THE INFERNAL HULK #10 (MARVEL COMICS)
The Infernal Hulk has come to the close of its opening act. As New York prepares for the Hulk and his army of monsters to invade, Bruce Banner and Doctor Voodoo are trying to regain a version of the Hulk for Bruce from Sumanguru. But will they succeed in time to defeat Eldest in his Hulk form? Meanwhile, Eldest may have another thing to fear as Lycana has joined the fight and set her sights on the army of monsters.
The Infernal Hulk #10 - Written By Phillip Kennedy Johnson - Art By Adam Gorham - Colors By Matthew Wilson - Letters By VC’s Corey Petit - Edited By Jordan D. White - Published By Marvel Comics
Credit: Marvel Comics
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
STORY OVERVIEW:
Bruce and Doctor Voodoo are now in the grasp of Sumanguru as Bruce is about to play Neferib’s Riddle Game for the Hulk form that Bruce gave to Sumanguru. As the game begins, we find out that it’s more about torture than riddles and the deck is stacked in Sumanguru’s odds. It will take every ounce of knowledge that Bruce has, and some trickery by Doctor Voodoo if they hope to survive and regain the Hulk form that may help defeat Eldest. Meanwhile, Lycana has joined the fight in West Virginia and is fighting the monster form of Bridger. As their battle wages on, Lycana figures out a way to snap Bridger out of his monster state. This gives hope that she can do this for the rest of the monster army and perhaps foil Eldest’s plans. Speaking of Eldest, his army has invaded NYC, and it’s time for the humans and superheroes to try and make a stand.
WRITING:
All I have to start with is what a finale for this first part of the Infernal Hulk War! Phillip Kennedy Johnson has packed so much drama, tension, and surprise into these last few issues that the story has reached a real fever pitch. This issue feels like the culmination of everything that has been building since the beginning of the arc, but it also works as a springboard into something even bigger. That balance is not easy to pull off. Johnson has to give this chapter enough weight to feel like the end of the opening act while still leaving the reader desperate to see where the war goes next, and he manages to do both very well.
One of the strongest parts of the issue is how Johnson follows up on the surprise reveal of Charlie Tidwell, aka Lycana, entering the fray. Last issue gave readers the shock of her return, but this issue gives that return purpose. Johnson does not use Lycana as a simple cameo or nostalgic pull. Instead, he makes her motivations clear and immediately positions her as someone who can change the shape of the conflict. Her ability to reach Bridger and potentially break through the monstrous influence gives the story a new emotional and strategic angle. It means this war may not only be about overpowering Eldest and his army, but also about saving the people trapped inside those horrors.
That is what makes Lycana’s role such a smart choice. Johnson brings in a fan-favorite character who has been underused and gives her a role that actually matters to the plot. She fits perfectly into the supernatural and monster-driven tone of this run, but her presence also shows that Johnson is not limiting himself to the most obvious Hulk characters. He is willing to dig deeper into Marvel’s horror-adjacent corners and use those characters in ways that feel organic to the story. Lycana does not feel forced into the issue. She feels like a character who belongs in this nightmare and might be one of the few figures capable of pushing back against it in a different way.
Speaking of deep cuts and big chances, the riddle game with Sumanguru is another example of Johnson thinking outside of the box. On paper, Bruce Banner trying to regain access to a Hulk form through a supernatural riddle game could have felt strange or overly complicated, but Johnson makes it work because the sequence is tied directly to Bruce’s desperation. It is not just a puzzle scene. It is built like a test of endurance, guilt, intelligence, and survival. Sumanguru’s game feels cruel from the start, and that gives the scene a strong sense of danger even though it is not a traditional fight. Bruce is forced to rely on his mind, while Doctor Voodoo’s presence adds another layer of mysticism and strategy to the sequence.
What makes that plot point even more impressive is how Johnson takes an earlier story element that many readers may not have expected to be revisited and turns it into a major step on Bruce Banner’s road to redemption. The idea of reclaiming the Hulk form he gave away could have been handled in a much more straightforward way, but by tying it to Sumanguru and Neferib’s Riddle Game, Johnson gives the moment a unique flavor. It reinforces how this run has never been interested in playing things safe. The horror, magic, mythology, and Hulk lore are all being blended together in a way that makes the book feel unpredictable from issue to issue.
