One important piece of business before we get started with the review, Hulk #19 should be read after Hulk #606; Fall Of The Hulks is confusing enough without screwing up the order.
With that out of the way, I will say that Hulk #19 is continuing the trend of turning the Hulk series into something that doesn’t suck anymore. For the past year writer Jeph Loeb’s lackadaisical scripts had really turned the Hulk title into a soul sucking disaster. Those days seem to be over thanks to a more fully realized Red Hulk and a plot line where there are actual stakes involved. I’m not sure if The Fall Of The Hulks will result in returning Hulk back to his Planet Hulk greatness but for the meantime, at least it’s readable.
Hulk #19 takes place in the Baxter Building where the Fantastic Four are being attacked one by one by four villains calling themselves the Frightful Four. It’s indicated that they have something to do with the Intelligencia, the main villains in Fall Of The Hulks, but Loeb’s lack of detail makes that aspect of it fuzzy. The Frightful Four make short work of the FF which is a little annoying based on how powerful Reed Richards, Sue Storm, The Human Torch and The Thing are supposed to be, but I guess Loeb needed it to flesh out the whole Red Hulk as good guy angle in the story. As the cover indicates, there is some smash mouth fighting between The Thing and the Red Hulk but trust me, that’s not the meat of what’s going on.
Loeb again has trouble with sketchy dialog especially with Sue Storm and Red Hulk. The narration by Red Hulk in the beginning of the story is almost hard to get through as is pretty much anything Red She-Hulk says. I’m really starting to hate Red She-Hulk so hopefully Loeb can do something with her besides strut her around giving her stupid things to say. Once the shaky dialog settles down the plot of Hulk #19 actually has some weight to it. The Fantastic Four aren’t just beaten; they’re trounced to the point that Reed Richards supposedly loses control of his bodily functions. Between that and the devious secret plot Bruce Banner seems to be hatching, Hulk #19 is a real pot boiler that contains a lot more action than Loeb’s older attempts.
It’s also nice to see Ed McGuinness back on the art front mainly because his style is so over the top it’s perfect for a character like the Incredible Hulk. McGuinness is another artist who can really draw action and he doesn’t disappoint here. The movement of this issue doesn’t stop from first page to last and McGuinness translates that perfectly. Even the sections where Loeb’s writing wobbles McGuinness’s art saves the day. If not for the tie-in with Fall Of The Hulks, Hulk #19 could’ve been a book with no words and still been kick ass.
The Fall Of The Hulks so far has a tenuous hold on making the Hulk titles readable again and Hulk #19 doesn’t exactly solidify it. Thus far this new Hulk story arc is unnecessarily convoluted but I’m hoping as the payoff draws closer things will streamline. I’d hate for the strongest one there is to have the worst title there is.
