CREDIT: Marvel Comics
Rating: 3.5/5 – 1970 Hulk Returns, Compliments of Alan Davis!
by ComicSpectrum reviewer Shawn Hoklas.
Savage Hulk is a title that is driven by the creators involved rather than being current with today’s continuity (much like the Savage Wolverine title, no approaching its 20th issue). It’s a great idea as it lets creators tell the story they want to tell and allows fans to see creators flex their styles in ways they may not have seen before. Although Alan Davis has written plenty of comics before, he’s best known for his art. In this premiere issue of Savage Hulk, once again he takes on writing and drawing, telling a story that picks up from issue sixty-six of the original X-Men run.
As you turn to the first page of this issue, the cover and recap to that 1970 issue of X-Men is laid out before you giving you all you need to know to jump into this story. It’s a fantastic touch to see Davis continuing a story from forty years ago, and although this title is trying to be continuity free, Davis gives the reader everything you need to enjoy this story. How much you”ll enjoy this story though will waiver from reader to reader. The writing doesn’t have a modern feel to it, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It feels as though it could pick up right where that X-Men issue left off, but without all the exposition. Some of the dialogue feels too formal, but again it fits the tone and time of the era.
Where this book will appeal to everyone though is in the art. Alan Davis drawing the Hulk, as well as the X-Men in their 1970 costumes is a treat. Davis fans will find that this is some of his best work as of recently. Davis is allowed to put the panels and ideas he wants on the page, controlling the story from both sides. There’s a nice balance between the action and quiet moments, but it’s those action scenes where Davis shines. There’s a great scene that shows the start of Bruce’s transformation that is reminiscent of the Hulk TV show. It’s moments like this that make this issue worth it.
Current fans of the Hulk may find that this book isn’t consistent with what they know, since it is focusing on the Hulk from 1970, but that’s part of the charm of this issue. The addition of the 1970 X-Men is an added treat. Fans of classic Hulk stories, classic “original team” X-Men, as well as fans of Alan Davis’ art will not want to miss this.
Reviewed by: Shawn Hoklas
(shawn@comicspectrum.com)
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