Of Fatherhood and Superheroes

Marvel has done so much so well over the last twenty years, or since Joe Quesada got the title belt, that there is too much to praise. But, I think whoever replied to "Our readership is getting older. How the hell do we keep ourselves attractive to 40-year-olds without slipping into porn?" with "By remembering that the idea that 40-year-old comics readers are all introverted virgins is a crock of shit. A lot of them are dads now, so let's connect with them by giving some of our characters children" deserves a six-figure salary.

Brilliant.

The work with Daken, Wolverine's son, and the sons of Hulk, has been amazing. And, in keeping with my uncanny sense of connection with Marvel, developed right as I was becoming a dad for the second time. So, I appreciate seeing James "Logan" Howlett struggle with a child who is making his same mistakes. I appreciate seeing characters like Hulk trying to break cycles deeply embedded.


See Incredible Hulk #611 for an example of that latter stated case. Greg Pak can straight-up write, and while I have not been a fan of the goofy multi-Hulks story lines going on recently, he's wrapping things up nicely.


Incredible Hulk 611 made me cry for several reasons and has my vote for best single issue of a superhero comic for 201.


Imagine, all these years we've seen the Hulk as a rampager, when it's possible that all along it took an entity as strong as the Hulk to protect the world from the wrath of Banner's pent up rage stemming from the abuse he witnessed and suffered as a child. Awesome stuff. Then have Hulk/Banner as father approached by a son bent on making him angry? Woah. And when child Skaar embraces his dad, finally knowing what he represents, illustrating that when we hate our fathers it's often because we don't know how to express our simultaneous love for them or have it validated, and also showing superhuman levels of forgiveness that can only come from children.....


Well, read the issue and tell me if you aren't moved, rattled, and shaken and struck, like one might expect to be if one found him/herself in a Hulk book, but in a totally different way.