Re: The Incredible Hulk Series Discussion (Spoilers)
I had downloaded Planet Hulk a while ago since it sounded interesting and I liked the idea of Hulk becoming an important character.
I always thought the covers were awesome. I peaked inside an issue. The interior art wasn't very good. However, a story can still be good even if the art is bad.
I was obviously wrong.
I started reading the Planet Hulk prelude in Fantastic Four today. I like Mike McKone's art on Teen Titans and Exiles, but it didn't fit here. His Thing and Hulk changed shapes and sizes constantly. The story was lame and I thought it was stupid how Hulk seemed to be intelligent and was being... a spy? What? Hulk should just smash things. In this, he's sneaking through a cave, wearing a headset and blowing dust on lasers so he can avoid them. Stupid.
I stopped reading after this and just skipped over the pages. Apparently the Thing is called in after a bomb goes off, and the two fight. However, before this happens, there is a page with the Human Torch flying along carrying the Thing. How?!
I skipped right to the Hulk arc which led into Planet Hulk. It had quite good art, but the story was uninteresting. I then saw it was Daniel Way who wrote it, and skipped that.
As I had finally reached the first issue of the actual Planet Hulk, I was excited. This story had been stated as being one of the best events in a couple of years, which isn't saying much, as they may be enjoyable, but they're all stupid. I read the first page, and immediately notice one thing. Hulk is viewing the video of the Illuminati explaining why the Hulk is being sent to space. You can see Iron Man, Black Bolt and Dr. Strange in the background. No Namor or Xavier. And yet, when Hulk returns, he's going after Xavier, and they've got a whole mini dedicated to it. Bollocks.
I skip ahead to later issues and realize I don't care. The art is still bland and the story is uninteresting. I decide to give up, and delete all the issues.
As far as I can tell, the only good thing about Planet Hulk was the covers, which rocked. I do not recommend this at all.