I read the penultimate issue of Immortal Hulk, written by Al Ewing (2000 AD, Mighty Avengers) and drawn by Joe Bennett (The Amazing Spider-Man, Teen Titans). This has consistently been an incredible book, though interest has flagged a bit online. I still think this should be in your pull list though, read on to find out why!

Sad Hulk, No Smash

It’s been a rough and depressing time for the Gamma Crew lo these last eight issues or so. This is of course all building up to Ewing’s final issue with #50 (which I’ll probably be posting about when it comes out), after which he and Donny Cates will be switching authorship of this book and Venom. This will leave me in a quandary, as I don’t really care about Venom as a character, but also don’t really like Cates’s writing, usually. Maybe Ewing will go write an X-book, that would be cool!

So why am I bothering to write about this issue, when I’ll almost certainly write a post about the final one? Because it’s That Damn Good. This book has been a crazy roller-coaster of emotions, and like any great symphony, all of that emotional buildup has to be resolved by the end. Ewing and Bennett started this journey together, and I’m glad to see them both giving this book, and these characters, the resolution they deserve.

So what makes this issue so special? Partially, it’s the layout, believe it or not. Each page of this issue is a 3/4-page spread, with the narration on the margins. There are no speech bubbles, thought bubbles, or even a layout other than making each page a splash page. I feel like I’ve seen this before, maybe in Kingdom Come? It does remind me of Alex Ross in that sense, but that’s where the comparison ends. Bennett’s grotesque art makes it fun, because otherwise it would be very serious and painterly.

All Good Things

So what’s in store for the last issue? Well it will certainly involve the Leader, and whoever is pulling his strings. Hopefully we’ll see some kind of resolution with Bruce and Betty. Something will be set up for the She-Hulk book that Ewing is signed on to write. But what will happen to our titular green monster? Much earlier in the series, we see a future where the Hulk has basically eaten everything in the universe, making him the harbinger of the next universe. Presumably he’s taken this role from Galactus, who I’m sure tastes like Purple, but was that a fever dream? Hopefully we get a little glimpse of that future in the last book, I’ve been wanting to know more about how that comes to pass for a while. Either way, definitely add this to your book if you’re a Marvel Zombie, love the Hulk, or love fun Kronenberg-esque books!

Find Immortal Hulk on Comixology here.

Buy some art from Joe Bennett here.