Immortal Hulk #13: A Booth in the Midwest

A Battered and weakened Hulk fights his way through the demons of his past who have taken on monstrous forms. Meanwhile, Banner, separated from the green goliath, is held captive by his father in a storm of gamma radiation. If the two can be reunited, they might have a chance of getting out of this alive.

We are at a turning point with the Immortal Hulk title. Al Ewing has exquisite talent that balances the line between the sci-fi, supernatural, and psychodynamics into the Hulk mythos. While the Hulk’s creation was a act of science, Ewing bring this book to new heights by redefining the character development. While the Hulk’s creation was an act of science, Ewing plays with the idea that the gamma energy comes from a place beyond understanding. It has helped shape this new persona of the Hulk’s into something more monstrous and with more purpose than any version of the Hulk we’ve seen before.

We conclude our time in Gamma Hell with some big character moments as good overcomes evil. Carl “Crusher’ Creel, The Absorbing Man, seems to stray off the beaten path looking for redemption. However, the best part of this issue has to be the reunion between Banner and Hulk. It’s a sweet touching moment that gives a nice perspective on what the two mean to each other. It’s also very different how the Hulk and Banner’s attitude towards one another have been portrayed in the past. They are not as antagonistic and more like brothers.

Artist Joe Bennett has created some of the most unsettling versions of characters like Rick Jones / A-Bomb that pull heavily from body horror. Letterer Cory Petit adds to the creepy nature of the scene. The words come out, but you can imagine them sounding sickening, like nails on a chalkboard mixed with a guttural howl. There’s a running narration throughout this issue which Petit shows in a classic typewriter style. They appear over each panel giving the already monumental fights an added layer of gravitas. I will admit that sometimes this text goes over my head, but you can’t ignore the importance of it.

Inker Ruy Jose~ brings out all the horrifying details in Bennett’s artwork, aided by Belardino Brabo and Rafael Fonteiz. You can see each craggy scale or menacing tooth in these monsters. There is a sheer strength on display as Hulk flexes his muscles, the veins bulging pulsing in a menacing and frightening manner.

Colorist Paule Mounts never lets you forget these characters are in Hell. This is a desolate landscape full of reds and browns, like a barren desert of despair. The swirling storm of green gamma radiation creates an old school sci-fi feel.

Immortal Hulk #13 is a stunning conclusion to our time in Gamma Hell. Judging from the revelations of this issue, we’re just getting started and I could not be happier about that. My only complaint is that the confrontation between the Hulk and Banner’s dad is too brief. However, he had his spotlight in the last issue.