Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Artist: Nic Klein
Color Artist: Matthew Wilson
Cover Artist: Nic Klein
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $4.99
Reviewer: StoryBabbler
The Hulk’s newest enemy, Eldest, a primordial monster who had sent monsters after him inadvertently caused young Charlie, Bruce & Hulk’s teenage traveling companion, to lose her body. To help get it back, Hulk journeyed to Las Vegas to find what he needs, but Eldest and her monstrous brethren await him too. Delve into Incredible Hulk #17 to see the confrontation between Hulk and Eldest.
Review:
There’s only one word to describe my sentiments for this comic: Finally! We finally get a real confrontation between the Hulk and Eldest and I mean with genuine action where for once we get a fight that’s not one-sides in the Hulk’s favor. Strap in, there will be some SPOILERS in this review.
So, the comic begins with a tragic and harrowing flashback to the founding of the Lycana Temple and its monstrous members that feels ripped out of a horror movie. Then it flashes back to the present where Hulk arrives in Las Vegas and is directed by minions of Eldest right to her in her underground lair. From there, we get some back and forth, taunts, jabs, and finally the action starts as Hulk faces Eldest.
I’ll be real, it’s about time we saw this fight. Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s initial idea of having monsters of the week type stories for Hulk was good on paper but bad in execution. Sure, we got some pages of bloody and epic takedowns from Hulk and later Ghost Rider World War 2 (that’s his official name apparently). But we never had any real fights where Hulk and Banner were truly challenged other than the Soul Cage two-parter. Here is different. We finally get to see what all the hubbub about the Eldest is and surprisingly she doesn’t disappoint, at least to me.
When the fight starts we not only see Eldest and Hulk go at it, but PK Johnson and Nic Klein surprise all by having Eldest briefly reveal to Hulk what she truly looks like. And it’s truly monstrous and massive. A true living horror with an odd macabre divinity to her. This is good because the Hulk’s encounters with monsters in prior story arcs always felt underwhelming, mainly because there’s never this sense that the monsters had a real chance against Hulk, but this fight with Eldest is exactly that. On top of that, there’s the internal struggle of Bruce grappling with his choice whether to give up the Hulk to save Charlie from becoming a monster too, or not. And Eldest doesn’t make it easy for him to make his choice.
I do have an issue with this comic, and it’s the thing with Bruce giving up the Hulk. See, I have an issue with it because Bruce should know better and have more faith in Hulk to best Eldest eventually and force her to fix Charlie. They’ve been through way too much for Bruce to honestly believe that Hulk won’t defeat Eldest, no matter how powerful they are. But then again, Hulk has been threatening to erase Bruce from the mindscape or keep him there forever which is degrading his mental state, and it’s not outside the realm of possibility that Hulk wouldn’t mind Charlie becoming a monster like him, even if it changes her forever. So, it’s both of their faults for things ending how they do. And if the ending is any indication, it seems PK Johnson is finally moving the plot forward, so we can expect more epic and monstrous action to come.
Final Thoughts:
Incredible Hulk #17 finally brings Hulk face to face with Eldest. Naturally, a fight ensues and it looks great thanks to Nic Klein’s art and Matthew Wilson’s colors making it look brutal, bloody, and powerful. As a result, Hulk and Eldest look epic and truly monstrous during their fight. And the ending shows that there’s still more to come as the plot moves into high gear next issue.