Who says Hulk has to be angry all the time?
The title of this new Hulk comic tells you pretty much all you need to know about its tone and direction. If most Hulk comics are full of radioactive pathos and gamma-irradiated emotional trauma, this series is the lighthearted counterpoint. That alone is enough to distinguish Totally Awesome Hulk. But the fact that it features two seasoned Hulk veterans working with a hero near and dear to their hearts is the real selling point of this Hulk relaunch.
It can be tough to find a new and compelling take on the Hulk. Most new series in recent years have been involved writers toying with the character’s intelligence level or flip-flopping the dynamic between Hulk and Banner. Changing the protagonist from Bruce Banner to Amadeus Cho automatically makes this series feel new and fresh in a way so many of its predecessors have failed to do. This is a character who legitimately enjoys being Hulk, whether that involves punching sea monsters or hitting on bikini-clad bystanders. If anything, the tone of the book is more She-Hulk than vanilla Hulk.
That’s not to say there’s no drama to be had with the new status quo. Pak explores the downside of a teenage genius giving into his Hulk side. As Amadeus’ co-creator, Pak understands the character better than anyone, and he’s able to mine the new status quo for just the right blend of humor, action and character drama. So for all the complaints about Marvel pursuing diversity for the sake of diversity or what have you, this is a character who deserves his own comic. Nor does the series simply sweep the old Hulk under the rug. The circumstances that led to Banner disappearing and Amadeus replacing him are still a mystery, but already this issue begins filling in the blanks.
The fact that Frank Cho is illustrating the series certainly doesn’t hurt its prospects. To some extent, Pak tailors his story directly to Cho’s familiar strengths. There are plenty of beautiful, scantily clad people and giant monsters running about. There’s a very detailed and precise quality to every page. But if this issue serves as a reminder it’s that Cho can thrive during quiet character-driven scenes as well. Cho’s expressive and varied facial work is often the real star of the show. Meanwhile, Sonia Oback’s bright colors complement Cho’s art and the general tone of the series very well. The real question is whether Cho, never the speediest artist in the industry, will be able to maintain a consistent presence on this book. Here’s hoping.
Totally Awesome Hulk is every bit as great as you’d expect from a comic involving Greg Pak and Frank Cho chronicling the ongoing adventures of Amadeus Cho. It’s light and fun without ignoring the darker aspects of Amadeus’ new status quo. And it makes the most of Cho’s storytelling strengths. In short, this comic really is “totally awesome.”
