Welcome to the land of "reality", where scientific experiments, accidents, genetic heritage, and alien influences affect the lives of ordinary mortals. Join me as I observe the superhumans of planet earth and their struggles against equally powerful foes.
This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.
That said, on to the review!
The Hulk's had a hard life, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to recall his history, what with it appearing in both a live-action television series and an animated live-action television series. The Hulk seems--to me at least--to be the ultimate expression of the conflict of brain versus brawn. It's seesawed over the years, but gradually he's reconciled the brawn with the brain so that he can now reason and think coherently while in his bulked up, gamma-spawned superhuman body. Of course, that doesn't stop him from being persecuted for things he did when he wasn't so together, which is a good example of responsibility for one's actions. However, I do think--though I've forgotten the Hulk's origin story--that perhaps the military is deliberately overlooking the fact that they are in part responsible for the Hulk's bad reputation, even the Hulk's existence.
The Hulk has never been my favorite Marvel character--give me the Sensational She-Hulk any day--but he's always managed to earn my sympathy. I don't remember the live-action television series that well, but the animated series as well as the comics did a lot to earn my favor. Watching his adventures as he stands against the forces of evil--whether as Bruce Banner, as the bestial Hulk, or as the intelligent Hulk--and seeing how poorly others repay him for his good deeds depresses me in part. In one way it is a constant reminder--to my mind anyway--of the prejudice against differences that still divides the world we live in. On the other hand, it also reminds me that it's important to remain true to one's self, and in the Hulk's case, he is doing so even when his intellect devolves before the bestial Hulk's rage.
Trying to become a big green muscle machine like the Hulk is hardly the way to go about getting attention, but it certainly makes for an interesting celebrity. What's more important, though, is that Bruce Banner and the Hulk have tremendous powers (of intellect and strength) in their possession--just like a certain web-slinger--and now both of them are trying to use it responsibly. I think it makes him a better person for it. Even if he does tend to look green around the gills all the time. Or green with envy. Or...
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