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Previously in Planet Hulk

I love Planet Hulk, but I’m not going to lie: the conclusion is a giant kick to the crotch.

Don’t get me wrong – it’s well-executed. It’s just sad. The only reason I don’t put it on par with the last couple of issues of Y: The Last Man in terms of sadness is because World War Hulk offered a continuation that, while it didn’t make things better, did offer a bit of catharsis as the Hulk tore the Marvel Universe a new one.

But I digress. If you’re going to have a good tragedy, you first need to have a happy place to start from. So let’s see what happens when the Hulk finally gets everything he wants.

(7 pages from The Incredible Hulk #104)

( All good things... )

Previously in Planet Hulk

I have read almost every single issue of The Incredible Hulk, and my absolute favorite is The Incredible Hulk #103. This story effectively caps off the happy part of Planet Hulk, and had the series ended there I would have considered it to be a wonderful ending for the character.

(7 pages from The Incredible Hulk #103)

( Let's check it out, shall we? )

It’s been a while, but here’s more of Planet Hulk.

Previously in Planet Hulk

Last time around, the Hulk and his gang met with the shadow elders of Sakaar, who basically sit around being all wise and useless while the world around them goes to Hell. They have a deal with the Red King that keeps them alive but which also prevents any sort of interference in his tyrannical rule. When the Hulk arrives, they have some tests for him to find out whether or not he is the legendary Sakaarson.

( Allegiance, part two )

Previously in Planet Hulk

Throughout the course of Planet Hulk, there are issues that focus more or less entirely on one of the Hulk's supporting cast members. Since the Hulk has been around for 40+ years, readers know him well. These other guys have only been around for a little while and need to be built up as individuals if readers are going to care about them. This issue, like the last one, focuses on one of the best new additions to the Hulk's supporting cast: Caiera the Oldstrong.

(7 pages from The Incredible Hulk #99)

( Anarchy, part four )

Previously in Planet Hulk

Considering how decompressed modern comics tend to be, it's pretty impressive how much Greg Pak managed to fit into each issue of Planet Hulk. There's so much going on in this issue that I can't show it all here. I'm going to focus mostly on the relationship between the Hulk and Caiera because...well, because Caiera is awesome.

(7 pages from The Incredible Hulk #98)

( Caiera explained )

Previously in Planet Hulk

One of the most important characters in Planet Hulk and World War Hulk is Miek. Miek begins as the alien equivalent of puny Banner, albeit without the genius-level intellect. He becomes much more powerful this issue, but unlike the Hulk he doesn't have a good guy inside him guiding his actions. Instead, he has to learn his morals from the Hulk, and the Hulk is not a very good teacher.

(7 pages from The Incredible Hulk #97)

( Read more... )

Okay, I'm desperately trying to distract myself from the election, so here's the next bit of PLanet Hulk

Previously in Planet Hulk

(7 pages from Hulk #96)

( Let the anarchy begin )

Previously in Planet Hulk

If we break each of the arcs in Planet Hulk down, they each have their own theme. The theme in four issues of Exile is the Hulk and friendship. He meets Miek, his first friend on Sakaar. He allies with the Warbound, learning the importance of loyalty and camaraderie. In the conclusion of this arc, he meets an old friend of his, and we get a glimpse of what the Hulk is capable of when he is betrayed by a friend.

(7 pages from The Incredible Hulk #95)

( The conclusion of Planet Hulk: Exile )

Previously in Planet Hulk

The nice thing about Planet Hulk is that its quality sort of catches you by surprise. This issue, like the past one, indicates that we're in for nothing but a big action movie-style smashfest. And that's fine, because fans weren't expecting anything more than a fun time with the Hulk having wacky adventures on an alien planet. Greg Pak and Carlo Pagulayan paced the story well enough and planned things out far enough that the high action sucks you in, and before you realize it you're involved in a much deeper story.

For now, though, let's just enjoy some smashing.

(7 pages from The Incredible Hulk #93)

( Part two )