REVIEW: ‘Infernal Hulk vs Spider-Man’ Issue 1

Infernal Hulk vs Spider-Man Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, art by Javier Pina, colors by Yen Nitro and Rachelle Rosenberg and letters by Cory Petit.

In The Infernal Hulk vs Spider-Man Issue 1, the Fantastic Four are gone, and the Avengers are being targeted, with Spider-Man having to protect a child from the Hulk’s grip. This issue continues a series of one-shots in which a demonic Hulk battles his way toward New York and takes on the fiercest heroes on Earth.

Wolverine and the Fantastic Four have already been laid waste, and some have even been transformed into his army. So the fact that it falls to Spider-Man, who is usually content within his friendly neighborhood, creates terror already.

The introduction to the book is fantastic, because it shows how unsettled the team are. That feeling of dread is present from the very start of Infernal Hulk vs Spider-Man Issue 1, and it becomes a question of when the Hulk is going to emerge.

The sudden shift in pace, and the ferocity with which it erupts, is phenomenal. There’s a crash, and suddenly the Hulk and Spider-Man are in front of each other. For the rest of the comic, the premise is simple but effective and beautifully written.

Spider-Man has to protect a little girl, a very important little girl, keeping her away from the ferocious foe. It’s intense, destructive, and has some severe stakes. The scale is both huge and tiny at the same time, with just one small target.

The horror elements that were present in the earlier chapters are still present here, with gruesome injuries early into the fight. It’s a breathtaking second half to the comic that concludes in a scene that is touching and devastating.

Infernal Hulk vs Spider-Man Issue 1 is a spectacular example of what Spider-Man represents. The villain he is up against is at a power level that is hard to calculate and is capable of the worst possible fates. And Peter Parker doesn’t care. He wants to go out and save lives. And when he comes face to face with the Hulk, the life of the child is all that matters. The quips come out, trying to keep the kid calm and psych himself up.

His ultimate power is his bravery and his dogged determination. That is present in several of the other heroes. Any suggestion that they get taken out of the upcoming fight is treated as an insult. It’s a sign of what heroes stand for, and how Spider-Man may just be the best of them all.

This version of the Hulk is one of the most horrifying villains ever created within the Marvel Universe. The way it talks sends shivers down the spine, with a movie that’s ancient and straight from the depths of Hell. And yet, the defiance of Spider-Man seems to irk and surprise even him.

The art is superb. The cleanliness of Spider-Man’s design is exceptional, because everything else in Infernal Hulk vs Spider-Man Issue 1 is messy and nefarious. The body language is also perfect. Spider-Man instantly shifts from moving in his usual free and athletic self to having to protect a small child. He shields her, then completely covers her within his body.

Very quickly, Spidey takes a deep, brutal laceration, and his movement changes even more. He has to not only fight, swing and protect the kid, but stop his guts from spilling out all at the same time. Pina does a superb job at balancing the power levels. Spider-Man is gutsy and strong and gets some swings in, but there are levels, and he is up against a profound level of strength.

The colors are terrific in Infernal Hulk vs Spider-Man Issue 1, dragging Spider-Man into the gloom. Spider-Man is a very vibrant, brightly colored character, and even the prominence of the red and blue is getting compromised by the murkiness of the Infernal Hulk. The tones of the Hulk, purple and blue, also have a complete absence of light, highlighting how dark this story is.

The lettering is fantastic, including the way the Hulk’s voice is communicated. The fact that those word balloons are so different from everything else within the page is an example of Hulk invading this world.

Infernal Hulk vs Spider-Man Issue 1 is one of the wall-crawler’s most remarkable stands. The odds are severely stacked against Spidey, and yet he never even thinks about backing off or staying down. He is courageous, capable and one of the best heroes to find in a crisis.

Infernal Hulk vs Spider-Man Issue 1 is personal, emotional, and harrowing, with such a fragile core. The Infernal Hulk is primordial, frightening, and immensely powerful. It means even Spider-Man’s plucky, phenomenal resilience might not be enough to keep himself and the child in his care alive.

Infernal Hulk vs Spider-Man Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.