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 without worrying about hurting anyone. Because no matter how much death and destruction he causes, on this planet he's so much nicer than everyone else he DEFINITELY looks like a hero.
I don't know how great writers manage to produce balance, but Greg Pak definitely does here. What could be ridiculous or overly dark is instead constantly kept at the Saturday cartoon level, but with a strong maturity and depth of feeling you wouldn't expect. The first time I read Planet Hulk I laughed out loud many times, and especially at some of the things that the insect Miek would say. There are so many things in the story that are a great parody of superhero stories and they add greatly to the entertainment (from Hulk getting slugged in the middle of a signature line to the Brood putting on a puppet show for children), but still somehow increase the humanity of the story. The artwork in Planet Hulk is also consistently excellent, with lots of color and vibrancy, strongly drawn characters with a slightly cartoony style, and a marvelous flow and sense of movement in the action sequences (and this book is mostly action).
So many times in comics monsters are killed right and left and no one sheds a tear for their suffering, but the writer here takes the more enlightened view that "there is no such thing as an evil race". This is most obvious in the alliance forged between the different species toward the beginning, but it echoes in everything, as we seen touching moments from pretty much every player in the story (what broke my heart was when Hulk's warrior enemy held a child in her arms and soothed it...right before it disintegrated in her arms). And as everyone comes together to fight against evil and pursue peace it just draws you more and more into the story. In the end, everyone finds it in their hearts to forgive and embrace as brothers...
But remember please, this is a story of the Hulk. And his stories are always tragedies more than anything else. Along the path to victory many many die, and some of their deaths are quite tragic. What really makes the tragedy stronger than you would imagine is how the overall theme of personal and emotional strength is woven through the story. Again and again we see that on this world only the strong survive, and the Hulk is looked up to because he is strongest of all. But when characters see their entire races decimated before them and survive only because they are the strongest we have to wonder if they might wish they had not been so strong and lived to see such tragedy.
In the final closing chapters is the greatest tragedy of all, as the Hulk stops all the fighting with his strength, unites everyone, starts to build a utopia, and then has it all taken away from him in a moment of mindless destruction. No matter how strong you are, you don't have the power to change destiny, and you don't have the power to protect the ones you love. That is the greatest lesson that Planet Hulk has to teach.
So many times we've seen the Hulk portrayed as some kind of mindless monster, just a raging ball of fury without a brain. But what everyone keeps forgetting is that the Hulk is a HERO, he saves the world and helps the good guys. He's gotten a really bad rap, and it's largely because everyone is afraid of him. What's great about this story is that he played as the hero the entire way, despite the fact that he has long since given up on the idea. People keep thanking him, calling him their friend, despite his insistence that he isn't ANYONE'S friend. And yet, when push comes to shove he keeps putting out for everyone else, protecting them, not allowing people to be consumed by their hatred, and even using his self as a shield to prevent others from killing each other. Maybe it's because no matter what, they can't REALLY hurt him, or maybe it's because deep down he really IS a hero. The strongest hero there is.
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Reviews with images
Make this into movie! Smashing green succes guranteed!
Planet Hulk is one incredible world wind ride. If you like sci-fi, action and adventure with a certain green monster that likes to smash, this is the book to own. This is way better than the Marvel's Civil War event in my humble opinion. Tricked by Reed Richards and others, jettison the Hulking brute into deep space. The Hulk lands on a planet ruled by the Red King. He is cruel and dictator that his little care for his people. The Hulk is captured and sold off as a gladiator slave. The Hulk and his motley crew of Warbreakers lead an insurrection against the Red King. Along the way, the Hulk battles the Silver Surfer, free the slaves, provide nutrients for plants with his blood soak radiated blood, saves the worlds, gets married and unite the people. But there is no happy ending. The puny humans have once again enraged the Hulk that I shall not give away. When the Hulk gets mad, he gets stronger, and the puny humans will pay! Go out and buy this now. If only they could turn this story into a movie, it would be a smashing green success!
Top reviews from other countries
Andrew O.
