From Incredible to Infernal: The Hulk’s Most Terrifying Evolution Yet

By Kyra Greene

You’ve met the Incredible Hulk. Now, brace yourself for the Infernal Hulk.

When writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson and artist Nic Klein redefined Marvel’s green goliath in Incredible Hulk (2023), they took him out of the realm of superheroes and into pure horror. Their saga built to a grotesque climax in Incredible Hulk #30, where Bruce Banner was torn apart—literally—by a nightmarish entity known as the Eldest.

But the story doesn’t end there. Launching in Infernal Hulk #1 (2025), Johnson and Klein deliver a chilling new chapter where Eldest takes over Hulk’s body, transforming him into something darker, more monstrous, and infinitely more dangerous. For the first time, Banner himself is powerless, stripped of the raging strength that has both cursed and saved him for decades. Now, the world faces the fury of an uncontrollable inferno given form—the Infernal Hulk.

What sets this story apart is not just the sheer horror of the monster, but the fragile humanity of Banner. Having sought peace with Betty Ross, the couple believed they’d escaped the shadow of the Hulk. Yet peace never lasts long in the Marvel Universe. As the Infernal Hulk rampages unchecked, Banner is forced to confront a chilling question: how do you defeat the monster within when you no longer have the strength to fight back?

This isn’t just another Hulk story. It’s a reset point, a gateway for new readers, and a bold step into horror-driven storytelling that recalls the classic monster comics of Marvel’s past while pushing the mythology into fresh, terrifying territory. For longtime fans, it’s a chance to witness Bruce Banner face his ultimate nightmare: watching the world burn while trapped in helpless silence.

The age of the Incredible Hulk may be over—but the reign of the Infernal Hulk has only just begun.