The gamma-powered DNA of The Hulk. The mutant healing factor of Wolverine. Adamantium nanobots. If you’re not afraid of Weapon H, you don’t fully understand the situation… Your Major Spoilers review of Weapon H #2 awaits!
WEAPON H #2
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Cory Smith
Colorist: Morry Hollowell
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Editor: Wil Moss & Darren Shan
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 18, 2018
Previously in Weapon H: “Hiding out in the Canadian wilderness from greedy corporate warmongers, Clay (A.K.A. WEAPON H) searches for peace and solitude… But a series of grisly murders in a local mining town stand in his way!”
“ANOTHER MONSTER? SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT…”
So, I missed issue #1 of this book, partly because I was sniffing a bit about the concept of a combination of Hulk and Wolverine into one guy. Red Hulk wasn’t to my liking, went my thinking, so this won’t be any better. As this issue opened, though, I found myself immediately dragged into the story of our as-yet-not-fully-named protagonist, Clay, a former mercenary who is the only successful attempt to hybridize the abilities of Wolverine and The Hulk into one form. Roxxon Oil is the bad guy here, having engineered a whole new, scarier and more powerful Wendigo, one which seems like more than Weapon H can handle by himself. When Doctor Strange arrives on the scene, things get even worse, as a bit of Weapon H’s gamma/mutant/cyborg flesh makes for one giant, terrible Wendigo, and even Strange’s epic magic axe isn’t enough to save the day by itself, forcing a Hail Mary play from Clay…
GIANT FREAKY WENDIGO
I have to say, I like this issue. While I’m still leery of the idea of hybridizing two popular characters, the strength of the story (with the reveal of what powers his transformations, and it’s not anger this time) and the use of the characters is really well done. I enjoy Cory Smith’s art here as well, with a gangly, skull-faced uber-Wendigo stealing the show, tons of big action and the sight of Weapon H manhandling a logging truck to save innocents from a landslide taking top honors. Pak’s script gives everyone life, even minor characters like the Wendigo’s doomed host, making the final moments of the story that much more powerful, with the promise of more smash-up action next time around…
BOTTOM LINE: I DON’T LOVE THE PREMISE, BUT IT’S A GOOD BOOK
In short, this comic is an example of why NOT to judge things based on your own preconceptions, as the strengths of this creative team make what sounds like a silly elevator pitch work. In fact, not only does it work, Weapon H #2 pulls it off with aplomb, making me care about our gray-skinned sort-of-hero, his family and what will happen to them while dealing in major league action, earning 3.5 out of 5 stars overall. This book is worth the cover price for Weapon H being swallowed whole, but the next scene doubles-down on that, making for one heck of a read.
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Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.