The heroes have lost their last chance to stop Infernal Hulk…except for Bruce Banner himself. As Hulk closes in on New York, Banner and Doctor Voodoo risk their lives and souls against a terrifying enemy. Failure will mean eternal enslavement and torment…but success could give them the only weapon that might bring victory against Infernal Hulk. Meanwhile, another secret weapon joins the fray…Charlie Tidwell herself, the skinwalker Lycana! The Infernal Hulk #10 is another amazing entry in the current Hulk epic, one that’s packed with important moments.
I’ve never been a big Hulk person. I’ve read some story arcs here and there but it’s never been a comic I regularly read or character I cared about. Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson has shifted that with an epic story (much like his vision for his time writing Superman) that takes the character and readers through a journey where you never know exactly what to expect. Johnson has taken the Hulk back to his horror roots, with an ancient being now controlling the Green Giant and raising an army of monsters to create a new Age of Monsters. The heroes have failed at every moment to stop this Infernal Hulk leaving the situation looking desperate with an unclear path to victory.
But through that destruction, Johnson keeps things focused not on the Infernal Hulk’s terror, but more importantly on the heroes who want to be anything but. At first it was Bruce Banner, hiding out with Betsy Ross, having lost his ability to become the Hulk and attempting to live a normal life. Johnson has now added Charlie Tidwell to the mix of heroes and weapons, a character who might really shift the battle. Together, we get a story of two individuals dragged into the situation and seeing a duty they have to do, not want to do.
But, even with two glimmer of hopes, Johnson also ramps things up giving us moments that echo the best zombie stories with overwhelming forces and those standing up against them with the odds not in their favor. It continues the feeling of desperation that has been a driver of this series, a pervasive feeling held by so many.
That feeling is helped by Adam Gorham‘s art who along with Matthew Wilson‘s colors and Cory Petit‘s lettering, creates a comic that’s steeped in emotion and horror. There’s a sense of overwhelming dread in multiple ways in the issue. Even the bright spots, Banner fighting a demon and the Lycana revelation, still are muted in same way, as if these might go away at any moment (and one might). Add in the ending, and you have an issue whose visuals add to the unknown as to who is gaining ground in the battle. The issue, and series as a whole, also continues to do an amazing job with the color, delivering a darker look but one that’s not all shadows. There’s a glow that has permeated the comic from early on, an almost fluorescent choice, that gives the comic a sickly feel. The lettering too continues to pack in the emotion and add to each moment.
The Infernal Hulk #10 is another fantastic issue of a fantastic series of a fantastic run. There’s till a whole other chapter still to come, and it’s building to be a doozy. Johnson continues to show he’s a master at long form comic storytelling, one that doesn’t feel decompressed, but one where each issue is packed with key moments. Mixed with some fantastic art, The Infernal Hulk continues to be the best comic Marvel is releasing right now.
Story: Phillip Kennedy Johnson Art: Adam Gorham
Color: Matthew Wilson Letterer: Cory Petit
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
