Hulk: Planet Hulk

I never read the Hulk growing up. I didn't even read the hulk when I started to get into comics in my early 20s. I did start to read the hulk when Planet Hulk came out, and I have to say it's one of the best comic book stories I've ever read. So many comics these days are stereotypical, with the same old themes of the same old villains and monsters escaping and going on rampages while super-heroes go through the same old soap-opera issues. Haven't you ever wished for a grand epic tale where one of our heroes get caught up in a struggle to save a planet and emerges the hero? True, that's an old plot-line, but somehow people keep finding ways to make it fresh. Like here for instance... When the Hulk finishes a mission to save the world once again, he is betrayed by his best friends, and launched into space, to a peaceful empty planet where he can never hurt anyone again. But of course, the plan goes horribly awry and instead the hulk is shot through a portal to a nightmare world more like the planet from the old game Out of This World, where giant monsters of every shape and size endanger everyone, an evil king oppresses his people like the worst of the Roman Emperors, and strength is prized above all else. On first arriving, Hulk is surprised by how weak he is, and is quickly captured. The inhabitants of the planet are impressed by his strength, but of course they don't know what we and the Hulk know, that the more you beat up the Hulk, the stronger he gets. And he is pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to kill. What this amounts to early on is a series of crazy fights like something straight out of Saturday morning cartoon, as lots of gruesome monsters are pitted against the Hulk, and every time it looks like he's done-for, he gets mad and smashes them into goo. Unfortunately he makes some enemies in the process when he ticks off the king by trying to kill him, thus getting Hulk thrown into a place of even more fearsome monsters (Hulk never did know when to back down and play nice). Naturally Hulk can't be killed by the monsters there either, but he DOES gain some friends (despite his very angry attitude) simply because he's so dang strong everyone knows they stand a better chance of living with him, and he ends up saving everyone's life over and over. And when the survivors of a brutal gladiatorial "training" all team up with Hulk as the leader, things just get better and better as they survive round after round of brutal attacks in various arenas, Hulk fights his old friend the Silver Surfer who has also been captured, and finally everyone escapes and starts a rebellion against the Red King and his armies. Once again, stories like this have been told before, many times. But not like this. This series is a complete world with its own races, ecology, social and political system, and species' hatred and rivalry. What would be a nightmare for any other hero instead ends up more like a rollicking good time for the Hulk, as he finally gets to bust loose with

I just finished reading my spectacular HC edition of this story and I just loved it! Not only was this one of the best Hulk stories I've ever read, the story is a great read for any sci-fi fan, such as myself. The story is well-written, it introduces a wealth of new characters, is beautifully illustrated, and it has action that just won't quit. What's more, it sets up for the sure-to-be-a-smash summer event of 2007 - World War Hulk. I'll impatiently wait for the collected edition of that story, as well, as I can't wait to see Hulk get some revenge on the people who shot him off into space. I think Future Imperfect remains my all-time favorite Hulk story, but this story comes pretty close to it, and I'll bet some of my friends will like this one better. If you have any comic-reading friends who are not Hulk fans, lend them this book! There's no way they couldn't be a Hulk fan after reading this great collection. You don't need to have any prior knowledge of this title or main character to really enjoy reading this book. If I could give it six stars, I would! This story was way, way better than any of the DC Comics storylines that were running around the same time, and well worth the money! Between this and Annihilation, Marvel has really been pleasing its sci-fi-loving fans, lately!

Shortly before the Civil War began ravaging the superhero community on Earth, the Illuminati exiled the Hulk into space. Claiming to be for his own good (as well as theirs), the Hulk finds himself crash landed on a very savage alien planet where he is sold into slavery, made into a gladiator, and eventually, ruler of the planet. Yes, Planet Hulk may sound corny and like a comic book version of Ridley Scott's Gladiator, but don't let all that fool you. Not since Peter David has a writer gotten the Hulk like Greg Pak does. While I enjoyed Bruce Jones' run on the title for the most part, he never understood the character the way that Pak does here. The Hulk is no hero, and is in touch with his true, brutish nature, while attempting to keep the puny Banner at bay. The world that Pak weaves as well as so imaginitive that Planet Hulk truly feels like a real, epic story. There are plenty of twists, surprises, and even some familiar faces (Silver Surfer makes a surprise appearance), as the saga comes to an incredibly tragic conclusion that sets the stage for Marvel's new mega-event, World War Hulk; in which the Hulk makes his return to Earth with revenge on his mind. The art throughout this incredibly handsome hardcover collection features work from Carlo Pagulayan, Aaron Lopresti, Takeshi Miyazawa, and Supreme Power's Gary Frank as well; and it's all superbly done to say the least. The hardcover itself may seem a bit expensive, but the massively epic story and other extras make this well worth owning. All in all, Planet Hulk is undoubtedly the best Hulk story in eons, and the best part is, this is only the beginning. Let's just hope that Pak manages to weave the same kind of magic with World War Hulk.

Need a primer for this summer's big "World War Hulk" crossover event? You can't do better than this huge, 400+ page leviathan of a hardcover. Collecting INCREDIBLE HULK vol. 2 #92-105, plus stories from AMAZING FANTASY vol. 2 #15, GIANT-SIZE HULK vol. 2 #1, and the PLANET HULK GLADIATOR GUIDEBOOK, this book chronicles the life of the Hulk over the last year since his exile from Earth at the hands of the Illuminati, members of the superhero elite who thought they were doing the "right thing" for humanity. I've been a Hulk fan for more than 20 years (with a collection--including INCREDIBLE HULK vol. 1 #1--to match), so trust me when I say this is one crackling good yarn that filmmaker/writer Greg Pak and his compatriots have spun here. By introducing a savage new world and an intriguing cast of monstrous characters, they've made the Hulk matter again, for the first time since the departure of Peter David. By deemphasizing Bruce Banner, the Hulk's alter ego, the development of the Hulk is assured herein. Don't get me wrong: when Banner does appear, it's at crucial moments that really enhance the story. I don't want to spoil the details, but this storyline gives the Hulk everything he's ever dreamed of, and then some. Of course, you know what they say about being careful what one wishes for. I read the monthly HULK book during this storyline, but still bought the hardcover edition. It's a superlative product, a great showcase of a great storyline. I recommend it highly, especially to Hulk fans, but also to those who are fans of grandiose storytelling, and superheroics in general. Buy this, then follow it up with a healthy helping of "World War Hulk," wherein the Hulk returns to Earth to wreak vengeance on those who sent him away. Five stars.

The Hulk is one of my favorite superhero characters around and this collection is probably one of the best stories he's seen in many years, probably the finest since the epic Pantheon saga that Peter David did in the early 90's. First off the package is just very well done-- high paper quality, sharp colors, and overall attention to detail make this worth the somewhat high price. This is the most visually satisfying way to read a comicbook story, and I think all of Marvel's finest work should be published in collections of this type. Secondly, the Hulk's characterization is spot on, echoing the original vision of the character as a thugish brute who makes his own rules. It's thrilling to see a Hulk who's not a victim, but a proactive force all his own. Finally, the overall story arc is very satisfying, blending together the epic qualities of Ridley Scott's Gladiator film and the alien qualities of Star Wars' Tatooine. It combines to create a fnatastic science fantasy saga that should please not only fans of superhero comics, but fans of epic science fiction like John Carter of Mars or Star Wars.