The older I get, the more I appreciate the way a single creator’s long run on a title helps shape the character and its ethos. I would argue that one of the reasons why the X-Men is a beloved franchise today is in no small part to the (generally) uninterrupted decades Chris Claremont had on the title. It’s not that every issue or decision was a good one, but that a single vision was allowed to grow roots and bloom. The same can be said of Peter David’s decade-long run on the Hulk, which started in 1987 only to end as the millennium approached. This Epic Collection contains the final arcs in that seminal run, and while not the strongest point in David’s Hulk chronology, it represents a satisfying conclusion to his work with the Big Green Machine.
Peter David’s impact on the Hulk is unmistakable. His take on the Hulk was a departure from previous writers, as he explored the psychological aspects of Bruce Banner’s transformation into the Hulk. He introduced the concept of multiple personalities within the Hulk, with different versions of the character emerging based on the level of Banner’s anger. This led to the creation of popular characters like the brainy “Professor” Hulk, the vicious “Savage” Hulk, and the calculating “Gray” Hulk. Whether it be the lauded Immortal Hulk series of the iteration portrayed by Mark Ruffalo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, David’s version of the character is the one that has left the most significant impact on the stories that came after this run.
This collection includes issues #460-474, as well as two Annuals with X-Man and the Submariner (I seem to remember all the annuals being team-up issues in ’98). While casual Hulk fans can easily pick this up and enjoy it, it understandably builds on the themes David established over the course of a decade. It’s important to know that these issues take place after the Heroes Return arc, bringing back to the main Marvel Universe characters that were thought to be killed during the Onslaught event. Much like Avengers and Fantastic Four, these issues reestablish the Hulk’s connection to the larger universe, with ample team-ups present. Issue #467 is a standout issue in this collection, being the first issue of “The Countdown” storyline. In it, we find the Hulk and his friend Rick Jones on a quest to stop a doomsday weapon from destroying Earth, while encountering several Marvel heroes along the way. This arc does what David does best, by mixing classic comic action with a deeper reflection of Banner’s inner mind. Joe Casey takes over the scripting for the remaining issues but does a fine job brining the title to its conclusion.
Adam Kubert provides excellent pencils to the first half of the book, bringing his vibrant, dynamic flair to the script. There are a handful of fill-in artists that follow, and each does a fine job of retaining the visual stylings present in Kubert’s work. The book looks like many of its late-’90s compatriots at Marvel, but there is enough vivacity and range that makes this book stand out.
As for the supplementals, it’s rather light, with a few sketch pictures and an interview with Peter David. Oddly enough, there is a rather long piece about the Hulk title that was to debut the following month written by John Byrne, which seems like an odd addition to this collection.
It should be said, that like Chris Claremont on the X-Men, Peter David left the Hulk abruptly following disagreements with editors at Marvel. While it’s unfortunate all these issues don’t have Peter David’s script, it is easy to see his grander plan still represented in its final issues. I won’t spoil the way the story concludes, but it’s a fitting narrative conclusion to one of Marvel’s most iconic figures.
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