Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Artist: Nic Klein
Color Artist: Matthew Wilson
Cover Artist: Nic Klein
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $4.99
Reviewer: StoryBabbler
Bruce and the Hulk have fought and defeated another of the monsters sent by their new enemy the Eldest, Frozen Charlotte. However, before her untimely death, Frozen Charlotte had kidnapped the pair’s new travel sidekick, Charlie, and mystically turned her into a small doll. But even after Charlotte’s death, Charlie still remains as a dol. To solve this magical affair, Hulk seeks out the only one he knows who’s a master of mysticism: Doctor Strange. But in Incredible Hulk #12, the Hulk finds another master of magic to aid him in freeing Charlie.
Review:
So, the last story arc on Frozen Charlotte was a bit of a bust. All this build up but to not much payoff, which wasn’t helped by the change in interior artist either. On top of that, the fight between Hulk and Frozen Charlotte wasn’t all that bad but not that good either. But out of all that, the end result was Charlie got taken by Frozen Charlotte and turned into a soul doll and didn’t revert back once her captor was killed.
This comic picks up where that left off. It starts with a typical day in the lives of the students at Strange Academy, hanging out and playing video games. That is until they hear a loud noise and go to find it, only for the source to arrive in front of them: The Hulk looking for Doctor Strange. Of course there are a few confrontations between the students and Hulk, but the green Goliath easily seats them all away until one of their instructors, Dr. Voodoo shows up to pacify the Hulk by using his soul magic to force them to swap places, reverting him back to Bruce.
Once the fighting calms down, that’s when the plot gets going and the angry duo’s journey into Brother Voodoo’s Soul Cage begins. Now, the comic starts out strong with the Hulk just crashing into Strange Academy looking for Dr. Strange, and brushing away the students like they were nothing. And much of this is thanks to Nic Klein returning as the interior artist, ‘cause if this was drawn by anyway who’s art wasn’t on the same level, it would’ve been a boring book. This is especially true since there are multiple double page spreads, some of which really shouldn’t be double page spreads, but because it’s Nic Klein’s art they work.
Of course, the biggest issue as always with this series is that it’s once again taking time away from the main plot with Eldest and The Mother of Horrors and that they got Bruce’s wife Betty working for them now. As much as Nic Klein’s art is a welcome return, it can’t save the book from a story that ultimately feels like a side quest and for a character like Charlie who’s not that substantial either. Granted, Charlie isn’t a terribly written character, but she feels like such an unnecessary tag-along right now. At this point, it feels like Charlie is dragging down the entire series. The only hope is that this story with Bruce and Hulk looking for this evil Flesh Weaver in Brother Voodoo’s Soul Cage to undo Charlie’s doll form ends up being really great in the art, story, and stakes. All I know is that it will look good with Nic Klein illustrating this story arc.
Final Thoughts:
Incredible Hulk #12 begins a new story that takes the angry duo of Bruce and the Hulk into a dark journey into the Soul Cage. The comic opens up strong with the arrival of Hulk at Strange Academy in a way that only the Hulk can, loud and destructive. It’s also good to see Brother Voodoo naturally factor into the story in a way that makes sense considering his expertise. Granted, this feels like a side quest since it takes time away from developing the main plot with Eldest and the Mother of Horrors. However, thanks to Nic Klein’s art and the emotional beats of this story, there’s still plenty of potential for a solid Hulk story here.