Maestro #2 - Marvel Comics

MAESTRO No. 2, November 2020

As origin stories go, especially one purported to cover that of the incredible Hulk’s greatest foe, Issue Two of “Maestro” probably left many within its 33,000 strong audience somewhat bemused and perturbed. True, Peter David’s seventeen-page plot features some excellent cameos from the likes of Machine Man, Rick Jones and Hercules. But such notable ‘guest appearances’ are arguably drowned out in a seemingly endless carousel of crater-filled new locations, instantly forgetful supporting cast characters and an utterly bizarre attack by a swarm of super-hungry cockroaches which apparently would’ve eaten Bruce Banner’s alter-ego alive if not for a conveniently placed sonic wave cannon.

Indeed, the vast majority of this comic’s narrative seems to simply depict the green giant aimlessly wandering from destitute underground complex to farming settlement on a continent surprisingly packed full of life for a country supposedly wiped out by both bombs and plague; “We call ourselves the Wasteland Survivalists. We are endeavouring to restore nutrients to the ground in order to grow crops.” Disappointingly, these rather choppily-written meanderings start off so well too, with a demoralised Hulk thoughtfully taking stock of his depressing situation upon a partially-destroyed Mount Rushmore before disconcertingly discovering Aaron Stack’s secret bunker hidden beneath the remnants of the nation’s capital.

Happily however, despite the somewhat haphazard nature of its storytelling, German Peralta’s pencilling undoubtedly helps lift this comic’s readability courtesy of some extraordinary landscapes and the aforementioned dynamically-drawn attack of the killer insects. Hoover Dam, Las Vegas and the Lincoln Memorial are all superbly sketched in various states of decay, and it’s resultantly easy to see just why David stated prior to the mini-series’ launch that he felt the artist had “the perfect style, very dark and post-apocalyptic.”

Perhaps this publication’s most intriguing element though, is the quite delightful three-page tale “Relics”, which is stuck at the very back of the book. Featuring an adolescent Janis Jones and Dakord, the ‘short’ depicts the diminutive duo locating Thor’s hammer amidst the wreckage of Avengers Mansion, and rather enjoyably demonstrates that much to an elderly Rick’s utter exasperation, one of the fledgling Anti-Maestro Freedom Fighters is actually worthy to wield Mjölnir.

The regular cover art of "MAESTRO" No. 2 by Dale Keown & Jason Keith