Stillanerd Reads: The Immortal Hulk #21

In every monster story, there’s almost always a monster hunter. Typically, the monster hunter is an ordinary man or woman who, often for personal reasons, is determined to destroy the monster. The monster hunters are almost always heroes, of course. They also the diametric opposite of what their quarry represents. Man vs. Nature. Science vs. Superstition. Order vs. Chaos.

The Hulk flips this script. Since Dr. Bruce Banner’s angry alter-ego is considered the “hero,” it’s the monster hunters who are the “villains.” Even more interesting is they’re typically members of the military. This includes such characters like General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, Major Glenn Talbot, and, the focus of The Immortal Hulk #21, General Reginald Fortean.

Created during the “Red Hulk” era, General Fortean didn’t leave much of a lasting impression. He came across as a younger, more rational, and a somewhat nicer carbon copy of his mentor, General Ross, without acting like an overprotective father. At least he could also go toe-to-toe with the Red Hulk, thanks to piloting his own “Redeemer Armor.” Even so, Al Ewing making him into the Hulk’s archenemy for Immortal Hulk seemed like an odd choice.

Little did we realize what a fascinating antagonist lurked underneath. In a series of flashbacks, Ewing shows us a man whose service to his country hides a deeply-rooted God Complex. From his days at Sunday School to his advancing military career, Fortean doesn’t just see himself as an instrument of order against a chaotic universe, but Order itself. And of course, the Hulks are manifestations of chaos which must be controlled, contained, or eliminated.

But it’s also clear that what gave Fortean “direction”, “focus”, “patience”, and “purpose” only reinforced his delusions. When we see him in the present day, his own self-confidence is nothing short of recklessness. The loss of civilian lives, or even his own life, means nothing compared to Shadow Base’s larger mission. His one-man raid against Alpha Flight to obtain the Abomination husk is, for him, imposing of his will onto chaos.

In the end, Ewing shows us that, instead of being order personified, Fortean is hypocrisy personified. Instead of respecting authority, the only authority he respects is his own. Instead of protecting innocent civilians, he’s willing to kill them and dismiss it as “collateral damage.” Like his mentor General Ross, he’s becoming like the monsters he fights but doesn’t see it. Or refuses to. Through him, Ewing shows how in attempting to control chaos, we become swallowed by it.

Being a well-written, psychologically complex character study isn’t the only thing working in Immortal Hulk #21’s favor. Fortean’s attack on Alpha Flight’s orbital headquarters feels as shocking as it does to its inhabitants. It also, as the scene between Absorbing Man and Titania shows, allows for some dark comedy.

What holds the comic back is its guest artist. Ryan Bodenheim doesn’t have regular artist Joe Bennet’s flair for the gruesome. He also lets colorist Paul Mounts the job of shading with, unfortunately, makes some panels look flat. Nevertheless, there are times where Bodenheim’s work does jump off the page. The Hulk, in the flashback where Fortean sees him for the first time, looks as ferocious, powerful, and terrifying as you might imagine. His rendering of emotions, particularly Fortean’s, are equally perfect. Also, the final page, a deliberate reflection of the first, will likely give you nightmares as intended.

It may not seem like much, but Immortal Hulk #21 provides further evidence for why Ewing’s comic series is so great. Even two-dimensional stand-ins can have layers. Even done-in-one stories can still expand the overall Hulk mythos Ewing is growing. And that even a seemingly minor issue can speak to a greater truth: that in trying to destroy what we deem as monsters, we end up becoming them.

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks

• Given the flippant way in which General Fortean dismisses Dr. McGowan’s concerns about “translocation,” methinks he didn’t watch a lot of Star Trek. Though you would think Dr. McGowan and her fellow scientists would’ve also tested the translocation platform multiple times well before now.
• Not to get into a theological debate, Reverend, but you do realize that the “formless and void” Earth as described in Genesis 1:2 literally didn’t look like a “raging sea,” right? Also, I believe the only translation which describes it as a “raging ocean” is the Good News Bible.
• A nice bit of insight from the usually dimwitted Absorbing Man about Doc Samson and She-Hulk. That being said, Doc Samson is probably one of the only people She-Hulk hasn’t had a romantic relationship with.
• “–but he’s shown a weakness for drugs in the past.” General Fortean’s correct. Believe it or not, there’s a story in which Absorbing Man literally turned himself into crack cocaine after snorting it. Then all the addicts who snorted him gained his powers. Even weirder, this was a Spider-Man story!
• “A Qlippoth.” Hmm…considering how much Immortal Hulk has tied into the “One-Above-All” and the “One-Below-All,” that’s an interesting term for Dr. Walter Langkowski/Sasquatch to use.
• Don’t worry, folks. I’m sure Doc Samson and Walter are all right and will get better. They did before, after all.

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