The Incredible Hulk [2023] #14 - Marvel Comics

THE INCREDIBLE HULK No. 14, August 2024

Basing an entire twenty-page periodical around Bruce Banner simply running through “the terrifying mindscape in which Hulk keeps him prisoner” is arguably something of a brave move on the part of Phillip Kennedy Johnson; especially as it results in a seemingly endless sequence of panels depicting the good doctor simply talking out loud. But whilst “The Hulkscape” is undeniably word-heavy, and debatably a bit tough-going in places, the narrative also throws up some interesting conundrums for the emaciated scientist which will surely have a major impact on future storylines to come.

For starters, the Green Goliath still appears seriously cross with his ‘puny self’, despite the pair agreeing that they would work together until poor Charlene Tidwell’s soul is once again inhabiting a human body. Such ferocious anger is perhaps a bit shocking at first - not least because it manifests itself as all sorts of physically disturbing monstrosities. However, the American author also utilises the founding Avenger’s frustration, hatred and pain as a good excuse to provide those bibliophiles not in the know as to some of the things Bruce has done to his ‘other self’ in the past so as to weaponize the anti-hero's super-strength; "How long did you lock me away.? How many betrayals? I won't give you that chance again."

These flashbacks should genuinely imbue the audience with a modicum of sympathy for the Hulk, and resultantly make them even more conflicted when Betty Ross appears before her ex-husband to offer him a chance of saving Charlie from the nightmare world the young girl’s spirit currently inhabits. This proposition to give up his gigantic jade-coloured alter-ego to Eldest in order to prevent the adolescent from an eternal “inhuman existence” appears an easy decision on the surface. Yet seeing how hideously Banner has also behaved, such as pigheadedly trying to cure the Harpy despite her not wanting to be free of her transformations, clearly throws a few notable spanners into the works. 

Selflessly picking up any slack from Johnson’s script by way of pencilling the likes of a truly awe-inspiring double-splash depicting some of the Hulkscape’s largest entities trading punches, alongside a number of terrifyingly close chase sequences, is Nic Klein. The German illustrator’s workload is particularly impressive during this comic’s opening as he single-handedly tells the story of Bruce being (purposely?) run over by a large truck whilst hitch-hiking at night without a single word of text being shown for a whopping ten panels.

The regular cover art of "THE INCREDIBLE HULK" #14 by Nic Klein