Hulk #3
(W) Donny Cates (A/CA) Ryan Ottley
RATED T+
In Shops: Jan 19, 2022
SRP: $3.99
“SMASHSTRONAUT” PART 3 OF 6!
There is another Bruce Banner! But where is his Hulk? The answer to that question? Well, it’s a doozy. And it’s about to change our Hulk’s entire course of action! The most insane, action-packed HULK story you’ve ever read gets even MORE epic as Donny Cates and Ryan Ottley take things to a whole other level!
Fans will get a chance to dive into Marvel Comics’ latest crossover event Devil’s Reign and the latest epic in Donny Cates and Nic Klein’s hit run on Thor with new printings of Devil’s Reign #2 and Thor #20! These sold-out issues will be available at comic shops starting on February 16, complete with exciting second printing covers.
Wilson Fisk has set the Marvel Universe on a dangerous and violent path in Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’s Devil’s Reign #2. Systematically leveraging the power of his office against the heroes of the Marvel Universe, Fisk takes his most dangerous and craven step yet… The THUNDERBOLTS are reporting for duty! ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Hizzoner isn’t the only one with ambitions—the forces he’s marshaled do as well. You know what they say about honor among thieves…
Mjolnir is on a rampage across the realms and is leaving death and destruction in its path in Thor #20, part two of Donny Cates and Nic Klein’s latest Asgardian epic! Thor must act fast to save his kingdom for the deadly prophecy of the God of Hammers is about to be unleashed! Thor #20 will receive two covers, one of which presents the final page of the issue where fans saw the God of Hammers for the first time!
This April, the halls of Asgard will erupt with thunder as its greatest legends return home to tell thrilling new tales in an oversized spectacular honoring 750 issues of Thor!
Thor #24 will take place in the aftermath of “God of Hammers,” the latest epic in writer Donny Cates and artist Nic Klein’s hit run on the title. After a scorched-earth victory, Thor and all of Asgard reel from a brutal loss. And as Thor and his allies come together so will fan-favorite creators from throughout Thor’s history! In addition to the main story by Cates and Klein, join some of Thor’s most acclaimed writers and artists as they revisit their landmark runs with all-new adventures:
Celebrate the long and storied history of the God of Thunder with the writers and artists who helped build his legacy when Thor #24 hits stands in April.
Fans will get a chance to dive into the future of Marvel Comics as well as the latest thrilling eras of their favorite heroes with new printings of Timeless #1, Venom #3, Hulk #2, and Moon Knight #6! These sold-out issues will be available at comic shops starting on February 9, complete with new second printing variant covers!
Writer Jed MacKay teams up with all-star artists Kev Walker, Mark Bagley, and Greg Land in one of the most talked about comics of year, Timeless #1! This special year-ending adventure gives portents as to what is to come in the Marvel Universe over the next twelve months as readers join Kang the Conqueror in a war against time! Kang is a warrior, a destroyer, a subjugator-but even he is subject to the whims and vicissitudes of time itself. So when a parallel timeline threatens to overwrite the future Kang has fought so long and so hard to control, the master of the ages has no choice but to go to war with time itself, battling through days of tomorrow as he struggles to prevent the end of what is to come! Featuring all the major players in the Marvel pantheon and astounding surprises! Timeless #1 will receive three second printing variant covers, including a brand new piece by Jesus Saiz as well as covers by Mark Bagley and Humberto Ramos.
Donny Cates and Ryan Ottley’s epic takeover of Hulk will go to places you won’t believe! Hulk #2 sees Bruce Banner finally having total control with the Hulk locked away. But with a tight grip on his plans, Bruce forgot one thing…variables can happen at any time…and this one? Even Bruce couldn’t have imagined. The craziness continues, as the Hulk hurdles farther into space, but he is not alone out there!
Jed MacKay and Alessandro Cappuccio’s transformative and acclaimed work on the Moon Knight mythos is just getting started in Moon Knight #6. Beaten, bloody, his world burning down around him-this was how the Moon Knight was born. And now it’s happening all over again. Outmaneuvered, outgunned, out-planned, Moon Knight’s mysterious enemy has strode out of the shadows to strike-and when this villain strikes, they strike true. At the mercy of a maniac, will Moon Knight die yet again?
The latest symbiote saga continues in Ram V and Bryan Hitch’s Venom #3. As everything Dylan Brock has come to know and love unravels around him, he is beginning to realize a terrible truth: The Venom symbiote is not a harmless pet, no matter how much it pretends to be one. It’s an alien. A dangerous, violent, often bloodthirsty alien. Whatever bond it had with Dylan’s father, Eddie Brock, special as it may have been…is gone. And Dylan might be soon too.
The first arc of Donny Cates and Ryan Ottley’s mind-blowing Hulk saga will reach its epic climax as Bruce Banner’s control over Starship Hulk slips…and something much worse takes the wheel. The new threat that emerges promises to smash the Hulk mythos to its core and will fuel Bruce Banner’s rage for the foreseeable future.
Check out your first glimpse of this new powerhouse Hulk character on Ryan Ottley’s cover for Hulk #6 and stay tuned to upcoming issues of Hulk to learn more!
