It's the final showdown - Bruce Banner versus General Fortean, a man willing to do whatever it takes to destroy the Immortal Hulk once and for all, even if it means turning himself into what he hates the most. As Shadow Base declares war on anyone with a gamma mutation, Banner has to decide what kind of Hulk he wants to be - and what kind of monster he has to become. COLLECTING: IMMORTAL HULK 21-25
I thought the last issue with the World Breaker space shit was kind of stupid, but I'm trusting that Ewing will take it somewhere cool.
However, the other issues were good. I liked the way it ended even if I was a bit bored by the general telling (yet another) Why I Hate the Hulk story. I also thought the art was iffy in that 1st issue. I'm just not crazy about that blocky stuff, and between that and the bland wah, wah, wah of General Fortean droning on about his perceived injuries, I just didn't get my normal high off of this volume. It's only listing one artist that I can find, but it seemed like the art style switched up and it got waaay better. Maybe I'm just crazy. And it really doesn't matter.
Definitely not my favorite volume of Immortal Hulk but it's still a good comic.
Immortal Hulk: Breaker of Worlds collects Immortal Hulk #21-25.
Here we are, volume five of the best Marvel comic going today. The Immortal Hulk, Red She Hulk, Doc Samson, the Absorbing Man, Titania, and what's left of Gamma Flight go up against General Fortean for the last time for the foreseeable future. It's just as big of a smackdown as you would imagine.
I cannot stress how good this comic is. It combines great super hero action with some philosophical concepts, reminding me of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run, as I've probably said in the reviews of volumes 1-4. Ewing is this generation's Alan Moore, only without the eternal grumpiness. Joe Bennett is more than up to the task of depicting Immortal Hulk's adventures, channeling Bernie Wrightson, Gene Colan, and some of the other greats of the past.
The final volume of the collection was a departure from the rest but a masterful story, a story set billions of years in the future when the Breaker of Worlds is sweeping up the last of the mess. Bennett shows he can do a mean Jack Kirby in this tale, which I won't spoil further.
As I've said before, Al Ewing's horror take on the Hulk feels like a natural progression for the character and I can't believe no one has done in it in the past 50+ years. Immortal Hulk is so good it's almost tiresome coming up with ways to describe how good it is. 4.5 out of 5 Gamma irradiated monsters.
The main story in this book is great. General Fortean finally goes off the deep end, bonding with a Jeepers Creepers looking alien armor.
It ultimately leads to a final confrontation between Hulk and his Gamma related friends versus Shadow Base. It's all fantastic. I love how Bennett and Ewing have transformed Betty and Rick Jones into these monsterized versions of themselves. The way Hulk's personalities interact with one another works wonderfully as well. Al Ewing is certainly channelling Alan Moore from his Swamp Thing days.
Issue 25 made very little sense in the context of the larger story. It takes place in a far future where the Hulk has taken over for Galactus. It's the only reason I didn't rate this 5 stars. It's terrible.
The Hulk is SO DARK now. Shaping up to be one hell of a grand villain. I mean, the whole fight against the new Abomination was great and the whole developed sequence of Banner's many personalities coming out like this is a real treat, but when push comes to shove, this whole storyline is DARK. Deliciously dark. Like chortling in a pitch black room by yourself dark.
Some great gross bits, some truly wicked nightmare bits, and enough impressions and hints to make anyone in the Marvel Universe crap their pants.
I am SO hooked. If this keeps going like it has been, I'm going to be in Hulk Heaven. Or Hell. Whatever. :)
The big story arc vs Fortean like I described earlier is here and I love the way the narration works and you get to know Fortean and he makes for such a great new villain for Hulk like he is opposite of him in every way and then the big battle, its like everything on the line, and its epic and brutal for sure, the artist brings their A-game here and just reading it will make you love it even more, also I like how the ending has a great new status quo and we are gonna be delving into some social stuff. That makes for some fun read. Having said that, the last issue is still confusing though it has some good art in it I will say. One of those volumes that keeps the pace of the series really well! _______________________________________________________________________
The final battle between Hulk and Shadow base is here, first General fortean becomes the new Abomination and the whole backstory is intriguing and then finally its Hulk vs them and the battle is good and we see some real body horror, twisted speeches and the monstrosity that is this Gamma monster and then finally a tale in the far future where the one below all/Hulk has become the new destroyer of worlds and he is consuming a planet, that one was bad..but apart from it overall its good and offers a clean perspective on the Jade Giant and his new status within Earth 616. The art as usual was highlight and this book firing on all cylinders!
