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Savage Hulk #5-6
Savage Hulk 2: Down to the Crossroads
Fan-favorite Gabriel Hardman spotlights the Hulk's savage side! It's a Crossroad of Destruction as we travel back to a time in Hulk's life when he was mindless, enraged, and unstoppable! Banished to a realm between dimensions by Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Hulk is no longer a threat to Earth...but, free of Bruce Banner's calming influence, what damage will the Hulk do to other worlds? Will the mindless brute destroy an entire civilization to get revenge on Doctor Strange? COLLECTING: Savage Hulk 5-6, Hulk : Monster - Size Special, Hulk : Let the Battle Begin
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2015
About the author
Corinna Sara Bechko
198 books135 followersCorinna Bechko has been writing comics since her horror graphic novel Heathentown was published by Image/Shadowline in 2009. Since then she worked for Marvel, DC, Boom!, Image, and Dark Horse, among others, on titles such as Planet of the Apes, Star Wars: Legacy, Savage Hulk, Aliens/Vampirella, Invisible Republic, and Green Lantern: Earth One. She was recently short-listed for the Aeon Award for her prose short Sooterkin. She is a zoologist by training.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 27, 2020
An assortment of miscellaneous adventures of the Hulk has him battling monsters, traveling to other dimensions, and showing how Bruce Banner deals with the aftermath of a Hulk transformation.
I'm guessing Savage Hulk was cancelled after issue 6 as two issues in this book do not have the "savage" title in them at all. Instead Marvel pads out the book with two unrelated issues of Hulk adventures. Which just seems like a cash grab to me to be honest. I think they should have put these last savage titles in vol 1 and not sold you on a premise that is only half way there. Not to say the stories were terrible, but that just seemed dishonest in a way.
But I digress. First story has to do with an adventure where Dr. Strange sent the Hulk off to a different dimension, which unknowingly is inhabited by sentient beings who view the Hulk as the ultimate bogey man. Dr. Strange travels to this dimension to get the Hulk back home, or at least somewhere a bit more uninhabited. Next issue is about Hulk battling monsters such as Frankenstein, Wolf-man, and Dracula. This actually seemed like a cool idea but fell a bit flat for me even though there were different writers for each story. The premise seemed contrived and the writers couldn't pull off a more organic feel to it. And last was a story about what happens when Bruce Banner wakes up the day after a Hulk rampage. I thought this was a pretty good issue as it shows exactly his thought process and the things he does in order to get back to normal... until the next time.
Ultimately, a volume that seemed frivolous at times, I would recommend this only to die hard Hulk fans.
And with this volume I am caught up with my Hulk chronology read. My overall thoughts on the character haven't changed too much if I'm being honest. He is a force to be reckoned with and seems best used when that is kept in mind. He has gone through a lot of changes and a lot of adventures, and some stories were better than others, but overall he is a fun character to have appear in titles.
I'm guessing Savage Hulk was cancelled after issue 6 as two issues in this book do not have the "savage" title in them at all. Instead Marvel pads out the book with two unrelated issues of Hulk adventures. Which just seems like a cash grab to me to be honest. I think they should have put these last savage titles in vol 1 and not sold you on a premise that is only half way there. Not to say the stories were terrible, but that just seemed dishonest in a way.
But I digress. First story has to do with an adventure where Dr. Strange sent the Hulk off to a different dimension, which unknowingly is inhabited by sentient beings who view the Hulk as the ultimate bogey man. Dr. Strange travels to this dimension to get the Hulk back home, or at least somewhere a bit more uninhabited. Next issue is about Hulk battling monsters such as Frankenstein, Wolf-man, and Dracula. This actually seemed like a cool idea but fell a bit flat for me even though there were different writers for each story. The premise seemed contrived and the writers couldn't pull off a more organic feel to it. And last was a story about what happens when Bruce Banner wakes up the day after a Hulk rampage. I thought this was a pretty good issue as it shows exactly his thought process and the things he does in order to get back to normal... until the next time.
Ultimately, a volume that seemed frivolous at times, I would recommend this only to die hard Hulk fans.
And with this volume I am caught up with my Hulk chronology read. My overall thoughts on the character haven't changed too much if I'm being honest. He is a force to be reckoned with and seems best used when that is kept in mind. He has gone through a lot of changes and a lot of adventures, and some stories were better than others, but overall he is a fun character to have appear in titles.
