The Incredible Hulk [2023] #30 - Marvel Comics

THE INCREDIBLE HULK No. 30, December 2025

Whilst this “end of an era” certainly seemed to enjoy some success in October 2025 by becoming the thirty-third best-selling comic of the month, it’s probably not all that likely that the majority of its readers agreed with its New York City-based publisher’s claim that the book was a “landmark issue”. Furthermore, despite the title’s claim in its solicitation, Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s script doesn’t really feature the return of the Abomination either. But rather disappointingly, just poor Emil Blonsky’s corpse being possessed by Eldest; “Your flesh is mine!!! All flesh is mine!!! Give it to me!!!”

However, arguably this twenty-page periodical’s biggest problem is that it simply doesn’t address any of the ongoing series’ numerous plot-threads, such as the fates of Betty Ross, Doctor Voodoo or even Charlie Tidwell. In fact, none of these supporting cast members even appear in this heavily publicised “rematch to the death”, and are simply shelved off-screen in favour of Eldest apparently having the power to shockingly reach inside the founding Avenger’s chest cavity and quite literally pull Bruce Banner’s gore-splattered persona from out of it.

So sickening a spectacle is certainly as stomach-churning as it is dramatic. Yet even in victory, the Hulk’s arch-nemesis is then regrettably shown to have battled her way through countless gamma-infused characters for nothing, as the firstborn of Vinruvie soon discovers that the Mother of Horrors has actually withered and died whilst languishing in chains many moons ago. Such a lack-lustre fate for a villain who has repeatedly been plugged by this comic’s American author as being so formidable she was even capable of deposing the One Above All must surely have struck many as being something of a major cop out – and doubtless done purely to ensure the majority of this title’s audience move over to the writer’s next project “Infernal Hulk”.

Far more entertaining than this book’s narrative are Nic Klein’s layouts, which provide a truly eye-wateringly painful bout of fisticuffs between Banner's green skinned alter-ego and the aforementioned Eldest/Abomination. Any onlooker should really fell the exchange of bone-shattering blows, especially once the Green Goliath takes hold of a truly gigantic chained skull, and unceremoniously bashes Blonsky’s animated cadaver straight into the next panel.

The regular cover art of "THE INCREDIBLE HULK" #30 by Nic Klein