Comic Review: Marvel Vault of Heroes: Hulk – Biggest & Best (IDW Publishing)

IDW’s new collection of the Marvel Vault of Heroes: Hulk Biggest and Best is a real bargain. Indeed, in reprinting issues 1-12 of Marvel Heroes: Hulk for just $17.99, this really IS the biggest and best deal going.

The twelve issues, aimed at younger readers, begin with Hulk’s origin. Then, accompanied by Rick Jones and his monkey, the Hulk encounters (and usually SMASHES) good guys, bad guys, weapons and buildings. There are appearances by The Fantastic Four, Submariner, and the Silver Surfer. Baddies include Radioactive Man, Juggernaut, Dormammu and more.

Writer Paul Benjamin delivers on the stories. They are lively, the dialogue is whip cracking, the physical confrontations are inevitable. Why mess with a winning formula? Younger readers will enjoy these knock’em, sock’em tales.

Likewise, pencillers David Nakayama, Juan Santacruz, Mario Gully and Steve Scott, (plus their inkers and colourists!) get together and bat this one out of the park. The Hulk is front and centre of a long series of battles, and we get in close on the action.

Best deal in town, biggest and best!

IDW/Marvel, Marvel Vault of Heroes: Hulk Biggest and Best, $17.99 for 290 pages