Planet Hulk Part 2 Is the whole "Gladiator" thing a bit of a cliche? Yeah, but these two issues have been well written and new and fun enough that I don't care. It's great to see this book being something I look forward to buying each month for the first time since... well Peter David's heyday. None of the writers since then really did anything with the character that captured my interest (Jones run started well, but devolved into a mess halfway through and ended awfully). Here the story's good, the art's good, the supporting characters and situation are interesting and new. It's good stuff. Other thoughts: Yes it seems like, at this point at least, Hulk's planning some MAJOR retaliation when he eventually gets back to Earth. Ominous. It's great to see familiar races: Brood, the Death's Head last issue. Sprinked among the new. I LOVE the covers. Don't get me wrong, Pagulayan is doing a fine job on interriors, but the great Landronn covers so make me wish he was doing the insides as well. Finally, I wish someone would establish the current status quo on the Hulk and Banner deal firmly. Since the whole Professor Hulk fell apart, it's just gotten more and more vague. With writers playing him however they want, some using the Gray just cause they like him and others using the Green any way the feel like. Near as I can tell the current default Hulk has the Gray's attitude and intelligence and the Green's strength, though he tends to devolve into speaking like the classic Green Hulk when he gets angrier. Sometimes he talks and acts like he IS Banner just through the lense of the Hulk, and sometimes like he's totally seperate from him. Banner can now change at will, or stay Banner but with glowing eyes and some of the Hulk's super strength (Jones' run), or stay the Hulk at will as long as he wants, but may or may not change if angered. Does that seem right? It's kinda nebulous and confusing IMO. Grade: B+
Cool, another Hulk fan in the Transformers comic board. And by the other threads, looks like your the official review guy. Anyway, Hulks my favorite comic character. I have every issue since they introduced "Professor" Hulk, who will always be the "Merged" Hulk to me and a few before that. Yeah, EVERY SINGLE ISSUE, and I still can't figure out which Hulk is starring in the current arc (or for the past few arcs). Before I could tell from the way their head was drawn and colored. Green skin with hair that grows in the back of his head: Savage Hulk. Gray skin with hair only on the top of his head: Mr. Fixit Hulk. Green skin with hair on top of his head: Merged Hulk. Then I think Liam Sharpe messed that up. Now it's all messed up, with writers writing whatever Hulk they want and artist drawing him how ever they want. This current one seems to be Mr. Fixit with Green skin and Green strength. Other boards call this guy the "Grayvage" Hulk. I guess it fits.
Yeah, I'm a big Hulk fan too! But I'm confused with this latest version...I stopped somewhere during the Bruce Jones "run" and I actually like the concept of Bruce Banner having control of the Hulk...this version...seems like Fixit but different...its like Bruce Banner who has finally snapped?
i'm a hulk fan too...but Hulk keeps changing too much....i remember when there was Devil Hulk which turned out to be a lame looking hulk that didn't last
i kept (and keep) looking at picking up hulk, cuz i love him, but everything ive read about says no one is writing him right, which then makes it worthless...but this planet hulk seems kinda cool....maybe ill have to pick it up and get some of the back issues....my only thing is that with hulk off planet, im gonna miss him during civil war....
Back in the storyline "Dogs of War", it was shown that their are countless "Hulk's" in Banner's head. All of them were released into the far reaches of Banner's mind at the end of the arc. Because of that, I look at Hulk's personallity each issue as just another version of "Hulk" coming thru. Though I think there are times when he completely loses control and goes full "Hulk" mode, I think Banner does have some control over his change nowadays. I think the gamma radiation gave Banner his strength, but his Multiple Personallity Disorder turned him into the Hulk. If it wasn't for the MPD, I think Banner would just be another super powered shapeshifter in the Marvel Universe.
It kind of seems like a pissing contest for the writers. Peter David established the Green Hulk, Gray Hulk and Banner and the main components to the character, and then the "Merged Hulk" which was all the main components combined. Also in his run, kills of Betty and makes Abombination pretty cool (not really evil). Then another writer goes and says that the Merged Hulk was just another version of the Hulk, and showed a million other Hulk incarnations. And another brings back Betty as a kick ass spy. And they make Abomination a dick again. Then Peter David takes over again and does Tempest Fugit, where at the end, Banner wakes up and finds out everthing was a dream and including the part about Betty. Now we have a new writer again, and he goes and sends Hulk to outer space, so he dosn't have to deal with all that shit. Good idea for him actually.
So far I love this story, I just want to know how Hulk is staying the Hulk the whole time? I know he is really pissed so that may be it. I can't wait for the Hulk to get back to earth and I feel really sorry for SHEILD and the others that agreed to send his ass into space.
I'm hoping we get some really good "Hulk smash everyone and everything" stories once he gets back on earth.
Good points but I'm not too impressed by the current storyline...its like a mixture of Conan+Gladiator+Future Imperfect story elements... In fact, I found Peter David's directon on the Hulk with the introduction of the Smart Hulk was in the right direction...that version makes alot of sense like the She-Hulk. My other fave version of the jolly green Giant was Buscema's (spelling?) version but one can only do so much with "Hulk smash" storylines...
I picked up 92(reprint) and 93 yesterday. Wow. Not exactly what I expected. And I love it! I expected Hulk to just beat the crap out of everyone. Didn't expect him to actually get beaten. Now for the climb to power. I didn't realize that this was going to be an over year long event. I thought it was going to be just a few issues and then Hulk would be back on earth. Can't wait for the next issue.
Its not fully explained but I believe during the Bruce Jones' run, Banner could control the transformations. It is important to note that during that run, Banner seemed to be in 'control'. This version? Seems like the Hulk is in control. Which Hulk? I don't know...but its definately not Banner... And I'm so eagerly awaiting the Hulk's return to earth! Especially since how he was tricked into helping Shield.
Wow talk about convoluted... Hell; you're all forgetting the classic Hulk, in which Banner only transformed in moonlight. I don't understand why someone can't just get this character down pat and stick with it as such; I mean honestly I only have one issue of the book back from 2000 or so, double sized Issue # 12 featuring Snake Eyes part one and that one makes little sense to me as it stands, I'd hate to think how confused I'd be reading all of these Hulk titles nowadays.
Bruce lost the ability to control the Hulk in the last few issues of Fantastic Four. He was hit by another Gamma Bomb and duked it out with the Thing and the Torch.
