Безсмертний Галк. Том 1: Двоє в одному

The Immortal Hulk (Collected Editions)

by Al Ewing, Joe Bennett (Illustrator), Сергій Ковальчук (Translator)

Фізик-ядерник Брюс Беннер жив спокійним життям, поки не врятував життя підлітка Ріка Джонса від вибуху гамма-бомби. Після цього, коли він сердиться, ввічливий та вихований вчений почав перетворюватись на кремезну істоту, яку називають Галком.

Страх має ім’я. Ви не помітите цього чоловіка. Він не любить, коли його помічають. Він тихий. Спокійний. Ніколи не скаржиться. Якби хтось підійшов і вистрілив йому в голову… він би просто помер. Поки не наступить ніч. Хтось інший виринає з глибини. Його прізвище Беннер. А ім’я страху – Безсмертний Галк! Біда завжи йде слідом за ними обома. В той час як репортерка Джекі МакГі складає до купи шматочки пазлу, Брюс Беннер мандрує з міста до міста в пошуках таємничих вбивств, злочинів та трагедій. Беннер знаходить – а Галк трощить! На іншому кінці світу, супергерой Єті не може нічим допомогти, але почувається причетним. В одночас він і схожий на Беннера, і повна його протилежність. Єті ризикує життям, щоб знайти чоловіка – а натрапляє на монстра!

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Horror, Superheroes, Comic Book, Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2018

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hulk is piss your pants scary.



Banner isn't in charge once the sun goes down, and Hulk isn't taking over their body to rescue kittens anymore.
Maybe he's not quite evil, but he's not a good guy, either. And there's a good chance you're going to die if you meet him under the wrong circumstances.



But Hulk won't die. Can't die.
And now we finally get a (very good) explanation as to why he's back from the dead after Hawkeye put him in the ground and kicked off Civil War II.



I loved it! It was dark and freaky with some spooky paranormal undertones, the new characters were interesting and the old characters were well done. It wasn't fluffy or funny, but it had a great plot and a cool vibe.



I can't wait to read more!
Recommended.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hulk “died” recently, he’s back (that title’s accurate - he’ll never be “dead” for long!) and he’s now wandering the Earth, righting wrongs, but only on a small scale for some reason. He takes out drug dealing bikers, a mad scientist experimenting with gamma radiation, and tangles with Sasquatch, the strongman from nobody’s favourite superhero team, Alpha Flight!

Eh… it’s ok. And that immediately makes it noteworthy as most Hulk books are utter rubbish! I guess Al Ewing’s kinda aiming for a horror angle with his take on Hulk but he doesn’t quite pull it off. Hulk looks scarier than usual - hat tip to artist Joe Bennett - and the motif of the monster emerging at night (a la werewolves and vampires) recurs, and the mad scientist story felt very EC Comics.

But it’s essentially just an average Hulk book. The first couple episodes are kinda interesting, the latter aren’t, but Ewing’s not doing anything groundbreaking or amazing here. The longest story, featuring Sasquatch, builds up to the same tedious and pointless punch-up between characters you’ve seen in a hundred Hulk stories before.

I felt as ambivalent about Bennett’s art as I did Ewing’s writing - it’s fine. I was pleasantly surprised though to see obscure indie artist Paul Hornschemeier draw a handful of pages in one of the stories - that dude is very underrated.

And that’s The Immortal Hulk, Volume 1: Or Is He Both? - a series of mediocre stories and decent art that mildly entertained and bored in equal amounts!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce Banner wanders the US, unable to outrun his true enemy, the one that lurks inside him even after death, The Immortal Hulk!

While some of my earliest super hero memories are of the Incredible Hulk TV show, I've only read a handful of Hulk comics over the years. This book has been touted as a horror take on the Hulk and that's all I needed to hear.

This is the classic Hulk on the run story with a twist: Even if Bruce Banner dies, he'll return as The Hulk when the sun goes down. The Hulk in these pages is smart and sadistic and goes up against a few Gamma-powered antagonists.

Al Ewing has done a great job making the Hulk seem like a rabid dog that you should stay the hell away from. There's some decompression but this volume is one hell of a read. Joe Bennett's art is also good, although I think a subdued, shadowy, Mike Mignola type of style might have been more suitable for the tone of the story.

I think Marvel has something special on their hands with Immortal Hulk. I'll be reading the next volume once it's available. Four out of five stars.

[Artemy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a comeback! For Hulk, for Al Ewing and for Marvel in general. The Immortal Hulk is a spectacular success.

