RULK REVIEW : HULK SMASH AVENGERS Issue # 5
“That’s all you got? COME ON! I’m not that’s green MAN-CHILD you’re used to bullying!” – Rulk
In the one-shot HULK SMASH AVENGERS Issue # 5, the spotlight shines on a villainous Red Hulk in the final installment of a five issue smash fest that celebrates new yet era-inspired “Hulk versus Avengers” tales uniquely told within different timelines of the Marvel Universe. Designed to take place between the events of the Red Hulk demolishing the new S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier [HULK Issue #2] and the battle between Rulk and the A-Bomb in the desert of Death Valley, Nevada [HULK Issue #3], the story revolves around Iron Man’s belief that uncovering the identity of the crimson giant will be the key to his defeat… and the imprisoned Bruce Banner holds that very key. And as the mysterious, seemingly unstoppable, crimson Hulk keeps hitting and pilfering S.H.I.E.L.D. installations, Iron Man understands he needs answers… right now.
This issue’s script penned by writer Fred Van Lente portrays a spot-on villainous Red Hulk. Lente superbly symbiotically captures the quintessential Jeph Loeb Red Hulk… a brash personality that is constituted more of “bad-assed” than “bad”. The story is balanced well, moving back and forth from a suspicious, tense yet restrained conversation between Bruce Banner and Iron Man to a rip-roaring battle between the Red Hulk and the Avengers.
Lente’s writing works in spite of Michael Avon Oeming’s disappointing art. While Oeming is very capable of designing interesting layouts, his caricature drawing ability needs improved structure and polish before achieving a favorable level of his professional skill set. However, interesting new revelations woven into this story offsets the issue’s shortcoming, especially when we learn that the Red Hulk has been hitting and stealing various goods from S.H.I.E.L.D. and obviously supplying it to the Intellegencia, in an effort to reach their mutual goals.
The only thing frustrating other than the art is precisely fitting this story in the Red Hulk continuity. The only logical place this addendum can fit is between the Helicarrier attack (where Tony Stark realizes the new Hulk is red) and the battle with A-Bomb (that ruptures the ground unleashing the Banner Hulk from captivity). The problem is both the conclusion of issue #2 and opening of issue #3 suggests Rulk’s rumble with A-Bomb and Iron Man dealing with the Helicarrier wreckage occurs at the same time. The ability to overlook this error in continuity will be the deciding factor if fans ultimately adopt this one-shot event and integrate it into the timeline of their favorite Red Hulk lore.
2.5 out of 5 Stars
-A.J.
A general falls. A red monster rises. Stay tuned.
Follow the RED HULK BLOG on Twitter @ RedHulkBlog
NEW RULK : HULK SMASH AVENGERS Issue # 5 and WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN Issue # 11 is out today!
HULK SMASH AVENGERS
Issue # 5
In Stores: May 30, 2012
Format: Comic
UPC: 5960607743-00511
Price: $2.99
The Story:
Hulk’s “smashing” series comes to an end! With Red Hulk squaring off against some of the Avenger’s biggest names, the team must rally together in order to end Red Hulk’s destructive path.
WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN
Issue # 11
In Stores: May 30, 2012
Format: Comic
Price: $3.99
The Story:
Cyclops comes to the Jean Grey School! Will Wolverine’s X-Men join Cyclops against the Avengers? ICEMAN vs RED HULK!
RULK PREVIEW : Taking a closer look at HULK SMASH AVENGERS Issue # 5!
Release Per Marvel:
The Hulk and the Avengers have a complicated relationship.
Hulk helped found the team in 1963’s AVENGERS #1, but abruptly departed by the second issue following a misunderstanding with his would-be allies. Ever since, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the Green Goliath have clashed more than they’ve teamed, and weekly this May, HULK SMASH AVENGERS, a five-issue limited series with a quintet of creative teams and standalone stories set in different eras, will explore the dynamic between the two sides through the years.
To wrap up the wild ride of HULK SMASH AVENGERS, Fred Van Lente pits a different Hulk against a new team of Avengers.
Issue #5 takes place just after Civil War and World War Hulk and stars the Red Hulk taking on Iron Man’s Mighty Avengers. This will be nowhere near a one-sided fight, as the Avengers boast a line-up that includes Wonder Man, Sentry, Ares, Ms. Marvel and Black Widow to give this new Hulk a run for his money.