As much as this issue serves as a closing chapter for the first phase of the saga, it truly excels at setting up the next chapter. Johnson leaves several major threads unresolved, but they feel intentionally unresolved rather than unfinished. Bruce’s attempt to regain the Hulk, Lycana’s role in the war, Eldest’s invasion of New York, and the larger threat of the monster army are all moving forward at the same time. That creates a strong sense of momentum. The issue gives readers enough payoff to feel satisfied, but it also makes the wait for what comes next feel even bigger. And if that was not enough, the title that comes next will have everyone waiting with bated breath: March to Hulk War: Infernal Hulk vs Wolverine #1!
ARTWORK:
The artwork in this issue continues the trend of this series being one of the strongest visual books Marvel is putting out right now. Even when certain story beats may not hit as hard for me, the art has consistently delivered, and this issue is another major showcase for that. Adam Gorham understands exactly what this series needs visually. He does not just draw monsters and destruction; he makes the whole world feel infected by horror. Every location feels dangerous, ruined, and unstable, as if the war has not only damaged the landscape but twisted it into something unnatural. The settings look like a battlefield from hell has spilled into the real world, and that gives the entire issue a massive sense of scale.
Gorham’s backgrounds do a lot of heavy lifting in this issue. The ruined environments, demonic landscapes, and monster-filled battle scenes all help sell the idea that this is not a normal superhero conflict. New York and the surrounding war zones feel overwhelmed by something ancient, violent, and impossible to fully contain. There is debris, darkness, smoke, and movement everywhere, but the pages never feel visually confusing. Gorham gives the chaos structure, so the reader can feel the size of the war while still following the important emotional beats and action moments.
The character designs are also a huge part of why this issue works so well. The monster army looks grotesque, varied, and genuinely intimidating. These creatures do not all feel like the same basic design repeated over and over again. They have different shapes, textures, and silhouettes, which makes the invasion feel larger and more unpredictable. Lycana’s design stands out beautifully in the middle of all that horror. Gorham gives her a fierce, sharp presence that fits the supernatural tone of the book while still immediately making her feel like a character readers should pay attention to. Sumanguru’s shifting form is another highlight because it feels fluid, strange, and cruel, which is exactly what a character like that needs.
My favorite visual sequence in the issue is still Bruce Banner going through Neferib’s Riddle Game. Gorham makes those torture sequences feel personal and brutal without losing the surreal quality of the scene. The damage done to Bruce is drawn in a way that makes the reader feel how trapped and helpless he is in that moment. It is not just body horror for shock value. It reflects Bruce’s guilt, desperation, and willingness to suffer if it means getting another chance to stop Eldest. The panels put the reader directly inside Bruce’s nightmare, and that makes the sequence one of the most memorable parts of the issue.
Matthew Wilson’s colors are just as important to the issue’s impact. Wilson has never been afraid to use unexpected color choices in this run, and that continues here. The reds, sickly greens, unnatural purples, and harsh glowing tones give the book a supernatural intensity that separates it from a standard action comic. His colors make the horror feel hot, toxic, and alive. They also help separate the different spaces of the issue, from the battlefield to the mystical realm of the riddle game, giving each sequence its own atmosphere while keeping the issue visually unified.
The entire art team deserves a lot of credit for how much energy this issue has. The action feels huge, the horror feels unsettling, and the quieter character moments still have weight. Gorham and Wilson have been excellent throughout this run, but this issue feels like one of their strongest collaborations because every visual choice supports the scale of the story. The book looks violent, strange, emotional, and epic all at once. If this is the level they are bringing to the end of the opening act, then I am very excited to see how far they can push the visuals when the next phase of the Infernal Hulk War begins.
CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF THE INFERNAL HULK #9
Final Thoughts:
The Infernal Hulk #10 is a powerful close to the opening act of the Infernal Hulk War. Phillip Kennedy Johnson delivers big story movement, smart character choices, and enough unresolved tension to make the next chapter feel essential. Adam Gorham and Matthew Wilson match that energy with brutal, eerie, and epic visuals that keep the horror tone alive on every page. This issue gives the arc a satisfying sense of payoff while making the road ahead feel even more exciting. If you were not following along as this series dropped, make sure to keep your eyes open for when the Trade hits the shelves. Also, keep your eyes open for the FOC for March to Hulk War: Infernal Hulk vs Wolverine #1 as you won’t want to miss that one either!
FINAL GRADE: 9.8/10
Let me know your thoughts on The Infernal Hulk #10 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