Another stellar volume of Al Ewing & Co.'s Immortal Hulk. The first half of the book deals with the Hulk posse's final(?) confrontation with General Fortean and Shadow Base and sets up a new status quo for the book. It's great, horrific stuff and I loved every minute of it.
The second half of the book is a very different beast. Jumping into the distant future, it takes the concept of the book, and another concept that has been part of the Hulk's psyche for many decades, to its ultimate conclusion. This was impressive stuff and I thought I knew what was going on... right up until the twist in the final two pages! Now I'm not sure I understood it all! Nicely done, Mr. Ewing.
I'm now eagerly... no, rabidly awaiting the next volume...
Seriously, this series is just spazzing out. First we have this crazy ass guy finally flip and use the abomination to create a new villain in himself. But before that he does some hunting to take down all of Hulks "friends". Then after that the Hulk goes face to face with the beast but this time the guy is ready for him. Issue 25 though? What in the world?
This is the most insane comic Hulk has ever been in. I'll be honest, I didn't love issue 25 cause I didn't understand the ending zinger, mostly cause not a huge hulk fan before this. BUT everything before it? Everything leading up to it? Epic. Scary. This hulk feels like a REAL monster.
Is hulk ever gonna let up? OR Will it go down as a classic? Thinking a classic.
Seriously, this series is just spazzing out. First we have this crazy ass guy finally flip and use the abomination to create a new villain in himself. But before that he does some hunting to take down all of Hulks "friends". Then after that the Hulk goes face to face with the beast but this time the guy is ready for him. Issue 25 though? What in the world?
This is the most insane comic Hulk has ever been in. I'll be honest, I didn't love issue 25 cause I didn't understand the ending zinger, mostly cause not a huge hulk fan before this. BUT everything before it? Everything leading up to it? Epic. Scary. This hulk feels like a REAL monster.
Is hulk ever gonna let up? OR Will it go down as a classic? Thinking a classic.
When I started reading Immortal Hulk, the first bunch of issues, if you were to tell me that I'd lose interest down the line, I'd laugh.
Such a good series with some amazing artwork. Top stuff. But, it got to the point that the story and the whole thing it feels like it's dragging for too damn long and I don't even care any more. I just enjoy the artwork and I do like whenever Hulk's involved with anything because it gets rarer I think lately.
Sorry, but I don't feel any of the other characters, no one in there is interesting to me besides Banner and that makes it a chore to read.
I already bought the next volumes so I'm gonna read them either way, but for now I'm gonna take a break.
The art in the first issue of the volume was not the usual fantastic I’ve come to expect from this book. Many have said so, and I have stated it before, but Ewing is doing for the Hulk what Alan Moore did for Swamp Thing in the 80’s. This is Hulk with the volume cranked up on Horror. Issue 25 is a cosmic departure that I’m curious to see where it’s headed in volume 6. I mostly gave up on Marvel’s capes books until I gave Immortal Hulk a try.
I enjoyed this volume slightly less than its predecessor. The plot was a little harder to follow, and issue 25, at the back of the book, was too gimmicky. For instance, Ewing uses non-alphabetical symbols in both the narration and diaogue to lend an air of alieness to the far future-set story, but I don't really appreciate that. One character's name is "Par%l". I found myself becoming distracted from the plot every time I encountered this, wondering what sound a "%" represents. Still, quite good.
After skulking in the shadows for 20 issues, it’s time for a full-on confrontation between the Immortal Hulk and General Fortean’s Shadow Base. Of course, where the Hulk’s concerned, nothing is ever that straight forward, right?
