World War Hulk

Collects World War Hulk #1-5 written by Greg Pak and drawn by John Romita Jr.

Let me start this review off by airing a complaint which, as a non-American, I think is pretty important. The title of this event is misleading. The story takes place on the Moon and in New York. For a war to be a world war, it has to involve several continents on earth, although I'm not sure about any formal definitions regarding that. To make a long story short, New York and the Moon does not a world war make. That's it, I got it off my chest, I feel better now. The title is prettty catchy though...

World War Hulk kicks off exactly where Planet Hulk ended, with Hulk and his Warbound on a space ship, on their way back to Earth, with the stated mission of getting back on the people that sent the Hulk into space in the first place, namely Black Bolt, Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic and Dr. Strange. And how is the Hulk planning on getting back on them? Well, the only way he knows of course - by kicking the shit out of them and stomping on it. Over and over again. While displaying it for all the world to see. Hehe, funny guy, that Hulk fella.

This event is basically one long fight scene between the Hulk and the people he's after. They've all fought him before, but this time he's tougher, stronger and smarter. The Hulk's been tougher and stronger before, but this time around his new found tactical capabilities give him plenty of edge to conquer his enemies and force them to fight among themselves in his home made arena, very much like the arena where the Hulk was forced to fight in Planet Hulk. Not suprisingly, the story ends in a huge bang, as the Hulk goes toe to toe with the MU's newest deus ex machina while the smashed-to-pulp heroes scramble together to put an end to the shenanigans. A logical conclusion to what is a very long and very destructive fight.

Greg Pak is hailed as The Great New Hulk writer, although I have to admit I fail to see what's so great about these stories. Maybe it's just that I wasn't so much of a Hulk fan to begin with, but I just don't see the appeal. I find them to be rather simple, and I don't really think Pak manages to write established characters in a believable way, i.e. close to what readers are used to. This goes for some of the members of the Warbound (why would a member of the Brood hang out with the Hulk?) and it especially goes for Dr. Strange in WWH. The main fault of the story, however, is that the reader, in the course of just five issues, is never really convinced that the Hulk is the huge threat that he's blown up to be, and it seems a little implausible that he could take down he strongest heroes in the MU so easily, even with his improved tactical intelligence.

The overall theme of Planet Hulk/WWH, however, is interesting. In Planet Hulk, Hulk is the Saviour, very much a Jesus-figure. In WWH he is the World Breaker, the Destroyer. Together they form a complete story, a cycle reminiscent of the classical myths. Pak obviously has some ideas with what he's doing, but this just doesn't save the story from a mediocre implementation.

John Romita Jr. is usually a guarantee for some pretty decent art, but in this book it's as if he never really gets into the game. You just know he can do better. I can't really think of a better artist to illustrate a long drawn out battle between Hulk and various members of the MU, so editorially I agree with the decision, but the end result could have been better. There are some good sequences, I liked the ending for instance, but the overall impression is below par.

This is the main book of the great Marvel event of the summer 2007, and as such, the reader should have high expectations. I felt my expectations, although not monumentally high, were not met. As a stand alone book World War Hulk is disappointing, but maybe when read with the other books in the event, it will give a better impression? Stay tuned for more WWH reviews to come!

5/10