The Immortal Hulk, Vol. 7: Hulk is Hulk

The Immortal Hulk (Collected Editions)

by Al Ewing, Joe Bennett (Illustrator), Javier Rodriguez (Illustrator)

There's a new monster in town. He's cuddly. He's lovable. He's down with the kids. And he's available for your corporate retreat. Yes, there was another Hulk once - the one who made all those nasty threats to end the world. But who needs him? THE LIVING HULK is here. And he's going to save us all - or your money back.

COLLECTING: IMMORTAL HULK 31-35

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

136 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2020

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Immortal Hulk really is Incredible.
7 volumes in and Ewing is still cranking out an awesome horror title for the Marvel universe.



Roxxon's fearless evil leader, Dario, has teamed up with this creepy creature named Xemnu, who has manipulated everyone's memories to make it seem as though he was part of their favorite childhood tv show AND the superhero who saved the world from Hulk. Even Hulk's team members seem unaware that their memories are false.



Meanwhile, Banner, Hulk, & Whothefuckever else is in his head starts having some sort of a major breakdown. Like pretty much everyone else, I loved the issues drawn by Joe Bennett the most. His style is just (to me) kind of perfect for this comic.



Well, Hulk is Hulk. And after a visit from one of the badass imaginary friends in his head, he slaps the fur off of Xemnu - but not before Xemnu manages to do some damage.
That poor, stupid minotaur...



This was excellent!
Highly Recommended!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another strong volume of Immortal... which brings the Hulk’s war with Roxxon to a close (or so it seems; I’m not sure we can count Dario Agger out just yet). I’d be giving this all the stars if it weren’t for a couple of issues having fill-in art that definitely wasn’t up to regular artist Joe Bennett’s standards. The issues drawn by Bennett were phenomenal as usual and Al Ewing is busy cementing himself in position as my favourite comicbook writer.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ewing puts a cool twist on Xemnu, using his hypnotic powers to alter people's memories via the Mandela Effect. Some cool body horror elements as well with Xemnu performing body modifications on his victims. Ewing and Bennett turned Xemnu from a goofball into a menacing villain. I liked Nick Pitarra's alterations to Banner's mindscape too.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread: 21/05/2023

I loved it this time around more, just seeing this villain Xemnu and how he is messing with people's memories and like in particular Bruce giving him the childhood he should have gotten and how he is manipulating him and that makes for such a compelling read, and I love the messages being sent here and then the return of an alter that I love and that has to connect with a "Planet" and its awesome and just the whole stuff with their battle, the aftermath of it and the fate of Dario Agger finally.. its all awesome! And then finally the origin of the man behind it all and Hulk's arch-nemesis.. its one of those reveals you knew was coming but when it does and it did.. it made for such a great one and then showing the green door aspect from his POV and how it all ties together is so awesome and I loved this! Its one of the best volumes and really rotates the Hulk mythos on its head and makes for a remarkable read!

__________________________________________________________________________

This is the final battle between Xemnu and Hulk and we see the inside mind of Bruce and how he is manipulated and all and then the return of Worldbreaker Hulk and then their battle which is so epic, the fate of Dario Agger aka The Minotaur and then the origins of the Leader which was the best part of the volume and then a massive incident with Rick and in the media with Hulk which changes things so much. One of the best volumes for sure, loved it! Al and Joe are killing it on this series and the next phase is only gonna get better and some mysteries for sure set up here!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the entire country in love with Xemnu The Titan, can the Hulk hope to defeat him? And which of The Hulk's nemeses is lurking in the background, waiting to pick up the crumbs?

Immortal Hulk: Hulk is Hulk collects issues #31-35 of The Immortal Hulk.

It's getting hard to talk about how consistently good this book is but Hulk is Hulk is another great collection of Hulk stories. It's really the ending of one story and the setup for the next one. Hulk finally settles Xemnu's hash, only to run afoul of another Gamma-powered villian.

About the only negatives I can lay upon this volume are that two issues weren't done by Joe Bennett. Butch Guice and Tom Palmer did #34 and Mike Hawthorne and Mark Morales did #35. It also felt a little disjointed, like the first three issues belonged in the last volume and the last two in the next one. Anyway, it's still the same powerful stuff Al Ewing has been serving up since day one.

Immortal Hulk: Hulk is Hulk continues Ewing and Bennett's rampage of great Hulk stories. It's a shame we only get two or three more of these volumes before they hang it up. Four out of five Hulks.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm quite fascinated with the Immortal Hulk run. From the start, it has been wonderfully psychological, horrific, and full of great mystery. After a few questions have now been cleared up, followed by another old enemy's return, it just brings in even MORE questions.

