Dark, Horrific, & Psychodynamic! Ewing’s creative team take Hulk’s fans back to the roots of the 60’s and 70’s, an analogy of the fascinating Dr. Jekyll/Mister Hyde aspect between Bruce Banner and his reflection. Hulk is reborn in this horror tale that begins with a crime and explores the dark and morbid nature of humans.
THE IMMORTAL HULK #1
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Joe Bennett and Ruy Jose
Cover Artist: Alex Ross
Colorist: Paul Mounts
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics
What You Need to Know:
During the “No Surrender” event, Avengers #684 issue by writers; Jim Zub, Mark Waid and Al Ewing explores the Hulk’s background of multiple deaths and the roadmap to The Immortal Hulk! The Challenger unleashes this latest resurrection providing a more terrifying Hulk as he is more precise, violent and so frightening that may scare off any challenger.
What You’ll Find Out:
The Immortal Hulk #1 opens with a partial quote from Carl Gustav Jung: “Man is, on the whole, less good than he wants himself to be.” The following page notes another philosophical caption, “There are two people in every mirror.” Immediately, a nervous, clearly unskilled man enters a convenience store in the middle of nowhere and robs the place. This attempt leads to a devastating and gruesome situation where a young girl and others (including a man with green glowing eyes who seems to about to intervene) shot dead!
As night falls, a local law officer evaluates the crime scene and provides selective details to a reporter named “Ms. Jackie McGee”. Meanwhile, at the morgue, the dead John Doe, aka Bruce Banner, starts to change. The big green muscular fearsome HULK tracks down the gunman and frighteningly torments him. The gunman is emotionally conscience-stricken over the ordeal.
The gunman cries out, knowing he made a mistake and asking Hulk if he ever made a mistake. As Hulk continues to push emotional buttons, the gunman accepts any punishment that “they” will give him and he continues to say; “I am not a bad guy. Am I? What do you think?” Hulk acting as judge, jury, and executioner, he leaves the gunman brutally battered.
“There are two people in every mirror” This issue ends with Bruce looking in the mirror the same questions the gunman asked Hulk.
What Just Happened?
While referencing the Avengers, the 60’s comics, and the 70’s TV show feel, The Immortal Hulk #1 firmly builds back the horror to this new arc of a favorite Marvel character. As there are questions to be answered, Al Ewing, Joe Bennet, Ruy, Jose, and Paul Mounts each dramatically contribute to a fascinating tale about power and mistakes as “There are two people in every mirror”.
Through the inspiration of Carly Gustav Jung’s philosophy, Al Ewing and his creative team outstandingly articulates the symbolic expression and deepens our understanding of the personal material through collective patterns which develop within our culture and our own dark inner selves. As we question our motives, this horror genre arc explores the imperfect psychodynamics of humanity; such as Dissociative Identity Disorder and Dysmorphic Disorder.
As a nervous man sitting in his car as his reflection in the rear-view mirror shows the sweat drops from his forehead. The gunman robs a gas station/convenience store and killing people due to shaken nerves. Throughout the pages, we learn the details responsible for the horrific actions. This mind-boggling ending has Bruce Banner asking the other-self in the mirror the same questions as the gunman. “I am not a bad guy. Am I? What do you think?”
Rating: 9/10
Final Thought: An outstanding debut that delivers a new arc with horror elements, The Immortal Hulk #1 sets the stage for Marvel’s reborn, haunting green goliath. It will be exciting to see how Detective, Ms. McGee uncovers the mystery of Banner aka Hulk being alive and well. As the truth is revealed, how will the current genre stay intact as Hulk is reacquainted with heroes and supervillains? This is an expressive, well-done beginning for all Hulk followers!