Hulk Vs.: Marvel jumps into the animated movie fray
• "Hulk Vs." is available on DVD in a single disc and two-disc versions, as well as on blu-ray. It is rated PG-13.
For a long time, Marvel Comics owned the comic book feature film, with “Spider-Man” and “X-Men,” and later on, “Iron Man” and “Hulk.” Their competitor, DC Comics, jumped into the fray with “Batman Begins” and it’s cash cow sequel “Dark Knight.”
But in the world of animation, the roles were reverse, with DC holding the crown with it’s “Batman” cartoon, “Justice League,” “Superman,” “Teen Titans,” “Legion of Super Heroes” and the current “Batman: The Brave and the Bold.” They also had a series of direct-to-DVD films that were pretty well received.
Marvel had some decent success with animated shows and some mediocre direct-to-dvd films, none of which had the staying power or acclaim of the DC shows. Things are changing for Marvel though, with the release of the well-made and action-packed “Hulk Vs.” DVD, which features two movies: “Hulk Vs. Wolverine” and “Hulk Vs. Thor.” These two films, which are animated in very modern style – as opposed to the gothic style of “Batman” – that mixes an Anime style with classic American animation.
The stories fit well into the classic comic book predicaments: what do two powerful people do when they meet? They fight. And fight. And fight. But you know what, it’s fun, brutal and exciting. Plus, the writers find a way to build a story into the movies, so it’s not just wanton fighting.
The special features are decent, with a couple of commentaries per film, as well as some featurettes and previews of upcoming animated series and films. The featurette I was most looking forward to was “Jack Kirby and Thor” (Kirby being the artist who created Thor in the 1960s with writer Stan Lee). It would have been nice to get a more in-depth look at Kirby, but instead it was a rather cursory look at the artist, best saved for novices. But it’s hard to blame then for catering the people new to the character.
For the long-time comic fans, the films offer up a nice interpretation of the comic, with appearances by some of the lesser known heroes and villains. If you’re at all a fan of comic books, or you enjoyed “Iron Man” or “Hulk” this summer, then “Hulk Vs.” is a great way to get your fix of your favorite heroes.
