HULK #46

[ I WANT TO GO TO THE LOO ] 

There once was a man called Shah. Who wanted to borrow my Dads new car. My Dad said no, before he was going to throw, a five-sided pointed star. Please note, the word ‘star’ does not represent the following people or organisation, Writer: Jeff Parker; Artist: Patch Zircher; and Publisher: Marvel Comics in January 2012.

So what’s the story morning glory?

In this final part of ‘Hulk of Arabia’, we see Rulk and Machine Man in dire straights – and I do not mean the rock-group.

Now this all begins when the Dagan Shah, the Sultan Magnus, catches them both snooping around his inner sanctum. Bad idea – because this is where this Middle-Eastern maniac is at his most powerful – and he basically beats the ka-ka out of them before throwing them into a otherworldly vordex.

Thankfully, though, due to Machine Man’s quick thinking, the Arabian Knights sudden arrival, and the Rulks might, all three of these heroes are able to turn the tide of this battle, and propel Dagan Shah out of ‘zone of influence’ – so that they can handle him on more even grounds.

However, before this can come to pass, General Fortean comes along to f*ck everything up – the tit – because the Sultan has equipped himself with and official sanction to stay on this land unharmed.

What an ass-h*le.

What is the most memorable sentence spoken in this issue?

When Machine man acknowledged his earlier assessment relating to the Sultans power-level, I liked it when Rulk quipped ‘Well, bully for you’.

Sarcastic yet appropriate at the same time, don’t you think. 

Was the story any good?

Errr – I don’t know really. You see, I am perplexed with this final chapter - because it did entertain me - but at the same time it did not seem to go anywhere. Nobody won – nobody lost – and at the end of the day, a new bad-guy has been introduced.

Though, I do like this Sultan chappy – he reminds me of an Arabian Ming the Merciless, but with a more congenial complexion.

Was the art any good?

Hmmm – like my opinion on this story – I am not too sure about this either. The battle scenes were pleasant enough, and the overall story was well presented. But still – nothing too vivid or exciting to make it stand out from the crown. Moreover, I was not a big fan of the colour green in this issue – it felt too diluted in places, and too vivid in others.

Though I do like the Sultans hair though – very well groomed during combat. And I liked the way that Machine Man repaired himself also – very Terminator 3.

What is the best thing about this issue?

In a perverse way, I liked how General Fortean popped up once the battle was over, and screwed everything up for Rulk and Machine Man. Now I am not saying that Rulk could have kicked the Sultans ass, but then again, governments do have a way of messing things up when least expected, huh?

Hmm? Was this story an analogy of some kind?

What is the worst thing about this issue?

I was not that thrilled in that section where the Sultan replicated himself so he could beat up Rulk and Machine Man. Well, it did not seem to go anywhere did it? All that it did do, in essence, is delay the battle a page or two, before the Arabian Knight chopped his arms off.

Oh! And while I am on the subject of AK? Why was it never explained how he followed ‘the guys’ into the vortex? Also, why he just sodded off after the adventure with no word what so ever?

Strange, its as though he was never in this adventure at all!

If you could sum up this issue in a phrase or saying, what would that phrase or saying be?

Do you know what? I half excepted Rulk to say this phrase I am about it give you, whist he was walking off in the distance at the end of the issue.

‘Easy come, easy go’ – simple, yet subjective.

If this issue were a movie, an object, or a piece of music, what would that be and why? 

Well, as this is an Arabian based adventure, what better note to leave it on than some Arabian Belly Dance music, huh?

What do you think would have made this issue better than it was?

I would have added another character who could have ‘taken the piss’ out of the rest of the characters, just to inject some humor into the mix - and make this stoic adventure story more fun than a meandering tale.

Just a thought.

Final thoughts...

Now with Rulk’s daughter, Betty, turning up next issue in all her red glory – I hope that this title starts to integrate itself into its ‘incredible’ counterpart.

We need some resolution of this titles future, don’t we?

Marks out of 10? 7.5