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The Incredible Hulk (2009) (Collected Editions)
The Incredible Hulk, Vol. 3: World War Hulks
Planet Hulk was big. World War Hulk was bigger. Now with World War Hulks, the Marvel Universe explodes with the most emotional story ever to hit Bruce Banner and the Incredible Hulk! Following the mindbending twist ending of "Fall of the Hulks," everything Bruce Banner knows has been turned upside-down -- and everything he's ever desired may be just a heartbeat away. Written by Greg Pak (PLANET HULK, WORLD WAR HULK) and drawn by Paul Pelletier (WAR OF KINGS, FALL OF THE HULKS: ALPHA), don't miss the insane action and non-stop revelations as Skaar, Son of Hulk, enters his most brutal battle, Bruce Banner faces his greatest temptation, and the secret identity of a certain scarlet smasher is finally revealed! COLLECTING: Incredible Hulk #609-611
144 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2010
About the author
Greg Pak
1,711 books592 followersGreg Pak is an award-winning Korean American comic book writer and filmmaker currently writing "Lawful" for BOOM and "Sam Wilson: Captain America" (with Evan Narcisse) for Marvel. Pak wrote the "Princess Who Saved Herself" children's book and the “Code Monkey Save World” graphic novel based on the songs of Jonathan Coulton and co-wrote (with Fred Van Lente) the acclaimed “Make Comics Like the Pros” how-to book. Pak's other work includes "Planet Hulk," "Darth Vader," "Mech Cadet Yu," "Ronin Island," "Action Comics," and "Magneto Testament."
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 11, 2012
This is a great Hulk story which also features an excellent Bruce Banner one. The last few Hulk stories I’ve read, Planet Hulk, World War Hulk and the Red Hulk mystery are very Hulk-centric tales, Banner barely even managed an appearance. This story has Banner up against the Leader and his allies, whose master plan to conquer the United States involve draining the intellect of five of eight most intelligent men in the world. It also appears that Banner has lost his Hulk persona, but to outwit the super intelligent Leader and his gamma irradiated brain, he needed not the Hulk’s physical strength but his wits and cunning mind. Banner thwarts his foe with the help of his own allies, but at the cost of having the Hulk restored.
With the return of the Hulk, Banner’s contingency plan to deal with the re-emergence of his alter-ego slides into place. Enter Skaar, the Hulk’s estranged son he thought dead and abandoned at the end of Planet Hulk, eager for payback at his sire. This collection ends with a titanic battle between the Hulks that shook the entire North American continent.
This is the tail end of a fairly long storyline. It draws from a lot of stories spun out from the Planet Hulk, like the aforementioned World War Hulk and Skaar: Son of Hulk. It also reveals the identity if the mysterious Red She Hulk. Fortunately, I’ve read some of the earlier storylines so I had a grasping knowledge but still, if you are fairly new to current status quo of the Hulk and his supporting cast, it is advisable to read the preceding arc and the other stories in this crossover event. This is one caveat of hunting for books in bargain bookstores, there are always surprises.
With the return of the Hulk, Banner’s contingency plan to deal with the re-emergence of his alter-ego slides into place. Enter Skaar, the Hulk’s estranged son he thought dead and abandoned at the end of Planet Hulk, eager for payback at his sire. This collection ends with a titanic battle between the Hulks that shook the entire North American continent.
This is the tail end of a fairly long storyline. It draws from a lot of stories spun out from the Planet Hulk, like the aforementioned World War Hulk and Skaar: Son of Hulk. It also reveals the identity if the mysterious Red She Hulk. Fortunately, I’ve read some of the earlier storylines so I had a grasping knowledge but still, if you are fairly new to current status quo of the Hulk and his supporting cast, it is advisable to read the preceding arc and the other stories in this crossover event. This is one caveat of hunting for books in bargain bookstores, there are always surprises.
December 2, 2019
4.5/5
Those parallels with Brian Banner really had me in tears
Those parallels with Brian Banner really had me in tears
August 31, 2023
"I'm beginning to understand what Banner went through for all those years. These powers, they make it so easy to lose control. To give into the rage...And the guilt that comes with it."
"You're NOTHING like Banner. He was weak. He LET the gamma radiation control him."
"And what about you? How do YOU resist the temptation?"
