Book Review: World War Hulk by G. Pak et al.

World War Hulk written by Greg Pak and pencilled by John Romita Jr.

This story follows directly from Planet Hulk, so discussing it naturally involves spoilers for the ending of the previous story. If you want or plan to read Planet Hulk, it would be better to go read that before reading this review. If you don't mind, keep on reading to the next paragraph.

At the end of the previous story, the Hulk was headed back to Earth to get revenge on the group who sent him there, i.e. the Illuminati, i.e. Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four, Black Bolt of the Inhumans, Tony Stark (i.e. Iron Man), and Doctor Strange. So far, still no real spoiler because the big tragedy at the end of the last story (and here's your last chance to bail out before reading the spoiler) was when the shuttle that delivered Hulk to the planet Sakaar blew up, destroying the capital city along with a million lives, including the Hulk's pregnant wife. The blast does not kill the Hulk, of course. Losing everything just makes the Hulk angrier and more powerful. 

On his return to Earth, Hulk's first stop is on the moon, where the Inhumans live. Black Bolt is their leader but not for much longer as the Hulk has the first of many epic fights. He brings the battered body of Black Bolt to Manhattan. Hulk demands the other three come there in twenty-four hours or he'll destroy the whole planet. He gets the sympathy of the rest of the Earth by showing the video where the Illuminati banish him and give a half-hearted apology. The stage is set for an epic battle between the Hulk with his few friends from Sakaar and the Illuminati with a lot of other Marvel characters.

The story is epic and told in an epic style. The book has a lot of full-page images and splash pages (and image that crosses both pages of the comic book). The action is over-the-top and Romita draws it very well, though occasionally the epic sound effects were just strings of letters that didn't seem like they would make an impressive sound effect (they gave up on sounds that end with "-ooommmmm!"). The story is straightforward with some minor twists. Wallowing in vengeance does not ultimately work out for the Hulk. The relentless search for compassionless justice makes more misery and evil for everyone. A final image suggests more to come from the storymakers.

Recommended for Hulk fans, less so if you are not.