Welcome to Dispatch’s Rapid Fire Recap for Al Ewing’s IMMORTAL HULK. With no new comics on the horizon, why not dive into a new series TO YOU? Now is certainly as good a time as any to get caught up on one of the best ongoing series at Marvel Comics happening now! Today, we’ll be recapping IMMORTAL HULK Vol. 3, which is issues 11-15. If you’d like to catch up from the beginning, you can find links to the IMMORTAL HULK #1-5 Rapid Fire Recap HERE as well as the IMMORTAL HULK Rapid Fire Recap #6-10 HERE. And, if you’d like to get your hands on any of these issues or trades, feel free to click on the Amazon links below. Let’s smash in!

Immortal Hulk #11

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist: Joe Bennett, Ruy José, Paul Mounts, and Cory Petit

Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 2nd, 2019

Rapid Fire Recap:

Jackie and Hulk are walking around “hell” and bump into Rick Jones who’s also walking around there with his eyes gouged out. Meanwhile, Puck from Gamma Flight (who’s also trapped down there) finds Crusher Creel feeling sorry for himself for bringing “hell” upon everyone and gives Creel a quick pep talk. Jumping back to Hulk and Jackie, Jackie bumps into her father (who’s dead) while Hulk finds Thunderbolt Ross (who also appears to be dead). Ross transforms into this disfigured Red Hulk creature and begins to fight the Hulk but our Devil Hulk tears the Red Hulk creature apart. It turns out, Hulk and Banner are separated down here AND there appears to be a possibility that anyone who was affected by gamma heads to this “hell”. Plus, we know that anyone effected by gamma eventually comes back to life. So, if Thunderbolt Ross/ Red Hulk is down here, as well as Rick Jones, then shouldn’t they come back to life at some point? And, what about Jackie’s Dad? Was he exposed to gamma at some point too? Is that why he’s down in this “hell”? Now, as the issue closes, Banner’s Dad appears on the top of this cliff talking to Bruce who’s being held captive in this gamma energy blast stating that he told his son the Hulk “was always a monster” and that he’s “ better off without him.”

Click HERE to get your hands on IMMORTAL HULK #11 or grab IMMORTAL HULK Vol 3. HERE which collects issues 11-15.

Immortal Hulk #12

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist: Joe Bennett, Ruy José, Eric Nguyen, Paul Mounts, and Cory Petit

Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 23rd, 2019

Rapid Fire Recap:

This issue begins with a flashback explaining to readers how cruel and hateful Banner’s Dad was to Bruce and his mother. Readers jump back to Hulk smashing away and destroying Thunderbolt Ross/ Red Hulk in “hell”. It appears as though the original Hulk persona took over and normally does whenever he’s in a fit of child-like rage. Jackie asks if Devil Hulk can come back because she’s interested in finding a way out of this place. The story jumps back to Banner’s Dad giving his backstory to Bruce still trapped on the cliff in a huge gamma energy wave. Readers discover Bruce’s Dad was the first to tap into this gamma energy, which he later discovered was actually searching for him. Bruce’s Dad continues to talk about how his wife (Bruce’s Mother) stopped loving him and began loving Bruce more. Eventually, Bruce’s Dad killed his Mom and later Bruce killed his Dad (or actually the Devil Hulk persona) sending him to this deeper hell housing these two entities that are trying to get out. It turns out, this Devil Hulk is actually a being known as Angra Mainyu who also has a twin brother named Ahura Mazda. Angra Mainyu is a deity that will bring the end of the world while Ahura Mazda is supposed to restore a balance or peace. As the issue ends, readers are led to believe that the Devil Hulk is Angra Mainyu and not Bruce’s Dad. His Dad may have jumped into his body issues ago but was never in control. He was only present to drive him closer to releasing this destruction on the world. The true being in charge of this Devil Hulk is the Devil himself known as Angra Mainyu. However, is that really true? Why would Banner’s Dad associate with or be possessed by the more peaceful deity known as Ahura Mazda and kill his mother and beat his child? Is it possible that the Devil Hulk is actually Ahura Mazda, which is the deity to bring balance? Angra Mainyu craves destruction where Ahura Mazda wants balance. Even though Devil Hulk wants to destroy the world, he’s still trying to leave some type of humanity, which implies he wants balance. Therefore, is this the big twist we will see later from Al Ewing?

Click HERE to get your hands on IMMORTAL HULK #12 or grab IMMORTAL HULK Vol 3. HERE which collects issues 11-15.

