Man saving the day... or, at least catching the crook... as all the wacky suburbanites act... well, wacky... and suburban. Spidey laments just how crazy it is... out in the 'burbs!
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Man... I love this issue. Makes me really miss reading Spider-Man... it's just too bad they stopped making Spidey comics all them years ago! Err... a-hem.
This was just an absolute blast. So much silly fun, making Spider-Man a bit of a fish out of water. The gags, under a less skilled writer would have likely fallen a bit flat... but David manages to pull it off. It doesn't overstay its welcome... it doesn't insist upon itself... it also doesn't pat itself on the back for being clever, which I very much appreciate.
I really enjoyed that, upon arrival in Scarsdale, or wherever... Spidey just instinctively shot a web... expecting it to connect to a tall building. That panel alone... is just a riot! It's like you can feel the realization hitting him as the sad little web-line unceremoniously plops down on the street. So much fun. Also, running into some weirdos... that's always a good time! What do suburbanites know from heroes in the city, right? Bringing everything together at the end, as if it were an episode of Seinfeld was a lot of fun too! Obviously worth mentioning, the art was pretty fantastic throughout!
If you haven't read this one... and, I wager many of you have... I'd recommend doing so just as quick as you can! If it's been awhile since you've read it (like it had been for me), I'd say it's definitely worth a revisit. Peter David's written plenty of Spider-Man (plenty of great Spider-Man, including my favorite Spider-Man story: The Death of Jean DeWolff!)... but it's definitely a shame he didn't get an sustained run on the flagship Amazing Spider-Man.
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