July 21, 2015
In a terrific two-parter, the husband-and-wife team of Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Sara Bechko take us back to the time of the Hulk’s exile to the Crossroads by his friend, one-time fellow Defender, and Master of Mystic Arts, Dr. Strange. While the Hulk experiences one dimension after another, Strange attempts to justify himself to a suspicious congressman and to a “mystical arts ethicist” who question his motives and the nature of his powers. When an alien sorcerer supreme bursts into the hearing demanding his help, Dr. Strange is forced to confront the consequences of his earlier actions, embarking on a journey to save a planet in distress… and to discover what has become of his emerald ally.
The “Crossroads Saga” of THE INCREDIBLE HULK as told by Bill Mantlo, once an obscure period in the character’s history, has since inspired much renewed interest in the more recent succession of writers. The premise and the environment allows for a fairly unlimited amount of creative freedom: a nexus of realities truly is a place where anything is possible. At this point in time, the Hulk had devolved into a more primitive incarnation of himself, with all traces of his human side, Bruce Banner, completely buried—but only temporarily. The Crossroads was a time of self-rediscovery for the Hulk, with each experience acting as a catalyst, allowing him to “grow” back into the way he was before. And it’s during this upswing in his personality that Hardman’s and Bechko’s story takes place. Savage but not child-like, monstrous but not totally devoid of sentience, the use of this “transitional” Hulk allows for a bit more mileage, particularly when he confronts the one who banished him. It falls to Dr. Strange to unravel the unusual events taking place in this weird new dimension. Hardman and Bechko deliver on a clever twist worthy of the Twilight Zone-style reveals that Mantlo worked into the original storyline.
To help round out the collection, two one-shots are reprinted here for the first time. One is MONSTER-SIZE HULK, which also features artwork by Gabriel Hardman. Here the Hulk is pitted against the archetypal Horror trio of Frankenstein’s Monster, Werewolf by Night, and Dracula, in three separate stories written by Jeff Parker, Steve Niles, and Peter David, respectively. The Frankenstein story, as the main feature, is given a lot of weight. Not only is Horror one of the best genres for the Hulk, but the Monster is one of his predecessors (and sources of inspiration, according to Stan Lee). It’s a thrill to have them finally meet, as Marvel has had their own version of the Monster lurking about ever since the 1970s series MONSTER OF FRANKENSTEIN. In the time since that short-lived book’s cancellation, the Monster has been featured as an antagonist of the Avengers, Iron Man, and even Spider-Man… although oddly enough, not the Hulk. That is, until now. In the Monster, the Hulk finds not just another dark reflection, but perhaps also a kindred spirit.
The second is HULK: LET THE BATTLE BEGIN, yet one more round in the infamous Hulk vs. Thor mythos penned by Jesse Blaze Snider, the son of Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider. Taking a humorous look at the way Bruce Banner picks up the shreds of his life following one of his transformations, Snider depicts a memorably controversial fight and even works in the Wrecking Crew for good measure. The debate still rages on, but Snider’s story—and its conclusion—will surprise Hulk fans and Thor fans alike.
After only six issues, SAVAGE HULK too felt the sting of cancellation, notwithstanding its brief continuation in Jim Starlin’s misleading and disappointing THANOS VS. HULK mini-series. When featuring a character with such a rich and varied history, like the Hulk, an anthology series of this nature has much potential to offer, in terms of both the entertainment value for the readers and the creative output of the writers and artists. It’s a concept that Marvel should consider revisiting again.
The “Crossroads Saga” of THE INCREDIBLE HULK as told by Bill Mantlo, once an obscure period in the character’s history, has since inspired much renewed interest in the more recent succession of writers. The premise and the environment allows for a fairly unlimited amount of creative freedom: a nexus of realities truly is a place where anything is possible. At this point in time, the Hulk had devolved into a more primitive incarnation of himself, with all traces of his human side, Bruce Banner, completely buried—but only temporarily. The Crossroads was a time of self-rediscovery for the Hulk, with each experience acting as a catalyst, allowing him to “grow” back into the way he was before. And it’s during this upswing in his personality that Hardman’s and Bechko’s story takes place. Savage but not child-like, monstrous but not totally devoid of sentience, the use of this “transitional” Hulk allows for a bit more mileage, particularly when he confronts the one who banished him. It falls to Dr. Strange to unravel the unusual events taking place in this weird new dimension. Hardman and Bechko deliver on a clever twist worthy of the Twilight Zone-style reveals that Mantlo worked into the original storyline.
