What Do Nightmares Fear?
Peter David's Hulk is generally considered the defining saga for the character. Now as I'm just starting it, and my knowledge on Hulk is not so expansive that I can offer a proper opinion, I will just say that so far, it has been a terrific read. The reason I am reviewing this issue in particular is because of its nature as a standalone story (coming before the crossover with X-Factor).
As usual, I like to get the art critique over quickly because, quite frankly, I'm no artist and don't really feel comfortable saying what is "great" or "poor". I generally just say whether I like it or not, and in this issue (as I have with the entire run), I do really like it. John Ridgway is the artist, someone I'm not too familiar with, but his work here is what you'd expect of the era, and I like it because of that. No, it's not flashy, but it's always clear and never obtrusive.
Moving on to what I actually feel comfortable critiquing; the writing! Anyone who's read anything by Peter David knows that he is an excellent writer, and that really shows here. Continuing with the theme of "Everyone has a dark side, everyone has a monster, etc" that he's been exploring the last few issues, David creates a far more sombre atmosphere than one would expect from the Hulk. Honestly, the first few pages are more akin to a Hellblazer issue than a Hulk one, but this really helps build the tension. A young woman is attacked by an ordinary man in a cloak and puritan-style hat. He is later referred to as the Stalker.
The Stalker is not a memorable villain in the least, and even David doesn't try to portray him as such. This is a villain for a single issue, to serve a purpose and to be disposed of. The Stalker has a dull design and no real gimmick. He's evil, he has a fascination with eyes, and he disappears. That is essentially all the reader knows about the Stalker. But it's all we need to know. The Stalker is evil. He's the depraved, vile part of ourselves that we keep locked up.
The issue starts with the Stalker assaulting and viciously clawing out the eyes of a young woman named Adria. As the woman, who it is suggested suffers from some degree of paranoia verging on agoraphobia, flees from the Stalker until she runs into the Hulk. This is the Grey Hulk, mind you, so he's mentally aware enough to know that this woman is afraid of the creepy guy in the lame hat. Upon coming into contact with the Hulk, Adria feels much safer, safer than she felt in her own house. Ultimately, the Hulk decides to protect Adria, despite the Stalker attempting to seduce him with offers of violence and horror.
The Stalker, as it turns out, is actually the alter-ego of a young mechanic named Gil who indulges himself in alcohol and slasher films. He works long hours and spends all of his time in a state of perpetual misanthropy. It is revealed that when he sleeps, the hatred inside of him boils to the surface and unleashes the Stalker. The Stalker is a separate being to Gil, and it appears like it's some manner of physical thought-form. It can only exist as long as Gil sleeps. The Stalker runs into the Hulk and suggests they go about assaulting some local drunkards, who have committed horrible crimes themselves.
Eventually, the Hulk decides to spare the drunkards lethal wrath, instead just roughing them up and bit, and turns his focus toward the Stalker. It is here that the crux of the issue is presented. The Stalker fears the Hulk. He knows that he has incurred the fury of a being well beyond him, and he flees, begging for Gil to wake up and free him from this nightmare. The Hulk gets him, and destroys the Stalker; sending Gil into a catatonic state, as the hatred of the Stalker was all that kept Gil going. Without hate, his body was a shell.
The key difference, at least to me, was that the Hulk is a monster born of righteous anger. He is the darkness inside of a good man given form. Unlike the Stalker, who was the hate of a hateful man, the Hulk is not a force of evil. Rather, he is just a force unto himself. The Stalker flees from the Hulk because he knows that the Hulk is not just some psychotic who wants to kill; the Hulk is an unstoppable force of might. The monster that only a good man can become. It's here that we see that although the Hulk wants, quite desperately, to be the kind of monster the Stalker is; the kind who does not care; he cannot be, because the Hulk is still a part of Bruce Banner and Bruce Banner, through all of his crises, is still a good man.
The issue ends with a gentle quote that shows Bruce's fear that he will one day become the same sort of man that Gil is.
"There, but for the gentle grace of God, go I"
This was a tremendous issue on so many levels. It told a single story with a suitable villain and featured terrific character moments for both the Hulk and Banner. It features something of a new genre for the Hulk, a kind of British horror, but it works particularly well for this single outing. An issue that makes sense within the context of the themes of David's run, while also delivering a fantastic standalone experience. This is a great read for Hulk and non-Hulk fans alike.