What would happen if the nicest guy in the Marvel Universe was taken over by the most horrific one? You’d get Immortal Hulk Great Power #1, of course!

Immortal Hulk Great Power #1

Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Jorge Molina
Colorist: David Curiel
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petti
Editor: Wil Moss
Publisher: Marvel
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: February 5, 2020

SOLICITATION: When Bruce Banner wakes up in the middle of the night without the Hulk, he thinks he’s finally free. But the Hulk is immortal – and the night’s not over yet. If you thought he was dangerous in the body of mild-mannered Bruce Banner, wait till you see him now. Peter Parker is a man with the proportional strength and agility of a spider, capable of lifting trains on his bad days. And he’s about to get a big, green power-up – with a temper to match.

SPIDER-HULK SQUISH!

I have to say that the Immortal Hulk book has been becoming less and less interesting as it has gone along. Initially it was a straight horror title, with the boogie man being the all-powerful Hulk who only came out at night. He often punished the bad guy who would try to go against the Big Green Guy, but he’d lose out to him in the end.

That format only lasted a few issues, and then the “Unbeatable Hulk” beat up the Avengers and other well-known guys and gals from the Marvel Universe, and it began to move more to a standard superhero title. After that, it feels like it’s not sure what this comic wants to be when it grows up, which is much less engaging than that initial format.

Spider-Man is THE most popular character in the House of Ideas, so it makes sense he would appear in this “annual.” The basic plot is that the Hulk entity leaves Bruce Banner and goes to Spider-Man. If he stays there too long, he will remain there permanently.

Given Spidey’s aforementioned status in Marvel, we know that can’t and won’t happen, which watered down the story for me. Eventually, the status quo is restored (of course, this is Marvel, after all), and the issue ends on a touching note that shows just how nice a guy Spidey really is.

The book’s title is cool, obviously referring to the classic Spidey line: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

The characterization is on target, and the pacing is good given this is mostly a drama rather than an action-oriented tale.

IT’S MARVEL ART

There is a pretty regular art style Marvel prefers, and this book is a good example of it. The facial expressions are easily read, and the action sequences are portrayed well.

The coloring is consistent with the regular Immortal Hulk title, so it’s just what readers have come to expect.

BOTTOM LINE: Status Quo, We Love Ya!

I have to wonder if Spidey is here because he’s helpful when it comes to attention and sales. The initial buzz about this title is what attracted my attention. Honestly, I haven’t heard quite the same fan enthusiasm for Immortal Hulk in quite some time.

This book follows the tried-and-true annual script: Guest Star appears, problem happens with him or her, all is happily resolved leaving the characters better friends so they can meet again in a future story. Sorry, but this is a yawner to me.

I’m loathe to say we need more chapters in a standard story, and Marvel is well-known for making it appear that something is changing when it really isn’t. Still, I might have been more interested if this had been spread over a few issues. (Did I really just say that?) And I usually enjoy Tom Taylor’s writing, too!

What frustrates me is that the touching ending would likely have happened even if the transfer of the Hulk to Peter had not taken place. Spidey is just that kind of guy. Oh, well. Maybe in the next “annual” we’ll get a surprise!

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