About every year Marvel comes up with one or two series that are THE SHIT — comics that are unique, genre-bending, requiring immediate attention and above all just ridiculously good. Fraction's Hawkeye was it, Kieron Gillen's Young Avengers, Dan Slott's Silver Surfer, Tom King's Vision, Chelsea Cain's Mockingbird, and now Al Ewing joins that list with Immortal Hulk. It follows the Hulk after his resurrection in Avengers: No Surrender (don't worry, there's no need to read that drek before Hulk), and he's now a bit of a different beast. This time around, Bruce Banner cannot die. Or rather, he can, and sometimes he does — but when Bruce falls, something scary stands up instead.

I thought Immortal Hulk was a blast, and since issue 1 came out I've been eagerly awaiting every next one. This is the first Marvel book in a while that I had the urge to follow monthly, just because it's so well written and the stories are so good. After amazing Loki: Agent of Asgard, I was ready to call Ewing one of my favourite current writers, but unfortunately after Secret Wars he went on to write mostly really bad titles like New Avengers, and I've all but forgotten about the good old days of his excellent smart writing and characterisation. Here he's finally back in full force, and it makes me really happy.

The artwork by Joe Bennett is gorgeous. It looks a bit like the mix of Richard Corben's and late Steve Dillon's style, detailed, technical and with this chaotic, scary undertone which feels specifically tailored for this sort of horror comic.

Overal, Al Ewing's Immortal Hulk is a great series, and hands down the best book Marvel has published this year. I really hope that Ewing will keep that high mark moving on, because this series is promising to become one of the modern classics.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"For now, my life is very simple. I walk the earth, and I look for ways to use the power inside me. Ways to use . . . him . . . to bring a measure of justice into this world. Ways to atone for my sins." -- Dr. Bruce Banner, a.k.a. 'The Hulk'

Taking a page from the 1978-1982 CBS TV series starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno, this rebooting title has Dr. Banner roaming the southwest U.S. incognito, living the itinerant lifestyle - possibly an influence of Lee Child's Jack Reacher character, maybe? - and staying a few steps ahead of an investigative reporter named McGee. (McGee is a bright, attractive and pleasant young African-American woman, instead of the boring, tired-looking middle-aged guy from the show.) In the initial stories The Hulk really dishes out some rough justice to the bad guys - and they're not super-powered 'name' villains, but common folks engaging in selfish, felonious crimes that inevitably lead to the deaths of innocent bystanders - and it is some harsh and edgier material. None of that 'friendly neighborhood' hero stuff here (yeah, I know - that's Spider-Man's tagline), this is one big guy - to quote the opening credits dialogue of the old show - that you wouldn't want to make angry.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Al Ewing puts a horror twist on the classic Bill Bixby TV show. The Hulk is travelling the country, roving from town to town while being followed by a reporter named Jackie McGee (Jack McGee in the TV show). Bruce and the Hulk are working together to mete justice out to criminals. Bruce gathers information for the Hulk during the day while at night the Hulk emerges brutally enacting justice like burying murderers alive. It's an interesting play on the Jekyll and Hyde mythos and just the Hulk in general. Banner is typically at odds with the Hulk, trying to force him below the surface. Here he's made acceptance with his fate, partnering up with the Hulk really. The book definitely has some Swamp Thing influences, particularly in the storytelling from different perspectives. Joe Bennett would not have been my first choice of artist, but he does a solid job here. His style is shifting, borrowing some from artists like Kyle Hotz to give more of a horror vibe.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The dark hulk has returned! No more avengers hulk, this is the mean, green, pissed off killing machine.

So Bruce died back in Civil War 2. It wasn't amazing death, it was pretty stupid, and with last event of Avengers no Surrender they brought back Bruce. Actually, they brought back The Hulk. Bruce just came with the package here but this Hulk is far more cunning and vicious than before. So volume 1 here mostly does one shot stories, and a two parter at the end, giving a overall picture of this new hulk. From hurting people who have killed others, to chasing down crime, the hulk is back but a very different monster he is.

Good: The art is pretty solid throughout. The highlight for me is the volume where we get different perspectives on one situation with the hulk and the art changes with each viewpoint. Then we have a great first issue which shows off how monstrous the Hulk can really be after he chases down a murderer.

Bad: The last story, is a two parter, basically with hulk and another hero fighting. But it's just way too much talking without any real substance for me. I got bored of this one.

Overall Hulk has a nice return. While I get vibes of Jones run, it does its own thing, and I like it so far. While I wasn't blown away I did enjoy it quite a bit. A 3 out of 5.

