Comic Review: The Immortal Hulk #1

The Immortal Hulk #1

Marvel Comics

Writer: Al Ewing

Artists: Joe Bennett

THE HULK CAN’T DIE! THE HULK CAN’T DIE! THE HULK JUST CANNOT DIE!

That pretty much sums up the press/ ad campaign for “The Immortal Hulk”. The premise that Bruce Banner is living out his deepest darkest fear. The beast that lives deep inside him way deep inside his belly, can never be killed. Banner will never be allowed to rest peacefully. All of this was enough for me to pick up the series because that sounds horrifying. Having to live knowing the worst part of you will always be around even if you die. It’s this kind of depressing, crushing superhero story that gets excites me. I can say this, after reading this series debut, my excitement knows no bounds.

The issue in its self is pretty self-contained. It starts off with an incognito (Bruce wearing a green baseball cap) Banner as a bystander in a gas-station robbery and being SHOT IN THE HEAD after the crook gets jumpy and accidentally kills a 12-year-old girl. They waste no time in showing us the Hulk’s resurrection in a morgue and he has an aching thirst only for revenge (and Sprite) can quench. I won’t go into the specifics of the entire plot, because I really think everyone should read this, it’s incredible (No pun intended, it’s just the right word for this comic.) One thing I will mention is that for some reason or another, The Hulk seems to have his complete wits about him. No “HULK SMASH!” or “HULK NO LIKE PUNY SPIDER-MAN”, nothing cute like that. The Hulk seems like a real cold calculating prick, which, by the way, is the most terrifying thing in the world!

Al Ewing has written an amazing comic here. The pacing is superb, it never leaves you waiting. It constantly delivers on something interesting each page. From hilarious dialogue from a degenerate biker gang to two cops discussing the possibility that The Hulk is in their town and cannot be killed, there is a never a dull moment. But, as good as Ewing is, the real star is Joe Bennet and company. The art in this book is simply stellar. Fear seems to be the main theme of this book, and it’s conveyed well in the eyes of all of the characters. It’s a specific look of pure terror that few people can capture (Steve Dillon is the name that pops into my head immediately). Not to mention, there is a two-page spread of The Hulk that gave me goosebumps.

All in all, this is an amazing debut issue, and I am 100% on board for this series as it goes on. Now, I will leave you with the quote that is printed in white text on a black background that opens up this issue:

“Man is, on the whole, less good than he imagines himself or wants to be” – Carl Gustav Jung