Age of Monsters is the first volume in Philip Kennedy Johnson's new run on The Incredible Hulk, containing issues #1-5 and Annual (2023) #1, with art by primarily by Nic Klein. Coming on the heels of Al Ewing's brilliant Immortal Hulk run that took the story to a whole new level of horror, I was curious to see what a new creative team had in mind for the green meanie.
Their approach is both familiar and fresh. Bruce Banner is off the grid, a nomad migrating between small towns, try to keep a handle on a Hulk that has reason to be angrier than ever at Bruce. That's the familiar part--it's a common premise for Banner to find himself in. The fresh angle is that he seems to have somehow drawn the attention of a mysterious cult of monsters looking to free the 'Mother of Horrors'. And by God, if some of those monsters aren't the most ghastly beats ever put to page. Klein's art captures a seriously eerie atmosphere, too. 10/10 for that haunted, isolated tone. The whole book feels like a nightmare in the best possible way.
Somebody needs to introduce these guys to a decent barber.
Age of Monsters has great fun pitting Hulk against these beasts. The creep-factor is strong, as is the blood-'n-guts level. There appears to be a well-thought-out lore behind what exactly is happening with this cult of monsters, and I had fun following along with that narrative, although I hope it's further developed in volume two; this felt like only a taste. I was also hoping for a bit more Bruce/Hulk character moments--there are times when he feels like a side-character in his own book. I think maybe we just didn't get a close enough look at what's going on in his/their heads to really grab me.
I do have a bit of a problem with Hulk/Banner's new sidekick, Charlie, too. She stands out from other teenage tagalongs, I'll give her that. She's rude, she's angry, she's guilt-ridden. She's also a little one-note, and her connection to the plot is tenuous--it sometimes feels like she exists just so Hulk has someone to save. I can't help but wonder if I would've preferred the book if Johnson had ditched Charlie in favour of more introspection from Hulk/Banner. Not to harp on about her, but Charlie's dialogue can also be extremely on the nose at times, betraying an unusual level of insight into her own psyche. I hope to see a bit more nuance from her character in volume two. I should say that I do like her as a foil to Bruce. Charlie's Hulk-worship really comes into conflict with Banner's more complicated relationship with his monstrous alter ego.
Overall, Age of Monsters is a fun start to a series that promises a lot more horror to come and is definitely worth a read, whether you're looking for a spiritual sequel to Immortal Hulk or are just interested in seeing what the Jade Giant is up to these days.
***
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