HULK SMASH

No. 1 & 2 (Complete mini-series)

Writer: Garth Ennis

Penciler: Joel McCrea

Inker: Klaus Janson

� � � � If there's one thing Garth Ennis does well, it's characters who are street-real. That's what he's comfortable with, and it shows. As with The Punisher, this was a shrewd pick for Ennis as it avoids the superhero track he's... less than enamored of. You might wonder what he's doing writing a Hulk miniseries. I did for a second, but then I figured out what he'd do... and as it turns out that's what he did.

� � � � In this story the Hulk is treated largely as a force of nature. Something so terribly, awesomely �powerful and intimidating, that being scared witless in the face of it is the only rational response. That works perfectly well for Ennis, as he's much less concerned with intellectual processes than he is with matters of the human spirit. Fear, courage, cowardice, bravery, dishonor and redemption... these are the things Ennis is most interested in. What better place to explore them than in the face of the embodiment of boundless rage and force? Consequently, the Hulk is only the central element rather than central character. He's the storm in The Perfect Storm, to put it in a recent idiom. The real characters in the story are some soldiers unlucky enough to be sent up against him.

� � � �As with most things Ennis is likely to do for Marvel, it's not likely to be very significant in terms of continuity and the history of the title character. Is it a valid perspective on the character? Certainly. What's more, the title sums it up wonderfully. I may have some recurring points of disagreement with Ennis' storytelling, and may find that his own limitations come through in his characters - which is okay, since he has the sense to avoid writing true masterminds of any stripe - but I don't fault him on his directness and honesty.

� � � � The course of the story's fairly telegraphed, but I won't spoil it here in case you're interested in reading it. As with any of the other review items, I'll be happy to discuss particulars with anyone interested - either in email or on the messageboard - but I'm trying to keep these reviews safe for potential readers of the stories.

� �� � �The McCrea/Janson artwork is effective. The faces are all expressive, and I give points to McCrea for not going the route so many other artists have done in the past decade by distorting the Hulk into almost amorphous hugeness.

� � � � So, do I recommend this one? I... don't think so. Yeah, I'm frequently on the fence when it comes to Ennis stories. This one's telegraphed, as I said above, and while it has some passing humor late in it, it's rather simple and borderline preachy. At 44 pages it's a hair longer than was probably necessary. �I don't enjoy grousing about it any more than you probably like reading it, but I'm saying all this as someone who bought the issues. If you're an Ennis completist, go for it. If your primary interest is the Hulk... skip it and you won't feel the loss. �Ultimately it's an upbeat tale, and maybe that's enough for you.

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � MJN

�� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Agree? Disagree? Comments? Let me know on the Embassy Messageboard