The Incredible Hulk #6 - Comic Review

 

One of the best things abut this current run of The Incredible Hulk is that you're never quite sure what monsters and supernatural creatures are going to pop up and make an appearance when you move on to a new chapter. We've had zombies, swamp witches, and Man Thing turn up already, and this issue introduces two new monsters into the mix as Bruce and Charlie move on to a new location.

Following the events with the swamp witch, in which the creature tried to lure Charlie away with visions of her dead brother, it seems like Charlie's troubles are far from over, as they discover a news report that names Charlie as a person of interest in her father's death. This is an area that Bruce has had some experience in, both as a wanted person and as someone with a very complex relationship with an abusive father, and so this feels like the first time that the two of them are really connecting, and that Charlie is opening up to the more human side of the Hulk.

To make matters worse for them, it seems like the Hulk is still a magnet for supernatural horrors. As the two of them arrive in a small community looking for a place to rest their heads, they learn that the people are being tormented my a creature that comes in the night. Dark skinned, wearing an ancient looking mask, and with fangs and claws designed to kill, the people are under constant threat from the monster. But, it seems like they have a protector. One of the children talks about how his uncle Sal comes whenever the monster does, how he's like an angel come to protect them, and how he rides his old World War 2 bike when he does it.

That's right, this issue introduces a new Ghost Rider, though one kind of different to what we've had before. There is no host for this Rider, no person who transforms into the flaming protector of the innocent; or at least none that we know of with the information presented here. It seems that whenever a monster is close the old bike bursts into flames, and Sal comes back to the world of the living, still wearing his old WWII uniform, complete with helmet. It's a cool look for a Ghost Rider, and it manages to stay true to the flavour of what's come before whilst being instantly unique in itself and easy to identify.

Whilst this new Ghost Rider is here to protect the camp from the monster that's stalking them there is another monster close by, as Banner transforms into the Hulk as night falls. Now the flaming protector is ready to send the Hulk to hell.

This issue is probably my favourite of the series so far. I liked the interactions between Charlie and Bruce, the supporting characters are all ones that I'd like to see more of, and the new Ghost Rider definitely has my interest. I also can't wait to see more of the monster that's been attacking the community as it looks super interesting, and the mystery of the random guy who keeps having visions of killing people is one that I want to see explored a bit more too. The story just seems to land really well this issue, and the format of monster of the month seems to have settled into a decent rhythm. 

Nic Klein does the art on this issue, with Matt Wilson on colours, after a brief two issue stint of Travel Foreman on art duties. The art is a high point on this book for me, and I love the way Klein draws monsters. The masked creature terrorising the community looks really cool, and is trily scary whenever it's on the page, the new Ghost Rider has a design that's instantly iconic and will grab attention, and the Hulk transformation in this issue is stomach turning. There's a page where Banner's head is splitting open, the Hulk emerging from inside, his eyes bulging out of his sockets, and the Hulk's smile inside Banner;'s tearing mouth that's something from a nightmare. The transformations in this series look painful, horrific beyond belief, and seeing them is both a highlight and something you just don't want to see.

It feels like this series has really hit its stride now, and whilst the overall story doesn't really move forward much this issue the monster of the month format is still entertaining enough that you don't need it to enjoy the book, and you're happy enough seeing what new horror adventures Bruce, Charlie, and the Hulk get into.

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