The Infernal Hulk #5 - Marvel Comics

THE INFERNAL HULK No. 5, May 2026

Initially appearing to be setting up a titanic tussle between the Avengers and this ongoing series’ titular character, Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s decision to suddenly turn to one of Mark Waid’s co-creations from 2004 as the central protagonist probably had a fair few readers outwardly groan in frustration. Indeed, whilst the Almighty’s pulse-pounding punch-up definitely proves an unputdownable experience, its aftermath will still leave plenty of bibliophiles wondering what would have happened if Iron Man hadn’t stood his team down just as their quinjet was hovering over the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge in Cincinnati, Ohio.

However, to make matters even more perplexing the Infernal Hulk’s opponent is soon revealed to simply be one of the Creator of the Marvel Universe’s servants, rather than the real deal themself. Obviously such a ‘bait-and-switch’ plot-twist provides the American author with a way out for the vessel of Eldest to defeat their fiery adversary without them appearing overly formidable in besting “a being of unimaginable power”. Yet it also begs the question as to why the writer announced they were using the One Above All in the first place – except to help (mis)sell the comic book. 

Debatably far more engrossing than this “never-before-seen battle for the ages” is therefore Bruce Banner’s encounter with the grotesque living corpse of Tommy Watson, who despite dying horribly at the hands of the Infernal Hulk, somehow manages to walk back to his distraught mother’s address. This scene is superbly penned by Johnson, and mixes the terrifying notion of the Undead coming back to haunt the living, with the grief of a parent who having just buried her child, now sees his mutilated body stood before her; “Nattie! We’ve got to go right now!”

Similarly as successful as this twenty-page periodical’s second half are its layouts by Kev Walker. The British illustrator does a solid job of imbuing this publication’s heavily publicised centre-piece with plenty of earth-shattering shenanigans. But it’s the former “2000 A.D.” artist’s pencilling for Banner’s aforementioned scrap with Private Watson which really captures the imagination, and shows just how physically enfeebled the gamma radiologist has become now he can no longer transform into the Jade Giant.

Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Artist: Kev Walker, and Inker: Cam Smith