Head Control System
11-11-2007, 01:23 AM
The following may contain spoilers. :eek:
First off: I do not post this out of mean-spiritedness. I, like many other readers, have my fair share of grievances as far as WWH goes, but nonetheless, I am in debt to Marvel for providing me with an enjoyable avenue of killing time at work. My goal in this topic is to I present how I, were I the writer, would have approached the following issues in the pages of World War Hulk:
1. Jobbing. There's no question that Hulk can take on just about any of the earthbound heroes in the MU and come out on top, and that goes double for the current Hulk, who's the most angry he's ever been, AND the most controlled (there's a deadly combination if there ever was one). However, when whoever he goes up against acts out of character or isn't shown to be at the top of their game for unexplained reasons, it really diminishes the overall smash effect.
A lot of fights in WWH play out this way, and it's too bad, because writing them more believably would make for a much more satisfying read for all involved.
2. Moral ambiguity. This is probably the hardest pill to swallow as far as WWH goes for me. Hulk's actions are understandable, but the way the narrative frames them is haphazard. Hulk points the finger, accusing the Illuminati of exhiling him for being a monster when they are monsters as well; not only is this a dubious claim for the simple fact that neither Hulk (in a non-literal sense, of course :p ) nor the Illuminati are monsters, but the narrative proceeds to scrape together some flimsy justification for Hulk's actions, even though this guts the whole premise of them all being monsters.
A much better way to demonstrate the point of the Illuminati holding Hulk to a double-standard would have been to point out that the members of the Illuminati have caused or are capable of causing just as much (or more!) collateral damage than the Hulk in the course of their own histories. This not only does a better job of highlighting their high-handedness, but it allows the flow of events to convincingly vindicate Hulk.
Now, with that in mind, here's my issue-by-issue synopsis of WWH, as if I were writing it in such a way as to avoid the aforementioned pitfalls. Since I wrote most of these in a hurry, the dialogue is a little rough around the edges, but hopefully convey the gist of things.
Tell me what you think!
WWH #1 - Black Bolt
-BB receives a message from Hulk demanding an audience, lest "your kingdom suffer the same fate as mine." BB wonders what Hulk means and expresses worry over his apparent return. While noting that this Hulk appears more eloquent than he has ever been before, BB fears for what Hulk might be capable of, and agrees to meet with him (better safe than sorry). BB intends to go alone, but Medusa insists on coming with him.
-BB and Hulk face off with Medusa interpreting. BB orders Hulk to depart, promising not to trouble him if he does so. "Typical of a weak king to grovel when all he holds dear is at stake," Hulk mocks. BB coldly indicates that he is not afraid of Hulk. "My king has defeated you before and can do so again," Medusa translates. "My king's voice is unlike any other. It causes disruption on an atomic scale. If it can destroy a planet, just think of what it can do to you."
-BB notes Hulk's ship, and that Hulk must have arrived with friends.
-"I know how it works," Hulk snaps. "I used to be something of a genius," he towers over BB. "I am fully aware of what your king is capable of. He's made me more powerful than ever before." Hulk advances towards the Inhumans threateningly.
-"What is it you want?" Medusa asks. "Revenge," Hulk replies, almost upon the pair.
-"Enough," Black Bolt whispers. "You were warned," Medusa says, but when the dust clears, Hulk is still standing. He's pretty messed up, but his wounds are healing fast. "You underestimate me, Black Bolt," he growls as he again advances. "Last chance to stand down."
-"His fearsome voice is just one my king's many powers," Medusa says as Black Bolt uses his electron manipulation to transmute Hulk's forearms to stone. "My king could have vaporized you where you stand with a word or turned your whole body to stone, but he does not, because unlike you, he is merciful. A strong king knows the power of restraint."
-"..and that's your king's weakness," Hulk bites out, focusing all his strength into a tremendous blow to the surface of the moon that shatters his stone forearms. "You have to be willing to do anything to protect what's yours, be it your freedom--or your kingdom. I've heard your whisper, now I want to hear your scream!"
-Hulk's blow triggers a tremor so powerful that it threatens to collapse the moon. Worried about his people, BB uses his powers to contain the quake, holding the moon together, but in doing so, momentarily forgets Hulk. "Black Bolt!" Medusa cries as Hulk launches himself at the monarch, delivering a vicious kick to his windpipe that sends BB into orbit.
-BB is dazed and coughing up blood, but concern for Medusa and his people drive him back to the scene of the crime in short order despite his discomfort. "Guess I won't get to hear you scream after all," Hulk taunts, noting BB's collapsed throat, "but if you don't surrender, we will hear her scream," he promises, holding a barely conscious and bruised Medusa in a bear hug. "Sorry, Black Bolt, but as the most powerful of your cabal, you were the logical first choice. I, too, have lost a kingdom, but if you surrender, no harm will come to it--which is more than can be said for mine."
-"My king, no!" Medusa protests, but BB doesn't hesitate. He surrenders.
-Last panel: Hulk KO's him while promising "New York is next!"
This issue is narrated almost entirely by BB with some commentary from the Warbound, who observe the battle. We see that 1) Hulk is more powerful and more ruthless than ever, and 2) he's more focused and more cunning than ever, not playing his hand too soon, and coming at the Illuminati with a plan. The fight is not off-panel; Hulk takes BB by surprise, believably overpowering and disabling him, not leaving the reader to infer how Hulk obtained BB's cooperation. It's not BB's voice that knocks a chunk the size of Rhode Island off the moon, but Hulk's punch.
(I'll post the next one shortly. For the record, I originally posted these on GameFAQs Comics & Graphic Novels message board.)
