Rough Trade Friday: Planet Hulk
Once again focusing on the space opera genre, this weekend's recommended reading is the superlative Planet Hulk collection, which is expensively exquisitely bound as an oversized hardcover graphic novel and sitting on the shelves of most major bookstores as I write this.
Now, before I say anything else, I feel obligated to point out that I have never really been that huge a fan of Marvel's Jolly Green Giant... this is largely due to the fact that I just never got that into his character. Seriously, with all his split personalities and different versions, it seemed like a matter of time before Transgender Hulk would make an appearance when the writers ran out of ideas (admittedly, I totally would've bought that issue). However, when I picked up Planet Hulk, I immediately fell in love with it as I skimmed the first few pages and took it home with me... it's a sad but true testament to my age that I'd rather take a good book home rather than a cute boy.
Planet Hulk shows the events that lead up to Marvel Comics' current crossover, "World War Hulk", which is apparently a big deal. I guess I'll find out when I eventually pick up the TPB. Anyway, the story kicks off with the Illuminati blasting the Hulk into space because he's walked through Dr. Strange's garden one too many times and made a mess of his prize-winning begonias. Or something. The excuse is actually pretty vague, other than the Illuminati (sans Professor X) feel that the guy is too destructive and so they need to send him to a planet without intelligent life for him to terrorize. Instead, he gets sucked through a wormhole and winds up a gladiator on a planet run by a megalomaniacal emperor who is more concerned about his empire than his people.
Taking a cue from Spartacus, the Hulk makes some surprising allies and leads an uprising that eventually succeeds in returning peace to the beleaguered planet. However, things wouldn't lead to where they currently are in the Marvel Universe if there were happy endings in this book. As comics go, especially Hulk comics, this is an incredibly grim and bittersweet story which contains a number of moments that will stun and move all but the most jaded readers. Greg Pak's strong writing is complimented by the beautiful artwork provided by Carlo Pagulayan, and together the creative team has managed to craft a rich new world on which to set their epic story.
Ultimately, though, you don't need to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy Planet Hulk . This is one of those books which will appeal to almost anyone; its thrilling action and haunting ending will resonate with almost any comic fan, and it will make almost everyone want to give the Hulk a second chance.
Boy of Tomorrow
Posted to Comics on 21 September 2007
Other stuff like this: haunting, incredible hulk, loss, marvel comics, planet hulk, space opera, spartacus, world war hulk
