Immortal Hulk #9
Nicolas Duncan
Recap
Previously, we learned that Hulk/Banner can “presumably” be killed; however, the night is for the monster. Hulk has some sort of regenerative and absorbing abilities, but to what extent? Bruce Banner is taunted by the original trauma and his father’s strong grip. Although, Banner continues to have self-inflictions by his inner monster, Hulk executes the work that his other half is incapable to accomplish. I am not going to give out any major spoilers as you just have to pick up the previous issues and see for yourself!
Review
Immortal Hulk #9 is excellent straight from the beginning and the reader is memorized with each page as the story connects the Absorbing Man to the big green goliath. This issue begins during the day, which is the time of Hulk’s other half. Slightly prior to dusk, Banner is helping himself to some clothes. The owner whom clearly is his own devil that created his hellish living conditions. He uses the, “I’m laughing here”, right to bear arms to protect his clean shirt. As the night falls, this poor uneducated man who decided to shoot another human for a damn shirt has a monstrous surprise.
This issue takes a step back with an intriguing story as Al Ewing loops the Absorbing Man to Hulk’s journey. The misdirected proud decisions that Carl “Crusher” Creel made throughout his life has led to his own hell on Earth. Ewing brilliantly articulates Creel with the Weapon H title. To have continuity in the Marvel Universe creates better storytelling and shows Ewing’s level of talent. In previously issues we were introduced to General Fortean and Dr. Clive and now we see more of their story as it connects to the “Crusher”, the “Absorbing Man”, along with the greatest enemy, the Hulk!
Meanwhile, Hulk is battling his own devil and returns to a past hell to defeat the evil, but who is the lamb? “Did he who made the lamb, make thee?” – William Blake. Refer to last issue for this reference.
Creel is given a perfected gene-enhancement, much like the Red Hulk was given, but more advanced with a gamma energy absorption power. It is monster vs monster and it’s a fight to see! Joe Bennet, Ruy Jose, and Paul Mounts break from expectations and freak us out with visuals in each horrific scene.
Each issue of the Immortal Hulk thus far, Al Ewing and his creative team continues to carry that torch of their predecessors and take fans back to a gothic horror genre with influential theories on psychodynamics. Ewing uses the dark and morbid nature of humans with traumatic experiences that Banner/Hulk to provide a fresh new direction for long time fans as well as new readers.
Final Thoughts
This is a must read comic book!
Immortal Hulk #9: The Sinners
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9.5/109.5/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 8.5/108.5/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10