Strange Tales #2

Peter Bagge's cover for this second installment of Marvel's three-part Strange Tales anthology delivers an utterly charming sight: a big, scowling Hulk squeezed into a doorframe, clutching a colorful bouquet and a heart-shaped "Be Mine" candy box, grumbling "Hulk shoes hurt." It's a wonderfully absurdist spin on Marvel's green giant, rendered in Bagge's rubbery, exaggerated style — with a framed photo of Bruce on the wall adding a perfect deadpan flourish. Inside, the anthology format brings together an eclectic roster of indie sensibilities applied to the Marvel Universe, making this 2009 Marvel Knights release a genuinely fun read for anyone who appreciates comics wearing their humor on their sleeve.