If you like horror comics, you probably like Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein’s The Incredible Hulk series, which leans into the horror aspect as monsters rise up to do…something. The Hulk couldn’t care less, but something is afoot, and Bruce Banner wants to get to the bottom of it. Or at least, he would if he wasn’t constantly battling with a Hulk who would like to kill Bruce. The duo is back at odds thanks to the starship dilemma of the last creative team, but can Hulk find it in his heart to kill some zombies this week?
The answer is yes, but mostly because they are annoying. This issue picks up where we left off as zombies rise up to be totally annoying to Hulk. There seems to be a desire from the monsters in the world to kill Hulk or maybe steal his powers, but at this stage, Hulk is treating them like annoying pests. He has a hanger-on named Charlie, though, and she wants to learn from, if not become a Hulk herself.
The star of The Incredible Hulk #3 is the art, as Klein gets to go full tilt with action and gore. We’re talking epic double-page splashes of Hulk being attacked by zombies, a head being caved in, and a giant monster that gets a hole punched into it. Given how casual Hulk is about it all paired with the epic art, one can surmise these monsters aren’t much of a threat. Still, the scale of the final monster is epic, and there are some insane layout designs, use of sound effects, and gore to enjoy. It’s a blast, and it makes up for any lack of action in the first two issues.
Do not annoy the Hulk, especially if you’re a zombie.
Credit: Marvel
Pacing-wise, this issue definitely takes a different tact from the previous issues. The enemy chasing Hulk, for instance, is nowhere to be seen. It’s wall-to-wall action for the most part while also building on Hulk’s relationship with Charlie.
Fans of stories within stories will dig some backstory on an ancient enemy. Some Cthulhu vibes are going on with the backstory, and while the beast doesn’t stand a chance against Hulk, it’s nice to see Johnson do some myth-building in America. One can imagine Hulk will come across other monsters of America, and after this issue, I say bring it on. Don’t skip the short backstory that ends the book, as it gives more detail and color about the monster and what is going on.
Matthew Wilson’s colors are also fantastic, taking a darker tone with the book. If there is a gray Hulk and a green Hulk, it’s neat to see a slightly different hue here. It gives Hulk a different dimension and sets him apart from previous iterations. Depth of field owes a lot to Wilson’s work here, with one scene clearly showing zombies at different distances thanks to the way they are colored. It adds atmosphere and dimension to scenes so they aren’t flat.
The Incredible Hulk #3 lets loose with tons of action, gore, and monsters galore. The Incredible Hulk shows the series can balance nonstop action frenzies and characters all steeped in horror.
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