Hulk: Winter Guard Special Review- Russian Superheroes
Hulk: Winter Guard Special #1 review- For an old time Marvel Comics fan such as myself, I was familiar with the Winter Guard. Back in the early 1980′s the original members were in Contest of Champions and some classic Incredible Hulk comic books drawn by Sal Buscema. Well, it turns out the Winter Guard is kinda like Damian Hospital and Tony Vahl’s Dream Seeker Universe: the team is cursed like The Soul Patrol, and it is a legacy group: when members die, they get replaced with similar looking heroes, and the MEDIA doesn’t know the difference.
Their arch-enemy The Presence is in Winter Guard Special as well. He’s a mysterious all-knowing energy eater. So what the heck does all of this have to do with the Hulk? Well, Igor the spy from Hulk #1 is in it. The Presence had mutated him into a giant gamma monster.
Hulk: Winter Guard Special #1 One Shot is written by David Gallaher and penciled by Steve Ellis. The colors are dark and murky…the artwork is OK for this issue, nothing exciting, though. This comic includes a reprint of from Incredible Hulk #393 featuring Igor the spy written by Peter David and drawn by Dale Keown.
This One Shot focused on the new Darkstar and how her amulet possessed the DNA/soul of her predecessor (The Presence’s daughter). Darkstar also was possessed by Igor after she defeated his mutated Starro state. She and the Crimson Dynamo died and were replaced in this issue. The Russian version of Captain America- Red Guardian VII- is particularly callous when it comes to replacing members.
Anyway, I don’t believe the Winter Guard as a team gets American comic book readers excited. It’s a great concept and a great idea- a replaceable and expendable heroes, but is more suited for Marvel MAX, Marvel Knights, i.e. mature readers. Winter Guard doesn’t belong in the mainstream Marvel Universe in 2010 unless they have a hot artist like Ed McGuiness, since everyone will buy it regardless. Yeah, call me a joy killer or creativity censor, but the truth is I don’t think it’s marketable enough for the fanboys.
So what does any of this have to do with the Hulk? Well, there’s no doubt Igor- the man who created the Hulk- will play a part in Fall of the Hulks, even though he’s just a spirit now. I guess it’s possible Winter Guard may get a mini-series down the road, but there’s no way it could sustain an ongoing monthly comic. The cover has a SIEGE logo on it- that’s another massive crossover. I guess Winter Guard will be in that? Right now Marvel has been pushing Dark Reign and War of the Kings (B and C List) and Fall of the Hulks.
Conclusion: This was an OK read. I wish it had some flashbacks, editor notes, or summary pages to bring me up to speed with the new Winter Guard, however. If not for the Peter David reprint there would be no Hulk in this comic.
Planet Hulk (Two Disc Special Edition)
If you liked this article, check out these:
- Incredible Hulk Movie Review
- Roger Ebert Hulk Review Mistake
- Siege: Storming Of Asgard Heroes And Villains # 1 Review
- Fall of the Hulks Gamma REVIEW and General Ross SPOILERS
- Hulk movie box office: sequel?
- Son of Hulk #16 Review (Skaar series review)
- Hulk 19 Review Marvel Comics
- Incredible Hulk #603 Review
- Incredible Hulk 606 Review: Dr DOOM vs Hulk, She-Hulk Dead?
- Red Hulk #1 Review Fall of the Hulks Marvel Comics
- THE INCREDIBLE HULK #1 The origin of the Hulk
- Fall of the Hulks Alpha Review: Origin of Red Hulk
- Siege Embedded #1 Review Marvel Comics
- More DailySkew photos and funny pics
- Red Hulk #16 Review
- Red Hulk #17 Review RULK SUCKS
- Incredible Hulk 605 Review: Mole Man vs Tyrannus
- Red Hulk #18 REVIEW: Origin of Doc Samson
- How Silver Sable Got Screwed by Marvel’s Jeph Loeb in HULK 17
- Skew Comic Book Review: The Essential Moon Knight, Vol 1.
Hmmm…here's my review:
Winter Guard Special #1 deals with Darkstar, and her legacy. It clears up some inconsistencies with the character. You failed to mention that the Hulk 393 reprint also featured the Winter Guard.
What makes this work is the power of Steve Ellis's artwork, whom you did not like.
He does a great job with these C-List Marvel characters, and David Gallaher (who is a fanboy himself who posts on CBR)writes the ultimate Darkstar One-Shot.
