Hulk is set to battle a frightening new enemy, Patchwork Jack, in an upcoming Giant Size issue, returned to the beloved format of its extra-sized titles from the 1970s. In line with the recent trend in the character’s portrayal, Giant-Size Hulk will tell a “horror-driven” story, emphasizing the truly unsettling nature of Bruce Banner’s condition – and appropriately, introducing a scary new villain for Hulk to face off against.
Marvel recently announced Giant-Size Hulk #1, written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, with art by Andrea Broccardo, the latest in a series of Giant-Size issues coming in 2024, “honoring the 50th anniversary of the epic Giant-Size storytelling of 1970s.” Johnson promised that his story will be fully in line with his fascinating work on Incredible Hulk recently, which has made the book a vehicle for some wild body horror, akin to little in the character’s history.
Beyond the name “Patchwork Jack,” little is known about the villain introduced in the issue, other than that he can be expected to be among Johnson’s most nightmarish contributions to the Marvel Universe yet.
Phillip Kennedy Johnson Promises A “Horrifying New Character”
“I promise you: no Hulk fan will want to miss this issue,” Johnson said about Giant-Size Hulk #1, hyping the appearance of Hulk’s latest villain. The issue, “features the first-ever appearance of a horrifying new character: Patchwork Jack, who I can’t wait for readers to meet,” the writer explained to Marvel fans, as part of the announcement of the special. This Giant-Size iteration will be an extension of Johnson’s current Incredible Hulk run, which he has approached with the intention of making “every issue a horror and action showcase for the rockstar artists [he has] been so fortunate to work with.” Now, this throwback to Marvel’s ’70s super-sized issues will “ramp all that up even more.”
As Johnson explained: “The story we’re telling in Giant-Size Hulk #1 has been in the back of my mind since I started writing the series, just waiting for the right moment to be told.” He further emphasized that the one-shot “sums up the horror-driven direction” of his Incredible Hulk run so far. Having already successfully actualized on his desire to deliver, “new lore, new monsters, fan-favorite guest appearances from across the Marvel U, the most jaw-dropping fights imaginable, the gnarliest transformations Hulk has ever experienced,” and more, it is an exciting proposition to consider how Johnson might top this moving forward.
Giant-Size Hulk Will Reprint A Classic Tale
In addition to the gripping new story from Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Giant-Size Hulk #1 will include a reprint of a classic, Incredible Hulk #372, from writer Peter David and artist Dale Keown’s pivotal run on the title. By pairing what Marvel calls, “a Hulk tale for the ages,” with the latest progression of Johnson’s groundbreaking contemporary run, Hulk fans will have the perfect opportunity to reflect on decades of character growth and narrative evolution. Hulk has been radically reinterpreted by many different authors over the years, with this in fact being one of the character’s virtues. In addition to a thrilling new story, with a terrifying new villain, Giant-Size Hulk #1 will be a celebration of that.
Giant-Size Hulk #1 will be available April 3, 2024 from Marvel Comics.
