Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Artist: Nic Klein
Color Artist: Matthew Wilson
Cover Artist: Nic Klein
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Reviewer: StoryBabbler
Hulk has defeated Eldest, and Charlie is back among the living but now she too is a monster with werewolf-like traits. However, just because she was beaten doesn’t mean she’s down for good as Eldest swore vengeance upon them both, and she’s not alone in that as the remaining Skinwalkers of Lycana desire their god’s power back. Now in The Incredible Hulk #20, both Hulk and Charlie are pursued by wolf-like monsters with blood and vengeance on their minds.
Review:
Okay, after Bruce and the Hulk defeated Eldest, it’s time to take it downs a notch and cool off for a little bit. But there are still monsters hunting Hulk and Charlie, some affiliated with Eldest, and others not so. Fair warning, there will be SPOILERS in this review.
The story starts with the remaining Skinwalkers burrowing deep underground in Las Vegas to the lair of Varcolac, the ancient father of wolf lords, whatever that means. There, they awaken him with a blood sacrifice and set him loose upon Hulk and Charlie, who are just walking through the wilderness taking a breather. Here we honestly get a handful of pages of Hulk and Charlie bonding together with her newfound strength and having a blast together. Meanwhile Bruce mentally reminds Hulk to enjoy it while it lasts, because the price for her new monster form will come eventually and it’ll be on them.
And immediately after that, we get to see exactly that as while Charlie’s having fun she starts hearing Lycana, the monster wolf she got her powers from, start demanding her to hunt and kill for blood as payment. From there, she runs into the Werewolf by Night, and they quickly pick a fight with each other with a double-page spread showing both their wolf-like forms. Meanwhile, Hulk is just walking through the woods before he runs into trouble with the remaining Skinwalkers and soon enough Vârcolac himself shows up.
So far, it’s not a bad issue nor a bad start to this story arc. We still got a monster of the month in the story, but at least it makes sense with the ending of the last issue and has direct connections to that story arc. My only problem is that Danny Earls’s art is showing improvements with everything except for how he depicts the Hulk. That’s still a part that needs improvement but it’s better when Hulk is in action. Also, the setup that Charlie’s new power will have ramifications for both her and Hulk is good. Now, my only hope is that the Werewolf by Night and Vârcolac will actually be real challenges to Hulk and Charlie next issue.
Final Thoughts:
The Incredible Hulk #20 follows the conclusion of the fight with Eldest as things cool down a little for Hulk and Charlie. The two even bond a little with her newfound power. However, the cost for that power immediately starts to show, and it’s not long before both Hulk and Charlie have new monsters to fight with Werewolf by Night and Vârcolac in the next issue or two.