First off: I do not post this out of mean-spiritedness. I, like many other readers, have my fair share of grievances as far as WWH goes, but nonetheless, I am in debt to Marvel for providing me with an enjoyable avenue of killing time at work. My goal in this topic is to I present how I, were I the writer, would have approached the following issues in the pages of World War Hulk:
1. Jobbing. There's no question that Hulk can take on just about any of the earthbound heroes in the MU and come out on top, and that goes double for the current Hulk, who's the most angry he's ever been, AND the most controlled (there's a deadly combination if there ever was one). However, when whoever he goes up against acts out of character or isn't shown to be at the top of their game for unexplained reasons, it really diminishes the overall smash effect.
A lot of fights in WWH play out this way, and it's too bad, because writing them more believably would make for a much more satisfying read for all involved.
2. Moral ambiguity. This is probably the hardest pill to swallow as far as WWH goes for me. Hulk's actions are understandable, but the way the narrative frames them is haphazard. Hulk points the finger, accusing the Illuminati of exhiling him for being a monster when they are monsters as well; not only is this a dubious claim for the simple fact that neither Hulk (in a non-literal sense, of course :p ) nor the Illuminati are monsters, but the narrative proceeds to scrape together some flimsy justification for Hulk's actions, even though this guts the whole premise of them all being monsters.
A much better way to demonstrate the point of the Illuminati holding Hulk to a double-standard would have been to point out that the members of the Illuminati have caused or are capable of causing just as much (or more!) collateral damage than the Hulk in the course of their own histories. This not only does a better job of highlighting their high-handedness, but it allows the flow of events to convincingly vindicate Hulk.
Now, with that in mind, here's my issue-by-issue synopsis of WWH, as if I were writing it in such a way as to avoid the aforementioned pitfalls. Since I wrote most of these in a hurry, the dialogue is a little rough around the edges, but hopefully convey the gist of things.
Tell me what you think!
WWH #1 - Black Bolt
-BB receives a message from Hulk demanding an audience, lest "your kingdom suffer the same fate as mine." BB wonders what Hulk means and expresses worry over his apparent return. While noting that this Hulk appears more eloquent than he has ever been before, BB fears for what Hulk might be capable of, and agrees to meet with him (better safe than sorry). BB intends to go alone, but Medusa insists on coming with him.
-BB and Hulk face off with Medusa interpreting. BB orders Hulk to depart, promising not to trouble him if he does so. "Typical of a weak king to grovel when all he holds dear is at stake," Hulk mocks. BB coldly indicates that he is not afraid of Hulk. "My king has defeated you before and can do so again," Medusa translates. "My king's voice is unlike any other. It causes disruption on an atomic scale. If it can destroy a planet, just think of what it can do to you."
-BB notes Hulk's ship, and that Hulk must have arrived with friends.
-"I know how it works," Hulk snaps. "I used to be something of a genius," he towers over BB. "I am fully aware of what your king is capable of. He's made me more powerful than ever before." Hulk advances towards the Inhumans threateningly.
-"What is it you want?" Medusa asks. "Revenge," Hulk replies, almost upon the pair.
-"Enough," Black Bolt whispers. "You were warned," Medusa says, but when the dust clears, Hulk is still standing. He's pretty messed up, but his wounds are healing fast. "You underestimate me, Black Bolt," he growls as he again advances. "Last chance to stand down."
-"His fearsome voice is just one my king's many powers," Medusa says as Black Bolt uses his electron manipulation to transmute Hulk's forearms to stone. "My king could have vaporized you where you stand with a word or turned your whole body to stone, but he does not, because unlike you, he is merciful. A strong king knows the power of restraint."
-"..and that's your king's weakness," Hulk bites out, focusing all his strength into a tremendous blow to the surface of the moon that shatters his stone forearms. "You have to be willing to do anything to protect what's yours, be it your freedom--or your kingdom. I've heard your whisper, now I want to hear your scream!"
-Hulk's blow triggers a tremor so powerful that it threatens to collapse the moon. Worried about his people, BB uses his powers to contain the quake, holding the moon together, but in doing so, momentarily forgets Hulk. "Black Bolt!" Medusa cries as Hulk launches himself at the monarch, delivering a vicious kick to his windpipe that sends BB into orbit.
-BB is dazed and coughing up blood, but concern for Medusa and his people drive him back to the scene of the crime in short order despite his discomfort. "Guess I won't get to hear you scream after all," Hulk taunts, noting BB's collapsed throat, "but if you don't surrender, we will hear her scream," he promises, holding a barely conscious and bruised Medusa in a bear hug. "Sorry, Black Bolt, but as the most powerful of your cabal, you were the logical first choice. I, too, have lost a kingdom, but if you surrender, no harm will come to it--which is more than can be said for mine."
-"My king, no!" Medusa protests, but BB doesn't hesitate. He surrenders.
-Last panel: Hulk KO's him while promising "New York is next!"
This issue is narrated almost entirely by BB with some commentary from the Warbound, who observe the battle. We see that 1) Hulk is more powerful and more ruthless than ever, and 2) he's more focused and more cunning than ever, not playing his hand too soon, and coming at the Illuminati with a plan. The fight is not off-panel; Hulk takes BB by surprise, believably overpowering and disabling him, not leaving the reader to infer how Hulk obtained BB's cooperation. It's not BB's voice that knocks a chunk the size of Rhode Island off the moon, but Hulk's punch.
(I'll post the next one shortly. For the record, I originally posted these on GameFAQs Comics & Graphic Novels message board.)