Hulk #17 The Strongest Ongoing Series There Is
From Marvel Comics
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Art by Nic Klein
The last three issues of The Incredible Hulk have offered some of the most exciting Hulk lore in the history of the legacy title that, as of this issue, is 798 issues long. Wait- that means that Legacy issue #800 is right around the corner and it’s going to be the climax of this entire arc and- and- *$#$%@!
Specifically, Phillip Kennedy Johnson has fleshed out and returned to the ancient “prequel” Hulk-centric time period he presented in his criminally underrated one shot, “Immortal Hulk: Time of Monsters” (2021), where he and artist Juan Ferarya detailed the origin story of an ancient “Hulk” stepping through the eldritch Green Door into our reality. In the context of the current Incredible Hulk story, Johnson has used this past iteration of the Hulk to finally reveal the origin of the conflict with Eldest, servant of the Mother of Horrors, our series “big bad” thus far.
I am speaking vaguely about issues #15-#16 as to not overtly spoil anything, but I just have to stress- these issues are in fact some of the boldest, imaginative, and exciting pieces of Marvel media ever printed. I feel strongly that this entire Johnson and Klein arc, and specifically this section will be heralded and remembered in Marvel history in years to come, much like Al Ewing’s pivotal, Immortal Hulk.
In fact, as an avid Hulk fan (and aspiring Hulk scholar) if I had to provide a comprehensive list of the essential reading history for a new reader regarding The Incredible Hulk then I would list the following:
The Incredible Hulk- Issue #1- “The Coming of the Hulk”
The Incredible Hulk- The Curing of Dr. Banner
The Incredible Hulk- Crossroads
The Incredible Hulk- Ground Zero
The Incredible Hulk- Future Imperfect
The Incredible Hulk- World War Hulk
The Incredible Hulk- Planet Hulk
The Immortal Hulk
The Incredible Hulk- Age of Monsters
I have thought a lot about what it is exactly that makes this latest series of Hulk comics so great, so monumental, so praiseworthy- and I think it comes down to tone. In our modern age of frankly oversaturated superhero comics, it can be difficult to cut through the grain and offer anything new. Because realistically, most superhero comics don’t have to be new, they have to be familiar- which isn’t a criticism, because I love those comics and I like reading something that I like. However, the sameness can build up and develop a more tiresome aspect in certain instances. I mean- that is precisely why I don’t read Spiderman comics, I can’t help but be annoyed that they keep spiritually de-aging him and repeat the same pedestrian struggles over and over again- let the man age damnit!
However, the Hulk to me, and to a lot of fans, has always managed to stand apart from other legacy heroes- able to operate within and explore diverse and elevated thematic playing fields because of the characters elusive, extraterrestrial quality. So it is particularly exciting when a writer like Phillip Kennedy Johnson shares this perspective, boldly forging a strange new path for the Hulk to tread. I think that this series is proof once again that the Hulk is more often better suited in his own storyline, not as a part of a team (though there are notable exceptions to this rule throughout the history of Marvel Comics.)
I think that the quality of this run of The Incredible Hulk is also demonstrably affected by the evocative, haunting, transcendent artwork from Nic Klein who seems to be undertaking another career-defining moment in comic history after his previous laudable work in Thor. For at least the last three issues, every time I turn the page I have to stifle an audible gasp at what it is I am looking at- if that isn’t the definitive mark of amazing visual art, I don’t know what is.
Let’s talk more specifically about Issue #17 which means,
WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!
Our issue opens with the titanic imagery of a pyramid rising the Las Vegas strip in the desert (a shot very reminiscent of Blade Runner now that I think about it) as we focus on two distraught women on top of the pyramid roof looking down at the neon city below. Finally, it feels, we are entering into the boundary of the city that Hulk was instructed to venture to several issues ago by a Flesh-Weaving Spider Demon, in order to restore the body of Hulk’s child companion, Charlie, now spiritually imprisoned inside of a ceramic doll by the fallen angel, Frozen Charlotte. Have I mentioned how fucking crazy this series is? It’s like Buffy the Vampire Slayer with visceral body horror and kaiju fights.
Focusing back on the two Las Vegas women, they are startled by the arrival of a Stranger on the roof who offers them respite from their failed attempt at acquiring fame and glory in Vegas, with a group of similar idealistic dreamers. The Stranger leads the girls down through the pyramid, into caverns even further below the earth, where they encounter the promised group of people standing around a throne made out of a monstrous bat head. Rule #1 of Vegas is obviously, “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” but the lesser known Rule #2 is, “If you walk into a room of strange people with a bat head throne in Vegas, you need to get the fuck out of there!” The Stranger then bids one of the women to sit on the throne, upon which the head of the bat springs to life and chomps down on her brain, with the Stranger’s proclamation, “The House of Lycanna welcomes you!”
We then cut away from this frightening scene to witness the Hulk’s arrival into Vegas, springing from the street to land on the pyramid, which now emits a particular shade of green light. As the Hulk descends into the temple he is greeted by the voice of Eldest, who informs him that this place is an ancient temple to her daughter Lycanna, the Mother of Skinwalkers. Eldest, appearing as a businesswoman with cropped red hair, is disappointed to learn that the Hulk does not remember their previous encounter 4,000 years ago, which resulted in both the Hulk (then called the Bull Man, Enkidu) and Eldest’s demise.
The Hulk, never one for chit chat, strikes out at Eldest with all of his might, but she is, terrifyingly, completely unfazed. As the Hulk attacks again and again, Eldest chides him saying, “I am the First and Strongest of our kind,” and “This flesh is but a garment. See my True form, little thing.” As promised, with her decrepit finger pressed to the Hulk’s temple, we behold the true form of the Eldest for the first time and- OH. MY. GOD.
In an iconic, chilling splash, Klein renders the grotesque, titanic, many-limbed, bat-winged, satanic halo clad, hulking figure of Eldest in what will be one of the most memorable pieces of Hulk comic art ever put to page. This series has been filled with memorable, specific, fear-inducing creature designs, but this is- this something greater, something otherworldly.
As the Eldest tosses the Hulk around, mutilating him with conjured, spear-like tendrils, she offers the Hulk a choice: “Give the girl to the skinwalkers,” who will remake her into one of their own, or “surrender your flesh to me.”
Meanwhile, inside of the Hulk’s psyche, Bruce Banner cries out for the Hulk not to give up Charlie. Additionally, Bruce converses with what is clearly a demonic personification of Betty Ross, the Red Harpy, who urges Bruce to surrender the Hulk’s soul to Eldest in order to save Charlie’s life. A pact that Banner, coward that he is, agrees to, resulting in the final image of this issue with the Hulk bound by uncanny chains and a sorcerer’s symbol emblazoned on his chest. Unwittingly fulfilling the paradoxical requirement for the Mother of Horror’s release, that we learned of in the preceding prequel issues, in which the avatar of The One Below All, the Green Man, must be the one to open the door imprisoning the Mother of Horror’s. So… goodbye Marvel Comics Universe, I guess. It was nice while it lasted.
If you want to personally witness and be present for a unique, disturbing, mythical chapter in the history of the Hulk, then you need to pick up on The Incredible Hulk Issue #17, on shelves at your local comic book store now!
-Nicholas Aaron Hodge
