Naturally, The Incredible Hulk has great horror potential and I'm sure in the past decades there had been numerous stories that focus on the violent and terrifying qualities of the green monster. Phillip K. Johnson's new series continues this tradition with an opening that has the Hulk's brutality completely out-of-control and Bruce Banner helpless in the face of the relentless powers within him.

The issue opens in Iraq where ancient creaures are released. It's fairly certain that they will be the nightmarish foes, though for me it came as a surprise that they appear to be led Banner's wife possessed by demons. It is her that proclaims a new Age of Monsters and I'm interested to see on what side of the frontier the Hulk will eventually stand. So far there had been little in terns of narrative, but Nic Klein's artwork so far has been pleasantly dark and brutal. The monsters – including the Hulk's current incarnation – sure look capable to strike fear into the hearts of men.

I have to admit, I'm not familiar with what happened prior to the events depicted here. There is some talk of a Green Gate now closed, but I don't know what this implies. It probably harks back to Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman's run? I might try to catch up before the show continues.

Rating: 3.5