[Tiag⊗ the Mutant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hulk is gone, the Monster is back!

It looks like Marvel is over with the All-New, All-Different phase, which turned most of their titles into a derivative, surface-level, one-note series of comics, from my point of view anyway. The legacy relaunch brought a lot of the main characters back to their roots and the Hulk benefited largely from it, I love this new direction towards body horror, with Banner no longer in charge, this sort of edge was all the Hulk needed to be interesting again.

What a comeback for Hulk, totally recommended!

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This takes the Hulk in a very awesome and interesting direction. I thought it was just going to be kinda like the whole Zombie Marvel run and just as fun, especially because the Hulk himself is all Freudian.

Listen, you know the whole thing about Id, Ego, and Superego? Hulk, (some strange mix of Banner and Hulk), and Banner? Add a little sex and a lot of the death wish?

Well now we've got a huge extra serving of the death wish and with it, an awesome new twist in the Ego.

Banner is less intelligent after his death. The Hulk now has it. Rage-filled intelligence. Immortality. And he's MEAN when he's intelligent. :) Scary.

Hulk comes out at night and stalks his prey. Banner is at the Hulk's mercy more than ever, but now he can listen to the Hulk prod him from inside. Reasoning for him. Pushing him ever on. The Hulk is now the driver. :)

Soooo cool. :) This is breathing a whole new life into the character. :)

[The Lion's Share · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ewing is great at reviving great characters and this is probably his best yet.

This Hulk is still Hulk but he’s realised something, something new and he’s out to stop it.

Great writing and some surprise classic foes. Absolutely love this new brutal Hulk. He’s not to be trifled with.

[Diz · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this series, Hulk returns to its horror roots. Some of the scenes are horrifying. It's hard to imagine this version of the Hulk as an Avenger. He's so brutal. I've never been a regular reader of Hulk, but I think this series has won me over.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hulk comics have always gotten mileage out of blurring the line between where Banner ends and the Hulk begins, but Al Ewing's and Joe Bennett's take manages to offer a split we haven't seen yet - one where different aspects of Banner's intelligence are divided up between them. Banner retains his scientific acumen, while the Hulk - no less enraged - gets his reasoning skills. The book is also a excellent marriage of classic and modern storytelling approaches, as each issue tells a standalone horror-themed story while slowly weaving a larger tapestry. A captivating read.

[Oscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good! So much going on in this story.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread:08/01/2023

Rereading it after quite a while and my god it reads even better this time around as we see the return of the Devil hulk and its so much darker and I love the theme Al explores here and seeing some new concepts and enemies like Del Frye and Hotshot and how well one and done stories these are its so fun and then the story with Sasquatch and connecting it all the way to David's hulk run was amazing, and just on that spot makes you hooked. Its equal parts psychological-thriller and body-horror and just that.. makes me want to read future issues now, just brilliant writing and the art is superb, the artist bringing their A-game to the series!!
____________________________________________________________________________
Bruce Banner is back after various resurrections but this time he learns he can die but the Hulk cannot and the new personality that is the Devil Hulk/Immortal Hulk is kind of like the night ghost who punishes you fordoing the wrong thing and thats what he does to a guy named Tommy who robs and kills a girl and so the legend about the mysterious hulk starts and there are one off stories with a guy named Dr Frye and what he did to extend his life and his son's and it was awesome seeing what Hulk did to him. A retro story about a guy named Hotshot and the mentions of a "Green door" and this one was fun as it shows different POV and the art changes were awesome and a tale with Jackee and Walter.. The Haunting Sasquatch! This volume was awesome and had so many single stories which are awesome to read and then the new mysterious hulk too, plus mentions of green door, new enemies and someone haunting from..the below! Great horror and mystery and the great thing is the art easily!

[Malum · Rating 4 out of 5]

The new Hulk book tries to take Hulk back to his roots. Much like in his very first appearance, Hulk transforms at night now. And, like the old Bill Bixby show that I grew up with, he is a vagabond wandering place to place with a reporter hot on his trail. They also retconned the idea that Banner can make super tech like shields and ray guns (brain damage from an arrow to the head, dontcha' know). And, finally, They brought back Bruce's daddy issues. So how is it?

It's actually pretty good, which makes me happy. With one of my favorite characters returning, the least I hoped for was that it wouldn't be a dumpster fire that died before it got off the ground. And, luckily, it's not.

