Planet Hulk #2

Writer – Sam Humphries
Artist – Marc Laming
Colours – Jordan Boyd

When Steve wakes up, he and Devil Dinosaur are still in Greenland but somehow and more importantly, they are not dead as a Hulk sits only mere feet away. This Hulk is not just any Hulk though, but Doc Green and he is here to help our two heroes though for what reason he keeps to himself. So it is that Steve, Devil and Doc Green head out for the Mud Kingdom, chatting about life and trying to avoid any sort of gamma-irradiated threat, be it creature or plant. If they thought they were going to get to the Mud Kingdom without any sort of conflict though, they were sadly mistaken. This issue of Planet Hulk may have started off a little slow but by the end things definitely pick up. One of the more interesting things to see Sam Humphries do in this book is to pair up Steve with Doc Green. Doc Green is a genius and it is quite obvious that this version of Steve Rogers is not and as the story plays out and the two converse, the differences between their intellects makes it a fun read. It was actually quite a surprise to see Doc Green in the book as it seemed that he was essentially forgotten going into this big event but as proven here, he was not. Marc Laming continues to do an outstanding job on the pencils and the scenes featuring Devil fighting off the Bull Hulks are some of the best in the entire book. It is still amazing to see that a book in the Marvel Universe, albeit an alternate one, features Devil Dinosaur in this day and age. If there is any sort of magic in the universe, Devil will make it out of Secret Wars to continue his adventures in one form or another. So far Planet Hulk might not be the best book to spin out of Battleworld, but it has been consistently entertaining and should only get better from here on out.

3.5 out of 5

John Carter: Warlord of Mars #8

Writer – Ron Marz, Ian Edginton
Artist – Ariel Medel
Colours – Nanjan Jamberi

After failing to find something to regenerate the atmosphere in last issue’s story, John Carter and Dejah Thoris are still on the hunt for something to save their dying planet. By chance, they come across some farmers in need of help as something is killing their livestock and they are soon made aware that it is not just livestock, but people too that are dying. Of course, what else is there to do but aid them and perhaps in the meantime, kill two birds with one stone? Joining Ron Marz on this book is Ian Edginton and the two craft a fun tale involving a mysterious threat who may just be more than a match for either of our heroes. The artwork is quite different from what it used to be in the book, but Ariel Medel still does a really solid job and lends the story a little moodiness and makes it just a bit eerie as well, suiting it perfectly. It is nice to see that after some really great books showcasing the science-fiction aspect of the property that Edginton and Marz inject a little horror into the title. While the book has been really good ever since the reboot, mixing up the genres a little will keep things fresh and opens up new possibilities for storytelling. The cliff-hanger is fun only because it is so clichéd and we have seen it many times before, not only in other comics but in this one as well, but be that as it may, John Carter: Warlord of Mars remains one of Dynamite’s better titles thanks to its creative team and the great job they do.

3.5 out of 5