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| Venom and Hulk have been big hits |
In 2018, Marvel Comics managed to generate some buzz around two particular antiheroes by trying something a little different and long overdue. Both Venom and the Hulk were given fresh starts in the form of new first volumes and creative teams, each of which accentuated the horror elements of their respective titular characters. There's no doubt that both of these new series are good, but the question stands: which is Marvel's best horror comic?
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| Art by Ryan Stegman and Frank Martin |
Venom: Rex by Donny Cates & Ryan Stegman
"Something is...wrong with my symbiote.
For the first time in a long time...it...it scares me."
You probably know at least the basic premise of Venom: Spider-Man-villain-turned-antihero made up of a disgraced journalist and an alien parasite. In the new series, writer Donny Cates decides that the relationship between Eddie Brock and his other has become a little too smooth, so he awakens an ancient evil to shake things up.
Cates' innovative world-building adds and unprecedented level of depth to Venom's history, tying it to other parts of the Marvel universe and adding entirely new elements. This allows him to tell an exciting, over-the-top story that explores the relationship between the two halves of Venom and even touches upon mental health.
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| Knull, Venom's ultimate new foe |
Ryan Stegman's artwork is as gritty, gory and unsettling as a Venom comic deserves, successfully marrying sci-fi and gothic horror to produce some super impressive visuals. His design for brand-new villain Knull is particularly awesome and keeps your eyes lingering on each panel he appears in.
This first volume is largely self-contained, so you'll get a satisfying story even if you don't pick up the following book. The ending, however, is a little anti-climatic and predictable. Regardless, this is a great new beginning for Venom and fans of the character will want to keep an eye on what else Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman do with Eddie's new world.
Rating: 7.5/10
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| Art by Alex Ross |
The Immortal Hulk: Or Is He Both? by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett
"There are two people in every mirror.
There's the one you can see.
And there's the other one.
The one you don't want to."
Even if you were unfamiliar with Venom, you definitely know Hulk - but did you know he can't be killed, no matter how hard you try? Well, nobody really knew until writer Al Ewing decided to chronicle his return from the grave in the haunting new Immortal Hulk series, which drags the Strangest Man of All Time back to his horror roots.
Combined with the art of Joe Bennett, Ewing's dialogue and story create the feeling of an immersive HBO detective drama with a darker, supernatural element lurking behind it. The book's five chapters tell multiple short stories that provide a chilling analysis of the human mind and tie together for an exciting conclusion to the series' first act.
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| Bennett's Hulk and Banner |
The Hulk we see here isn't the mindless brute many are used to - he's intelligent and cruel, using his strength and influence over Bruce Banner to piece together a mystery surrounding what we currently only know as "the Green Door". Chapter three has a trio of guest artists tell us the same story about this compelling, complex beast from different perspectives and in entirely different ways, demonstrating the potential this series has going forward.
Of course, Bennett is the stand-out artist. His depiction of the Hulk will inevitably become iconic due to his grotesque, swelled, tangible features. Every single scene he appears in is captivating, and even when he's not around you can feel his presence in the form of the omnipresent shades of green delivered by colourist Paul Mounts.
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| The Hulk meets some radioactive foes |
Or Is He Both? works as an excellent standalone story - this could be anybody's first exposure to the Green Goliath and they'd still enjoy it. However, readers will have many unanswered questions after finishing this first volume, so it's up to the creative team to stick the landing with future instalments. Fortunately, it looks as if they'll do just that.
With its superior writing, art and intrigue, The Immortal Hulk stands over Venom as Marvel's best ongoing horror series. If you can, grab both books and pick your favourite - but if you can only get one, make sure it's Immortal Hulk.
Rating: 8/10
Both Venom and Immortal Hulk can be found digitally on Comixology or in paperback format in all good bookstores. Each series is currently ongoing, so keep an eye out for future instalments once you've read the first volumes.
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