Storyline: Rolling Thunder
Date: August 6, 2008
Price: $2.99 US
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Ed McGuiness

Synopsis: With the entire West Coast in peril, who can stop the battle of the Century when Two, count ‘em TWO Hulks, get to brawling? How about everyone’s favorite Thunder God — THE MIGHTY THOR!? He was out of town during WORLD WAR HULK — THIS is the match-up you’ve been DEMANDING! But can even a God stop the Red Hulk? Find out now!!!

Opinion: Issue 5 of Jeph Loeb’s mysterious Red Hulk storyline smashes into my buy pile!  Who is the Red Hulk!  Find out… next issue.  In this one, we see an epic, or at least would-be epic clash between the mighty Thor and the dangerously cynical Red Hulk.  We get a little more of a hint about who the Red Hulk might be, and definately who he isn’t.  We also get a glimpse of the heavy hitters assembled to smack Red Hulk upside the head next’ish.

Read my full review after the jump!

Man, what do people have against Thor?  Granted, he talk a little funny, and the whole blonde God thing is a bit out of place - but come ON!  Thor is Marvel’s classic heavy hitter!  Before The Sentry got fanboy panties in ruffles Thor was the go-to guy to lay thye smack down.  Jeph Loeb treats him like a B lister, yet uses him as an A-list plot device to sell the buzz on the book.  That’s just wrong dude!  I remember back in the day we’d have epic battles that went on for at least a couple issues.  This just feels cheap and stripped down.

That said, I absolutely love Red Hulk’s style.  The whole cynical tough-guy with brains to match is definately an interesting villian.  I love his commentary - and I am STILL reeling after the sucker punch leveled on the Watcher last issue.  That was pure gold right there.

Anyway, so we get to see that Hulk is not only stronger than Thor, but smarter.  Thor proclaims some lame villianesque verbiage, shaking his fist at Rulk as he lies beaten.  Pretty sad, actually.  After this very stupid fight, though, we get a bit of insight into Rulk’s identity.

Guess what?  Samson’s name is mentioned, again.  I really think Loeb is setting this up to be a red herring.  It’s been spelld out so distinctly that it’s lost it’s luster.  I do wish they were at least dropping other hints, maybe give us a few different people to point the finger at.

Anyhow - the last page of this issue confirms that Red Hulk is not Ares.  We have an article wherein Joe Quesada mentioned that’s who Red Hulk is; and it turns out he was pulling our legs (big surprise).

Looks like isssue 6 will be the conclusion, though.  So next month we will know who Rulk is for sure.

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