Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Smashingly good fun in the mighty Marvel manner, June 24, 2007
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.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Hulk As He Should Be, June 24, 2007
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.
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24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Undoubtedly the best Hulk story in eons, June 30, 2007
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.
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