Under the guise of national security, General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, the Red Hulk, has waged a shadow war across the globe. Now, he’s found himself trapped, a prize for Doctor Doom. Benjamin Percy and Geoff Shaw’s Red Hulk #1 reignites the Red Hulk’s fiery legacy, but the question remains: Can even he break free from Doom’s iron grip? Let’s find out!
Full disclosure: I know next to nothing about Red Hulk. I know the basics – he’s Hulk’s enemy, a bad guy with a complicated moral compass, kind of like Marvel’s Amanda Waller. But seeing Harrison Ford as Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World sparked my curiosity. This new series, crafted by Benjamin Percy and Geoff Shaw, is a solid introduction. While the narrative is straightforward and connected to a larger event, as indicated by the ‘One World Under Doom’ tie-in, it offers an easy and enjoyable read, requiring minimal prior knowledge.
Credits: Marvel Comics
High above the Yellow Sea, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross’s risky plan to infiltrate the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Facility and destabilize North Korea goes explosively wrong. Surviving the assault, Ross finds himself a prisoner of Doctor Doom for six months. Recognizing Ross’s military expertise and discipline, Doom intends to exploit his strategic mind for his vision of “One World Under Doom.” Ross is subjected to rigorous tests and war games designed to anticipate threats like the Avengers and Fantastic Four, forming a crucial part of Doom’s “Think Tank.” Meanwhile, fellow prisoners Deathlok, Simon Ryker, Hugo Perez, Li Wan Tang, and Machine Man secretly communicate, revealing Doom’s pattern of collecting specialized individuals for his global conquest. As Ross and his fellow prisoners begin to plot their escape, a chilling certainty hangs in the air: Doctor Doom won’t let them leave without a fight.
Credits: Marvel Comics
Benjamin Percy and Geoff Shaw’s work here is standard. Nothing jumped out at me as particularly groundbreaking, but it hooked me enough to see where the story goes. Percy throws you right into the thick of things, but you’ll probably get more out of it if you have some Red Hulk background. Just know he’s a supervillain. And speaking of villainy, I get he’s a bad guy, but the gratuitous killing rubbed me the wrong way. There had to be a less destructive way to enter the nuclear research facility without killing a bunch of civilians. It felt unnecessary.
On the flip side, I’m a sucker for a good villain team-up, that ‘dirty dozen’ vibe where they’re forced to work together. Percy nails the team dynamic, fleshing out their motivations and building a diverse group of supervillains and civilians. It’s a recipe for some interesting conflict.
Geoff Shaw’s use of nine-panel grids is effective for pacing and showing the progression of events. I enjoyed the splash page with the prisoners using Morse code – the subtle variations in their poses and outfits against the drab prison setting were a nice touch. And Shaw’s action sequences are solid. The montage of Red Hulk’s “War Games,” seen through Ross’s perspective, is visually impressive, with Red Hulk wreaking havoc on jets, tanks, and even the White House. My main concern is whether this story is truly essential. It feels like a tie-in, and if you’re not already invested in Red Hulk, I don’t think this comic will change your mind. It’s competent, but ultimately, it plays it safe.
Credit: Marvel Comics
Bryan Valenza’s gritty coloring really sets a grim tone for the artwork. He uses heavy shadows on Red Hulk, making him genuinely menacing. And the deep, dark shades amplifying Doctor Doom’s green energy make it look particularly ominous and striking. The sound effects are fantastic. I especially love the powerful “Kunch” as Red Hulk rips off the plane doors and the hilarious “Crash” when his massive hand punches through the roof. And Corey Petit’s lettering during the Morse code scenes is a real highlight. The variety of onomatopoeia for each prisoner – “tks,” “chngs,” “snks,” “klks,” and “chks” – shows great attention to detail.
Red Hulk #1 delivers a solid, if standard, introduction to the character within a “One World Under Doom” tie-in, showcasing Red Hulk’s capture and forced collaboration with Doctor Doom. The issue excels in establishing a “dirty dozen” team dynamic among the prisoners. It features strong artwork, particularly in action sequences and creative lettering for coded messages; though the story feels somewhat non-essential, gratuitous violence detracts from the experience.
‘Red Hulk’ #1 Review: Red Hulk vs Doctor Doom!
Red Hulk #1 delivers a solid, if standard, introduction to the character within a “One World Under Doom” tie-in, showcasing Red Hulk’s capture and forced collaboration with Doctor Doom. The issue excels in establishing a “dirty dozen” team dynamic among the prisoners. It features strong artwork, particularly in action sequences and creative lettering for coded messages; though the story feels somewhat non-essential, gratuitous violence detracts from the experience.
