Marvel Age Hulk

(Marvel, 2004-2005)
™ and © 2005 Marvel Entertainment Group

A greener, angrier adjunct to Marvel Age Spider-Man, this kid-friendly Hulk title gets off to a decent start with “Bugs,” a 1950s–creature–feature–inspired story in which giant insects attack three children enjoying an afternoon at a playground. The entomological episode in question is the unfortunate result of an experiment by a farmer–scientist combining of a super–pesticide with a crop amplifier.

The Bruce Banner depicted here appears less tortured than usual (Hulk himself remains a smashing figure given to fits of heroic rage), but younger readers don’t want too much adult angst in their comics. The story would have been more interesting, if Bruce had teamed up with a fellow female scientist, but kids (especially boys) are less interested in “mushy stuff” than they are in rampaging monsters.

Though entertaining on a certain level, Marvel Age Hulk #1 is hardly an important issue (the art is as forgettable as the plot), but it serves an important function: It provides kids with a relatively inexpensive comic book they can read, enjoy, and readily understand.

— Brett Weiss

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