Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk #5
It’s the second last issue of the series. The title characters are bound to square off this time, right? Right?!
Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk #5
Now don’t get me wrong – I’m a fan of the Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk mini-series, but man, I wish writer Damon Lindelof would hurry up and show us the actual “vs” bit. Actually, after reading this issue, I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t going to actually be a “vs” bit at all.
A quick recap for those who haven’t been following the story so far… After Bruce Banner escaped from a high-security S.H.I.E.L.D. prison, Nick Fury sent Wolverine to track him down. Wolverine tracked him down. That – aside from an brief glimpse of She-Hulk – is about the sum of it, plot wise, up until now.
There have been plenty of memorable moments – Hulk surrounded by a bevvy of semi-naked concubines, Logan being literally torn in half – and a smattering of dark, sometimes bizarre, humour, but as far as story goes there has been a lot of talking about the action, but very little action actually taking place. Which isn’t to say this is necessarily bad. As one of the writers on TV’s Lost, Lindelof plays to his strengths, jumping between flashback and the present with the practiced ease of a veteran.
His dialogue is good, if sometimes a bit gimmicky, and he has a solid grasp on the characters themselves. Leinil Francis Yu and Dave McCaig’s artwork is pitch-perfect for the series, somehow managing to look messy and tight at the same time. From the bizarre action of Wolverine’s fight with a talking panda, to the quirkiness of Forge’s surprise appearance, the art team get each panel just right, and every page is a joy to look at.
I’m honestly not sure what I think of this issue. It feels a lot like a filler chapter, designed solely to position the cast for the big climax, and as such it was never going to rate too highly. Still, despite the lack of action, and the fact the Hulk barely appears at all, it was quite an enjoyable read.
Yes, it’s flawed, but it’s a reminder of how fun the Ultimate Universe can be, and for that I can’t rate it too low. Whether Lindelof can pull everything together in the last issue remains to be seen, but I’ll definitely be picking up #6 and finding out for myself.