Gladiator Hulk, wasted opportunity by Marvel, one of the best Hulk comics of all time.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2021
Andrew O.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2021
Initial review posted 5/8/2018
The Planet Hulk Omnibus is something very special to me, First off Planet Hulk collects Incredible Hulk #92-105 and Planet Hulk: Gladiator's Guidebook which just gives more detail into the world, characters and some lore, I haven't read it yet but it's nice to have. I just finished it and as soon as I finished it I'm glad I purchased World War Hulk at the same time to read right away. I wouldn't say I'm really a big Hulk fan but bought some graphic novels/comics to hopefully grow a new appreciation for him and it's working, not my favourite but he's growing on me, especially with this story. Planet Hulk delivers on all fronts, with strong writing from Greg Pak who gives these great characters depth and emotion with great pacing and action as well. With illustrations by Carlo Pagulayan and Aaron Lopresti complimenting this alien world and capturing the vibes while being able to display emotion and stellar action.
The concept is great and I loved it, in a nutshell Hulk is betrayed by his friends on earth and put on a ship and sent away from the Earth because he's too dangerous. Hulk eventually arrives on another planet ruled by an evil king, Hulk weakened by the crash is captured as a prisoner and sold off eventually becoming a gladiator. This is a tale of freeing a planet from evil rule while making new friends and growing together along the way. There are surprises in the story and some parts will pull on the heart strings.
It was a real treat to get to sit and read this and be immersed in this story and world and it's one of the best I've read so far and I will definitely be coming back to read it again. If you are on the fence about this omnibus, for the price you can't go wrong, this price for a rich, deep and compelling story is worth it. Even more desirable if you are a fan of Hulk. I'd say pick this up, you’ll be glad you did.
End of previous review - current opinions.
Something the Marvel US printing offers that the UK Panini printing doesn't is the material from Amazing Fantasy #15 and Giant-Size Hulk #1, GSH #1 is only a few pages but AF #15 begins after Hulk #105 and is more lengthy, at first I didn't care for it but as it went on I thought it was a nice inclusion.
The story begins with Hulk in a spaceship, he has just saved a planet but with certain avengers learning of Hulks mission they see it as an opportunity to get rid of the Hulk, not just because of the threat and destruction that he poses to Earth but also because the Hulk wants to be left alone and be free and live in peace away from things that may trigger the Hulk to emerge and reprograms the route of the ship taking him to a peaceful planet. The plan however doesn't work and the Hulk and his vessel go through a worm hole and end up on a planet ruled by a vicious and cruel ruler who enslaves but also punishes people. Hulk imprisoned after the crash landing must survive a gladiator guantlet of several challenges and trust other to earn his freedom. This is just the first few issues.
The story is strong and develops throughout, starting with betrayal from his friends to being enslaved and taken prisoner as a gladiator to fight for freedom to then change to a fighter of freedom then fight to survival and more. The characters are enjoyable and I appreciate characters like Miek who goes from a scrawny character and evolves throughout the arc. It doesn't end there as Hulk also changes through this arc seeing what he has taught and shown Miek how it may be wrong. It isn't directly addressed but I'm sure that seeing how his attitude and influence on others and seeing what they become driven by changes Hulk into a more compassionate character. I also love the ending, the tragedy encapsulates so well what Hulk is about and what drives him, if you've read Planet Hulk you know and should know just how gut wrenching it is. The artwork is spectacular and the colours really pop and fit more in line with cosmic stories where they are given freedom of using a wider colour palette than say Batman where it's a dark Gotham so the colour has to reflect that, here the artist and colourist knock it out of the park and deserve praise. I will say that is disappointing that Marvel didn't capitalize on this in the MCU as this is one of the best Hulk stories and easily could have been a movie in its own right instead of a 30 minute poor inclusion just to reference the comic to make the fans happy.
Regardless, if you are. New to Hulk and have very little experience besides the Hulk is stronger the madder he is this is a good jumping on point and considered one of the best Hulk comics of all time. I still don't have much experience with Hulk but have read the first volume of Al Ewing's Immortal Hulk which is fantastic and I can't wait to pick up more of. If you're a fan of Len Wein's Swamp thing you'll love Immortal Hulk.
Hopefully it's sunk home now that this comic is worth a read and should be on anyone's shelf who considers themselves a Hulk fan, and even if you're not and want a minimum of Hulk stories on the shelf this has to be the one you have. It's a no brainer, pick this up you won't be disappointed.
Hopefully you found this review helpful and happy reading.
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