Published on November 24th, 2023 | by Matt Fischer
The Incredible Hulk #6 Review
Summary: PKJ’s message seems to be that everybody has a monster inside of them, and that we all have to take whatever moments of happiness we can get before our demons invariably take over.
4
Bonding Time
Background –Bruce and Charlie bond a bit more.
Writing – This is mainly a Bruce and Charlie issue. It’s light on action outside of a quick chase scene and the last few pages. Instead, we get Charlie slowly warming up to Bruce. We know that the Hulk desperately wants to keep Charlie and Bruce away from each other and this turn of events doesn’t sit well with him. He makes that very clear near the end when he basically says that Banner’s days of happy moments are over and he doesn’t get to experience that kind of stuff anymore.
PKJ’s message seems to be that everybody has a monster inside of them, and that we all have to take whatever moments of happiness we can get before our demons invariably take over. It’s a good message but I think where this is going is that the Hulk must defeat his demons. Not Banner’s demons, but his own. We also see this idea take form in a fellow who was bit by the creature from the beginning and now is having violent thoughts and visions of stabbing his wife and running over innocent people in between his happier thoughts. It’s great stuff, but unfortunately, with how fast the book reads, we just get a Amuse-Bouche.
Score 4 out of 5
Artwork – Suitably dark (but not in a dark color kid of way. It’s apparent that Nic Klein delights in coming up with weird and horrifying creatures. Whatever that thing is that’s chasing the civilians at the beginning of the book reminds me of two of the ghosts from the 13th Ghost remake. It’s actually very creepy. The transformation from Banner to Hulk is one of the best I’ve ever seen. Bruce’s skin stretches and breaks as the Hulk literally breaks free from it’s “Banner cocoon”. It’s gnarl and amazing at the same time.
Were the art does fail a small bit is this new Ghost Rider. The actual art isn’t terrible but the design is… just so meh. It’s a Ghost Rider in a World War II helmet and uniform who MIGHT be from that time period. Other than that, everything hit’s the right notes.
Score 4 out of 5
Final Thoughts – A quick but very rewarding read, this issue of the Incredible Hulk moves the story along and once again shows that everybody has a monster inside of them, not just Bruce (and not just the Hulk either). The writing is great and the art is a delight. The only thing holding it back is this new random and slightly lame looking Ghost Rider who we get zero information about other than his possible human name. Looks like we’ll just have to wait another four agonizing weeks to get our answer.
Final score: 4 out of 5
Comic Detils
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Artist: Nic Klein
Color artist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover: Daniel Acuna
Genre: Superhero
Format: Monthly
Release Date: 11/22/2023