Written by: Greg Pak
Art by: Frank Cho
Publisher: Marvel Comics
The Hulk is a character that has always been portrayed rather seriously in that he is a regular person trying to quell the raging beast that lives inside him. He has seen great loss over the years and the the idea of the gamma radiation that gave him his powers being a burden is something that has been explored over the Hulk’s storied history. However, with the newly relaunched Hulk series, Greg Pak and Frank Cho introduce a new kind of Hulk, one that is unlike any other seen before and one that like the comic’s name suggests, is totally awesome.
Amadeus Cho is the new Hulk and he is very much an almost prototypical teenager. He is into girls, likes to laugh, is a generally happy guy. Oh I meant he’s a prototypical teen other than the fact that and he’s a scientific genius and he transforms into a giant green monster who is able to literally go head to head with creatures from other planets. So maybe he’s not exactly completely your run of the mill teenager but Pak does a remarkable job of making the Hulk relatable nonetheless. This iteration of the Hulk is much more in control of his actions when he is the Hulk and he continues his hilarious quips as well as his attempt to impress girls both while in his human form and in Hulk mode. That being said the beast still rages inside and Amadeus struggles at times to keep it under control, although the way in which it is presented is very different than what came before.
There are a number of great moments in these first four issues that effectively establish Amadeus as a new type of Hulk, and a likeable one at that. He is also very humanized for someone who transforms as often as he does and his anchoring point is his sister Maddy. She is much more serious than her brother and the dichotomy between them is a joy to read and provides this book with a barrel full of laughs and serious moments. This book is also bolstered by guest appearances by Miles Morales and She Hulk. She Hulk is a formidable fighter and her obvious connection to the Hulk makes her a great choice for this first arc as it helps Amadeus settle in. On the flip side Spider Man (Miles Morales) is very much a fish out of water when it comes to fighting the enemy that takes up these first four issues and this is used for hilarious effect. He is very much one of the standout characters in this book and it would be a shame if he didn’t pop into this book every once in a while.
Now, to talk about the big green elephant in the room, Bruce Banner i.e. The Incredible Hulk. This book has a bit of an aura of mystery to it and there are flashbacks in every issue that go back to the moment in which Amadeus got his powers. These flashbacks are much darker than the main story and by the fourth issue there is a lot of emotion being built up. I’m not going to spoil what happens, but let’s just say that the flashbacks involve Banner and they are packed with emotional fallout will no doubt be explored in the coming issues.
What’s not sad however is Frank Cho’s art as he lives up to the totally awesome moniker that this series holds. His Art is bright and vibrant in the present and dark and moody in the flashbacks, effectively separating the two while making them feel like they still belong in the same book. His Hulk has a sort of punk kid vibe to it and the grin that often adorns Amadeus’ face is transferred flawlessly to his green alter ego. It’s unfortunate that issue four is the last one that Cho is drawing for the time being but judging from his past work, new artist Mike Choi is more that capable of stepping up to the plate.
With Totally Awesome Hulk #1-4 Pak and Cho deliver a fresh Hulk adventure, filled to the brim with wit, humor, serious moments and lots of the color green. If you are looking for a fun book with some weight to it or if you are just a fan of green, then Totally Awesome Hulk is totally the series for you.
