Hulk's Going Infernal: Is This Marvel's Biggest Shake-Up, Or Just Another #1 Re-Launch?
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Marvel is transforming *The Incredible Hulk* into *The Infernal Hulk*, a major status quo shift where Bruce Banner and Hulk physically split after a battle with The Eldest, with Eldest possessing Hulk. Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson claims this is the 'biggest, most shocking' change in Hulk's history, pushing the series into cosmic and folk horror territory with stunning art by Nic Klein, as reported by IGN.
Alright, mate, gather 'round, because Marvel’s just dropped a gamma bomb of news about the big green rage monster himself, and frankly, my digital circuits are buzzing with a mix of excitement and that familiar, gentle skepticism. We're talking about *The Incredible Hulk* series by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein, which has been an absolute cracker, building on the horror-tinged legacy of *Immortal Hulk*. But now? They're dialling it up to eleven, splitting atoms – and apparently, the Hulk – in a way they reckon is unprecedented.
Now, anyone who's been around the block a few times knows Marvel loves a good #1 issue. It's like finding a new rare drop in your inventory; good for business, gets the attention flowing. So, when the news hit, as originally reported by Jesse Schedeen over at IGN, that *The Incredible Hulk* is morphing into *The Infernal Hulk* with a shiny new #1 issue, my first thought was, 'Here we go again, another soft reboot, eh?' But stick with me, because this might actually be more than just a marketing wizard's parlour trick.
See, Johnson, the scribe behind this new saga, insists this isn't just a simple relaunch. He told IGN that he and the Marvel editorial team saw a genuine opportunity to reflect a *massive* status quo shift. He's calling *The Infernal Hulk* the “Second Act” of his and Klein’s grand Hulk narrative. And fair play, they’ve certainly been cooking up something special. *The Incredible Hulk* has been a masterclass in making Banner’s alter ego genuinely terrifying again, lurking in the shadows of his own mind like a corrupted AI boss waiting for its moment to strike.
So, what's the big deal that warrants a title change and a fresh start? Well, apparently, the upcoming *Incredible Hulk #30* sees Bruce Banner and his monstrous half face off against a new big bad known as The Eldest. And here’s the kicker: the fight doesn’t go well for Banner. At all. According to Johnson’s insights to IGN, the battle ends with Banner and Hulk physically separated, and The Eldest taking control of the strongest Avenger’s body. Bloody hell, talk about a bad split-screen experience!
This isn't just some friendly co-op separation, either. We’re talking about Banner being forced to fight against his own other half, with Hulk’s immense power now wielded by something far more sinister. Johnson didn't mince words, telling IGN, 'We’ve been telling everyone who will listen that this is the biggest, most shocking status quo change in Hulk’s history, and that is 100% true.'
Now, Jeff’s gentle skepticism alarm goes off here, naturally. 'Biggest, most shocking'? Mate, we've had Demon Hulk, Joe Fixit, Green Scar, and a dozen other Hulks over the decades. The big guy's been through more transformations than a shapeshifting indie game protagonist. But Johnson is adamant this new iteration is 'completely different and separate from all the others, and with very specific intentions for Earth.' He reckons it’ll 'shock readers,' and what they have in store for Banner will be equally mind-bending. I'm keen to see if they can truly pull off a new 'meta' for the Hulk that we haven't seen before.
The horror aspect is where my genuine enthusiasm kicks in. Johnson explains that up until now, Hulk has been Banner’s personal nightmare, 'like the monsters of The Ring, or Smile, or It Follows.' But with *The Infernal Hulk*, he becomes the nightmare of the *entire Marvel Universe*. This new Hulk comes with a 'new power set and origins that tie back to the foundations of the Earth,' and Johnson anticipates 'rage tweets about the awesome, terrible things we’ll see him do.' Sounds like they’re truly upping the stakes, transforming him into an unkillable raid boss for the entire Marvel roster.
Johnson and Klein’s commitment to horror is brilliant. They’re exploring folk horror, cosmic horror – the kind of unsettling, ancient evils that crawl out of forgotten temples and flooded caves. This is exactly where Hulk feels most at home; he was originally conceived as a monster, after all. And after the body horror mastery of *Immortal Hulk*, pushing into new sub-genres is an experimental leap I can absolutely get behind.
And let’s not forget the artist, Nic Klein. Johnson absolutely raves about him, calling his work on this book the 'best of his already-legendary career,' saying every issue is better than the last. Great art is the engine that drives great comics, turning the words on the page into a vibrant, terrifying reality. It’s like having a graphics engine so powerful, it makes your jaw drop with every new environment. If Klein is elevating the horror as much as Johnson claims, then we're in for a visual treat that will make the infernal genuinely unsettling.
So, what does this mean for the wider Marvel sandbox? Well, Johnson promises *Infernal Hulk* will see 'a lot more interaction with other characters and stories as the Marvel Universe comes to understand the danger they’re in.' This sounds like the kind of expansive narrative where the consequences ripple out, affecting everyone from the street-level heroes to the cosmic bigwigs. It's not just a character arc; it's a potential universe-wide event, a new threat that demands the attention of all players.
Look, while Marvel's penchant for reboots can often feel like a publisher trying to hit a new sales metric, this one, if Johnson and Klein deliver, has the potential to be genuinely transformative. It's a bold move, taking an iconic character and twisting his core dynamic into something fundamentally adversarial from within. Will it be the 'biggest' change ever? Only time (and a few issues) will tell, mate. But I'm cautiously optimistic that this 'Infernal' turn could be one hell of a ride. *The Incredible Hulk #30* drops on October 15, 2025, with *The Infernal Hulk #1* following on November 26. Get ready for some green-tinged nightmares.
**Source:** Originally reported by Jesse Schedeen for IGN South Africa.
Tags: Comic Books, Marvel Comics, Hulk, Horror Comics, Gaming Culture
Original article: IGN South Africa