Incredible Hulk #108

Written by Greg Pak

Art by Leonard Kirk, Scott Hanna and Chris Sotomayor

Marvel Comics $2.99

Rick Jones, the Hulk’s first friend from Earth, and Miek, Hulk’s first friend from Sakaar, square off in a fight that doesn’t really seem to serve any real function other than show that Rick and Miek like the Hulk.  In the end, they both decide that they can help their mutual friend in their own ways, and stop fighting and go on their own ways, respectively.

The issue is mostly comprised of flashbacks featuring two of the three of them, usually showing how  one or the other was a good friend to the Hulk and vice versa.  Overall, this is probably the least interesting issues Greg Pak has put out on his entire Hulk run.  In the first panel, the series of allies that Amadeus Cho has assembled bows down to the Hulk, offering their allegiance, but the issue isn’t clear if they are accepted or rejected by the time the issue ends.

Deathblow #6

Written by Brian Azzarello

Art by Carlos D’Anda and Andy Flint

Wildstorm $2.99

The situation gets more hectic and the intensity grows as Michael Cray, ex-Navy Seal and recently reintroduced to society, goes further underground as the government hunts him down like the half dozen talking dogs he hangs out with.  To be honest, I really like this series, but it can be hard to follow at times.  While reading this issue I kept thinking that I need to re-read the entire series to get a grip on the complicated story.  Cray is rescued from Afghanistan, where he was a prisoner of war, but the government seems to have been trying to kill him ever since he got back, but the reason hasn’t been clear at all.  It now seems that Cray is being set up to take the fall for the murder of an important scientist.

I liked the story, which Azzarello is great at advancing at a moderate pace, and the art is really well-suited for the gritty, sewer dwelling kind of person Mike has becoming since going underground, but my favorite part of this issue was the “terror spreaders” terrorism hotline, which epitomized everything that is retarded and hilariously stupid about America for me.  1-800-fite-4-us  God, that’s great.

Batman #666

Written by Grant Morrison

Andy Kubert and Jesse Delperdang

DC Comics $2.99 

You have to give credit to Grant Morrison for doing what he thinks is good for the story, despite how out there it seems.  I can’t imagine trying to pitch this idea to DC.  15 years from now Bruce Wayne has been murdered, Barbra Gordon is the commissioner of police and wheelchair bound, Damien Wayne has taken up the mask of Batman to avenge his father and rebel against his plotting mother and there are a series of other Batman, one of who is likely to be Dick Grayson, who MAY have killed Bruce Wayne, and the clock is ticking down to armageddon.  And they bought it.

I really liked this, it was a blast to read, it looked great and it has the set up to be an epic story in a not too distant future.  But there’s no clear idea where the story will pick back up.  Next issue starts the Batman of all nations three part story, so I hope this wasn’t a well-thought one shot about the end of days to coincide with the adorable issue number.  It was really good, but I hope Morrison actually does something with this, or else it would be a serious waste of effort and a good idea.  I had hoped that the entire Batman and son storyline was a lot bigger than those four issues.

World War Hulk: Front Line #2 of 6

Written by Paul Jenkins

Art by Ramon Bachs, Matt Milla and John Watson

Marvel Comics $2.99

As Ben and Sally continue to cover the escalating war from the mostly evacuated Manhattan, things seem to keep getting worse for the heroes.  I liked the dialog between Ben and Sally, heated as it was, at the beginning of the issue when Sally suggests this all might be a government conspiracy to leave the poor behind.  Because only the people with money can afford to relocate outside of the city during the first day of the warbound’s invasion, she relates the situation to Katrina, adding that things are still shit in New Orleans.  That’s the first time I’ve even seen the hurricane brought up in a comic book, so I appreciated that.  The interactions between the police and the journalists is much more entertaining than that of the superheroes.  A comic book essentially devoted to showing the human aspect in a superhuman war is incredibly interesting and, I should say, rather important as well.  This is all starting to remind me of the miniseries Marvels.

In the meantime some ungrateful kids who distruste superheroes get rescued by Daredevil, which was interesting to see, and some more super-powered people get their asses handed to them.  This includes Luke Cage, who after being thrown by the Hulk across town, sails into a gas main where Sally is.  Then something suddenly happens and the entire city blacks out.  At that point, the story ends, but the issue is divided into two separate stories.

The second one is of Korg’s dealings with Detective Danny Granville, trying to figure out who killed off one of the warbound’s robots.  Demanding justice or retaliation, Granville offers to help and is pretty friendly to the giant warrior made of rocks.  An informative flashback shows a massive magnetic disturbance right before the robot was knocked out of service.  I’ll be really excited if that turns out to be Magneto.

Star Trek: Klingons Blood Will Tell #4

Written by Scott Tipton & David Tipton

Art by David Messina and Elena Casagrande

IDW $3.99

The miniseries winds down with the apparent conflict or resolution between the Klingons and the Federation quickly approaching. Morglar, an old comrade of Kahnrah’s recounts a tale, for no apparent reason, about his interaction and experience actually murdering human beings, which impresses K’ahlynn to no end. His story is about an encounter with the Enterprise, Kirk and company and a brutal sword fight among dozens of members of both the Federation and the Klingon soldiers who are trying to take it over in retaliation for being attacked by the Enterprise. Of course, the Klingon’s see this as Kirk’s fault and he utterly refuses to back down until a truce is called by both sides.

Again, in the end everyone ends up having drinks and telling jokes. This issue is a retelling of the Original Series episode, day of the dove, but it tries to be more multifaceted in it’s portrayal of the Klingons, showing them as a race trying to secure a military advantage instead of the fascist way that they have often been portrayed in the television series. In the end, Morglar tells them to take up arms with the humans, that they should work together, because his battle on that day showed him that the humans can be trusted, but they are also incredibly strong and deserve the right to be respected.

Without a doubt, this series has been 200% better than the TNG series. I hope Tiptons get another Trek series, because they definitely know what they’re doing.