INCREDIBLE HULK #611

INCREDIBLE HULK #611 PREVIEW

WRITER: Greg Pak

PENCILS: Paul Pelletier

INKS: Dany Miki

COLORS: Frank D'Armata

LETTERS: Simon Bowland

COVER: Romita, Janson & White

Greg Pak and Paul Pelletier continue to give us an Incredible Hulk not seen since the Peter David and Dale Keown days. I kid you not as the legendary run from the 90s is one of my all time favorites, a series I cherish to this day.

Pak is a writer that loves the Hulk character; his passion shows forth in his writing as we get everything a Hulk fan could want, and more. There is plenty of smashing as the awesome John Romita Jr. cover depicts. There is the emotional roller coaster that is Bruce Banner, a man torn apart inside that is only unleashed by the gamma bomb energy he created; plots from past stories are woven together, only to be intertwined with more.

Then there is Paul Pelletier, an artist who needs no introduction to readers of Cosmic Book News. Fast becoming one of the best penciler’s in the business, having previously worked on the Marvel Cosmic titles Guardians of the Galaxy and War of Kings, Pelletier is an expert at drawing books with a large cast of characters, giving them each a distinct look and making it look great. Here, he does the Hulk proud. I’ve always been one to complain whenever the Hulk was used by a different “Hulk” artist or in another book. After what I saw with this issue, any other artist that draws the Hulk has a lot to live up to. I said it before and I am going to say it again - Pelletier is so good I bet he will be on an even bigger book in the near future. An Avengers book does come to mind.

With this issue we see the return of the Green Scar -- and of course he’s pissed! After the events that took place in the recent Hulk storylines, Banner has set it up so that his son, Skaar, would be able to give him the fatal blow he always sought (or has he?).  We get the most powerful Hulk vs. the Old Power, Son of Hulk. And it’s great Hulk battle! Punches into the atmosphere, battles across the continent, fighting under water -- plus a whole heck of a lot more! Just what you come to expect from the Incredible Hulk!

Pelletier does an amazing job expressing each Hulk’s emotions, not only as we have come to know through their physical prowess, but also as depicted by their facial expressions and through use of flashback scenes.  This is an epic battle told by Pak which gives us resolve and absolution leading us to the next Hulk arc, Dark Son, starring the family of Hulks. Yes, that is correct “family” as Betty Banner makes her presence felt quite literally and figuratively here in addition to the feuding father and son.  However, one more prodigal son is still out there and he is making his way home.

The ending was very touching; it was a very satisfying conclusion to the past few years' worth of Hulk’s stories.  Readers on board from the beginning will walk away pleased as events from Planet Hulk, Son of Hulk,  and World War Hulk come to a closure not only for us but also the characters we cherish.

Thanks to Greg Pak for the Incredible Hulk, looking forward to more!