This Hulk book dips its toes more into horror than super heroics. We have people being buried alive with no arms or legs, people being murdered, and creatures that stalk the night (and not just the Hulk). They also play up the idea that the Hulk is the devil incarnate (at least metaphorically). I'm ok with this, because I like my hulk mean. On that note, Hulk is REALLY mean in this book. He has no problem breaking every bone in someone's body and putting them in a permanent coma. Also, one of those "buried alive with no arms and legs" instances is the Hulk's doing. The Hulk was never someone you wanted to piss off, but now you SERIOUSLY don't want to get on his bad side.

There are a few problems here, but not too many. For example, Hulk is not the only monster affected by the day/night cycle. Apparently any gamma monster with a similar gamma signature as his is. This is a neat idea but they don't really explain why it's suddenly this way. There is also a little too much Hulk offscreen for my taste but I understand why it has to be this way. You don't want to use your main attraction so much that people start getting bored of seeing him.

I really enjoyed Banner's return and I can't wait to see what else they have in store.

[Bill Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never been fond of an intelligent Hulk but I was intrigued that it was supposed to be a more horror centric series. I was pleasantly surprised. The combination is working very well so far.

[Corey Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember Civil War II? Well, Bruce died. Well, maybe not. Well, maybe just like every comic book character that's doing well, he's immortal. He is also a living nightmare. Also, Bruce doesn't have as much control. Hulk comes out at night, and Bruce in the day. And with hulk in control anything can happen.

Oh yeah, did I mention Hulk is kinda scary now? Yep, and if you ask me this is how the Hulk should always be. The hulk is meant to be scary, I mean how would you feel if there was a green monster walking down your street? For some reason recent adaptions of the hulk, have been wanting to dumb down the hulk and make him into a wimp. And this book showed me that is not how make a Hulk story at all. Talking to you Smart Hulk.

Highly recommend!

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time there was a horror comic called The Incredible Hulk, which ran for six issues from 1962 to 1963. It was about a man who couldn't control his inner rage, which came out at night and destroyed everything around it. After that first comic was cancelled, the Hulk bounced from Marvel comic to Marvel comic, even becoming one of the Avengers, and finally received a new strip in Tales to Astonish. As the Hulk moved around, he also evolved, becoming more of a misunderstood beast or child or even a hero. And the horror was lost.

Al Ewing returns the Hulk to his horrific origins by imagining a monster that can never die, something that he set up in Avengers: No Surrender. It's very effective, and makes the Hulk genuinely scary, for perhaps the first time ever. There's also some innovative storytelling, such as the third issue with its various points of view, and a great underlying storyline: there's something very scary behind the "green door" that Gamma radiation opens.

I've seen some complaints about the last two issues of this volume, focused on Sasquatch. Those complaints suggest that the comic becomes just a superhero fight at that point, and I disagree. Instead, I'd say they're a continuation of the gamma-horror themes from the first three issues, with the biggest difference being that we start to get some answers at what lies beyond. Besides upping the stakes by featuring a beloved character, these issues also do a great job of advancing the plot.

To a certain extent, I think this volume of The Hulk is a bit hard to reconcile with the rest of the character's long history, since we've never seen suggestions of this particular mystery before. But I suppose you could have said the same thing about PAD's definitive run. The Hulk goes ever on and on, ever changing.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hulk lives! Now! Again! Forever! (Cue swelling dramatic music. Maestro, please!)

Another of the big dramatic moments of Civil War II is undone as the Bruce Banner Hulk returns to his own series. But this time, writer Al Ewing is going for a straight-up horror story as he uses the nocturnal nature of the Hulk in his earliest appearances to ascribe a supernatural element to the character. And, hey, it sorta works. Hulk has always had parallels to Robert Louis Stevenson's Mr. Hyde, but now he is all that crossed with Frankenstein, a werewolf, and a zombie to boot.

It's a bit cheesy, but definitely worth a second look.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This combines the never ending road trip of the Hulk TV show with the jaded horror of early Swamp Thing and it works surprisingly well. Bruce Banner doesn't feel much like recent versions of the character, but as a throwback to the classic Marvel horror comics, it's a good time.

It's refreshing to read single issue stories in a mainstream comic again.

[Lukasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting makeover leaning towards horror. Vol. 1 collects mostly self-contained issues. Al Ewing and Joe Bennett offer darker, unsettling take on Banner/Hulk mythos (Hulk only emerges when Bruce Banner dies). The art and the writing fit well the storyline. I'm definitely reading this arc.