It’s really not. Al Ewing’s Hulk story continues at a breakneck pace, finally smashing (see what I did there) his action figures together and then picks up the pieces. With the fallout from Abomination behind them, Breaker of Worlds sets the stage for the confrontation, which plays out probably the most simply as anything in this series has done so far, but it’s all just a deception, because the ultimate conclusion shakes up the series status quo in a way that no one would have seen coming.
And that’s just the first four issues of the volume. The fifth, the series’ big #25, is a different animal entirely. Shooting forward into the future, we view a strange alien civilization’s last days, as the Breaker Of Worlds, an enormous, unstoppable Hulk, rips them to shreds. But even this isn’t just as simple as ‘this is what’s going to happen if the Hulk isn’t stopped’, because the last two pages of this issue flip everything on its head once again. I can just about keep up with this wild rollercoaster ride, and I want to put my arms over my head and scream with enjoyment as I do.
And of course Ewing’s joined by Joe Bennett (who seems to have attracted as many inkers as Chris Bachalo and Doug Mahnke in order to keep him as the main artist on the book), who gets to do body horror like never before as well as some knockout throwdown superhero fights as well. Then issue 25 is drawn entirely by German Garcia, who gives me some very Pasqual Ferry crossed with Christian Ward vibes.
You’d think, especially given Marvel’s current trend of most books being 10 or 12 issues long and then dying a death, that Immortal Hulk might be winding up. But it looks like this book’s never going to die, just like it’s title character, because it looks like it’s just getting started.
The first few issues feature a lot of action and body horror, so if you liked the previous volumes, there will be a lot for you to enjoy here. The final issue in the collection goes way out into left field as it focuses on a cosmic Hulk in the far future. The story is written from the point of view of a bizarre alien, so it's written in a way that is difficult (boring?) to read. I'm sure that story makes more sense after reading the issues after it, but since Marvel refuses to plan their stories in a way that allows for a full-story arc in one book, we end up with bits and pieces of stories, which is not really an enjoyable reading experience.
Hulk has always been big and mean, but with the "Tales from the Crypt" angle they have been taking this series, you can add creepy and horrifying to the list (and I'm loving it!).
Most dissapointing volume yet,story was a bit meh. This time,the only very good moment was the final twist and I fucking loved the last phrase that you have to read in the mirror. That was INCREDIBLE.
I mean the story wasn't bad. Last issue felt off. Didn't dig that really weird space stuff.
Spanish:
El volumen más decepcionante hasta ahora, la historia fue un poco mala. Esta vez,el único momento muy bueno fue el giro final y me encantó la última frase que tienes que leer en el espejo. Eso fue increible.
Quiero decir que la historia no fue mala. El último número se sintió raro. No me gustaron esas cosas espaciales raras.
Pretty amazing for one team to stay together for such a long run on a title. This reads like the conclusion (?) of this particular story arc, with a final issue that jumps ahead billions of years into the future, where the Hulk has become the new Galactus, or "Breaker of Worlds." The artwork is strong throughout. I just wish a few more of the story beats had landed as intended--this seems just a bit rushed.
This volume finally sees the confrontation between Hulk and General Fortean we've been waiting for, with Gamma Flight and Betty Ross and Rick Jones thrown into the mix just for fun. We get a great introductory issue going into Fortean's backstory and shedding further light on his obsessive motivations with hunting Banner. The crisp, clean line art of Ryan Bodenheim and the coloring of Paul Mounts are perfectly suited to tell the story of the orderly General Fortean. The rest of the arc features art by series regular Joe Bennett, who portrays the confrontation with the same highly enjoyable style we've come to expect.
The conclusion of this arc is highly satisfying, but for me the highlight of the book was the final issue, which appears to serve as a bridge into an upcoming (though perhaps not the next) arc. The story goes into hard sci-fi as we see the distant future of the cosmos and the Hulk's unfortunate role in how terrible things have become. A number of people seem to have not enjoyed this part of the book, and though it is a little jarring tacked onto the end of this particular arc, I'm confident that it's purpose and inclusion here will become clear as I read on. The ending of the issue brings a classic Hulk villain that a lot of readers had been clamoring for in the letters pages. I'm excited to see where things go from here!
