When you’re promised “fist-pounding” action from Steve Skroce, you prick up your ears and listen. Skroce has been in comics for thirty years and famously supplied storyboards for the Matrix trilogy, and now he’s writing and drawing a new Ben Grimm adventure. Specifically, it’s a series of one-shot team-ups, starting with Hulk. Who better to kick things off than the competing strongest hero in comics?
Clobberin’ Time is, simply, a good time. The issue opens with Ben, aka the Thing, and Bruce Banner hanging out at the Fantastic Four headquarters. Reed is tinkering with something, ignoring them before a mysterious figure enters the room, not realizing he’d been found out. He looks like half Doctor Doom and is quite mysterious, but Hulk and Thing are sent to a faraway place or time before we can learn more.
Skroce writes Thing and Hulk well, which is probably not hard since they’re both gruff and simple, but their uniqueness shines through. Plenty of captions keep us updated on what is happening and the alien race the two heroes must save. It’s easy to follow and entertaining to get a little wonderment thrown in about the adventure they go on.
That’s a big guy to knock down.
Credit: Marvel
The general setup is easy to follow and suits the Fantastic Four vibe. It’s fun to see Thing casually okay with everything, knowing Reed and the rest of the gang will show up eventually. He’s also heroic and brave, ready to fight large monsters that are impossibly large. There’s an old-fashioned charm to the adventure and the visuals. It reads like something Stan Lee might do, but with a modern visual sensibility.
There’s a running joke involving the Hulk, who never seems to have the patience to wait and hear the plan. Somewhat sadly for Thing, Hulk’s rushing in always seems to work. It’s not as funny as Skroce intends, but it works to keep the plot moving at a good rate.
The art is the highlight, partly because it could be enjoyed without reading the words. Skroce’s style is a thicker line with a cel-shaded look that makes every rock in Thing’s body pop. Hulk looks great too, but the real winning element is how your eye is drawn across the page. It naturally flows from panel to panel, keeping your interest. There are dynamic elements throughout, playing with foreground and background, keeping your interest no matter what is depicted. Many will appreciate the battle damage Thing sports by the end. It’s borderline gross, as chunks are flecked off, and blood is visible. Still cool, though!
Clobberin’ Time #1 is a good start to a series that leans into the adventures of Ben Grimm and looks great doing it. There’s the promise of an ongoing mystery to uncover that perfectly sets up a team-up series that’ll be an easy one to add to the pile. Pick up Clobberin’ Time knowing it exudes old-fashioned charm.
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