Between Infernal Hulk last week and, Hulk: Smash Everything #1 this week, Hulk is undergoing a bit of a renaissance lately. While the former is advancing Hulk’s story over decades of continuity, the latter is playing with the Hulk in a tale outside of current continuity for the hell of it. The main goal? Prove nothing can stop Hulk.
You don’t need much past knowledge of the character to enjoy Hulk: Smash Everything, making it an easy comic to add to your buy pile. It opens with Doctor Strange hearing his trusty assistant Wong requiring help, only to find him keeping Hulk at bay. We soon learn he’s after Doctor Strange, but we have no idea why. He’s huge, angry, and not even magic can keep him back for long. Soon, we learn the Leader is up to no good, and the adventure gets more dangerous from there.
Vincenzo Carratù draws a heck of a Hulk. He’s a giant filling the page, bulbous with his large, light-green muscles. Between Hulk’s skin and the various spells Doctor Strange uses, this is a bright, throwback sort of comic. Carratù plays with layout in a few pages as well, creating jagged panels when time travel is involved, or angular panels in another double-page layout that make the page feel playful.
The magic effects are cool.
Credit: Marvel
As far as the story goes, Leader adds a bit of weight. We haven’t seen him in a bit, and it’s nice to see him plotting and actually enacting a plan. It’s not just Hulk smashing. That said, if you’re looking for a contemplative Hulk or any sign of Bruce Banner, you’re not in luck. That can make this issue feel a touch thin, with characters mostly reacting to things.
The charm of this story is the big hook, as it sets up a scientific twist that would be pretty hard for the Hulk to punch through. That is, unless you know Ryan North is writing – judging by his exceptionally well-thought-out work on Fantastic Four, we’re in for a treat of a tale.
Hulk: Smash Everything #1 is a vibrant, continuity-free brawl that pairs a beautifully rendered Hulk with a clever, escalating conflict; while it may not offer the psychological nuance some readers crave, it thrives as a smart, energetic, science-driven romp that sets up something only Ryan North could pull off.
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