Ellis brings a fresh perspective to these characters.
His pages have heavy lines, dark compositions, and Russian grace. I'd like to see more of Ellis.
I don't think this One Shot related to Fall of the Hulks. I think this is set in the obscure corners of the Marvel Universe.
Now this was a real interesting comic because it is a great concept. Reminded me of Strikeforce Morituri. I liked it a lot – I even found the re-print of Hulk #393 pretty ingenious that it was fit in as a flashback. Solid issue! B+
Someone needs to retract the mediocre review.
Check out the CBR forums- 5 pages of compliments for Dave Gallaher's writing.
That's because Dave Gallaher actually *started* the thread and CBR forums are populated by fanboys who love humble and open-minded writers who asked (beg) for feedback for his comic.
Gallaher doesn't start that thread? Rip. Rip. Rip.
I didn't read this comic, nor will I ever will.
Thanks for the summary, Damion.
Pass.
>> That's because Dave Gallaher actually *started* the thread and CBR forums are populated by fanboys who love humble and open-minded writers who asked (beg) for feedback for his comic. >>
If you'll look back, you'll see I started one thread out of over a dozen. The very first one back in September was called "Look! The Glorious Return of The Winter Guard" and it was started by a psoted named "Azure". I'll be happy to provide the link, if you need it.
>> Gallaher doesn't start that thread? Rip. Rip. Rip.>>
As I started before the excitement over the Winter Guard dated WAY before I started posting on the board.
>> I didn't read this comic, nor will I ever will.>>
And you are certainly entitled to that. I had a blast writing it though.
>> He does a great job with these C-List Marvel characters, and David Gallaher (who is a fanboy himself who posts on CBR)writes the ultimate Darkstar One-Shot. >>
Thanks. I've been a fan of the character for a while. If you enjoy that, you may also like my Harvey award-winning webcomic that Steve Ellis and I created called HIGH MOON, it's available for free at: http://www.highmooncomic.com
>> Now this was a real interesting comic because it is a great concept. Reminded me of Strikeforce Morituri. I liked it a lot – I even found the re-print of Hulk #393 pretty ingenious that it was fit in as a flashback. Solid issue! B+ >>
Thanks
I did look at the previous CBR threads.
If there was so much buzz and excitement for the previews, you would have thought that someone would have *started* the official Winter Guard Review thread.
Look, I applaud your internet marketing campaign to create buzz and showcase positive reviews/comments so Joe Q can hire you to write more Winter Guard tales. Seriously.
But my theory still stands: by making your polite presence known most comic book geeks will 1) Think twice about ripping your comics 2) Show a little more respect and open-mindedness since the creator is watching their back 3) Soften up their reviews if they own a blog out of fear or to kiss up to you. I mean, come on, you know how ruthless IGN and CBR message boards are. It's hit and run, quick judgement rants. Jeph Loeb is Public Enemy #1, you know the drill. The fact that you are "nice" will kinda dampen the criticism a bit. Maybe you can convert a few fans in the process.
That's fine.
Compare your marketing campaign vs JMS, who fought the most ruthless Spider-Man fans on the newsgroups on every detail, and you win, hands down.
But understand that there will always be combative naysayers such as myself that don't want to drop money on Winter Guard (!)in this economy. I mean, the Hulk isn't even in it. It's like Marvel tricked fans into thinking WG was related to Fall of the Hulks.
WG is a webcomic at best in this economy. I mean G.I. Joe had Oktober Guard and DC had Soyuz and God knows who else. Russian teams are COLD in the U.S.
After re-reading the DailySkew review, I may change my opinion of WG in the future if you have absolute free reign to play with the characters in a DC Vertigo-like setting (whatever Marvel call their adult line now).
Perhaps showing the underbelly of Russia- the black market, mail order brides, mafia, crime, poverty, UFO beliefs, political propaganda, etc. because the interchangeable super-heroes fits very well.
Again, I didn't read the comic, but as long as WG is still in the safe and unrealistic Marvel 616….
I'll pass.
>> If there was so much buzz and excitement for the previews, you would have thought that someone would have *started* the official Winter Guard Review thread.>>
Well, they DID start their own WINTER GUARD week … so *shrug*
>> WG is a webcomic at best in this economy. >>
You know it was a webcomic / digital comic already, right?