Hulk: Return of the Monster

Hulk/Incredible Hulk (1999) (Single Issues) #34-39

by Bruce Jones, Brian Azzarello, John Romita Jr. (Illustrator)

Bruce Banner thought he'd finally tamed his inner beast, until the latest rampage of his alter ego, the Hulk, resulted in the death of a child. His face plastered on TV news broadcasts coast to coast, Banner has no choice but to become a man on the run. Not only are the police in hot pursuit, but a pair of deadly assassins also are tracking the beleaguered scientist's every move. Aided only by the elusive "Mr. Blue," will Banner resort to deadly force to escape his pursuers? Plus: what does it really feel like to bear the guilt of responsibility for the death and devastation caused by the Hulk? COLLECTING: Incredible Hulk 34-39, Startling Stories : Banner 1-4

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels

264 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Return of the Monster includes Incredible Hulk 34-39.
Now, I've read this story before but I liked it better this second time around.
Unbelievably, I think John Romita Jr did an alright job with the art.
I did not see that coming.
He's either grown on me over the years or I've just looked at enough of his truly terrible artwork that this stuff now looks pretty decent. I'm not willing to say one way or another.



I was completely digging Bruce Jone's story about Banner on the run from assassins. Some {insert shadow agency here} was after him because he destroyed a city and killed a little boy.
Doc Samson gets involved, but is he a friend or an enemy?
Then, just as everything gets turned ass over tits, the story cuts off.
I'm looking forward to picking up the areas of this Hulk story on Marvel Unlimited and finding out just what the hell is going on here.



And then it goes into the >Startling Stories. <--issue 1-4
Eh. Not so much.
The weird chubby face art style didn't fit with the vibe. In fact, it really annoyed me.



It's a What If story involving Doc Sampson, General Ross, Banner, and a really annoying version of Hulk. I know Hulk is supposed to have that toddler rage thing going, but this takes it to a whole other level and it becomes screechy toddler rage.



The main Hulk story sucked me in and I want to go back for more, but I'll be skipping those Startling Stories from here on out.

['kris Pung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Return Of The Monster (Jones/Romita Jr.) 4.5 out of 5
Surprisingly light on action especially for a Hulk book but a great start by a new creative team. Also I’m usually not much of a fan of Romita Jr.’s art (to cartoony for my taste) but it works really well here.

Startling Stories: Banner (Azzarello/Corben) 3.5 out of 5
Okay this one is a bit more typical Hulk Smash story but I did really like the fact that they showed that when he Hulks Out there is plenty of collateral damage and death. The art wasn’t really my thing but I started to warm up to it by the end of the story. Also The ending had one hell of a cliffhanger.

[Ryan Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tone of Jones' Hulk stories is quite grim and gritty, something that thankfully has returned with the Immortal Hulk series. I like how he blends a bit of the 70's show with "The Fugitive"-style storyline depicting Bruce on the run. I would have appreciated a bit more action and other Marvel heavyweights being included though. Having some classic Hulk villains or allies hunting him down would have made the story feel a little less disconnected from the broader Marvel universe. Otherwise it's a good suspenseful story in the vein of sci-fi-/horror that I think compliments the Hulk best.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a slightly off-putting volume. The first half is the beginning of Bruce Jones's very understated run, which is wildly different than most Hulk stories, but a strong series overall. This particular volume is hampered by art by JRJ, which I don't care for. The second half is the Startling Stories: Banner 4-parter, which is unrelated plotwise, written by a different person, and drawn by a different person. I liked this story and art, and it is also fairly understated and focused on Banner, so I suppose the two are linked thematically, but the two halfs just don't seem to fit together well. It's a weird collection, anyway.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Richard Corben/Brian Azzarello part of this book more than the Bruce Jones/John Romita Jr. section which just felt like a taster of something bigger and better to come (which it probably is) but as a stand alone collection just seemed a bit too short and open ended, maybe due to the slow pace. I guess the rest of the story arc is collected elsewhere? My favourite thing about the book is the Richard Corben art I'd give an extra star for that.

[ComicNerdSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this is the Jones/Romita Jr. run and I can't say I like it particularly. It does belong amongst the better stories that Marvel has, but it's not amazing or anything. That Azzarello and Corben miniseries though? That's fucking golden. In my opinion, it takes the themes and questions Jones was swinging for and knocks them straight into outer space. Pure entertainment, despite also being pure hell.

[Rusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first half of this graphic novel. But I couldn't force myself to read the second half, because there is no part of me that appreciates Corben's artwork.