"By not thinking of it as a curse, but a gift."
from "Object of Desire"
There's a danger of being bored while browsing library stacks--you tend to check out books which grab your attention without thinking. Finding this book and flipping through, I saw many of the characters I am currently encountering while reading through the Immortal Hulk series--so why not take a gander at an earlier story?
As it turns out, this is a third behemoth TPB in a series outlining when The Hulk's wife was killed and he decided to take out Earth and then The Thinker captures a plethora of smart people to use gamma radiation to "hulkify" a wide range of superheroes. This all happens PRIOR to this installment, which is where we see the plan falling apart and the hulkified superheroes--Deadpool! The Thing! Thor! Spiderman! Cyclops! Iceman! Wolverine! Winter Soldier!--fight one another in absurd scenarios which provide insipid flashbacks. Then the superheroes are de-hulkified and The Hulk returns and fights his son, Skaar--and then they get all misty eyed and hug. I shit you not.
The real prize of this collection is how over-the-top the writers and artists go with this material. I believe the only literary mot juste to describe this story is "bonkers." Just think: Stan Lee and friends concoct a nondescript man whose anger and frustration result in super strength when he is exposed to gamma radiation. Now, gamma radiation is akin to The Force or The Holy Spirit--it pervades everything and everyone and is portrayed as an agent of fate: Bruce Banner holds The Hulk within himself before gamma radiation releases it. It's amusing how the writers mistake this for profundity when it's really absurdity.
Do I recommend this collection? Hmmm, for completist only. There's a lot of fluff and stupidity to wade through before you stumble on something revelatory or interesting.
"You're NOTHING like Banner. He was weak. He LET the gamma radiation control him."
"And what about you? How do YOU resist the temptation?"
"By not thinking of it as a curse, but a gift."
from "Object of Desire"
There's a danger of being bored while browsing library stacks--you tend to check out books which grab your attention without thinking. Finding this book and flipping through, I saw many of the characters I am currently encountering while reading through the Immortal Hulk series--so why not take a gander at an earlier story?
As it turns out, this is a third behemoth TPB in a series outlining when The Hulk's wife was killed and he decided to take out Earth and then The Thinker captures a plethora of smart people to use gamma radiation to "hulkify" a wide range of superheroes. This all happens PRIOR to this installment, which is where we see the plan falling apart and the hulkified superheroes--Deadpool! The Thing! Thor! Spiderman! Cyclops! Iceman! Wolverine! Winter Soldier!--fight one another in absurd scenarios which provide insipid flashbacks. Then the superheroes are de-hulkified and The Hulk returns and fights his son, Skaar--and then they get all misty eyed and hug. I shit you not.
The real prize of this collection is how over-the-top the writers and artists go with this material. I believe the only literary mot juste to describe this story is "bonkers." Just think: Stan Lee and friends concoct a nondescript man whose anger and frustration result in super strength when he is exposed to gamma radiation. Now, gamma radiation is akin to The Force or The Holy Spirit--it pervades everything and everyone and is portrayed as an agent of fate: Bruce Banner holds The Hulk within himself before gamma radiation releases it. It's amusing how the writers mistake this for profundity when it's really absurdity.
Do I recommend this collection? Hmmm, for completist only. There's a lot of fluff and stupidity to wade through before you stumble on something revelatory or interesting.
March 14, 2021
It's rare that a big comic book event ends with a touching moment but this one did. The ending actually came together and made sense rather than some of the weird endings these events have. Overall I think the whole Fall of the Hulks/World War Hulks event was overdone as it really could have been told in a lot less pages. But it was nice to see things build to what comes across as a well planned ending rather than something that seems thrown together.
The back up story featuring Hulk's "son"? Hiro-Kala just confused me as I haven't read any of the backstory. Also, Marvel's policy of putting an old reprint in with the collections just seems like something they do to add pages and not something that truly enhances the story.
A good ending to a decent but not great comic event.
The back up story featuring Hulk's "son"? Hiro-Kala just confused me as I haven't read any of the backstory. Also, Marvel's policy of putting an old reprint in with the collections just seems like something they do to add pages and not something that truly enhances the story.
A good ending to a decent but not great comic event.
