Planet Hulk - Brief Review

With all that's been going on in my life lately I have actually been able to find some time to read comics. One comic that I've really come to look forward to getting in the mail is the Incredible Hulk. Anyone who knows my reading habits knows that the Hulk is one of my favorite characters in comic books. When his title is fortunate enough to have a talented writer assigned to it the characters Bruce Banner and The Hulk really get a chance to shine. My love for the title and character really started after issue 300 when a savage, out of control Hulk is banished from Earth by Doctor Strange to the Crossroads dimension after an all out battle with a who's who of the early 80's Marvel superhero. From this dimension the Hulk and a small band of other dimensional partners explore different dimensions until the Hulk eventually finds his way back home to Earth. These stories were a great change and the different settings really gave a fresheness to the book.

The current "Planet Hulk" storyline that has just really gotten underway this spring reminds me a great deal of "The Crossroads" storyline except with much more of a science fiction bent. The storytelling and artwork are consistently solid. The pace set by the writer offers a great deal of story progression in each issue. A welcome change in this age where writers more often have a much slower pace that seems more suited for the writing of a larger tradepaper back instead of a monthly book.

In a nutshell, the Hulk has been jettisoned off to another planet after he assisted SHEILD in disarming a killer satellite orbiting Earth. The SHEILD leadership and some of the heavies in the Marvel superhero crowd thought it was best to take advantage of the opportunity of having the Hulk offplanet...and decided to keep that way by double-crossing him and changing the course of the spacecraft he was on. Now Hulk finds himself on a planet ruled by the alien equivalent of the Roman Empire, where he has been sold into slavery to serve as a gladiator for the entertainment of the rulers and paying rabble.

It's the best book Marvel is putting out now. Even if you aren't a Hulk fan, this book is undeniably great. A classic tale in the making. Each story offers a twist as the Hulk makes his way in this new world, carving out a new life for himself. How he operates in the systems set in place on this planet offers some great story potential. The new characters we are introduced to are also strong, with their own continuing developements. I've actually re-read each of the Planet Hulk stories a couple times, they are that good. I haven't re-read a comic book in years.