Incredible Hulk (2023-2025) #1

The Incredible Hulk (2023) (Single Issues)

by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein (Artist)

THE AGE OF MONSTERS HAS BEGUN! As an enraged Hulk tries to take control of Bruce Banner's body permanently, a mysterious immortal turns every monster in the Marvel Universe against Banner in an attempt to free their creator, the primordial Mother of Horrors. With the help of an unlikely new friend, Banner and Hulk must try to stop the world from getting plunged into darkness in this terrifying new series!

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Horror

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2023

About the author

Phillip Kennedy Johnson earned a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas, where he served as Teaching Fellow for the Department of Jazz Studies, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Eastern Kentucky University. SFC Johnson has performed with the Lexington Philharmonic, Dallas Opera, Washington Symphonic Brass, and the Moscow Ballet, and was a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 2004 to 2005. SFC Johnson remains active as a composer, arranger, teacher, and clinician, and also enjoys a second career as a writer of comics and graphic novels. His work has been published by DC Comics, Marvel Comics, BOOM! Studios, and more.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay enough opening book for this iteration of Green Skin as Johnson brings the horror back to the book and especially body horror with an evil pursuer calling herself The Mother of Horrors, in case there is any doubt as to the direction it is going.
The young human viewpoint is Charlie, who is looking to run away from her deadbeat father. A reveal is made with her that I don’t want to spoil. Klein brings it with his art and really pencils an imposing Hulk.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moody, dark, and intriguing start. I enjoyed the direction, and I'm more inclined to go with this tone over the last run.

[Luke Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good start and a welcome return to the horrific tone of Immortal Hulk. The artwork is good and the story is interesting, though I'm not quite sure what is going on. I am intrigued to see where it goes, though, as opposed to the frustration that I felt trying to read Donny Cates' Hulk.

[John Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love it when Hulk runs end with the Hulk and Banner accepting each other and working as a team and then when the next run starts they're inexplicably at odds with and hate each other again. It's great. [/sarcasm]

[Kai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Naturally, The Incredible Hulk has great horror potential and I'm sure in the past decades there had been numerous stories that focus on the violent and terrifying qualities of the green monster. Phillip K. Johnson's new series continues this tradition with an opening that has the Hulk's brutality completely out-of-control and Bruce Banner helpless in the face of the relentless powers within him.

The issue opens in Iraq where ancient creaures are released. It's fairly certain that they will be the nightmarish foes, though for me it came as a surprise that they appear to be led Banner's wife possessed by demons. It is her that proclaims a new Age of Monsters and I'm interested to see on what side of the frontier the Hulk will eventually stand. So far there had been little in terns of narrative, but Nic Klein's artwork so far has been pleasantly dark and brutal. The monsters – including the Hulk's current incarnation – sure look capable to strike fear into the hearts of men.

I have to admit, I'm not familiar with what happened prior to the events depicted here. There is some talk of a Green Gate now closed, but I don't know what this implies. It probably harks back to Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman's run? I might try to catch up before the show continues.

Rating: 3.5

[Rockito · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far it seems Phillip K. Johnson is trying to recapture the lighting from Immortal Hulk. This is first issue is not even remotely close to that first issue of Immortal Hulk, but it's also not Donny Cates' Hulk so I'll take what I can get.

[Mat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent start to a new era of Hulk. Killer art as well. The Hulk as a horror comic? Sign me up!

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tras la accidentada etapa de Donny Cates en el "intercambio" de personajes con Al Ewing, vuelve a quedar claro que el Goliath Esmeralda va a seguir transitando por los terrenos más inquietantes auspiciados desde su misma génesis en los años 60. Donde no dejaba de ser un trasunto radioactivo del Dr. Jekyll y Mr. Hyde. Haciendo total inciso en este último y su naturaleza monstruosa, la cual a lo largo de las décadas y aventuras más corales junto a los Vengadores y otros super equipos, ha ido "dulcificándose" al punto de a veces hacer perder el interés en el personaje. Phillip K. Johnson recoge el testigo legado en Inmortal Hulk para seguir lanzando a Bruce Banner y al Gigante Verde en los mundos de horrores derivados de la Maldición Gamma de la Puerta Verde. Pues aunque parecía que la Pesadilla terminaba al cerrarla... Nada más lejos de la realidad, y una nueva amenaza está retorciéndose en las entrañas de la oscuridad para hacer emerger un reinado de todos los terrores que oculta en Universo Marvel.

Este primer número amplifica todo lo que puede el contexto general de parias de la sociedad, presentando a una adolescente de unos enfermizos suburbios que escapando de un monstruo en su propia casa, se acabará topando con otro. Nic Klein ilustra con un estilo bastante oscuro y siniestro que bien podría haber salido de la antaño conocida Línea Max. Recordándome en cierto sentido al cómic de The Zombie auspiciado en su día Kyle Hotz. Otorgando también a Hulk una apariencia bastante particular aunque solo parezca que se haya dejado el pelo largo.

[Issac Bright · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hulk Smash Marvel! Puny humans keep want to reboot Hulk. Think tiny pink brains write good story of Hulk. Hulk is the strongest story writer there is! Humans tell Hulk that Philip Johnson human thing is good for Hulk. Humans trick Hulk! Hulk not want to be monster or in Age of Monsters, Disney is Monster! Hulk smash Disney! Bah! Leave Hulk comic alone!

I agree Hulk. Once again they’ve rebooted your story and all I can think of doing is sticking my own boot up the bum of the creators of yet again another premiere issue. I’m not sure why this is getting such great reviews and accolades; it’s bunk. How do I know? Because I’m a Certified Hulk Expert of over 40 years (I have a degree and a cool pin button) and I know me some Hulk. I'm not sure why the Hulk has been cemented in the horror genre but it's time for it to stop. Full take at:
https://standupcomicreader.blogspot.c...

[Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid start, it looks like this story will be emphasizing the horror element of the Incredible Hulk. There is a lot being set up here but not much happens in this opening issue per say. I’m loving the look of the hulk here though

[Λευτέρης Αναγνωστόπουλος · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times I wonder if I ever gonna get a serious, R-rated Hulk movie, in the likes of Logan, with body-horror elements... I just wonder. If it ever happens, I'm gonna be there!

As for the first issue, it's what I love and I can't stop reading. Loved the art and the direction, great start.

[Norrin Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was really cool. It’s gross and spooky and intense and feels like it’s got great potential.

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn! Better than I thought it would be. Art was superb. Story is very interesting.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75
The art is beautiful. And Hulk and horror go together well. But the storytellung was confusing. I wasn't sure what was happening half the time.

[Aarthika · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was an ok start.

[Ernez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, I'm interested in it and like the art. Not sure about the villain though. We'll see.

[Glen Pettifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best Hulk

I'm a life long can of Hulk and I've read better. The art is good though and it's held my attention long enough to get me to the next issue.

[Django · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first comic is never good

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morbidly beautiful body horror artwork and storytelling that encourages it. A promising start.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely interesting. I like the cover and artwork--it reminds me of some of the Silver Age books with their Surrealist influence. I'm not sure I'll keep reading, but I might!