Nothing But Ashes And Monsters Remain In ‘Immortal Hulk #30’
by Josh Davison
Mild Spoilers Ahead
Gamma Flight laments their lack of action and inability to track the Hulk and his cadre. As if on cue, Puck is informed that there is a large concentration of gamma radiation coming from Phoenix, Arizona. Gamma Flight snaps into action. In Phoenix, the Hulk himself has gone savage inside the stomach of one of Roxxon’s giant monsters. Smaller beasts live inside the creature and are tearing the Hulk apart. At Jackie McGee’s office, one of Roxxon’s monsters has taken to hunting the reporter and her co-workers. None survive outside of Jackie and her editor, Murray and even they are only narrowly saved by Rick Jones. Doc Samson and the Harpy, aka Betty Ross, struggle to get a handle on the situation across town, but, thankfully, Gamma Flight arrives to help.
Immortal Hulk #30 finds Hulk and his allies struggling to contain the armageddon Roxxon has unleashed upon Phoenix, Arizona. The Devil Hulk has lost control of the beast, leaving the Savage Hulk to rampage inside of a monster. Rick Jones shows new and immense power but seems aloof and detached. Samson and the Harpy are the only ones who seem to have any kind of clear mind regarding the crisis.
That is, of course, until Gamma Flight arrives. Puck, Absorbing Man, and Titania provide some entertaining dialogue between throwing down with the monsters.
The Minotaur has a fair few scenes in the comic as well, and he continues to solidify as a classic and cruel villain.
The comic does two other things that stand out: Jackie McGee chastises Rick Jones for trying to crack a joke when he saves her and Murray. That runs contrary to some of the jokier moments of recent Avengers issues as well as the constant quips of the MCU films. I’m not saying it’s an attempt at criticism, but it is a breath of fresh air to be reminded that not every superhero story needs to be line-a-rama. The other striking detail is the amount of casualties we are shown. The comic wants to make it clear that Dario Agger is killing countless people in his personal vendetta against the Hulk. It’s horrifying and maintains the apocalyptic and dower tone of the comic.
Joe Bennett once again knocks it out of the park in the visual department. The action is gripping, the gore is stomach-wrenching, and the monsters look fantastic. Ruy José, Belardino Brabo, and Cam Smith provide excellent inkwork, and color artist Paul Mounts makes sure everything is bombastic and charged.
Immortal Hulk #30 is another stellar and stunning issue from Marvel’s monster-filled action-horror title. Roxxon has destroyed the city of Phoenix to strike at the Hulk and it looks like that the Minotaur may at last have the upper hand on him. This is another must-read, unforgettable issue and it’s impressive how we’ve made it to 30 issues on this title without a weak issue in the bunch. This one gets another recommendation. Give it a read.
Immortal Hulk #30 comes to us from writer Al Ewing, artist Joe Bennett, inkers Ruy José, Belardino Brabo, and Cam Smith, color artist Paul Mounts, letterer VC’s Cory Petit, cover artist Alex Ross, and variant cover artist Mike del Mundo.
Final Score: 9/10