 2008-08-15 - Hulk Smash, and Smash, and Smash
I am a huge Hulk fan. When I was a kid, it was one of the comics I would pick up each month. When Planet Hulk arrived, my fanfare for the Green Goliath was renewed. Even though this story might be a bit lacking in plot - it is supposed to be. I have learned that when the Hulk is really mad, he smashes and usually doesn't stop for a while. That is basically what this story is about. I think everyone knew that going into it, so I am really not sure why people seem so upset about the story. After the long-winded, highly policital (and still not over yet) Civil War Saga, I just wanted to beat the living snot out of most of the Marvel Universe. Luckily, the Hulk did that for me. If you want to see the Hulk barrel through the entire Marvel Universe, this is the story to get. If you are looking for plot, look elsewhere - there is only smashing here.
 2008-08-05 - Mindless Fun
It was good to see the Hulk get back to mindless smashing of opponents instead of reading months of puny Banner hiding from the big bad secret organization that was out to get him.
Nice change of pace and a fun read.
 2008-08-02 - This wasn't that good.
I have been a HULK fan for decades. Although I do not buy HULK comics at the comic store, I often buy HULK trade paperbacks and Graphic Novels with HULK in it.
Highly recommended are HULK and Thing: The Big Change. Planet Hulk. Various Peter David HULK runs. HULK: The End. HULK: Future Imperfect.
This is supposed to be a no-brainer recommendation,but I cannot recommend it for casual comic fans. I think HULK fans will tolerate this limited series, but it can easily be forgettable. First off, the art is not that great. I'm not a fan of John Romita Jr. and I acknowledge he's a living legend, but his drawing style is hit or miss. I'm opting for pass on his art here. The writing should be superb, as it is written by HULK savior Pak. but I cannot see his genius nor can I feel the intensity of HULK's smashing in this series.
World War HULK has a lot of Marvel Universe heroes, but the smashing is at times boring and all too generic. Heroes weren't born and villains weren't terrifying. Hulk smashed but so what? Where was the major characterization or the major significance that resulted or arose? This needed to be major and for 19.99, it didn't deliver.
I do not recommend this book for casual fans and for those who want to try out HULK, try the recommended books above. Don't bother with this one. Marvel comics puts out books much better than this and so spend your money elsewhere.
2008-07-22 - World War Hulk - Rushed Story
The comic book media (Marvel)hyped it, and hyped it. It was big, check, it was big,... that's it. As for story line, don't expect much. I was surprised at the huge sales this title made. Shows that Marvel is sort of WWE, more glitter than substance, judging by this title. (SPOILER ALERT folks!!) Not to mention, Civil War (take the ending itself) was a rip off. ANother 'slugfest' between super types, who quickly pick sides like teens, and squabble where they should more realistically be (after a long established trust) reaching a juncture of agreement, with a few displaced allegiances here and there between the less stellar characters. The only good twist in this story: 1) Hulk blindsiding Dr. Strange by breaking his hands, showing off a dangerous new level of intellect coupled with his ferocity, 2) The arena in which he makes the 'heroes' fight each other, trying to vent off some of that pent up frustration he feels toward them. As for the rest of the story, Sentry's angle was pushed indeed, a little too much perhaps. Rushed is more like it. Even the action is not quite 'just' and fair to the other characters. Seems they pushed Hulk a bit too far here. Black Bolt, another good character from Marvel, lost all his credibility in 1 swift moment. True, Hulk has strength. But where the hell did he get the power to clog his ears???? How did gamma radiation do all that? His powers to me were always bordering on the side of realism, sort of driven by science and consequently, primal rage. But here, Black Bolt, who shatters mountains with a whisper, lost in a jiffy. That is why they never showed this most aniticipated of brawls: it was off panel. Black Bolt could probably go on whispering, at the least to keep Hulk at bay, and the inhumans have a load of science at their disposal to escape, relocate (like they have done before), while Hulk and Black Bolt laid it down. But Greg Pak rushed it, as it was difficult to show the fight to obtain that result: Hulk knocking out Black Bolt. Next, for a 'Sorcerer Supreme', it seems Strange really really has limits. Seems his billing as 'supreme' is also another 'overrating'. It seems Hulk is above magic, with Strange coupling with an extra dimensional magical demon, and yet coming up short, whatever the scenario. Anyhow, if it is a straightforward (minimal twist) slugfest between good guys you wish to see, this is for you. If you are indeed somehow looking for indepth turns and twists that were found in earlier Hulk tales (Planet Hulk, if you ask me was a very good angle), this is going to dissappoint. Cheers.
2008-06-22 - A lot of action, very little heart
As another reviewer said, this novel seems more like an action packed summer blockbuster filled more with eye candy than real character development. It was fun to see certain characters being beat up by the Hulk, but I was never drawn into the story (no pun intended) like I was with Planet Hulk.
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