WORLD WAR HULK: A FAN'S PERSPECTIVE

BY RUSS TIDWELL

     A couple of things have defined Marvel over the past couple of years. One, they’ve lived up to their ‘House of Ideas’ tag by coming up with some brilliant concepts and plot points for their characters.  Unfortunately, the execution left much to be desired in some cases, but the ideas were still solid nonetheless. Second, in a world where labels live by their ‘Event’ storylines, much of the best stuff Marvel has put out there has not been within the realm of their ‘Main Event’. 
     A prime example of this would be ‘Annihilation’, the event storyline for Marvel’s Cosmic characters.  I picked this up on a whim and could not put it down until the very end and I had little knowledge or interest in the ‘cosmic’ side of the Marvel Universe.  It delivered above and beyond anything I ever expected and shamed Marvel’s ‘Civil War’ storyline in comparison. 
     Another overlooked gem took place in the pages of The Incredible Hulk exclusively.  Many people missed out on this one early on because the majority of the people reading the book at the time were the Hulk faithful or regulars.  After the story progressed past it’s first few chapters, buzz began to grow and back issues vanished.  Regular issues sold out faster and faster each time a new chapter was released as well, and with good reason.  By taking an age old storyline from History, and applying it to the Hulk, writers created an experience that produced arguably the best Hulk story in years, if not to date.
     In the interest of keeping things contained for those who might seek out the newly released Trade of the ‘Planet Hulk’ saga, I won’t give away too many details.  I’ll just say that the experience changed the being known as the Hulk both physically and emotionally and brought him to places the character has never been to before.
     Now, with the Hulk more powerful than he has ever been or than anyone in the Marvel universe has ever feared he would become, he returns to Earth in time for Marvel’s next big event; ‘World War Hulk’ and the writers are wasting no time letting you know just how powerful or angry he is.

HULKS APPEARS TO HAVE WON THE 1ST ROUND OF "ROCK EM SOCK EM ROBOTS" WITH IRON MAN!

     Everyone has different opinions and interpretations of stories and ‘Civil War’ is a prime example.  But at the end of Planet Hulk, I personally was very much on the same page as the Hulk and his new group of friends, and judging by the latest poll results on the website, the majority of you were too.  So where does that leave us?  We have the Hulk and his army returning to do battle with a group of Marvel’s finest Heroes until the bitter end, and the people are on the side of the Hulk. 
     It’s an awesome concept, but also a dangerous one.  With the track record Marvel has made as far as major decisions for some of it’s top characters and as someone who has read both ‘Planet Hulk’ and ‘Civil War’, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about how this story will play out.
     Many comic fans were split when it came to what side you were on in ‘Civil War’.  Some supported the resistance and Captain America, while others fell on the side of the law and Iron Man.  For those with a grudge against the notorious Mr. Stark, this could be the reckoning you have been waiting on since the Death of Captain America.  For those on the side of the Initiative, you have to be torn.  You have the emotional ties to the Hulk, but the loyalty to the cause.  Who DO you root for, and more importantly, how does Marvel weave a story that can leave the majority of fans satisfied.

     Who will be crushed before the might of the Incredible Hulk?  In the end of this crossover, Who will be victorious? And how many characters will be caught in the crossfire. Let’s hope the ‘House of Ideas’ has an ace up their sleeve for this one before the foundation starts to crumble.