The Horror of the Incredible Hulk
Some of you may not know this, but beginning with Immortal Hulk and continuing into the 2023-2025 run of the Incredible Hulk, Marvel Comics has transformed the big green smasher into a total horror fest, and it’s stunning.
I’ve never really liked the Incredible Hulk (except for Ang Lee’s divisive movie, which I still think is the best superhero movie of all time), until being introduced to Immortal Hulk. This was Marvel’s successful attempt at turning the character into full-on monster fest, complete with gross-out body horror, and some cosmic revelations. Immortal Hulk is kind of like Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing run, although not as cerebral and literary, but, honestly, more purely entertaining and fun.
And to be fair, it's really not trying to be Moore's Swamp Thing, but that's just the laziest way I can think of to describe it, simply because it's so different than what has happened previously with the character.
It's a new way to look at the Hulk, through the lens of horror.
And as good as Immortal Hulk is, I think the 2023-2025 run from Phillip Kennedy Johnson is even better, especially the first collection Age of Monsters.
My god. What a book!
Pure monster mayhem.
Absolute chaos.
And that art!
My new found love for this horror version of the Hulk has been a big, pleasurable surprise. I love this take on the character. It’s fun, violent, crazy, and ultimately one of the most entertaining superhero comic books I’ve read in a very, very long time.
Immortal Hulk has been finished, and you can pick up all the trades, and the final trade of the 2023-2025 Incredible Hulk, Monster Road, hits later this month.
Highly recommended.
Comments (6)
I'm more about Hulk as superhero. That said my favorite run is Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema from the late 70's and early 80's. Thanks for sharing this though! I'd love to see more comic book content on the Dungeon Dive.
I totally understand that. Typically, I'm not into superhero stuff, so I always appreciate it when a different angle is taken. I'll probably keep the comic-related stuff here to the Patreon, because the review I did for Superman Secrete Identity comparing it to All Star Superman is BY FAR The worst performing video on the channel. :) Things I plan to read this year - finishing Moore's Swamp Thing, re-reading the Mirage TMNT books, finishing TMNT Reborn, re-reads of Usagi Yojimbo, finishing Hellboy, finishing Fall of Cthulhu, The Finder, and a re-read of Akira.
I had never heard of this series. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Read 1960's Hulk comics. Liked those, haven't tried the new ones. I like to buy the packaged Marvel Essentials from Amazon to get my fill of Fantastic Four and Spider-Man. Some stories are corny looking at it now but that is how my love of fantasy actually started. The monsters, the artwork. Hooo Boy, to quote Spider-Man
I loved the sword & planet, John Carter feeling of 'Planet Hulk' and 'Heart of the Atom' back in the day, but I haven't dipped into marvel for a long time. I'll have to check these out. I had no idea Hulk ahd gone the horror route. And that sea monster design truly is incredible!
I totally forgot about Planet Hulk! I never finished it, but I should look into getting it.