Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

World War Hulk Aftersmash Warbound #5 of 5
Marvel Comics
Pak, Kirk, Martin & Staples

Mercifully this mini series ends. Five issues that feels like it was three too many comes to a conclusion with one of the Warbound dying and another person taking their place. This series has spun its wheels all along and failed to capture any of the magic that World War Hulk or Planet Hulk managed to with these characters. In the aftersmash era Hercules got the best of the stories it would seem.

The issue begins with Miek telling the last of his stories. Instead of being a Tales of the Warbound, it’s just a straight up part of the issue. He shows Kate how she also betrayed the Hulk and basically acted just all the other Warbound has at one time or another: dishonorable. This story is very well crafted and told. The Miek tales have been a high point of this series. Unfortunately for this comic we don’t see him again after the third page.

Back to the fight that has dragged on for a couple of issues. It’s Hiroim’s old power versus whoever steps up to the plate. However, the Warbound figure out that their friend Kate has been selling them out all along. It almost seems she is working with the Leader. Kate, turns back into a friend of the Warbound and all is well. The problem with this is that it doesn’t make much sense. She already cried with these monsters and kissed another and we are to believe that she was trapping them and the Leader knew about it. And why wouldn’t Elloe just kill her on the spot?

Eventually Hiroim dies, then comes back, then the Leader gets stabbed and then recovers and fights Hiroim, who then dies again. The ending is that Kate absorbs the old power and becomes Kate-roim. Or She-Hiroim. The Leader, of course, escapes.

This issue was tiring.

Sure it had action but it was never clear how come only the Warbound were left to deal with the Leader. Also, it was never clear how Hiroim could die and come back seemingly at will, but is now, finally, dead. Added to the negatives was the fact that Brood was barely used and Elloe was only used as a device to show one of the Warbound still hating the humans. This series just felt unimaginative and too long and this issue just magnified those feelings all the more.

Another highlight beyond Miek was the artwork. Kate and Elloe look really awesome. The colors used on She-Hiroim and the Leader are just a couple of spots where this issue really shined. Add in that there is some great art with the Hulk and you have a really well crafty visual story.

So if you like Miek’s stories or good artwork you will like this issue. Even if you like mindless battles then you will like this issue. If you like plot and things to tie up neatly, well then, you may want to pass this by.

This issue concludes the Warbound for now. I don’t know what becomes of them, but I can tell you they cant survive on their own. Maybe they can join Herc’s title and become meaningful again. Or I guess they could wait until the Son of Hulk comes to Earth to find their next champion. Only the die-hards will want this one at this point.

2 out of 5 geek goggles.


World War Hulk Aftersmash Warbound #5 (of 5)