REVIEW: WORLD WAR HULK #1

LOOK OUT ALL, HULK'S BACK AND HE'S NOT LOOKING FOR A PEDICURE!!!

BY MICHAEL MCDANIEL

     This week, the most anticipated event of the summer in comics has officially kicked off and fans won’t have to wait any longer for the answer to their question of WWHD (What Will Hulk Do?). The Incredible Hulk, fresh from his Russell Crowe impersonation in the ‘Planet Hulk’ run, has returned to Earth to take his revenge on those who rocketed him off planet over a year ago so they wouldn’t have to deal with anymore of his rampages. Tony Stark, Stephen Strange, Reed Richards, and the Black Bolt find themselves in the crosshairs of the Jade Giant and he’s out for blood!

HEY KIDS, WORLD WAR HULK #1 ON SALE NOW - $3.99

     Following months of hype, the first of the five issue ‘World War Hulk’ mini-series was released this week by Marvel Comics. There are many questions that you may be asking. The main one might be: Does it live up to the hype?  With a $3.99 cover price, it better, right? The creative chores are handled by writer Greg Pak, artist John Romita, Jr., and inker Klaus Janson. If you are looking for star-studded creative talent, this book has it in spades. Sometimes comic publishers spend so much time building up to a project that the project itself comes off flat.
     Before I answer the question in the previous article, I should address something else that might be on your mind. A few months ago, after the fiasco that was ‘Civil War’, I made comments to the effect that I was swearing off Marvel Comics. Well, that lasted about as long as Paris Hilton’s first stint in jail and you all knew that it would. I like comics and I “loves me some” great comics! While the project cannot be judged accurately until after it is over, the book is definitely on the right path.

If you are one of those who despise spoilers: STOP READING NOW! You can resume further down the page. Just look for one of these breaks in the article…

     The book opens with a brief recap of where we are- or where the Hulk is- and believe me- it isn’t a pretty place. He’s freaking nuts and he blames the Illuminati for his troubles. He lands first on the moon which is pretty unfortunate for ole’ Black Bolt. Hulk confronts the always laconic leader of the Inhumans and, soon after, it pretty much ends with Black Bolt as his captive. (I hope he’s a captive because, otherwise, Hulk has taken up taxidermy while off-planet and is showing off his trophies!) The Hulk’s next stop is to announce his return to the “puny humans” on Earth and to tell all why he’s so peeved. He gives the planet his ultimatum: Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Mister Fantastic are to meet him in New York in 24 hours or he’ll essentially lay waste to the entire planet. This is the part where he shows off his hunting trophy…poor Black Bolt!

HULK ADD ROCK-MAN TO MY COLLECTION OF TROPHIES IN THE HULK-CAVE!

The book is really good for a number of reasons: great art, awesome story, and nearly non-stop action. One of the most peculiar features of the book is how much Iron Man is in the book. The reader is given some great insight into who “Shellhead” is. Of the forty-two pages in the book, Iron Man appears in over twenty pages. I gained more of a sense of what Tony Stark’s motivations are in these pages than in any other book in recent memory. This also includes every appearance of the Red and Gold Avengers in the entire ‘Civil War’ project and the nineteen issues of his own monthly book to date.
     Despite what many of you might think of his methods, Tony Stark is a hero and is so in the truest sense of the word. By the end of the issue, however; it appears that despite the good intentions of his actions, they are all for naught. For no one can withstand the might of the Hulk…yet.

End the Spoilers!!

THE NEXT WRESTLEMANIA MAIN EVENT?

     More so than with any other comic of recent memory, I’m asking myself, “how will this end?” Who can possibly stop the Hulk? The book does focus a bit on Sentry (and this is the only annoying part - only because I find the character annoying). Could he be the immovable object to withstand the irresistible force? I hope not. I think that given the nature of the Hulk, no one person or being should be able to stop him. In order to halt this rampage to end all rampages, the heroes of the Marvel Universe must unite to defeat a common foe. If this happens, this might be a great thing for the MU.

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      While I can fill this article with “what if…” and different scenarios, let me focus on what is going to happen. No matter how much you believe he is in the right or how much he was wronged by the supposed friends he had, Hulk will lose. If for no other reason than that he has to. No being can simply park a spacecraft in orbit of our little blue orb and make demands of us by hostile threats and tyrannical actions. He must and will be brought to heel. No who exactly is going to do this…I don’t know. I’ll be ok with it as long as it isn’t Howard the Duck or Black Panther. (And, before anyone accuses me of racism against Black Panther, ask me about how he beat the freakin’ Silver Surfer in the most recent issue of the Fantastic Four!!!) Keep in mind that before the series is complete that the new Thor book will have launched. This is also a factor that at least one of the Hulk’s so called “Warbound” is aware of.
     Whatever the outcome, I’m sure we’re in for a heck of a journey with the old Gamma-Green Goliath. I, for one, am onboard for the ride.

Review Tally:
World War Hulk #1 $3.99
4 out of 5 Green Lantern Rings