Product Description: The golden god-man Glorian wants to give the gray Hulk an emotional makeover, but the mysterious Mister Cloot thinks they'd both look better in demon red! Peter David's remarkable run continues as the Hulk goes after gangsters, ghouls and the Grey Gargoyle! Plus: wrestlers, killer whales and more! Guest-starring Iron Man and Werewolf by Night! Collects Incredible Hulk #355-363 and Marvel Comic Presents #26, 45.
Continuing Peter David's legendary and monumental run Peter David's monumental run on the Incredible Hulk continues here in this fourth collected edition, which finds the Hulk reaching the end of his days working in Vegas. Guest stars are abound including Thor, The Thing, and more besides, but what is really worth noting here is what was already mentioned by the previous reviewer. Peter David almost ended up quitting the book over a spat with the editorial crew at Marvel (hence an issue here is written by future Marvel editor Bob Harras), but thankfully David managed to stay on the book, which would cement his incredibly long and defining run. There's more great artwork to be found here as well from Jeff Purves and Dan Reed, and David's characterizations and dialogue are still superb. All in all, no other writer has ever (and may never) gotten the Hulk like Peter David did, and his incredible (no pun intended) run on the title is a feat that more than likely will never be matched again.
The point where Peter David almost left the book INCREDIBLE HULK VISIONARIES: PETER DAVID, Volume 4 collects THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2nd series) #355-363 and MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #26 and 45, by writers Peter David & Bob Harras, and artists Jeff Purves, Herb Trimpe, and others. This fourth volume featuring Peter David's complete tenure on the book goes further toward establishing the basis for the "merger" of Hulks which is still a few more installments down the path. It's also where the book nearly jumped the tracks, the writer almost leaving the book in protest over the editorial edict that Bruce Banner's wife Betty suffer a miscarriage (in #360, an issue ultimately written by guest writer and future Marvel Editor-In-Chief to-be, Bob Harras). It's sad that this avenue was never explored, at least not in the main series--after all, just think of the possibilities, for Banner's own father abused him, the psychosis leading to the splintering of personalities forming the psychological basis for the many incarnations of the Hulk. Luckily, Peter David didn't leave, remaining on the book for another eight years.
In this volume too comes the climax of the Hulk's adventures as a legbreaker in Las Vegas, his involvement in the struggles of villainous Glorian, and an act of vengeance by the Grey Gargoyle upon Thor and his likes (by attacking ol' Hulky, natch). A thrilling mix of sub-plots and deep characterization highlights this fourth volume, and anyone who likes the psychodrama of previous efforts will get a kick out of this one, too. Four stars.
Next up in volume 5: "Countdown," Dale Keown, the Madman, Mister Hyde, and the Defenders!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
