Marvel Comics: September 2009 Archives

I just watched the first two episodes of Marvel Super-Hero Squad on Cartoon Network.  I had to admit that I was wondering if this kid-friendly show (with cute condensed versions of Hulk, Iron Man, Wolverine, etc) would appeal to a veteran like me.  Well, the show had me hooked from the opening scene, which featured Stan Lee as the mayor of Super-Hero City.  The second episode had an establishing show with an X-Men pavilion, a SHIELD helicarrier, and the rainbow bridge leading out of the city to a floating Asgard.

If modern comics are know for decompressed storytelling--Marvel Super Hero Squad's episodes are compressed to the nth degree!  The second episode had Captain America, Falcon, Iron Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Thor and Hawkeye--tackling Dr. Doom's evil dudes--the Wrecking Crew, Modok, the Abomination, etc.  The jokes on this show just keep coming--sometimes in the most bizarre ways!  Modok and the Abomination play a video game together.  At one point the Hulk jumps off the Helicarrier to join a fight but winds up with a Mexican band--wearing a sombrero.  Another scene features the heroes looking for a powerful fractal (the series MacGuffin) in a fountain.  The camera pans up and you see the fountain is a statue of Lockjaw, with the water spewing out of his mouth and tongue.

The Hulk provides a lot of comic relief, in his "Hulk smash" persona.  One thing I noted in the opening credits--there seems to be a different Hulk joke each time?  In the first episode, Hulk changes into baby Hulk.  In the second episode credits, he changes into grey Joe Fixit.

The voice talent on this show features well known character actors--check out a list of them here on Valerie's site.  The Silver Surfer really sounds like a California beach bum and Thor's dialogue is cornier than ever ("Methinketh that what you thinketh").

Marvel Super-Hero Squad is a must-watch program for Marvel fans, young and old.  It's currently on Cartoon Network, Saturdays at 8:30am.  Nuff said!

I've been leaning towards the theory that the Red Hulk is none other than the Clay Quartermain.  After reading the latest Hulk #14, I'm absolutely certain that Rulk is the S.H.I.E.L.D.  agent--who appears to be seemingly dead!  Let me present my case to you, fellow Marvelites.

1.  Clay Quartermain has a history as Hulk supporting character with intimate knowledge of Bruce Banner.  He first appeared way back in Hulk 187 (1975) when Nick Fury assigned him to work with General T-Bolt Ross as SHIELD liaison.  I never really cared for Quartermain--he smiled like Dudley Do-Right all the time in these early appearances.  And he was far too handsome.  I'm sure later appearances tried to make him more realistic.  However, if Jeff Loeb is going to transform a former Hulk cast member into Rulk--no one is going to cry over Quartermain switching from good guy to bad guy.

2.  Quartermain makes a brief appearance in Hulk #2, alongside T-Bolt Ross in the helicarrier.  We're not supposed to think anything of it--Quartermain worked with Ross many times before on Hulk related matters.  Only this isn't really Quartermain, it's a fake, possibly an LMD (Life Model Decoy) that no one can detect.  The real Quartermain can't be seen at this point, because he has gamma irradiated green hair.

3.  Rulk's attack on the SHIELD helicarrier, also in Hulk #2.  How did a freaking red giant monster sneak onto the helicarrier undetected?  SHIELD security can be pretty loose, but even the dumbest agents would notice the Rulk getting off a carrier plane.

4.  It's very simple--Quartermain put on Samson's jacket as a disguise while in human form, and snuck around the helicarrier.  Quartermain has green hair now, and from a distance, he might resemble Samson.  He transformed into Rulk and attacked Iron Man and She-Hulk.  His intimate knowledge of the helicarrier allowed him to sneak through the helicarrier's passageways.

5.  Quartermain's corpse is discovered in Hulk #4.  As I said, this is an LMD and not the real dude.  Somehow, SHIELD can't detect that it's an LMD.  This is a red herring to throw you off track--but if you remember Batman: Hush, Jeff Loeb used this trick before.  Halfway through the story, it appears that the Joker has killed Tommy Elliott.  Tommy can't be Hush, right, because he's dead?  Wrong.  Same deal with Quartermain.  Loeb has said all the clues were in the first six issues of the new Hulk series that lead to Rulk's identity. 

6.  In Hulk #14, we learn that Rulk can shift back into human form, just like Jen Walters--it's under his control.  Domino sees a glimpse of Rulk through her sniper scope.  We see the square-jawed shape of his head, crew cut hair that is tinged with green.  It could be Sampson, but that is just another red herring.  Sampson is involved in this scheme somehow, but he ain't Red Hulk.  Compare the shape of the head to Quartermain's picture in Hulk #2.  It's the same guy.

7.  The Rulk's first person narration in Hulk #14 really makes this case concrete.  He talks about the USA going downhill, SHIELD collapsing, and Captain America's death.  When Rulk encounters Deadpool, he immediately recognizes the "freshman S.H.I.E.L.D. LMD's" that Deadpool is using for sparring practice.  All of this adds up to the fact that Rulk was former SHIELD agent Clay Quartermain.

I rest my case.  I've seen other fans on the internet point out other clues to Quartermain as well.  I'll have to eat my words if this turns out not to be true.  If it is true, I think the bigger mystery is with Ross and Sampson's involvement.  Nuff said.