The green door. The Thinker. After the whole Roxxon debacle, a lot of time is spent on this guy. I can't say I'm unhappy about it. He has quite a history. I'm hooked.

But Banner's mind... what a playground. :)

[Bill Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, the Leader is back! And disguised as one of Hulk’s closest and most trusted friends. I can’t wait to see what nefarious plan he is hatching.

[Diz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Roxxon Corporation enlists the services of Xemnu, a creature that uses the power of suggestion to get people on his side. Hilariously, this is done by posing as the mascot of a children's TV show of the past that didn't really exist. This cuddly exterior hides cosmic horror within. It's kind of fun to see Hulk go up against a villain with the power of influence rather than brute strength.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hulk is Hulk! But...Hulk is not Hulk. Hulk is...Xemnu? Wait, what?

Building right out of the end of the last volume, Xemnu has replaced Hulk in everyone's memory, and everyone loves him! But where does that leave Hulk? Nowhere good, obviously.

This arc is all about perception - how the public perceives Hulk, and how Banner and his alters perceive each other. This is the backbone for both how Hulk defeats Xemnu, and how the system of alters are beginning to see each other. There are some great sequences set inside Hulk's shattered mind that are extremely noteworthy - including a return for the Green Scar. It's very cerebral, for an arc that basically devolves into Hulk punching shit.

There are also a few unexpected reveals here, including one Hulk character that has been oddly absent for the rest of the run thus far. It's very clear that Ewing's just getting started here, because he has trails of breadcrumbs that we don't even know about.

Joe Bennett tackles the art for most of the book here, of course, while the flashback issue on that unexpected Hulk character is from Butch Guice, and the last issue is by Mike Hawthorne. A good collection of artists to be sure, but Bennett has made this book his own, and it never really feels right without him around making a mess of the characters.

Immortal Hulk really needs to do something bad to get less than a five star rating from me at this point. It's the complete opposite of what you expect a Hulk book to be, and even seven volumes in it hasn't showed any sign of losing momentum.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hulk decides he has had enough of Xemnu and his mind controlling shit.

The first half is a solid matchup between Hulk losing his shit and the whole world thinking Xemnu is the new "Hulk". It's a pretty entertaining match of the minds. Then we get another old foe coming into the picture. Gets you a nice little updated origin story and what he's going to do to Bruce Banner. It's a sinister, fucked up plan, but could be very interesting in the future.

I didn't LOVE this volume like the last few but there were a few standout moments and a interesting build of what is to come. Immortal Hulk remains a very strong title still, and while this is a weaker volume, it's still solid. A 3 out of 5.

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Al Ewing really knows what he's doing with the Hulk and this volume is a wonderful return to form for him. His exploration of the internal turmoil of Bruce Banner's character is awesome, he also ties it to events in Civil War II, and he ends it all on an awesome cliffhanger just when you'd think things are looking up for the Hulk in the eyes of citizens who have so far feared him due to recent events.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ewing continues to tell a story that is both creepy and character-driven.

The creepiness in this story comes Xemnu who Ewing rather magnificently depicts as all of a caring TV character, a manipulative brain controller, and a monstrous body-horror creature. It's a truly icky combination.

The character-driven parts of the story come from not just Banner and his many personalities, but also from one issue focused on the Shadow Base's lead scientist and another on the Leader.

Overall, this continues to be a great story, truly increasing the depth of the Hulk's corner of the Marvel universe.

[RG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continues a good run

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

HULK IS HULK IS HULK!!!!

Puny Xemnu...

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immortal Hulk Vol. 7 Hulk is Hulk collects issues 31-35 of the Marvel Comics series written by Al Ewing with art by Joe Bennett, Butch Guice, and Mike Hawthorne.

Xemnu has brainwashed the world into thinking that he is the The Hulk they all remember and love. But The Big Guy isn’t about to let everyone forget that Hulk is Hulk. And just when Bruce Banner thinks everything is about to settle down, The Leader returns as the mastermind of all The Hulk’s recent troubles.

Volume 6 was a small blip as the story comes ripping right back with another great installment. The body horror was back with a vengeance as Xemnu does truly disgusting stuff. I am rally excited to see what Ewing and Bennett do with The Leader!

[Todd Glaeser · Rating 3 out of 5]

My reaction to most of the "immortal" run has been WOW. The reaction to this volume just "huh."

[Corey Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Volume 7 of Immortal Hulk.

The last volume focused more on the political side of the story. But this time around we are back to scary Hulk. Not only is there Hulk, but we have Xemnu too! And, he was a fantastic villain.