[Ivy_Lost_inside_Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good god that’s an greedy, sad, bad and pissed Hulk wandering through the country. I really enjoyed this one so much bcs Hulk is back like I love him. The drawing is incredible I was in awwe for it. For all Hulk fans it’s a must read. You either die to early or too late ...Sartre!!

[Shadowdenizen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent Hulk book.

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a kid, I used to love watching the TV show “The Incredible Hulk”. It was, for all intents and purposes, a story about a monster trapped in a man’s body, unleashed only when the man became angry; a contemporary “Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde”.

The creators, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, debuted the Hulk in a comic book in 1962. While the familiar big green guy evolved into a superhero, eventually becoming a part of the Avengers, he started out as a pretty frightening creature, an accident created when Dr. Bruce Banner was exposed to a lethal dose of gamma radiation.

The element of horror, over the years, dwindled as Hulk evolved. When Dr. Banner became angry, the Hulk appeared as a creature of pure rage, untouched by intellect. In later issues, Banner’s and the Hulk’s minds coalesced, so the Hulk—-while still huge and green—-had the intellect of a scientist and a human being. He had, in my opinion, lost much of his “scare” factor.

Writer Al Ewing and artist Joe Bennett collaborated on the 2018 comic book series The Immortal Hulk, which attempts to bring back the element of horror to the character. For the most part, it succeeds.

“Or is He Both?” compiles issues #1-5 and the Avengers #684. The title harkens back to the debut issue (May ’62) of The Incredible Hulk. On the cover is the question, “Is He Man or Monster or… Is He Both?”

The series starts off with a violent convenience store robbery, in which three people are gunned down. One of them is a 12-year-old girl. The perpetrator flees the scene.

That night, in the morgue, one of the corpses wakes up on the steel table. It walks out, into the night, in search of the shooter. It finds him, eventually. And woe to everybody else in his way…

This series definitely brings a fresh new take (or a return to the old take that Lee/Kirby envisioned in ’62) of the Hulk as a true monster of horror and not the superhero that most readers are familiar with.

I’ve been a bit leery about reading some of the well-established Marvel comics, if only because there are 20+ years of stories that I haven’t kept up with. Some of the characters I grew up with as a kid aren’t the same characters wearing the costumes today. All I really know about is what I’ve seen in the MCU.

I picked this up based on some of the glowing reviews of my fellow GR friends (thanks, Anne and Dan), and I’m glad I did. I definitely look forward to reading more of this series.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Immortal Hulk Vol. 1 Or Is He Both? collects issues 1-5 of the Marvel Comics series written by Al Ewing with art by Joe Bennett.

Refusing to die, The Hulk and Bruce Banner are back from the dead. During the day Bruce Banner travels across the country as a drifter trying to stay under the radar. During the night, HE comes out to enact justice.

This new take on the Hulk borrows a lot from the original Hulk issues by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in which Banner has control during the day and Hulk has control during the night. It also borrows from The Incredible Hulk television show with Bruce Banner as a fugitive, constantly on the move. All of this layered with a horror vibe that the Hulk is a true monster capable of horrendous and unnatural actions. The first volume lays the groundwork which should make for a really interesting storyline.

[Benji Glaab · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🌟's

This was great!!! A really solid start to the run. I'm going to have to track down anything Al Ewing writes. This was original, kind of mysterious, and bordering on the horror genre. With touches of demonic possession, and immortality achieved from over exposure to gamma rays.

I have to say I've never seen the Hulk with a hole blasted through him with chunks of rib cage hanging around. The volume is full of amazing art. Probably the creepiest Hulk portraits I've ever seen. Visuals were also exceptional in the Sasquatch Hulk fight scene.

Volume 1 is for sure a winner, and I'll be following this series closely.

[David Turko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comic surprised me. Al Ewing took a usual hulk storyline but added some interesting twists into it. Definitely going to read this series now, very good.

[Rory Wilding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite loving a lot of Marvel comics, the Hulk was never a particular favourite. I may have caught the 90s cartoon and the two films produced by Universal Pictures, both of which showcases the green giant as a solo hero. The two films in particular may each have their problems, but in common never break away from the werewolf movie formula. We won't see another Hulk movie anytime soon and ever since his appearance in 2012's The Avengers and the subsequent films in the MCU, he works best when he's a supporting character.

Obviously the character has been around since 1962 as co-creator Stan Lee stated that he was inspired by a combination of Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Considering the influence from the aforementioned iconic monsters, there is a horror element towards the character that is rarely explored in the comics. This is something that writer Al Ewing is clearly interested in as based on the back cover of the first volume of The Immortal Hulk, "Horror has a name." Returning to his role as the lonely man, Bruce Banner journeys from town to town, finding murder, mystery and tragedy along the way, whilst wrestling with the monster inside him, waiting to burst out.