Immortal Hulk #13

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist: Joe Bennett, Ruy José, Belardino Barbo, Rafael Fonteriz, Paul Mounts, and Cory Petit

Price: $3.99

Release Date: February 6th, 2019

Rapid Fire Recap:

Crusher and Puck sneak up to the top of the mountain where Banner’s Dad (who could also be a demon or deity using Banner’s Dad as a type of skin) is standing unleashing beasts on the Hulk and Rick Jones. Yup, Rick Jones has now changed into A-Bomb and is helping to smash these creatures on their way to the mountain top to stop this demonic deity/ being that “could be” Banner’s Dad. Crusher jumps into the gamma radiation at the top of the mountain and rips Banner out of the gamma freeing him in order to help stop the green door from being permanently open. Hulk, now having all his gamma energy back after Crusher released Banner who was trapped in the energy, has a heart to heart with Banner. Throughout Banner’s life, the only person there for Bruce was the Hulk. As much as Banner has tried to lock this “Devil Hulk” away for years, it’s always been this version/ persona that’s always been there for him. It’s this “Devil Hulk” who has always been there to love and protect him. So, Banner decides to rejoin with the Hulk so they can both survive what will transpire next, which is them closing the green door. After the door is closed, Crusher joins Gamma Flight and Banner tracks down Betty in order to talk to her. Is it because Bruce saw her Dad Thunderbolt in this “hell” implying that he’s dead? Does he want to pay his condolences? Or does he want to share with her that there is a possibility that Ross will be back since he’s also connected to this gamma energy? Moreover, isn’t Betty also connected to the gamma?

Click HERE to get your hands on IMMORTAL HULK #13 or grab IMMORTAL HULK Vol 3. HERE which collects issues 11-15.

Immortal Hulk #14

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist: Kyle Hotz, Paul Mounts, and Cory Petit

Price: $3.99

Release Date: March 6th, 2019

Rapid Fire Recap:

This issue opens with the funeral of Thunderbolt Ross. General Fortean spoke on his behalf at the funeral and stated that the General was like a Father to him. The story jumps to Betty and Bruce talking at a cottage in the woods. Bruce apologizes for not telling her that he was alive and didn’t come to see her when her Father died. However, Agent Burbank happens to be hiding in the woods with his sniper rifle lined up and ready to take down the Hulk. Burbank wants to take the shot and kill Banner but General Fortean wants him to stand down because he doesn’t want to kill Betty in the process because (again) he admired her father and doesn’t want to kill his daughter accidentally. But, Burbank being too proud shoots anyway and kills Betty accidentally. After a quick confrontation with the Hulk, Doc Samson steps in to save the day and attempt to talk down the Hulk who just so happens to have a gigantic hole in his head.

Click HERE to get your hands on IMMORTAL HULK #14 or grab IMMORTAL HULK Vol 3. HERE which collects issues 11-15.

Immortal Hulk #15

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist: Joe Bennett, Ruy José, Paul Mounts, and Cory Petit

Price: $3.99

Release Date: March 20th, 2019

Rapid Fire Recap:

The issue opens with a quick backstory of Doc Samson. Readers see Samson come back to life like every other gamma radiated being who has been effected. Samson died, came back, and hid from Bruce and Betty until Rick Jones died. Eventually, Samson tracked down Betty to catch up but no one else knew he as alive. Meanwhile, the story jumps to the Present with Hulk and Samson fighting each other while Samson tries to jog Hulk’s memory. Notice in this issue that the Hulk we see is the normal child-like Hulk who “smashes” and not the “Devil Hulk”. However, once Hulk’s brain begins to form back together after Agent Burbank shot him in the last issue, it appears as though Devil Hulk is back in control. Samson and Hulk go to check on Betty but she’s not there. This Hulk explains who he is and why he’s in control now. Banner needed someone who was like a Father to him that cared for him to take over and be in control. This Hulk has been locked away forever until now. But now, he’s in control whenever Banner gets hurt. Plus, he explains that he can only come out at night. But as Samson and Devil Hulk talk it out, we realize a connection between the real Devil and this Hulk persona. It seems their is a strong possibility that they really are one and the same. And, he is trying to end the world. However, the Devil’s intentions are to save some of the life by destroying it before humanity destroys themselves in the process. The issue ends with Samson and the Hulk standing over Rick Jones’ grave realizing again that everyone effected by gamma comes back. But, the grave is empty and Rick is nowhere to be found.

Click HERE to get your hands on IMMORTAL HULK #15 or grab IMMORTAL HULK Vol 3. HERE which collects issues 11-15.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Dispatch’s Rapid Fire Recap of IMMORTAL HULK Vol. 3 issues 11-15. Soon, IMMORTAL HULK Vol. 4 will be out to continue to get everyone caught up on Al Ewing’s smashingly good series before Marvel comes back with New Releases! If you want to get a head start on IMMORTAL HULK Vol. 4, feel free to click HERE to get your hands on issues 16-20!! And, if comics are your jam like they are mine, feel free to take a look at my Online Amazon Comic Shop HERE. Thank you in advance! Until next time, stay safe and stay healthy!