Hulk #13 An Incredible Ongoing Series Proving Its Potential
From Marvel Comics
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Art by Nic Klein
Just imagining the concept of living in a world where you are not reading the current Hulk comics is so overwhelmingly depressing and bleak that I literally rushed to my computer to write this review.
Now admittedly, I have some bias as a devout comic book fan of the Hulk (stayed tuned for more of my retrospective favorites in future, true believer) but I am going to do my best to set that aside and give you perspective of what makes this story SO. DAMN. GOOD.
First of all, a major hurdle for new and even, old comic book readers, is the fear of not understanding the current context of a comic book series or character. “If I want to read that I’ll have to read the series before that which is honestly gonna get expensive and maybe there’s even some tie-in issues that are hard to find, relegated to some obscure out of stock collection or inside of some unwieldy omnibus-“ Well, worry not, because in the case of Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s new era of the Hulk- all you need is a basic understanding of the hero, and a healthy stomach for shocking gore and sadistic, brutal violence. Johnson is exploring relatively uncharted territory with the Hulk, delving into the world of Monsters ruled by a Queen Below All, the Mother of Horrors. The creature known as the Hulk has only ever had it’s origins speculated at, most recently in Al Ewing’s impeccable Immortal Hulk run with the introduction of the concept of “The Green Door,” the realm from which realities horrific opposites, ghosts, and misguided wishes emerge. But it took Phillip Kennedy Johnson to boldly throw that door open- and if you want to know more about the series thus far, you can check out my review of Volume 1 on this channel.
Which leads me into my next point- the release of Issue #13 coincided with the release of Volume 2 of the series, “War Devils,” so it is the perfect time to catch up on the series. In fact, a lot of comic book stores will still have the back issues of the weekly releases so you can be current with the series faster than you think.
Another, oftentimes valid complaint of ongoing series that I have seen in the comments section many a time before is, “It’s just the same old thing, writer’s just lazily reuse the same characters and it’s not anything really innovative.” Well that doesn’t apply here as Johnson and company have painstakingly created a whole multitude of brand new characters and creatures in this narrative, each more thrilling and interesting than the last. What’s more, Johnson has included the extended lore for each of these Monsters of the Week in the afterward of each issue which is just such a beautiful blessing for us nerds that I wish more comic creators would adopt. It’s a simple touch that allows you to be that much more invested in the world and it sort of harkens back to serialized horror comics with the way the descriptions are framed as news articles or natural histories or letters.
And finally, another critical reality of modern comic book readership is the fateful day where the evocative, unique art that you have been enjoying since issue 1 suddenly, jarringly, changes to a completely different style that may not suit your tastes. Well, if you are feeling encouraged to catch up on Johnson’s Hulk, then this is THE BEST time to do it because Nic Klein is back, baby! That’s right, superstar artist Nic Klein who has been an absolute delight in the world of comics for the last few years with his breathtaking slew of memorable covers and his historic run on Thor, has returned to Hulk with some of his best work to date and that is not hyperbole, my jaw was on the floor while reading this issue. What’s more, every single artist who has graced this title thus far has been amazing and specifically implemented for the tone of the chapter being told by Johnson.
So in summary, this book can really do no wrong. It has avoided pitfalls and cliches that have stunted the popularity and appeal of other ongoing series, and most essentially, remained exciting!
Let’s talk about Issue #13 now which means,
WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!
Issue #13 is Part II of Banner’s foray into the realm of Black Magic as Doctor Voodoo sends Banner into a soul cage- an alternate dimension presided over by various demonic entities, with the foremost being the evil spirit “Sumanguru, the Flesh Weaver.” All this in the hopes of resurrecting Banner and the Hulk’s orphaned companion, Charlie, who was imprisoned in a doll back in New Orleans by the fallen angel turned demonic creature “Frozen Charlotte.” You know… sometimes I write a sentence for these reviews, and just have to sit back and go, “Yeah, the English language is crazy.”
Whilst inside the soul cage, Banner is immediately confronted with a familiar demon- the Hulk- who assaults Banner, blaming him for the loss of Charlie and retaliating for Banner’s long history of attempted murder, as he sees it, in trying to rid himself of the Hulk’s psyche.
Bruce and Hulk eventually decide to agree to disagree as they fall deeper into their hellscape in pursuit of aid that only Sumanguru can provide. As separate entities, they ride the back of a three headed eagle creature and survey the realm of the soul cage. I have to reiterate just once again how INSANE Nic Klein’s work is here. Banner spots a web from above and the contentious duo land at the mouth of a sinister cave adorned with stone cut images and decaying refuse.
I should comment here that if you are a fan of Hulk comics centered in more of a classic fantasy influenced setting as opposed to science fiction or modern superhero imagery- then this whole run will enthrall you. It’s nice to see Hulk adventuring into the “weird,” the disconcerting eternal “unknown” as best fits his function as a character. Hulk works best as our vehicle into the uncharted territories where man would never dare venture because he is too damn angry and stubborn to die.
As Bruce and the Hulk enter the cave, they are confronted with the many forms of Sumanguru who literally weaves the personified mimic flesh of his victims in order to overwhelm his prey. Hulk is able to hold his own as Bruce throws his torchlight aloft to expose Sumanguru skulking in the shadows of the cave ceiling, revealed to be a centaur-like half spider man.
Bruce appeals to Sumanguru urging him that he and the Hulk have sought him out deliberately to repair the body of their stolen companion. However, the creature reveals that he has no such ability to reanimate an individual outside of his control, and tells his puzzling visitors that there exists another entity in “the city of sin” that could perform what they request.
Hulk and Banner are pulled from the Soul Cage by Doctor Voodoo, but not before Sumanguru takes a slice at the Hulk and begins to replicate his own Hulk imitation which I kind of hope comes back later in some way- feels like a very old comic book cliffhanger where the editor box would chime in with “But that is a tale for another time…”
Doctor Voodoo bids Banner farewell as Bruce tells him that he is on his way to Las Vegas to bargain with a new devil. Which is so exciting- the locations in this book thus far have been another huge highlight. We started in the Deep South, evoking a Southern Gothic Folk Horror tale, traveling ever deeper into the Swamps, eventually to the ghostly streets of New Orleans, and now we find ourselves in the temple to man’s insatiable hubris.
Please remember to support your local comic book store and this tremendous series, we need to do our part as a community to get this title to 50 issues because it deserves it!
-Nicholas Aaron Hodge