To help round out the collection, two one-shots are reprinted here for the first time. One is MONSTER-SIZE HULK, which also features artwork by Gabriel Hardman. Here the Hulk is pitted against the archetypal Horror trio of Frankenstein’s Monster, Werewolf by Night, and Dracula, in three separate stories written by Jeff Parker, Steve Niles, and Peter David, respectively. The Frankenstein story, as the main feature, is given a lot of weight. Not only is Horror one of the best genres for the Hulk, but the Monster is one of his predecessors (and sources of inspiration, according to Stan Lee). It’s a thrill to have them finally meet, as Marvel has had their own version of the Monster lurking about ever since the 1970s series MONSTER OF FRANKENSTEIN. In the time since that short-lived book’s cancellation, the Monster has been featured as an antagonist of the Avengers, Iron Man, and even Spider-Man… although oddly enough, not the Hulk. That is, until now. In the Monster, the Hulk finds not just another dark reflection, but perhaps also a kindred spirit.
The second is HULK: LET THE BATTLE BEGIN, yet one more round in the infamous Hulk vs. Thor mythos penned by Jesse Blaze Snider, the son of Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider. Taking a humorous look at the way Bruce Banner picks up the shreds of his life following one of his transformations, Snider depicts a memorably controversial fight and even works in the Wrecking Crew for good measure. The debate still rages on, but Snider’s story—and its conclusion—will surprise Hulk fans and Thor fans alike.
After only six issues, SAVAGE HULK too felt the sting of cancellation, notwithstanding its brief continuation in Jim Starlin’s misleading and disappointing THANOS VS. HULK mini-series. When featuring a character with such a rich and varied history, like the Hulk, an anthology series of this nature has much potential to offer, in terms of both the entertainment value for the readers and the creative output of the writers and artists. It’s a concept that Marvel should consider revisiting again.
August 1, 2018
A real mishmash of stories and styles. The first one is essentially a Doctor Strange comic. Three of the stories are horror tales (Frankenstein, the wolfman, and Dracula) and the vampire one is prose rather than comic. There are then two one-shots: 'Let the Battle Begin' and 'Gammaragnarok'.
Of all the offerings I only really liked 'Let the Battle Begin', which gives a sort of day-in-the-life look at Bruce and Hulk, but I think the variety would mean there's something to appeal to all audiences.
Of all the offerings I only really liked 'Let the Battle Begin', which gives a sort of day-in-the-life look at Bruce and Hulk, but I think the variety would mean there's something to appeal to all audiences.
December 2, 2017
Essentially an attempt to write old-timey Hulk stories. They're not bad.
April 10, 2019
A couple of stories with the Hulk. With Dr Strange, monsters and the wrecking crew
July 25, 2015
Savage Hulk: Down to the Crossroads - Mini Comic File
The volume consists really of Hulk and monsters...literally. Many of them are the kinds of monsters that Agent Ben loves. Doctor Strange goes to a mystical crossroads to keep Hulk from committing genocide on an alien world. Hulk meets Frankenstein and Dracula. And finally the volume goes into what it means for your routine to be the Hulk and the power of purple pants.
This volume is for two types of agents. First if you love monsters you will enjoy the match-up of the Big Green one with classic monsters. Second if you want to go into Banner's mind you will find parts of this volume interesting as you work up the Doctor's psych file.
Rating - 3.5 out of 5.
The volume consists really of Hulk and monsters...literally. Many of them are the kinds of monsters that Agent Ben loves. Doctor Strange goes to a mystical crossroads to keep Hulk from committing genocide on an alien world. Hulk meets Frankenstein and Dracula. And finally the volume goes into what it means for your routine to be the Hulk and the power of purple pants.
This volume is for two types of agents. First if you love monsters you will enjoy the match-up of the Big Green one with classic monsters. Second if you want to go into Banner's mind you will find parts of this volume interesting as you work up the Doctor's psych file.
Rating - 3.5 out of 5.
May 29, 2015
Pfft. 2 issues of the SAVAGE HULK are collected here. Yes, just TWO! Okay, yeah, they are actually pretty good. It's a Doctor Strange / Hulk story from way back when. But the rest of the book is pretty much filler. Kind of stinks.
April 6, 2016
A decent tale that would've worked better spread out over a few more issues. Instead, it's a rather rushed affair.
August 16, 2016
Competent set of stories, well-drawn and featuring the Hulk in a number of stories that don't seem to have got tied yet, despite there surely only being a finite number of variations upon this theme.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews