Spoilers Ahead
Initial Thoughts
Spider-Man/Hulk: Fire and Brimstone was not what I expected. To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. Writers Kevin Smith, Andy McElfresh, and artist R.B. Silva brought a new spin to an old story: Bruce Banner's never-ending struggle to control the “Green Guy” and his inner turmoil over justifying his existence. As weird and awkward as the opening two acts were, the third act completely won me over and made me instantly invested in Smith and McElfresh's series. I'm a big Kevin Smith fan, so when I found out he was writing this, I was excited. Smith, who grew up going to Catholic school, has always used Catholic Dogma as a muse, and that is evident immediately in this.
The book's thematic swing was jarring, to say the least. The overuse of puns for about half of the book was really grinding. It was 1970s-style comic book writing turned up to 11. But now, Smith used that pacing on purpose to make the religious turn at the end even more eyebrow-raising and, at least for me, a more powerful moment. My main takeaway is that the book's rough early stretch pays off in a stronger ending. I don't know how this is going to end. Do we actually get Bruce Banner and the Hulk finally split up with help from a Cardinal and an exorcism? That is what has me hooked right now, and why I'm excited to read the rest of this series.
Losing My Religion
Spider-Man/Hulk: Fire and Brimstone #1 took a while to get going, but once it did, it offered a creative new perspective on Bruce Banner's problem. Faith can be touchy, and religion isn't easy to discuss. With its religious overtones, telling the story without sounding preachy is a high-wire act. So far, I think Smith has pulled it off, as Banner’s newfound faith comes from frustration that nothing has helped stop the Hulk. With Bruce at his wits' end, even a scientist may turn to the sky, just as many people do in real life. I find this infinitely intriguing, because it's not only such a novel angle, but mainstream comics NEVER cross this line. I am invested in seeing how Smith and McElfresh walk this fine line.
What makes the story more involved is teaming Hulk with Spider-Man and, at least for this issue, Daredevil. Each hero guides how Hulk moves through this. Daredevil, famously the most Catholic character in Marvel, advises the faith prism. Spider-Man, the self-described “man of science,” is there to question them at every turn. Still, I see Spider-Man having the final say, as his name is on the title. Hulk team-ups leave much more open for dynamic storytelling and add Peter Parker as a third-party mediator between the Hulk and Banner.
A Holy Twist
The ending reveal that Bruce Banner is willing to get an exorcism is one of the most shocking plot twists I've read in a while. Yes, the title is “Fire and Brimstone,” but that could suggest a battle between Spider-Man, Hulk, and Mephisto, not an attempted exorcism of the Hulk from Bruce Banner's body. Honestly, the third act had to be the best part of the book, since the first two grew incredibly grim quickly. The fighting between Spider-Man and the Manosphere, while massive—it took up almost 66% of the entire book—pales in comparison to the emotional beat from the third act.
Two specific moments brought the story into perspective. First, Bruce's childhood flashback, in which he remembers the hardship he and his mother endured with an abusive father. The second was when Cardinal Leviticus Thronhill outright rejected and called out the Hulk and Banner, right after Bruce told us he had been following him on his tour of the country and how much he had admired him. Those two moments back-to-back were massive gut punches to our hero. It was perfectly done, especially after the book's slapstick start. Smith loves to write from the heart, so I know this is just the start of pulling at our heartstrings.
Retro Art, with a Modern Twist
R.B. Silva's art goes back to the Silver Age of comics, with his own modern twist. It gives off the same vibes as the dialogue and story, which makes this partnership between the three a match made in heaven, wink. What stood out to me was the realistic facial features of all of the characters in this series. There is so much detail in everyone's faces. From the expressions to the forehead wrinkles and the beads of sweat, everything looks incredibly realistic. I can not wait for the actual attempt at the exorcism in this book. This could quickly turn into a horror book, and Silva has the chops to make it great.
The added element of Federico Blee’s coloring brings a dynamic perspective to the story. This is especially true during the fight between Spider-Man, The Hulk, and the Manosphere. All the colors are so bright and vibrant, but they meld with each other ever so carefully, yet everything is its own separate thing. It never feels like a mush of colors. So while the art and story are a throwback, the coloring is anything but. It looks very modern. I'm excited to see where the art goes from here.
Final Verdicts
Spider-Man/Hulk: Fire and Brimstone #1 has a fantastic premise, even if it starts a little clunky before finding its way in the third act. Writers Kevin Smith and Andy McElfresh bring a fresh perspective to a tale as old as the Hulk himself, asking how Bruce Banner can finally get rid of the Hulk that lives deep inside him. In this iteration, Banner has turned to a higher power in hopes that he can no longer live under the thumb of the Big Green Monster. This first entry into the new series took a while to get going, but it closed with a bang. Let's hope that momentum continues for the rest of the series.