New Incredible Hulk writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson has opened up about how the fresh mythology he’s bringing to the table builds on what Al Ewing did with Immortal Hulk.
As part of the latest edition of CBR’s Marvel Monthly Fan Q&A, Johnson was asked if the new Incredible Hulk series’ Mother of Horrors was connected to Ewing’s Gamma Mythos, or an entirely new breed of evil. “This new mythology ties into the lore established in Immortal Hulk, including Gamma, the Green Door, and the One Below All,” the writer replied. “The Mother of Horrors is a very different kind of threat, but in our upcoming Incredible Hulk run, we’ll learn that the closing of the Green Door led to some new complications.”
The Incredible Hulk Gets a Relaunch
Shortly after the conclusion of the most recent Incredible Hulk title in 2018, Marvel Comics launched the reboot series Immortal Hulk. Immortal Hulk ran for a total of 50 issues, concluding in late 2021. The title was then relaunched as simply Hulk, with that version of the book running for 14 issues and concluding this past April. The previous month, Marvel announced the return of Incredible Hulk, with Johnson taking the reins alongside artist Nic Klein. The first issue of the new series is slated to hit comic shops on Wednesday, June 21.
Of course, this is not the first time Johnson has spoken to Immortal Hulk‘s influence on the upcoming Incredible Hulk relaunch. “The work that Al, Joe [Bennett] and the rest did with Immortal Hulk was so impactful and spoke so clearly to me personally, it was impossible to come up with an idea that wasn’t inspired by it,” he said previously. “We’re getting back to Stan Lee’s Frankenstein/Jekyll & Hyde inspirations for the character, and giving readers a proper monster book in the best, truest Hulk tradition. If you loved Immortal Hulk, if you love ghost stories, if you love Marvel monsters, if you loved old school ‘adventure of the month’ stories from books like Marvel Team-Up, and if you want the best, most timeless Hulk art you’ve ever seen, you DO NOT want to miss this return of Incredible Hulk.”
Johnson also acknowledged the fact that the relaunch will mark Marvel’s first Incredible Hulk title in half a decade. “The significance that we’re finally bringing back the classic title Incredible Hulk is not lost on me,” he said. “It’s a tremendous honor, and Nic and I have the clearest possible vision for what we want to do with this story. Nic Klein is a genius, and working with him is pushing me to write a story worthy of his very best.”
The official solicitation text for the first issue of Johnson and Klein’s Incredible Hulk reads as follows: “THE AGE OF MONSTERS HAS BEGUN! As an enraged Hulk tries to take control of Bruce Banner’s body permanently, a mysterious immortal turns every monster in the Marvel Universe against Banner in an attempt to free their creator, the primordial Mother of Horrors. With the help of an unlikely new friend, Banner and Hulk must try to stop the world from getting plunged into darkness in this terrifying new series!”
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and illustrated by Nic Klein, Incredible Hulk #1 goes on sale June 21 from Marvel Comics.
