Today we will be taking our first look at a true horror title, The Immortal Hulk. I’ll go ahead and admit that I have never been a huge Hulk fan. The last time I got really invested in a Hulk story was Planet Hulk, and that story, much like this one, was a departure from a normal Hulk story. We can talk about Planet Hulk another day though.
In the original Hulk comics, the Hulk came out at night, and he was more of a monster than a hero. The Hulk was meant to be Marvel’s take on Jekyll and Hyde. He was the well-meaning scientist who couldn’t contain the monster within, but as time went on he became more and more of a heroic character. Both Bruce and the Hulk became misunderstood heroes.
To set the stage for this book, you need to know that the Hulk had been killed (Civil War II). Recently he returned with very little explanation. The Immortal Hulk reveals that even though Bruce Banner can die, the Hulk is Immortal (hence the title). If Bruce is killed, a very angry Hulk will rise again that night, and you definitely won’t like this Hulk when he is angry. This is a fun return to the Hulk’s original status quo, but with a darker twist.
Most issues tell standalone horror stories with Bruce traveling the US and investigating strange occurrences somehow linked to gamma radiation with the Hulk dealing with any problems that arise. The stories all have some connection though, a mysterious and seemingly supernatural green door. The horror elements in the book come from both the occurrences being investigated and the Hulk himself. The personality of the Hulk differs based on the writer. In the past the Hulk has usually been a childish but well meaning brute, but he has also been a gangster, a raging force of nature, or even a scientist. Al Ewing’s take on the Hulk is more cunning than the standard Hulk with a strong thirst for vengeance. He is sadistic, and he is terrifying.
Fair warning, this book is not for the faint of heart. Both the story and the art are nightmare fuel, and they just seem to get more disturbing the further the story goes. The book’s focus is on undead monsters after all. There is a lot of gore, violence, and even psychological horror here.
I’m not completely caught up with the story, and the series is still ongoing, but while this isn’t normally my favorite style of book, it has been an engaging read so far. I’m sure horror fans and Hulk fans will probably both find a lot to like. If you want to check out a scary book set in the Marvel universe then you can pick up The Immortal Hulk Volume 1 right here.
Comicexile.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.