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Hulk #356Issue(s): Hulk #356 Review/plot: ![]() ...he kills the golden dog that would have killed the grey dog. ![]() If you think that's cruel, you can take some solace that by the end of this Glorian storyline (which runs until #359), the Hulk will be shown that his behavior is literally going to cause him to wind up in Hell. In the meantime, the Hulk is going stir-crazy in Vegas, looking to start a fight with anyone tough enough to go a few rounds with him. ![]() A mysterious stranger eggs him on and sends him from one place to another. ![]() You can see the Hulk also wishing for a fight with the Absorbing Man or the Abomination. After leading the Hulk all over town, the mysterious man finally sends the Hulk to the single toughest guy, the one even you can't handle. ![]() And it turns out to be a mannequin of Bruce Banner. ![]() It's a very cool story that plays on the psychological aspects that Peter David has been introducing into the Hulk story. It doesn't really matter if the mysterious stranger is a manifestation of Banner or otherwise a part of the Hulk's subconsciousness, or the actions of one of the characters in Vegas at this time that could be messing with him (we'll get to them in a second). It's just a good reminder that the Hulk and Banner are two parts of the same psyche and that Banner is the one thing that Hulk can't get away from, despite all his strength. Ok, on to the longer plotline, which is mostly just in build-up mode for this issue. We see Glorian in the clouds, talking to his master, the Shaper of Worlds, about his recent failure to "help" the Hulk. ![]() And then he wakes up back on Earth. ![]() Before he gets to go after the Hulk, though, he's approached by someone in a limousine. ![]() He's taken to a guy named "Cloot" who works for the Maggia but implies pretty strongly that he's something more. ![]() And he tries to convince Glorian that he wants to help him. The Maggia wants to get rid of the Hulk. Glorian wants to eliminate the hatred in the Hulk's soul. Glorian senses something evil about Mr. Cloot and doesn't trust him, but when he sees a vase similar to the one that the Shaper used above, he gets the wrong idea that this guy was sent by his master to test him. ![]() It's worth remembering that Glorian is a super-evolved little boy that's been living a sheltered life under the Shaper of Worlds. His naivety here is the point. But i also like how the deadly sin of pride is part of his downfall. We'll see more of them in the entry for #357-359. For now, the last thing we'll do is check in on Marlo, who is dealing with the fact that she saw her boyfriend "Mr. Fixit" brutally beating Glorian last issue. ![]() ![]() I've mentioned before that i have mixed feelings about Jeff Purves' art. The above scans show the worst of it. Last issue i put the blame on Herb Trimpe's inks but these panels are equally bad and they're inked by Jim Sanders III who should be relatively normal. Most of the issue is better than this, but it's worth realizing that these are the only panels with "normal" people. Art problems aside, this is a strong and well scripted build up to the story that ends the Vegas period. Quality Rating: B+ Chronological Placement Considerations: This begins soon after the end of last issue, with Glorian's seemingly dead body still at the crime scene until he wakes up and walks away. Issues #357-359 are part of the same storyline but don't necessarily follow immediately after, and the MCP has placed a Marvel Comics Presents story between this issue and next one. Cloot is really a manifestation of Satannish; more on that in the next entry. References: N/A Crossover: N/A Continuity Insert? N My Reprint: N/A Inbound References (2): showCharacters Appearing: Glorian, Hulk, Marlo Chandler, Mona (Marlo's friend), Satannish, Shaper of Worlds CommentsIt's more that just pride- the larger point as Cloot says in issue 359, Glorian doesn't understand that pure intentions mean nothing- ACTIONS mean everything, as shown by the fact that he was basically trying to bully the Hulk into becoming a better person even before Cloot got there. Posted by: Michael | September 30, 2014 7:55 PM "Cloot" is apparently and old Scots word for a cloven hoof, and "Old Nick" is of course a traditional nickname for the devil (used, perhaps, because of superstitions that actually saying "Satan" might summon him). Posted by: Omar Karindu | October 31, 2015 8:29 PM Comments are now closed. |
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