Thor #20
(W) Donny Cates (A/CA) Nic Klein
RATED T+
In Shops: Jan 05, 2022
SRP: $3.99
“GOD OF HAMMERS” PART 2 of 5
Mjolnir is on a rampage across the realms and is leaving death and destruction in its path! Thor must act fast to save his kingdom for the deadly prophecy of the God of Hammers is about to be unleashed!
Donny Cates is currently taking two of Marvel’s most iconic characters on transformative journeys in the pages of Hulk and Thor. And this April, the acclaimed writer will smash both sagas together in an all-new epic: Hulk vs. Thor: Banner of War!
Celebrating the two heroes’ 60th anniversaries, this five-part crossover will kick off in Hulk vs. Thor: Banner of War Alpha #1 before exploding in the pages of both Hulk and Thor’s hit solo titles throughout May and June. Tackling ongoing mysteries from both series and featuring artwork by rising star Martin Coccolo and covers by legendary artist Gary Frank, the story promises to deliver Thor and Hulk’s most glorious battle yet and the showdown will have a shocking impact on both characters’ futures.
In the aftermath of the opening arc of Hulk and the “God of Hammers” arc currently unfolding in Thor, both Bruce Banner and Thor Odinson have both undergone massive changes, but one thing remains constant — their heated rivalry! When mysterious circumstances bring them into conflict once more, will the God of Thunder be able to triumph against a Bruce Banner who can now control his rage?
Be there for the fight that will smash the Marvel Universe at its core when Hulk vs. Thor: Banner of War #1 arrives on April 27.
With a new series, the status-quo for the Hulk has changed. It has changed a lot. As revealed in the first issue, the real threat to the world is the Hulk, it’s Bruce Banner. The Hulk was actually protecting the world from Banner who is the one who could destroy everything. Now, Banner has taken over in the Hulk’s body using the Hulk’s anger as fuel to power the engine to the machine/Hulk hybrid Banner has constructed. Then there’s the whole apparitions that Banner is seeing too. He might be losing it. There’s also a pocket dimension that Banner has guided his Hulk “starship” through. Yeah, as I said, it’s a new status-quo.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t completely sure what to think of the debut issue. There was a lot to like but the concept overall felt a bit mixed as if it didn’t know if it wanted to be sci-fi, horror, or comedy. In the end, it was a mix of it all and generally worked in a weird way. Hulk #2 continues Donny Cates and Ryan Ottley‘s vision for the Hulk continuing to mix sci-fi, horror, and comedy together for a result that’s again a bit different.
The issue continues the setup of what’s to come as the Hulk hurtles through the pocket dimension and already causing destruction. There’s something interesting to what Cates and Ottley has done with the issue. The Hulk, of no real fault of his own, has again caused death and destruction unaware of what has been done. There’s something to say about the Hulk’s nature and past through this small detail.
The issue also continues the interesting mix of genres and styles. The series is completely entrenched in sci-fi/horror but Ottley’s exaggerated art style drives into comedic territory. There’s an over-the-top aspect to the art that makes it hard to not laugh at. Ottley is joined by Cliff Rathburn on ink, Frank Martin on color, and Cory Petit on the lettering. The team creates a style that really sets the tone for the story being crafted with Cates. Any other art style and lettering and the series would have a very different feel to it. The visuals to the comic help make it and takes the comic from its rather serious concepts to “comic” territory that you can’t take too seriously.
Hulk #2 gives us a bit better of an idea as to where the series is going and takes us much deeper into the sci-fi aspect of it all. There’s still a lot of questions out there and it’s kind of obvious as to where the series is going in some of its aspects but it feels like it’s going to deliver one hell of a ride. This is a very unique take on the characters and one that definitely is keeping readers on their toes.
Story: Donny Cates Art: Ryan Ottley
Ink: Cliff Rathburn Color: Frank Martin Letterer: Cory Petit
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Read
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics
Netflix has picked up another comic property, God Country the comic series created by Donny Cates with art by Geoff Shaw, color by Jason Wordie, and lettering by John J. Hill. Legendary and AfterShock Media are producing the film with Jim Mickle directing. Mickle was announced as the director in June and adapted the screenplay along with Cates. Mary Parent, Ali Mendes, Lee Kramer, Jon Kramer, Jim Mickle and Linda Moran will produce the film.
God Country was originally published in 2017 by Image Comics to critical acclaim. The first issue immediately sold out and had to be reprinted four times before being collected in trade paperback.
In God Country, Emmett Quinlan is an elderly widower rattled by dementia. Emmett isn’t just a problem for his children–his violent outbursts are more than the local cops can handle. When a tornado levels his home–as well as the surrounding West Texas town–a restored Quinlan rises from the wreckage. An enchanted sword at the eye of the storm gives him not just a sound mind and body, but phenomenal power. He’s now the only man who can face the otherworldly creatures the sword has drawn down to the Lone Star State in a film that will bring a Western aesthetic to the superhero genre.
Hulk #2
(W) Donny Cates (A/CA) Ryan Ottley
RATED T+
In Shops: Dec 15, 2021
SRP: $3.99
“MAD SCIENTIST” PART 2 OF 6
Bruce Banner finally has total control with the Hulk locked away. But with a tight grip on his plans, Bruce forgot one thing…variables can happen at any time…and this one? Even Bruce couldn’t have imagined. The craziness continues, as the Hulk hurdles further into space, but they are not alone out there!
