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Immortal Hulk #11: Review

Jan 2018
Al Ewing, Joe Bennett

Story Name:

This World Our Hell

Review & Comments

Rating:
4.5 stars

Immortal Hulk #11 Review by (January 3, 2019)

Review: Now there's a surprise; not the appearance of the shells of the dead, not Brian Banner's last-minute arrival, but the inclusion of the discussion of Hell. After many years of ignoring Jason's Aaron's frequent anti-religious jibes in the various Thor titles, here is a bit of theology compatible with Christian orthodoxy. A good world, corrupted by human sin, God's judgment manifested in His “turning his face away” (Biblical phrase: “He gave them up”), and a Hell defined by God's absence. Of course the Kabbalah takes it all in a different (and murkier) direction whereas the New Testament points to Jesus Christ as savior, but I can't have everything. Even so, this version of Hell also features a strong psychological dimension (also theologically sound) that plays a part in this issue and there's yet more to come. And we get some new insight into Jackie McGee, not just a stereotypical “cute girl reporter” but a woman who has struggled with anger and seeks not relief but validation; she is starting to scare me now. So, “Hulk as horror comic” features a very real and grim view of the universe, affecting the psyches of the main characters. Is there any hope? We'll see....

Comments: Issue includes a tribute to Stan Lee, starting with the banner replacing the comic's logo on the cover.






 

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Immortal Hulk #11 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

The plot of the issue pauses periodically for a definition of Hell: it is the place of God's absence; humanity has ruined the world God made and God manifests his anger by turning his face away, “leaving us alone with what we've done.” The Tree of Life has a dark side: Qlippoth, meaning shells, which is also what “hulk” means; there may be a Hell below all others under a single ruler....

The emaciated Hulk is in Hell with Jackie McGee; he asks her why she wants to be like Hulk. She responds that she wants to know what it feels like to be allowed to feel such rage; when Banner becomes Hulk the world takes notice and superheroes respect and try to treat his rage while Jackie's anger is dismissed or ignored. How can she be where Hulk is? Hulk likes that she isn't ashamed of her anger. They are met by the empty shell of Rick Jones....

Puck finds the repentant Absorbing Man and informs him that he was used by the One Below All to open the Green Door and Puck is going to make him help close it. How does Puck know all this? A vow when he was a child to live and interesting life....

Hulk tries to talk to Rick Jones but he is only an empty shell. Jackie's father appears, also a shell; Jackie explains he died of the stress of their encounter with Hulk years ago. Then General Thunderbolt Ross appears, odd since he isn't dead, and turns into a twisted version of the Red Hulk and the two Hulks battle until Hulk tears his crimson counterpart in half. Hulk is now mad with blood lust and Brian Banner appears, smirking at the predicament....



Joe Bennett
Ruy Jose
Paul Mounts
Alex Ross (Cover Penciler)
Alex Ross (Cover Inker)
Alex Ross (Cover Colorist)


Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Absorbing Man
Absorbing Man

(Crusher Creel)
Hulk
Hulk

(Bruce Banner)
Jackie McGee
Jackie McGee

(Jacqueline McGee)

Plus: Puck.

> Immortal Hulk: Book info and issue index

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