Comic Browser:

#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14
#15
#16
#17
#18
#19
#20
#21
#22
#23
#24
#25
#26
#27
Selector

Immortal Hulk #9: Review

Nov 2018
Al Ewing, Joe Bennett

Story Name:

The Sinners


Synopsis

Immortal Hulk #9 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

One month ago, Carl “Absorbing Man” Creel was captured by Iron Man and sent to The Vault; there he was brutally interrogated by the Guardsmen, sold out by his ex-lover Titania. He refused a job with Roxxon out of pride and declines a chance to escape. Instead he accepts an offer from Shadow Base to fight the Hulk, his pride demanding a rematch against a foe he has never beaten. General Fortean and Dr Clive give him a drug known as the “Hulk plug-in;” it (allegedly) temporarily turns him red but allows him to absorb the gamma energy of a test mouse. When the Hulk is located after killing Dr Clive (last issue), Creel is dropped into the area to do battle....

At a trailer park, Bruce Banner is shot by a resident for trying to steal clothing from a clothesline but the sun goes down and the Hulk is reborn, destroying everything the man owns. Shortly thereafter the trailer park resident is interviewed by Bushwacker working for Shadow Base. After learning all he can, he turns his hand into a gun and kills the man then reports to Base that Hulk is heading back to New Mexico. Hulk is there to find out what possessed him during his battle with Sasquatch (issue #5), a monster wearing his father's face, and how he can defeat it. Instead, the Absorbing Man drops on him from the sky....

The two battle with Hulk thinking it's an easy fight but he quickly discovers it isn't: his blows hurt himself, not his enemy. As they fight, Creel slowly draws off Hulk's gamma energy, turning him into an emaciated husk—but whatever Hulk acquired when he drained Sasquatch is now possessing Creel. It is a demonic entity, the One Below All, mocking Creel for his sin of pride—and tearing his body apart....


 

Review / Commentaries

Rating:
4 stars

Immortal Hulk #9 Review by (November 21, 2018)

Review: That distinctive cover featuring adversaries in green and red only hints at the grim contents: the Absorbing Man can now absorb gamma energy, finally making him a match for Hulk. The horror isn't as intense as in the previous issue as half the tale fills us in on where Crusher Creel has been lately, ominous but not horrific. The real scary bits will be in where Creel is going next, possessed by the One Below All and punished for his sin of pride. Plus there's a guy who can turn his hand into a gun for some dry comedy relief. The last page promises more gruesome bits to come. I can hardly wait!

Comments: The stories of the Hulk and the Absorbing Man appear on alternating pages up until they meet. The A-Man parts are drawn by Martin Simmonds and the Hulk's by the usual artistic team, continuing to alternate pages through the end of the issue. Iron Man's appearance is a one page cameo at the beginning. Bushwacker (Carl Burbank), who can turn his hand into a gun, was introduced in DAREDEVIL #248 and has been primarily an enemy of DD and Punisher. Revelation: Hulk has seen ROCKY IV.




> Immortal Hulk comic book info and issue index

Elektra

Excelsioring your collection:
Statue Hulk (Battle of New York) 1/10 - Infinity Saga - BDS Art Scale - Iron Studios
Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Joe Bennett
Ruy Jose
Paul Mounts
Alex Ross (Cover Penciler)
Alex Ross (Cover Inker)
Alex Ross (Cover Colorist)


Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Absorbing Man
Absorbing Man

(Crusher Creel)
Bruce Banner
Bruce Banner

(Robert Bruce Banner)
Hulk
Hulk

(Robert Bruce Banner)
Iron Man
Iron Man

(Anthony Stark)
Sasquatch
Sasquatch

(Walter Langkowski)
Titania
Titania

(Mary MacPherran)

Plus: Bushwacker (Carl Burbank), General Fortean (Reginald Fortean), Guardsmen, Roxxon Corporation.