As a graphic novel, “The Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk” (2007) has proven immensely popular, and for good reason. It’s a great yarn. The story has been adapted into a Lionsgate animated feature. It was adapted again in episodes of “The Super Hero Squad Show” (2009-11) and “Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.” (2013-15). And it also forms part of the plot (with a few changes) of “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017). This review, however, studies writer Greg Pak’s original graphic novel — a story with punch.
Origin and background
Most readers are familiar with the Hulk’s origin story (first published in 1962), but here is a thumbnail sketch: Dr. Bruce Banner was a nuclear scientist. An experiment goes awry, there’s a terrible explosion and he is irradiated with gamma rays. It causes a permanent change in the scientist.
Thereafter, whenever Dr. Banner loses his temper, he transforms into a dumbed-down, muscled-up, bright green superhero. Hulk’s only superpowers are strength and a smidgen of regenerative healing power, and his weaknesses are a dulled intellect and rage. Sometimes being mad and mighty can win the day; sometimes it makes for a real mess.
“The Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk” (2007)
Graphic novel, originally published in “Incredible Hulk” (Vol. 2) Issues 92-105 (2006-07)
Writer: Greg Pak
Artists: Carlos Pagulayan, Aaron Lopresti, Gary Frank, Takeshi Miyazawa
Genre: Superhero
Setting: The planet Sakaar
Hulk partakes of the Jekyll and Hyde trope. Banner and Hulk are two versions of the same person and they dislike each other vehemently. Banner regrets Hulk’s destructive wake. Hulk refers to his alter ego as “puny Banner.” Although the two halves occupy the same body and are aware of each other, they never meet. The transformation sequences where Banner becomes Hulk are an apt metaphor for uncontrolled anger.
Hulk as Dr. Frankenstein’s monster
In “Planet Hulk,” Banner never makes an appearance. Hulk stays Hulk through the story. This Hulk is less like Mr. Hyde and more in the vein of Frankenstein’s creature, outrunning his creator and taking on a misunderstood life of his own. Hulk, like the creature from “Frankenstein,” craves isolation.
Also like Frankenstein’s monster, Hulk is tricked and betrayed. In the arc preceding “Planet Hulk” (narrated in flashbacks), Dr. Strange, Iron Man and Mr. Fantastic recruit Hulk to save Earth from a killer satellite. But instead of programming the Hulk’s spaceship to return home, the superheroes send Hulk off to exile on some faraway vegetative planet where he can do no harm. Hulk is betrayed by his friends. We really feel for the big green guy.
From the wormhole to the Colosseum
Life never works out quite as we’ve planned and the same can be said of the Marvel universe. Instead of piloting Hulk to a forested planet as green as he is, Hulk’s spaceship drops the goliath into a wormhole and pops him out on the surface of a desert planet.
Sakaar is a rough neighborhood and Hulk is under attack before he can even get to his feet. But Hulk is a tough cookie and causes quite a row before he is felled with an immobilizing dart. Soon, he finds himself in the Sakaar equivalent of the Roman Colosseum. The visual impact of Hulk in gladiator gear alone is worth the price of admission. The crowd goes wild. Hulk flourishes as a gladiator.
The Arrakis-esque world of Sakaar
The initial narrative that follows Hulk’s gladiator bout is predictable but perfectly executed. Having prevailed in the Colosseum, Hulk is sent to training camp and is befriended by a motley crew of warriors of various races with whom he must defeat or join. The narrative that follows is epic and unexpected.
In the planet-wide conflict that soon erupts, the principal shortcoming of “Planet Hulk” is that the medium of comics is too restricted for its breadth. The richness of politics and personality conflicts is “Dune”-like. The alliances, mythologies and dynamics are dizzying. It merits novelization. Indeed, Pak wrote a novelization treatment.
The Hulk is as angry and misunderstood as ever, but when given the opportunity to be alone, he rejects isolationism. He puts the needs of the many ahead of the needs of the few (or the one). Hulk (or as he’s known on Sakaar, the “Green Scar”) evolves during the course of the graphic novel and even steps into a leadership role. Maybe, after some 63 years of comic books, our favorite simple-minded green monster is finally growing up.