The Immortal Hulk Vol. 5 collects issues 21-25 of the Marvel Comics series written by Al Ewing with art by Joe Bennett, Ryan Bodenheim, and Germán Garviá.
General Fortean has bonded with the Abomination biosuit in a final effort to do battle against The Hulk and his Gamma buddies.
This was a great conclusion to first overarching arc in Immortal Hulk. There was a ton of fun action throughout while keeping with the horror vibes the series has been known for. The last issue in this collection was a very strange issue set in the far future with World Breaker Hulk basically being a Galactus-like entity bringing about the end of the universe. As good as that sounds, it’s told from the point of view from some random abstract alien life form that the reader has no connection with. I am curious to see where the series and characters go from here.
Here, finally, I can see that excellent Immortal Hulk series all the other reviewers have been clamoring about. After many volumes spent dancing around each other (and having some trippy dealings with the devil and a green door), General Fortean and the Hulk meet in a clash of fists and brains. The good general has bonded with an alien armor shell - the Hulk has found a team of allies. The remaining members of Alpha Flight are also along for the ride. The action is stunning, the pacing superb, the art incredible. This is the first Immortal Hulk volume where I felt like I understood events more than 50% of the time.
Well, until that last issue, where Hulk is the Breaker of Worlds at the end of time, destroying the last star in the universe. It's quite poetic, solumn, and strange. I can't say that issue made any sense, but I loved its grim darkness. The tease of at the end was meaningless to me, though likely quite potent for true Hulk fans.
”Where the green shadow falls, life ends, in terror and in pain...”
And just like that, Ewing’s twisted rumination on death and Hell marks it’s inevitable transformation from Tales from the Crypt-esque spookiness to full on Lovecraftian cosmic horror.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that I understood everything in this first phase of Ewing's run. Some arcs left me on the side of the road but that's more due to my lack of knowledge of the lore than anything else.
Nevertheless, the ending is really well done, in the same bloody vein- pun intended- as the previous volumes. The very last issue totally eluded me - we’ll see what Ewing will do with it later - but the resolution of this part of the plot and the situation at the end are interesting enough.
This is definitely not the Hulk I had in mind and he's sometimes confusing, but I appreciate Ewing's side-step and the new perspective he brings.
It might have been weak overall, especially as it incorporates more space adventure, but there are some interesting ideas explored here and there. I can't say that the final issue was any good with how out of place it felt but it does seem to indicate that there's so much more going on than what the Hulk understands right now.
Oh my... I don't think I've ever been more happy while reading a comic book before. And why was I so happy? Oh, I don't know maybe, Hulk literally tearing everyone and everything to SHREDS! I would've given this 5 stars, but I was not a fan of the last issue. It was about all these weird cosmic stuff, that didn't make a whole lot of sense. I thought, it would tie into the next volume. But I started reading it and it doesn't. Maybe towards the end of the series, it will all come together.
Prior to reading Immortal Hulk, Volume 1: Or is he Both? I never really paid the Hulk comics any attention. I was fairly well acquainted with the origin story, knew most of the key players, had watched the Bill Bixby/Lou Ferigno series, but... never read anything.
Oh my stars and garters, was I missing out.
This volume capped off the first full story arc, ending with a view of the story to come. The carnage and gore in this issue was grotesque, and for a split second, you ALMOST are rooting for General Fortean.
Ewing does an EXCELLENT job of showing us the humanity of his cast, and then immediately turning around and showing us the abominability of every single one of them. And while the ending is a little trippy... boy are we heading towards something good.
It seems every volume I read of this, there's at least one moment where I say to myself with delicious glee "oh gross!"
Some of the main plot threads are resolved here and definitely sets up a new status quo with a pretty good cliffhanger.
Couple "bad" things though. The artist changed. Not quite as good, but not that bad either. The volume ends with a very ambiguous, out of this world, mythological story about the Hulk. It's barely discernible and just what is means is open to interpretation. The effect is jarring: It's so different from what came before, it's a little concerning. We'll just have to wait to see where Ewing takes this.