Tomes of Costumed Adventurers: The Incredible Hulk--Abominations

Tomes of Costumed Adventurers

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.

W A R N I N G !

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!

Title: The Incredible Hulk--Abominations
Author: Jason Henderson
Publisher: Boulevard Books
Format: Paperback
Copyright Date: 1997

Bruce Banner's accident with a gamma bomb created the Incredible Hulk, but it also provided the first steps for other gamma mutants...and few are as deadly and as twisted as the Abomination. A former KGB agent, the Abomination nearly matches the Hulk in strength and size, and surpassed him--for a time--in intellect as well. Now Banner's personality remains in control of the Hulk's body, but something has changed for the Abomination as well. Now he's besieged New York City with strange and seemingly unconnected terroristic acts. The things is, however, that the Abomination is using technology beyond his ability to create. So who is helping the Abomination in his monstrous deeds? It's up to SAFE and the Incredible Hulk to find out before the Abomination can do more evil. The question is: will SAFE and the Incredible Hulk survive a traitor in their midsts or will the Abomination triumph over them all?

The Incredible Hulk--Abominations brings the Incredible Hulk back into the spotlight, this time alone. Set at some point after Rampage: Doom's Day Book One, the Hulk knows about SAFE and its covert observation of him. This time, though, he has only SAFE to turn to for assistance. Spider-Man's not there to help. The Black Cat's not there to help. Only SAFE. And it remains to be seen if SAFE is so safe after all. But it sets up an interesting conundrum. The Hulk has been on the outs with the U.S. government for so long that to work with a government agency--which is what SAFE is--must surely be strange and confusing for everyone involved.

What makes this book so interesting is that it shows a side of the gamma mutants that you wouldn't really expect them to have. For one thing, having seen the Hulk flying into mindless rages early in his career, it's easy to assume that all gamma mutants are dumb. Of course, there's the She-Hulk and the Leader, neither of which is stupid. But it would be easy to label the Hulk and the Abomination as dumb monsters. The truth is, the Hulk could probably hold his own with Mr. Fantastic and the Abomination has a philosophical/religious mindset. So watching these two gamma giants fighting each other makes for an interesting situation...especially when they're also arguing intense philosophical points.

The Incredible Hulk--Abominations takes gamma mutants beyond the pale to what they really are: humans transformed by radiation into superhuman and inhuman beings. And the issues they face shows plainly that they are human beneath all that green skin. At least...I think they're human...

Rating: Thumbs up! Plays on words and strong Biblical references abound!

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