Immortal Hulk Volume 2 Hardcover Review

After the phenomenal success that was Immortal Hulk Volume 1, I’m desperate to dive into its follow-up.

The prior graphic novels reinvigorated the character whilst feeling like the perfect retread down memory lane.

There was a lot to like and throughout this review, we’ll be discussing whether its follow-up lives up to it or if it was a one-hit-wonder.

There may be some spoilers here so if you haven’t read the work and don’t want anything ruined then I highly recommend you skip to the score.

With that out the way let’s get into our breakdown of Immortal Hulk Volume 2.

The Green Door

The book picks up immediately after the events of the prior novel with a severely malnourished Hulk stepping through The Green Door.

Because of this, he has journeyed to hell, a vast wasteland filled with his inner demons. It’s a fascinating case study on the character and it takes a psychological look at what has created him and given him such anger.

It’s rare to see the big green giant actually given a reason for his rage but the book beautifully tries to show how things have led to the current predicament.

Separated from one another The Hulk must prove to Banner that he does actually care about him and the beast goes head to head with Bruce’s father.

The book does devolve slightly into a slaughter fest and personally, I felt the action lacking slightly.

So far the story has been more of a look at what the Hulk goes through internally but this just seems like the standard affair you get in a comic book.

That’s not to say it’s back but when the storyline has been incredible so far it feels like a slight step down.

A Booth In The Midwest

After rejoining one another Bruce and Hulk escape hell. However, after meeting General Ross down there there is something they need to do.

Bruce travels to Betty and learns that her father is indeed dead.

However, the Hulk is still being hunted and she gets caught in the crossfire. Betty is apparently killed and Hulk clashes with Samson whilst trying to get to the bottom of it.

Of course, we know in comic books that no one ever really dies but it does provide the work with some dynamics and it’s nice to see the more classic cast that had been missing from the first volume popping up here.

Back To Life

Of course, Betty is not dead for long and her return also brings another character, Rick Jones, back into the mix.

Confronted by Bushwacker, the latter part of the book really ramps up and it puts Bruce in a very vulnerable position.

Left outgunned and unable to transform, a previous personality of Banners ‘Joe Fixit’ aka ‘The Grey Hulk’ regains control and helps the character escape.

It’s an awesome callback that reminds you that the Hulk has tonnes of tricks up his sleeve and a means to get out of things when they get tough.

Though it does get a bit Deus Ex Machina, it’s more of a surprise than a forced plot point and it sets up things brilliantly for the finale which too sees the return of an old foe.

The Abomination

Unlike a lot of prior iterations, Abomination seems like he’s in a living hell. After taking over the body of Rick Jones you can tell he is being torn apart from the inside.

The creature with two faces represents the opposite sides of Bruce’s personality and the dichotomy of the villain makes them the perfect opponent for the Hulk.

The creature is literally being torn in two on the inside and it’s fascinating watching him rampage throughout a town.

He spits acid on Hulk and screams ‘help me’ whilst ravaging our hero and it really plays up the horrifying aesthetic of the book.

He easily beats the Hulk, melting his limbs and leaving him liquidated on the floor.

Luckily, Betty (who is now herself a Hulk) steps forward to help but similar to Abomination she is being torn apart by what she has become.

The finale goes much the way that you’d expect but it does have some incredible artwork and imagery that will stick with you long after the book wraps up.

It ends on a cliffhanger that teases much to come and once again the work ends with the reader wanting more.