Deron Generally
Deron Generally
The Immortal Hulk #2
Marvel Comics
Written by Al Ewing
Art by Joe Bennett
Inks by Ruy Jose
Colors by Paul Mounts
Letters by Cory Petit and Travis Lanham
Bruce Banner is dealing with his new situation the only way that he can, but being constantly on the move. After having Hawkeye shoot him in the head with a special arrow that he thought would kill him, Banner is still alive, still connected to the Hulk and not in control of what happens to him after dark.
The Immortal Hulk does a great job of telling a contemporary Jekyll and Hyde style story of duality with a twist. We get to see Bruce dealing with his new life on the run. The steps he takes to stay off the radar of everyone, including his friends. We also get to see that there are other dangers to his life in seclusion, namely a reporter named McGee who is on his tail and outing Hulk’s return to the world.
That aside, this new relationship Bruce has with the Hulk allows them both to sense when a mystery is taking place and the town Bruce finds himself in is dealing with a series of deaths that started with the passing of a local sports hero. When Bruce decides to start digging into the mystery, he finds himself at the grave of the young man and a familiar feeling sets him off on the trail of something Bruce is intimately familiar with, gamma radiation.
After the Hulk emerges to deal with the threat, he gets to the tragic truth that led to the tragedy affecting the town and decides to dole out some pretty brutal retribution in return. It’s a great, almost creepy, moment that emphasizes that there is a bit of a sadistic streak to this new Hulk. Unfortunately, his work in the town might not be over.
Two issues in and I am already hooked on this new dynamic for Bruce and the Hulk. I love that there is a part of Bruce that knows that something in him is missing. There is some great character development in the beginning of this issue and the narrative flows in a way that keeps the reader locked into the story. It’s very engaging. Joe Bennett’s art is amazing as well and his use of close up for the Hulk in many of the panels punctuates the creature’s menace.
