The Incredible Hulk [2023] #4 - Marvel Comics

THE INCREDIBLE HULK No. 4, November 2023

If the excitement surrounding this comic’s regular artist in its “Gamma Readings” letters page is anything to go, then many a patron of “Riddle Of The Man-Thing” won’t have been terribly pleased with editor Wil Moss’ decision to use a guest artist for its entire publication. Indeed, a good deal of the dark atmosphere generated for this story by Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s narrative is arguably lost in Issue Four of “Incredible Hulk”, courtesy of Travel Foreman’s scratchy-looking scribblings; “First an admission – the Nic Klein art drew me in. His previous run on Thor made me a fan, so I followed him…”

Foremost of these disappointments has to be the unimpressive looking monstrosity which spends much of the book luring unsuspecting victims into the “foggy bog” of Florida’s everglades and devouring them alive. The horrifically painful death of a “blackout drunk” at the publication's start is admittedly more than impactive, with the Hawaiian illustrator doing a proficient job pencilling the middle-aged man’s alluring young love beckoning him into her deadly embrace. But once the supposed “sultry seductress of the swamp” reveals her true form during the conclusion’s cliff-hanger the abrasive drawing style debatably makes the six-legged behemoth appear inauspiciously amateurish at best.  

Likewise, there’s an almost palpable lack of atmosphere in the scenes depicting Bruce Banner’s rather strained discussion with Charlie as to why the young runaway wants to stay with his green-hued alter-ego. This tense relationship between the title’s two leading characters is at the heart of the ongoing series, and reasonably well written by it’s Eisner-nominated author. However, the lack of any backgrounds to many of the layouts, coupled with some disconcertingly flat colours by Matthew Wilson, regrettably seem to strip many of the panels of any dynamism or life – even when the girl is potentially recognised by a diner as a suspect in her father’s murder.

Perhaps therefore this “twisted, two-part” tale’s sole strength lies with the Hulk’s brutal battle against the Man-Thing, and the gamma-irradiated brute’s temporary defeat in Ted Sallis’ fiery embrace. Gripping as it is physically grisly, this pulse-pounding bout of pugilism genuinely captures all the attention, especially once the furious founding Avenger begins literally tearing his way out through from the empathic, swamp walker’s back.

The regular cover art of "THE INCREDIBLE HULK" #4 by Nic Klein