“This story is set back when Red Hulk first appeared, and he’s attacking and raiding various S.H.I.E.L.D. facilities around the country for his mysterious benefactors,” Van Lente says. “The Avengers catch him red handed and try to vanquish him while Iron Man goes to a desert prison to learn how to defeat this menace from the world’s foremost Hulkologist: Bruce Banner himself.”
To say there’s bad blood between Banner and Stark would be an understatement. Remember that not only did Iron Man agree to and assist in sending Hulk to another planet that resulted in his wife dying, but the pair also ran into each other during World War Hulk.
“This takes place after Tony shot Bruce into space in Planet Hulk and he used satellites to defeat him in World War Hulk,” Van Lente reminds. “So I’d say the vibe is ‘tense.'”
While Tony talks to Bruce, the Mighty Avengers do their best to hold their own against an unpredictable enemy with a much more strategic side to him. This fresh dynamic will completely change how the heroes approach the fight.
“The green Hulk—Bruce Banner—was one of the founding Avengers, so the original team maybe held back when battling him because they see him as former friend,” Van Lente notes. “The Red Hulk is an unknown, hostile entity who’s not holding back from destroying them, so the Avengers won’t either.”
RULK PREVIEWS : Looking ahead and forward to HULK Issues # 51 and 52! Plus HULK SMASH AVENGERS #5!
Looking forward to the next installments of Jeff Parker’s Red HULK Issue 49, then the milestone Issue 50? Definitely! But here’s a sneak peak at # 51 and 52 that will follow those issues including their cover art… and a small taste of what we can expect next for our favorite General turned Rulk!
Plus, as a bonus, here’s a glimpse at the upcoming HULK SMASH AVENGERS Issue # 5 (of 5)! Check it out and enjoy all the Red Hulk goodness!
HULK Issue # 51
Writer : Jeff Parker
Artist : Carlo Pagulayan
Price : $2.99
Story:
General Ross is being haunted by ghosts from his past… but WHOSE ghosts are they? Red Hulk wants answers, but so do… RAIZO KODO and THE FORGIVEN?!?!
HULK Issue # 52
Writer : Jeff Parker
Artist : Carlo Pagulayan
Price : $2.99
Story:
Does salvation lie in the hands of the LEGION OF MONSTERS?
HULK SMASH AVENGERS Issue # 5 (of 5)
Writer: Jan Van Lente
Artist: Michael Avon Oeming
Price: $3.99
Story:
A five-part, weekly punch-fest that explores the ever-evolving relationship between the Gamma Goliath and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! • Red Hulk vs. the 2000s-era Mighty Avengers…Black Widow, Wonder Man, Ares, Sentry and the Wasp!
RULK REPORT : HULK SMASH AVENGERS sees Red in Issue #5!
HULK SMASH AVENGERS, a weekly five-part miniseries exploring the Hulk’s long and strained history with the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes throughout the years, kicks off in February with a different creative team each issue ending with the Red Hulk in issue # 5. Here is a match-up breakdown of all five issues:
#1) Hulk vs. the original Avengers featuring Captain America, Iron Man, Giant-Man, Wasp and Thor by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz.
#2) Hulk vs. Iron Man, Wasp, Vision and the Beast by Joe Casey and Max Fiumara.
#3) Hulk vs. Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Wasp, She-Hulk, Captain Marvel and Thor by Roger Stern and Karl Moline
#4) Hulk as “Mr. Fixit” vs. the West Coast Avengers featuring Hawkeye, Wonder Man, Mockingbird, Tigra and Iron Man by Jim McCann
#5) RED HULK vs. The Mighty Avengers featuring Black Widow, Ares, Wonder Man, Sentry and Wasp by Fred Van Lente & Michael Avon Oeming
Comic Book Resources obtained an exclusive preview of some of the artwork in Red Hulk’s upcoming battle in the series’ final issue. Take a look:
HULK SMASH AVENGERS Issue #1 debuts this February.
-A.J.
A general falls. A red monster rises. Stay tuned.
Follow the RED HULK BLOG on Twitter @ RedHulkBlog
In joyful celebration of the landmark 50th issue of writer Jeff Parker's critically acclaimed HULK Comic, superstar Jeff Parker has graciously and enthusiastically agreed to answer questions from the people who count the most: the loyal fans! Click here to 
REDHULKBLOG.com 