Comics / Comic Reviews / Marvel Comics

Mythos: Hulk #1

By Geoff Hoppe
August 31, 2006 - 17:55

You know a comic book company means business when they break out the card-stock covers. Marvel’s done just this with Mythos: Hulk #1, which also costs four dollars, another special-issue red flag. Mythos: Hulk is a retelling of the Hulk origin story through the lens of writer Paul Jenkins and artist Paolo Rivera.  Rivera paints each panel in this book, as opposed to the standard penciler-colorist-inker trifecta it takes to produce most comics.

 

Paolo Rivera has illustrated a stunning first issue. Moments of this issue are sheer poetry: the reader is so seized by the individual images that he forgets about their place in the broader composition. Rivera marks Banner’s first transformation into the Hulk with a fantastic two-page spread that captures the violence of the metamorphosis. The Hulk should allow an artist to tap into the readers’ primal wrath, and Rivera succeeds in this task remarkably. The Hulk’s first attack delivers a Biblical dose of destruction that does the big green guy justice. Rivera has a Mignola-esque talent for drawing onomatopoeia; his “roars” and “thooms” almost shake in the readers’ hands. His art is not so admirable in domestic scenes, however. The first exchange between Bruce Banner and Betsy in the diner is unimpressive, and at times, he seems to struggle with facial expressions.

 

Paul Jenkins’ writing is fine thus far, but the story hasn’t progressed far enough to measure his talents. It will be interesting to see how he handles the later issues.  

 

I started skeptical, but this issue has grown on me. If you’re a Hulk fan, Mythos #1 is worth the extra dollar. Also, look into this one if you liked Kurt Busiek’s Marvels. The style is somewhat reminiscent.

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 - 16:51