RED HULK #4 – Return of the Monster

Creative Team – Benjamin Percy(writer). Geoff Shaw(artist). Bryan Valenza(color artist). VC’s Cory Petit(letterer). Geoff Shaw & Marte Gracia(cover artists).

Published by Marvel Comics

Catch up with Red Hulk #3 here!

The Story

In Red Hulk #3, we saw Thunderbolts Ross, Deathlok, and Machine Man form a plan to get them as far away from Latveria as possible. Doctor Doom was in New York City hosting a general assembly when he got word of the prison escape. Leaving New York, he hurried to Latveria to handle Ross and his fellow escapees himself. Now in Red Hulk #4, the team isn’t in great condition as Machine Man is in pieces, and Ross is drained of his Red Hulk radiation, so they need to find the nuclear power plant so they can have even a ghost of a chance.

Ross, knowing exactly where the nuclear power plant is, led his team to the location, but surprisingly enough, it wasn’t there. He knows for a fact the plant was where he thought it was, so the only thing that makes sense is that Doom knew what he was up to. Ross realizes that in all the time he’s been held captive, Doom has been studying him, understanding how him and the Red Hulk operate. If the One World Under Doom event has taught us anything, it’s that Doom is always a few steps ahead.

Now on the run for shelter, the escapees find a house that belonged to the citizens of Latveria. While in the abandoned house, the team realizes that the citizens left in a hurry. Curious as to what has happened in the world with Doom while he was locked up, Ross looks up all that’s happened on the internet. That’s when he sees the severity of Doom’s actions. Ross says he will not rest until Doom has been taken down and an American flag is planted on Latveria. But he needs a plan, a new plan, for how he will take down Doom. First, he needs help from his monstrous other half.

The Writing

Another exciting installment of Red Hulk by Benjamin Percy! The tone is set immediately by Percy with Ross swimming in the freezing river to hide from the Doombot’s thermal scanners, and continues with that same feeling.

There were quite a few moments throughout Red Hulk #4 that made you feel the anger pouring from Ross, but the moment he saw what Doom had been up to since he was imprisoned hit the hardest. To see Ross finally find out what Doom had been doing since he was in his think tank of a prison, it really nailed showing Ross being as angry as even the Red Hulk. Percy takes you on this journey with Ross, Machine Man, and Deathlok and makes you feel every emotion they do with ease.

The Art

Geoff Shaw, Bryan Valenza, and Cory Petit are the artists responsible for Red Hulk #4, and they continue to impress. Somehow, Geoff Shaw and Bryan Valenza were able to make a comic that primarily takes place on a dark and snowy night into a vibrant and beautifully detailed piece. There was a lot to like in Red Hulk #3, but nothing can compare to when we finally get to see Red Hulk again in all his fiery red glory.

Overall Grade – 8.5/10

Let me know in the comments below what you thought of Red Hulk #4!

This review was written by Megan from the Vigilante Vibes Podcast! If you liked my review, be sure to check out my other reviews! Let me know what you think of Red Hulk #4, or tell me what comics you’d recommend me trying out! Find me on my socials, and check out my Marvel podcast, Vigilante Vibes, by clicking here!