Welcome back, comic fans! Today we are digging into the terrifying new status quo for the Marvel Universe with Infernal Hulk #1. If you thought the “Immortal” era was dark, you haven’t seen anything yet. Bruce Banner is gone, the Hulk we knew is dead, and something ancient has taken the wheel. Let’s walk through the issue page-by-page to break down exactly what is happening in this nightmare-fueled debut.
The Premise: A Vessel for the Eldest
Before the story even properly begins, the recap pages set a grim stage. We learn that Dr. Bruce Banner and the Incredible Hulk have been “gruesomely ripped apart.” The Hulk’s body is no longer a hero or a monster of science—it is now a vessel for a being known as Eldest.
Eldest has succeeded in opening the prison of the Mother of Horrors (a primordial entity locked away for aeons). However, finding her mother withered and broken, Eldest consumed her flesh, absorbing the “seed of corruption” that created the Great Old Ones. Now, using Hulk’s unstoppable body, Eldest is ushering in a new era: The Age of Monsters.
The Quiet Before the Storm: Red Creek, Kentucky
Pages 3-4 The story opens on the ground in Red Creek, Kentucky. It’s a rainy, mundane scene that grounds us immediately. We meet David Bridger, a seasoned, weary soldier, and his team working to set up plastic sheeting before the rain hits. There’s chatter about domestic life—diaper duty, Pedialyte—emphasizing their humanity.
Suddenly, an eerie sound cuts through the air: an old evacuation siren. One soldier notes they’ve never heard it used before. The tension spikes instantly. Something is coming.
Pages 5-6 The team receives intel that a target is three klicks out and closing fast. A young soldier, Travis, is trying to convince himself it will be okay. He mentions seeing the Hulk on TV with the Avengers, hoping the “real guy” will show up to save them from this “mystery guy.”
We get deeper characterization for Bridger here. Travis is starstruck, realizing he’s serving with Captain David Bridger, a “legit war hero.” Bridger shuts this down cold, telling the kid that being a good shot and killing an “assload of people” is the opposite of being a hero. He gives Travis a hard lesson: “Nobody in combat’s a hero. Everyone’s just trying not to get killed.” It’s a sombre moment that seals Bridger’s fate as the tragic anchor of this issue.
The Arrival of the Infernal Hulk
Page 7 & Onward The target arrives. The soldiers, terrified but disciplined, try to assert authority. They call out to “Dr. Bruce Banner,” claiming they are authorized by the Department of Defense.
The response is chilling: “There is no Banner here.”
The entity—Infernal Hulk—doesn’t want anything from them. It simply tells them they are nothing. The order is given to “Light him up!” and the soldiers open fire, but it’s useless against a Hulk possessed by an Elder God.
The War Devil Revealed
The creature singles out Bridger. But it’s not because he’s the leader; it’s because of what’s inside him. The Infernal Hulk peers into Bridger and says, “I know you… Jinni Dagaal, the War Devil, behind your eyes.”
This implies Bridger carries some sort of supernatural burden or entity himself, unbeknownst to his squad. The entity brutally kills Bridger (indicated by a gruesome “SQUISH” sound effect in the text), but it’s not just a murder—it’s a ritual. The entity commands the “living city” to rise.
The Resurrection of Gologolthia
The Climax Eldest, speaking through Hulk, declares, “The Mother of Horrors is dead. Her Eldest lives. Obey me.”
He summons Gologolthia, a “Living City.” We see the physical landscape of Kentucky warp and twist. A mountain collapses, and from the earth, structures of flesh and sinew rise. The text describes a horrific transformation where the land itself becomes a sanctuary for monsters.
In a heartbreaking coda to the battle, we jump to “Hours Later.” A voice calls out “Bridger… come down.” It’s Travis (or what’s left of him), reminding Bridger of his promise to look out for them. The response is a cold declaration from the entity: “Your kingdom has its capital… Rise.”
The World Reacts
News Reports The issue shifts to the global fallout. News channels report on the catastrophe in Kentucky. The official story is confused—some blame a coal mine fire, others suspect the Hulk or Banner. But the occult community knows the truth. They are warning society to prepare for a “Modern Age of Monsters.”
The public reaction is one of hopelessness: “Why are all the biggest, strongest ones always the worst ones? Why can’t we ever get a monster who’s on our side?”