Xemnu is making everyone think that he is this kids show host back in the day. Something, like Barney I guess. Roxxon is teaming up with him, in hopes to take down the Hulk.

Banner, Hulk and whoever else is in is head going through a rough patch this issue. As in TONS or crazy mental breakdowns. During these we get to see some different art styles that I thought were very cool.

I also liked how Hulk got to be happy at the end. Then, he blew up, but at least he got a half happy ending. I always like it when our heroes get a happy moment, even if it's just for a page.

I recommend!

[Stewart Mitchell]

Every few months I think about this series and I wonder if it’s actually as good as I remember it, or if I’d outgrown it. And whenever I start wondering this, like clockwork, there’s always a new volume coming out to order. And whenever I read them, I think - “oh, duh, this shit is actually awesome.” And then I start to forget again.

So, uh, yeah, this shit is awesome.

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maintaining its position as my favorite comic to read. I look forward to each successive volume released on Hoopla.

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still weird but still very well written by Ewing, who seems very comfortable with the title.
I'd never heard of the Sesame Street refugee who runs the show in the first half but Ewing manages to make him seem creepy and unhealthy despite his rather grotesque appearance. The final twist and the second part are just as well written.

Still not a fan of the drawing but I'll take Bennett over Hawthorne or any of the fill-in artists any day of the week.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hulk and company battle Xenmu, who uses scary alien abilities to mesmerize the viewing public into thinking Xenmu is Hulk. It's a fascinating twist that's honestly resolved a bit too quickly for my taste. But it's smartly resolved, at least, with the various Hulks in Bruce Banner's head coming up with a solution.

Then we get a trippy issue about the Leader's repeated deaths and rebirths. This feels like a return to the weirdness of the initial volumes in the series, especially with the re-introduction of the green door. I'm fine with a new villain appearing, but I was thoroughly baffled by those initial volumes. So I'm hesitant about Hulk's future.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best collections yet, with the arc about Xemnu and Roxxon right up there with some of the best storytelling I've seen in a Hulk comic. Too bad the rest of this, with the Leader masquerading as Rick Jones, isn't quite up to the same level, or resolved yet by the end of this volume. The art is great and I especially liked the sections that took place inside Banner's "memory palace" or whatever--the place where his various alters live when not in control. I've been really enjoying this series and this is some of the best work Al Ewing has done yet.

[Kyle Berk]

Another spectacular volume. Don't love it as much as the previous volume but it is just as smart with how it handles the ongoing story and is properly horrifying.

The series is as solid as ever. It is so well designed and put that I'm tempted to binge old Hulk comics to get all the nuance.

If you're still reading the series this is not the volume to stop.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title is somehow always very good. Such a compelling storyline. Always exploring new things about the character. Not an easy thing.

[André Habet · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was dope. I could read this series forever. Someone get Ewing a MacArthur for this work. Consistent issue by issue grotesque romps must be rewarded.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw that my library finally had the entire Immortal Hulk run through the conclusion, so I'm going to binge the back half of the series this week. Though, after reading this volume, I'm questioning the wisdom of doing so. Hmm. Well, I've gotta feed the compulsion monster, so here we go.

After a few vaguely interesting chapters about Xenmu and the Mandela effect, the series comes around to the ol' Dumb Hulk vs. Leader scenario that I have read too many times before. The Leader sucks as a villain and nothing in the retelling of his origin and life as a villain that is included herein changes my mind about that.

At least there are a few body horror sequences every issue or two to perk me up before I drifted off to sleep. And the cliffhanger has a literal climax, that's good for a chuckle: "N-no! Something . . . is in Hulk! Building! Building inside Hulk! Help Hulk! Help! Before -- " Cue money shot!

Onward!

[Petergiaquinta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Things just get weirder and weirder. And dumber and dumber, I fear.

Xemnu returns to reclaim the name “Hulk,” and isn’t that just preciously clever? But it goes nowhere, alas, and when all is said and done, there wasn’t much here to keep my interest beyond the initial spark of nostalgia.

“Hulk is Hulk,” for damn sure, but whether that mantra of his is more Popeye the Sailor Man or Jehovah from the burning bush, only time will tell, I guess.

I’ll keep reading, but I don’t have much hope for the future of this title.

[Sarospice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hulk is Hulk is Hulk is Hulk is Hulk is Hulk is Hulk is Hulk is Hulk the hulk is hulk is hulk is hulk is hulk is hulk is hulk is hulk is hulk is we hit a snag with this whole Xenmu thing....

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series.

[Malum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow beginning with a pretty silly villain, but picks up a bit before slamming on the breaks and ending in the middle of an arc. It has quite the cliffhanger, though.