Written by: Ryan Ottley, Donny Cates
Art by: Ryan Ottley, Cliff Rathburn
Colors by: Marte Gracia
Letters by: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover art by: Ryan Ottley, Marte Gracia
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: February 15, 2023

Hulk #12 brings the lurking presence of Titan to the forefront when all of Bruce’s defenses begin to fall apart. Can Monolith and the inhabitants of Hulk World save Bruce from himself?

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Is It Good?

Since Ryan Ottley took over full writing duties, Hulk #12 is possibly the best issue in the series. The answers surrounding Titan’s existence are (mostly) answered, the buildup of dramatic tension from events spiraling out of control will have you on the edge of your seat, and the ending feels like an epic cliffhanger. The makings of a great comic are all here.

When last we left Hulk, he gained the respect and admiration of his fellow Hulks after a rousing game of Godball. Contemplating his future prospects as a permanent resident, Hulk now accepts that the darkness inside him (Titan) hasn’t simply decided to leave, and his complacency is a sure sign that the #%^@ is about to hit the fan.

Kudos to Ottley for playing it smart in this issue. Banner is no dummy, so by acknowledging what every reader already knows (Titan is coming), we can dispense with the faux surprise and focus all plot energy on the suspense of stopping Titan before he gets loose. To Ottley’s credit, he builds the suspense beautifully.

The minor down point is the full and clear explanation of who (or what) Titan really is. I won’t spoil it here, as the explanation may get twisted in the next issue, but if the explanation remains unchanged, some readers will feel a “This?!? Again?!?” sense of rehashing old plot points that have been done to death. Again, this issue may be a misdirect, so we’ll see how it goes.

Ottley’s dialog is solid, the pacing is killer (in a good way), and the forward feeling of momentum is undeniable. Plus, Ottley’s pencils with Rathburn’s inks are top-notch. If only this series had this level of storytelling much earlier in the run, it would have had a far better reception.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts:

Hulk #12 turns the series in a dire direction as the lurking threat of Titan comes back in a big way. Ottley’s pacing, dialog, and buildup of suspense are executed beautifully, and the art is excellent. Some readers may be disappointed by the explanation of Titan’s origin, but everything else works.

8.5/10