The Immortal Hulk #26 - Marvel Comics

IMMORTAL HULK No. 26, January 2020

Predominantly focused upon a debatably dreary, word-heavy conversation between Bruce Banner and Amadeus Cho at Everett’s diner in Massachusetts, it is easy to see just why Issue Twenty Six of “The Immortal Hulk” saw its monthly circulation figure almost halve to just 45,522 copies within the space of a few weeks. Indeed, as comics about the nuclear physicist’s monstrously super-strong alter-ego go, this twenty-page periodical’s pedestrian-paced plot seems to be distinctly lacking in either pulse-pounding punch-ups or even the green goliath himself; “That could have gone better. I… didn’t lose my temper with him, did I?”

As an alternative Al Ewing pens a disagreeably long discourse concerning the titular character’s growing concerns about corporations failing to suffer the consequences of their actions, “the unsustainability of current human systems” and “human short-sightedness… currently being exacerbated -- manipulated -- for profit.” Intermixed with an equally lack-lustre array of cut-scenes featuring Doc Samson, Doctor McGowan, Roxx News broadcasters and a local radio show host, this conversational piece rarely gains any perceptible traction, except for a few fleeting panels where Banner’s disconcerting passion to become a terrorist seems about to trigger his famous transformation.

Fortunately however, the British author does manage to throw a few spicy ingredients into this publication’s rather bland bowl of goulash, with the revelation that Bruce has allied himself with none other than “Marvel’s first and mightiest mutant”, the Sub-Mariner. Namor’s continuous presence throughout this publication, subtly pencilled by Joe Bennett, is impressively handled, and the pointy-eared Atlantean’s eagerness to become “an excellent non-team” with the new incumbent of Shadow Base Site B rather excitingly harks back to the days when the New York City-based publisher featured the Scourge of the Seven Seas in its bi-monthly “Super-Villain Team-Up”.

Encouragingly, the former “Judge Dredd” writer also provides this book’s bourgeoning story-arc with a marvellously sinister main antagonist in the form of Roxxon Energy Corp’s CEO, Dario Agger. Imperiously stood before his cowering board members at the very summit of his company’s high rise headquarters, the Minotaur absolutely exudes villainous menace, especially when the "nine-foot man-bull who betrayed the Earth to elves" shockingly shatters the half-filled wine glass he was delicately drinking from just mere seconds before so as to simply emphasize a point.

Writer: Al Ewing, Penciler: Joe Bennett, and Colorist: Paul Mounts