Review — ‘Incredible Hulk’ #3 Brings That Old Time Religion
by Tony Thornley
The Hulk’s entire mythology changed over the last few years. In the latest volume of Incredible Hulk that continues, and in Incredible Hulk #3, that means that he needs to find religion…
This issue, Sunday services are being led by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein, Matthew Wilson and Cory Petit.
Banner and Charlie are sacrifices intended for Brother Deep, an eldritch horror that has killed and reanimated an entire small town. Unfortunately, they didn’t plan for the Hulk. Even with the Cult defeated though, the Hulk is about the discover that what dwells beneath the mountain may be bigger and stronger than the strongest one there is…
This issue simply wouldn’t be possible without Klein and Wilson’s art. They craft a world that’s grotesque and unsettling, but completely captivating. Klein’s Hulk is a massive dominating presence on the page, drawing everything else towards it. Charlie is dwarfed next to him, but he’s still able to make this teenager a believable counterpart to the Hulk through her body language alone. Klein’s action continues to be great too, as Hulk like you’d expect a giant to, and his blows have a real sense of impact and weight.
Wilson’s colors drip atmosphere. He uses reds and purples to cast an unearthly light on Brother Deep’s cavern. He gives the Lovecraftian horror of the monster an unearthly grey hue that feels like something dead and rotting more than a living breathing creature. His chosen green for the Hulk sets this version apart while still being recognizable. All around great work.
Johnson is also doing some of the best superhero work he’s done to date. He uses the core heroism of the Hulk, while creating a version that feels like a culmination of what writers like Peter David and Al Ewing did before him while still feeling different and distinct. Charlie and Hulk’s relationship feels genuine, and she feels human and not just a stereotype of Gen Z.
Petit’s letters are very fun. He does a lot to convey emotion with just a few little touches in how he places balloons or emphasis. He also gives a sense of unnatural sounds just by changing the shape and color of a balloon, making sure the font and script are still very easy and clear reading.
Incredible Hulk #3 is available now from Marvel Comics.
Overview
This series is flying under the radar, but I’m having a lot of fun with it. It’s unsettling and engrossing, a perfect blend of superheroes and horror.