From the initial issue alone, Al Ewing does not pull his punches as it opens with a robbery that cost the lives of three people, including our hero who gets shot in the head. Later, Banner hulks out of the morgue and of course, being very angry as he hunts down the robber and a gun-toting gang with no remorse. Leaning into the Jekyll and Hyde aspect, Ewing showcases the psychology of his central character, who is constantly looking at his other green self at any reflection. This may sound familiar to the likes of Ang Lee's Hulk, but the horror aspect of the book keeps it engaging, whilst Joe Bennett's artwork contains some freakish imagery as well as a scary-looking Hulk who can unpleasantly smile.

However, whenever the story focuses on reporter Jackie McGee, who travels through America to encounter the Hulk, suddenly the horror element starts to disappear. In the third issue, Jackie interviews a number of witnesses, each given their own version of the same event where the Hulk faces off a gamma-exposed baddie during a hostage situation. With a different artist illustrating one version of the story, it may allow Al Ewing to apply some humour, it did feel like he wasn't sticking to his guns towards the initial horror premise. At least you get one horrific image where the Hulk gets a hole blown through his chest, which then gets regenerated; we need more body horror.

The volume concludes with a two-parter in which Walter Langkowski AKA Sasquatch of Alpha Flight teams up with Jackie to locate the Hulk. I don't think that the Hulk has a great rogues gallery that comprises of other Hulk-like monsters like the Abomination and the Wendigo. With the presence of Sasquatch, it ultimately becomes a slug-fest, whereas the more interesting stuff were more about the gamma radiation that is affecting people in a psychological manner and how that sets up with a more interesting story where Banner faces an enemy that is very close to home. I'm still not entirely convinced about the Hulk works as a solo figure, but hopefully Al Ewing has got something up his sleeve for the next volume.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Read as single issues]
Hawkeye helped Bruce Banner kill himself during Civil War II, and the world thought that was the last they had seen of the Hulk. But when The Challenger resurrected him as part of the events of No Surrender, the Hulk walked the Earth once more. But all is now not as it was. Now, whenever Bruce dies, the Hulk is unleashed – and he’s in an even worse mood than usual. As Bruce and the Green Behemoth track gamma signals across the country, a darker secret brews beneath the surface as an intrepid reporter attempts to answer the age-old question that surrounds the dynamic dichotomy – is he a man, or a monster? Or, is he both?

Every now and then, a creative team tackle a character in a way that just hasn’t been done before, and it becomes something truly special. Think Warren Ellis’s Moon Knight, or Brian Bendis’s Daredevil, for example. Now, Al Ewing and Joe Bennett have reinvented the Incredible Hulk in this brand new series.

Ewing does what Ewing does best, building off of all of the current Hulk continuity to create a new, more horror-based take on the Hulk similar to how he was originally conceived as Bruce travels across the United States tracking gamma-powered creatures to remove their threat as only the Hulk can do. The relationship between Bruce and the Hulk becomes a mostly unspoken one, punctuated by a chilling internal narrative that puts poor Bruce’s mental state front and centre.

Everything builds really nicely as this series’ first arc progresses. The Hulk is barely in the first few issues, only appearing near the end to deal with the villain of the piece as the suspense creeps up the back of your spine, before things ramp up in the last two issues involving Sasquatch and a twist ending that reveals that Bruce and the Hulk have a much more personal stake in things than previously expected.

Issue 3 especially is a stand-out, as the same story is told from a few different perspectives with different artists aside from Bennett tackling each one to form the overall narrative. This kind of thing has been done before, but Ewing’s tale still stands head and shoulders above the pack because it’s superbly done, and the different artists matched to the different narrators are very well chosen.

Speaking of artists, Joe Bennett is not the first artist I’d have thought of for a creepy book like this. He’s more of a straight forward superhero artist in my mind, but these issues have made me rethink that approach a lot. He builds tension superbly throughout the earlier issues, and really lets loose with the Sasquatch/Hulk fights, so he’s a surprisingly good fit.

Immortal Hulk is not a Hulk book you’ve read before. It’s dark, it’s spooky, but it’s unmistakably the Hulk. With a great hook, an unexpectedly well suited artist, and the always reliable Al Ewing at the helm, Immortal Hulk isn’t going anywhere any time soon.