Al Ewing began his tenure as the Immortal Hulk in a terror-filled deluxe volume published by Panini Comics in the Marvel Deluxe line.
Horror isn’t a genre usually associated with superhero comics, but if there’s a series of stories among the most famous, it might be worth setting up stories like this, it’s the Hulk. Now Panini Comics brings back Al Ewing’s time as the character’s screenwriter in the Marvel Deluxe line, and the first edition arrives under the Marvel Deluxe title. Immortal Hulk 1 – The Green Gate.
The fear is from within
It’s easy to associate Hulk’s character with horror if we take as a basis the most obvious reference for the character, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson. When Stan Lee introduced this character to the Marvel Universe (which was primarily a children’s read at the time), he shied away from the sinister implications of his nature, just as Thor didn’t talk about mythology. (OK, sometimes yes) But about hammering the villains at work.
People who were able to enjoy Al Ewing’s talk were definitely interested in what this man could do, in the days before this collection, his work was largely unknown in the comics world. But in his words, the author’s own voice and the ability to contribute something new and refreshing to the ninth art have always been appreciated. And he finally confirmed it with the Emerald Giant.
The tone of this series is noticeably different from the various versions we’ve seen of the character over the years. We’re not talking about a mindless and powerful member of the Avengers, a dangerous uncontrollable force unleashed, a scientist with mental health issues and instability, or a gray mobster from Las Vegas. Here we see a man suffering, but not because of the destruction of urban material that his anger can cause when it gets out of control, but because of the head that bites when you touch his nose.
The Hulk is not a good guy with a bad character, he is not Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein, he is a true monster capable of creating indescribable terror in his victims, Bruce Banner and the reader himself. An example of this list, the idea is introduced, the Hulk reveals himself only at night, as if he were a wolf with an eternal full moon, which seems completely appropriate. This dynamic changes as the series progresses, but as a premise it’s a resounding success.
How did I know I was immortal?
Until not too long ago, the Hulk was one of those few Marvel Comics characters who didn’t die (well, in terms of a death one could believe and lasting more than a month). Brian Michael Bendis decided that this had to change in Civil War II, when Clint Barton, following a request from Banner himself, fired a special arrow that would have cost him his life once and for all to protect him.
After the devastating consequences of a death that doesn’t take long to undo, we see how it’s done in The Avengers: Ewing, who takes control of the character without giving up, begins to tell what will be a fascinating journey into his mind. This is the personification of human instinct. Regardless of the method used to kill, the idea that this monster is immortal is already raised.
On the one hand, this can cancel out the joy of creating life-threatening situations for our protagonist (weak Banner was shot in the face in the first issue of the series), but on the other hand, it helps us to focus on what Ewing really wants to tell us in the long run. And it’s more ambitious than showing us how Hulk gets crushed for the 19th time.
Interior history
Early in this volume we meet important new characters such as journalist Jackie Magee, whose relationship with the Hulk is more complicated than he first imagines, and General Reginald James Forton. , but it wasn’t as relevant as it is here), a natural replacement for General Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross to continue his warlike evil career. Interesting additions to the character’s environment.
But with gamma radios like the Sasquatch (unfortunately the first of many) we’ll be dealing with them from the beginning. The series works admirably when the monster, his internal struggle, and the disintegration of Ewing’s banner occupy the pages, but when such superhero elements are occupied, the plot becomes less and less effective. And midway through the volume we meet the most powerful men on earth (in this case led by a woman).
But if we focus on the positive part, surely this reading can revive the character of Ang Lee’s film or Banner’s father (Brian Banner) who gives importance to the person who is his son, or some previous steps. Presumably, before the gamma bomb, this timid scientist had an inner rage that he could not control.
To develop all this, we will have to wait for the next part of the series in the next part, but we have encountered enough interesting ideas to hear that, leaving aside the parts for more innocent sleepless readers, we have before that one of the most interesting stages that the character has done in his published life.
As for the picture, apart from the wonderful covers by the brilliant Alex Ross, we have to talk about the work of Joe Bennett above all, because he does an accurate job without any frills, perhaps more suited to flat colors than Paul’s. Mountains that can never really be blamed.
Published by Panini Comics in hardcover, the volume contains 328 color pages measuring 17 x 26 cm. And the American edition includes the first thirteen issues of The Immortal Hulk and issue #684 of The Avengers, in addition to covers of the included issues, an introduction and epilogue written by Xavi Sanz Serrani, and an extensive gallery. Optional covers at the end. It has a recommended retail price of €42 and goes on sale in October 2023.
Marvel Deluxe. Immortal Hulk 1 – The Green Gate
You will never notice him. He doesn’t want them to do it. He is calm, collected and never complains. If a man is shot in the head, he dies. until the night falls. Then he lives again. His name is Bruce Banner. The terror is The Immortal Hulk.
As reporter Jackie McGee tries to uncover the truth, Banner continues to move from town to town, encountering death, mystery and tragedy everywhere he goes.
Al Ewing, author of the acclaimed Loki: Agent of Asgard and Ultimate, along with artists Joe Bennett, Lee Garbett, Martin Simmonds and Rafa Fonteritz bring you the global phenomenon and reboot of Gamma Monster. The character is more than ever.
Authors: Lee Garbett, Martin Symonds, Rafa Fonteritz, Al Ewing, Joe Bennett and Paul Mounce.