Reviews - Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 #100

Planet Hulk - Allegiance 1 of 4

Planet Hulk continues with a new story arc as the second volume of the Incredible Hulk celebrates it's 100th issue. In the last story arc, the Emperor of Sakaar unleashes the deadly spikes on his own people in an attempt to kill the Hulk.

The rebels and gladiators are fleeing the spikes, which infects it's victims, turning them into monsters. The insect queen was infected by the spikes last issue and Miek, Hulk's insect ally tries desparately to save her. As the spikes are herded closer to the rebels, Hulk decides it's time to take care of them by opening up the ground in your typical 'Hulk Smash!' style. We're treated to an interesting lava battle and the rebels escape the spikes.

Caiera the Oldstrong wants to travel to the Shadow Elders to seek an alliance against the Emperor. They want to convice them that the Hulk is the Sakaarson, the saviour of Sakaar. Hulk agrees and the rebels are split up.

The backup feature is a key tie-in to the new World War Hulk crossover that's going to come out in 2007. Entitled Planet Cho, it is about Amadeus Cho, a kid genius that the Hulk helped in Amazing Fantasy Vol 2. #15. Cho uncovers that Illuminati sending the Hulk into outer space and what he plans to do with this information will surely lead to next year's crossover.

Marvel has also included reprints of issues 152 an 153 from the first Incredible Hulk series and the origin of the Incredible Hulk. Both were good reads and gives an insight to the Hulk and the way he's been treated over the years.

The Planet Hulk storyline has been interesting so far but it's not has "great" as some Hulk fans say it has been. Now I haven't been following the Hulk in recent years so maybe it is a significant upgrade to the stories from the last few years. It is good to see the Hulk in a different scenario and not the same recycled stories of Hulk fighting other super-heroes. For now, I'll finish off Planet Hulk and see where it leads and how the Hulk will manage to return to Earth.

As I said earlier, the backup story is significant and it's a great prelude to future Marvel events. It's clear to me that Reed Richards and Iron Man have definitely gotten themselves over their collective heads. A war with the Inhumans, the Civil War and now Hulk missing? The shit's gonna hit the fan soon...

DRAGONCRYPT - Sunday, November 19, 2006