Maestro #3 - Marvel Comics

MAESTRO No. 3, December 2020

There was clearly a lot for this comic’s 29,500 readers to enjoy whilst perusing this seventeen-page periodical, considering that Peter David’s plot involves a pulse-pounding bout of pugilism featuring Hercules Panhellenios, an initially moving reunion with an elderly Rick Jones, and an almost “Resident Evil” vibe permeating the balding Hulk’s exploration of the long-abandoned Alchemax central science facility. In fact, on paper Issue Three of “Maestro” would appear to contain everything the evil incarnation’s return to comics promised back when the limited series was first announced by the character’s Maryland-born creator in May 2020.

Disappointingly however, once Bruce Banner’s alter-ego gets his clock momentarily cleaned by the son of Zeus, the jade green Goliath’s personality arguably goes unconvincingly off-track and suddenly seems to degenerate into a downright malevolent psychopath who would rival Doctor Doom. Admittedly, this title's entire run is designed to portray the super-strong scientist’s pathway towards insane megalomania. But this book would suggest it occurs instantly, with the Hulk sharing an emotional meeting with his aged sidekick one moment, and then literally a beer later, angrily denouncing the ordinary people as sheep who need to be “ruled with an iron hand” because they destroyed the planet.

Similarly as bizarre is David’s suggestion that in order to rule Dystopia and the world beyond, Banner would need to create an army of giant cybernetic dogs so as to quell the city’s population. This formidable-looking state-of-the-art technological force, seemingly ridden by a horde of long-forgotten humanoid clones, debatably appears completely incongruous to the post-apocalyptic devastation previously depicted, and genuinely seems to smack of the American author struggling to create a plausible explanation as to how the Hulk could possibly replace Hercules as the decadent metropolis’ dictator; “There is a world beyond Dystopia. I have seen it. Strode across it. And now… I am ready to rule it.”

Luckily though, the writing for the three-page “Relics” appears a lot better, with a younger Rick Jones and Marlo Chandler stumbling across the adamantium skeleton of Wolverine amidst the destruction of World War Three. Short, punchy and surprisingly poignant, the pair’s confrontation with a couple of gun-toting scavengers is as well told as it is brief, and features some strong artwork from Canadian artist Dale Keown.

Writer: Peter David, Artist: German Peralta, and Color Artist: Jesus Aburtov