(w) Mark Waid
(a) Andre Araujo
Age of Ultron #10AI is less about being an epilogue to Age of Ultron as it is about being a requiem of Hank Pym's life. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it just feels out of place as a bookend of a series about time travel, warlord robots, and the breaking of the multiverse. Yes, the documented time is technically after all of that happens, thus it sits at the end, but nothing about this issue screams cohesive. Not even Mark Waid's stellar writing can make it feel right.
Now, Waid's writing is spot-on here. I've nothing to complain about on that front. If this was a one-shot called Pym or even Avengers A.I. #0.1, I'd be satisfied, but none of what happens fits into the themes of Age of Ultron. Brian Michael Bendis' opus to the dangers of time travel was about taking responsibility for damaging the fabric of space and time and, eventually, suffering the consequences. Age of Ultron #10AI is about Hank Pym freeing himself from responsibility to do whatever he wanted, which led to Ultron in the first place. In many ways, this issue feels regressive, like Pym didn't learn anything from this horrific event.
I want to stress that Waid writes a good issue here, it's just the context in which Marvel decided it should go just doesn't make sense. Most of the Avengers have seen an alternate timeline or two, including Hank Pym who has always been at the forefront of science. Why now, after all these years, are the visions of a destitute future haunting him? The easy answer is that the "Age of Ultron" was his fault. But the better answer is that there isn't a sensible answer because it's not logical. (Again) Pym is man of science who understands the nature of the multiverse and that, in the end, he prevented the nightmares of Ultron from ever actualizing in the first place. Certainly a man dedicated to science could understand and reconcile the non-happening of something bad?
Apparently not.
Mark Waid's look into Hank Pym's history is intriguing and gives a lot of context for the character's decisions and actions over the years. Pym feels like a more fleshed out hero now, and that's always a good thing. If Marvel had published this in a better fashion, it would have been a home run. As a final send-off for Age of Ultron, if feels cheap and overbearing, preachy and depressing. In the end, it's worth reading for Waid's writing alone.
GRADE
7/10
(w) Mark Waid (a) Walter Simonson
One of the best elements of Mark Waid's Indestructible Hulk is Bruce Banner. In fact, Hulk himself has taken a back seat to Banner's personal journey towards reconciling his inner green monster with his scientific genius and duty to work toward a prosperous future. Scientific exposition might sound boring, but Waid does it in such a way that presents Banner and his hand-picked team of assistants as explorers of the unknown instead of pencil-pushing researchers. The Hulk only comes out when absolutely necessary.
There's not a lot to complain about in Indestructible Hulk #6. Waid begins a new arc that focuses on Banner and his team journeying to Jotunheim -- mystical realm of the frost giants -- and enlisting the help of the Mighty Thor whilst doing so. Though, not everything is exactly how it seems. The series, so far, has been written a solo book that happens includes a group of tertiary characters who are quickly becoming more and more important. Waid's narrative style lends itself nicely to this setup after a long stint of solo and duo titles.
This issue also really sold me on Walter Simonson's artwork. It's never spoken to me before, and always felt like an attempt at satire that wasn't actually an attempt at satire, and that didn't make much sense to me. Simonson's stye hasn't changed, per se, but it feels more crisp here and less frantic than usual, which is refreshing.
Overall, Indestructible Hulk #6 is the introductory chapter of this story, which means there are some big questions that are left unanswered at issue's end, but the big revelation teased on the cover is somewhat overshadowed by other mysteries Waid planted along the way. There's nothing wrong with that, but it dulls the excitement of the final page, for sure.
GRADE
8/10
(w) Mark Waid
(p) Lenil Yu
Almost two years after dragging Daredevil out of the darkness Frank Miller established for the character over a decade ago, Mark Waid has done it again. Indestructible Hulk #1 reaffirms Waid's place as one of the comic book industry's brightest talents by giving readers a fresh, relatable, and grounded approach to the Marvel's Not-So-Jolly Green Giant. Basically since the inception of the character, Bruce Banner has been at war with his less tempered side. It's a plot device that drops in and out of being the focus of Hulk stories, but that inner anguish is always present.
Not anymore.
Bruce has discovered that his gamma radiation-induced condition is incurable. That might not seem like a big revelation at first read, but it means so, so much. Finding a cure for the Hulk has really been Bruce's driving force for decades. He spends his time and resources constantly attempting to fix himself. It was a noble endeavor; the Hulk "has caused immeasurable damage and heartache over the years". Bruce was basically attempting to eliminate a seemingly uncontrollable entity living inside him, and it never worked out. Like an alcoholic finally admitting to themselves that they have a problem and need help, Bruce approaches S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Maria Hill (which seems to be the only way she's referred to, line-wide) about a job.
Bruce explains that he needs to "use Banner time more productively. Invent things. Fix things. Improve things." Waid evokes Avengers vs. X-Men -- how it was Tony Stark that saved the day with his genius intellect, and how Hulk helped by smashing and causing a distraction. Bruce waxes poetic about how Stark and Reed Richards will be remembered as visionary master intellects. Bruce, on the other hand, "will be lucky if [his] tombstone doesn't simply say 'Hulk Smash.'" After years of running from his problems and trying to cure himself, Bruce is ready to accept who he is and start contributing to the scientific community in a far more hands-on role.
The final part of Bruce's turn-around involves the Hulk. Bruce wants to work for Maria Hill because S.H.I.E.L.D. is the only entity that could effectively use the Hulk as an aimed weapon as opposed to a chaotic force of nature. "Stop thinking of Hulk as a bomb. Think of him as a canon," Waid eloquently puts it, pretty much nailing it on the head.
Mark Waid's Bruce Banner is far more reasonable and responsible than previous iterations. Even at his calmest, Bruce used to only have a one track mind. Under Waid's hand, Bruce is more relatable and makes more sense on a logistical level -- it always bothered me how a man of staunch science could work for decades to no avail without accepting a certain truth of things. Waid understands this principle, applies it liberally, and it works. Like Matt Fraction, Mark Waid is a phenomenal emotional writer. For scientists, though, emotion can often be expressed through their work, and Bruce hasn't done any work outside himself for a long time. For too long, Bruce has been a tormented soul searching for something that isn't there. That's been done. In the 'Marvel NOW!' era, he's is going to be a force of good, and a darn good one at that.
GRADE
9/10
(w) Mark Waid