July 4, 2022
Much better than the previous volume because it no longer feels like we're reading half the story (we get at least 80% of it, yay?) and because Pak better dovetails the crossover into his ongoing plot. In fact, this is a really crucial story for the ongoing plot that really explains what's been going on in the series so far, which is terrific.
(And then there's some short "Son of Hulk" story which is entirely gibberish. What the heck!? And the most reprinted Hulk story ever.)
(And then there's some short "Son of Hulk" story which is entirely gibberish. What the heck!? And the most reprinted Hulk story ever.)
December 6, 2011
Very nice way to end the World War Hulks event, even if most comic readers probably would have guessed the ending already.
The only part I didn't like was when they added that other Son of Hulk story at the end, I guess as a teaser for upcoming storylines. That story made no sense to me at all. Also, really now, Hulk has ANOTHER son that he doesn't know about? And he also wants to come to Earth to kill the Hulk? Wtf? I think it might be best to pretend that I didn't read that extra story because it ruined a pretty good comic for me.
The only part I didn't like was when they added that other Son of Hulk story at the end, I guess as a teaser for upcoming storylines. That story made no sense to me at all. Also, really now, Hulk has ANOTHER son that he doesn't know about? And he also wants to come to Earth to kill the Hulk? Wtf? I think it might be best to pretend that I didn't read that extra story because it ruined a pretty good comic for me.
December 13, 2025
Greg Pak winds up his side of Loeb's World War Hulks conclusion and again shows him up in quality. The conflict between Hulk and his son Skar is the emotional heart of the story, and anyone with any experience of a father or a son will be touched by the long awaited conclusion.
March 14, 2026
This was an incredible collection. The art was great. The story is more so.
July 12, 2014
Once at the bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up, and that’s where Bruce Banner finds himself at the beginning of WORLD WAR HULKS. Picking up immediately where FALL OF THE HULKS left off, Banner and his fellow geniuses are prisoners of the Leader’s Intelligencia, their knowledge slowly being drained away while they vegetate in an idyllic fantasy reality. Meanwhile, out in the real world, Skaar continues in his quest to ensure that he is the one to kill the Hulk, wading through an army of Hulked-Out Heroes and A.I.Marines, and Red She-Hulk, not stopping until he finally gets what he wants…
The Hulk-wide crossover continues. And a lot still goes on, although the overall plot is somewhat more consolidated than in FALL OF THE HULKS. Greg Pak is tasked with depicting such key points as the dramatic reveal of Red She-Hulk’s true identity, the redemption and sacrifice of Doc Samson, the eventual downfall of the Intelligencia, and the pulse-pounding return of the title character. Once again, the writer’s efforts pay off substantially; his is still the side of the main event that has the most resonance with longtime fans and casual readers alike.
Pak has been building up to the confrontation between the Hulk and Skaar for a long time, and he makes sure it’s worth the wait. Anger and power are unleashed, with father and son engaging in a titanic battle that includes earth-shattering ground smashes, ear-splitting thunderclaps, Old Power manipulation, and massive punches that send each other literally flying across the country. As is the norm with Pak’s style, the action scenes in no way diminish the emotional weight of the characters. Building on ideas initiated by Bill Mantlo and developed by Peter David, Pak parallels the relationship between Skaar and the Hulk to that between the young Bruce Banner and his own father, the crazed Brian Banner. The Hulk’s overwhelming rage and pain was born of the physical and verbal abuse Bruce suffered as a child, just as Skaar’s hatred and malice stems from his abandonment and all he endured on Planet Sakaar. Skaar’s vision of the Hulk as a monster to be conquered, reinforced by descriptions as such from Bruce Banner himself, only heightens his hunger for revenge. Now, before they can move forward and heal their wounds, the cycle of violence must end.
In keeping with the father/son dynamic, the backup stories written by Scott Reed and starring the Hulk’s second son Hiro-Kala are organized sequentially following the conclusion of the three “World War Hulks” issues, leading into the next new direction for the series. Also reprinted for the very first time (in something purely Hulk-related) is “Monster”, from INCREDIBLE HULK #312, written by Bill Mantlo. Pak’s expansion of the themes and concepts of this single issue, which helped to redefine the Hulk for all time, demands its inclusion.
A thrilling tie-up to the previous storyline highlighted by an epic showdown, INCREDIBLE HULK: WORLD WAR HULKS is a winner on every level, highly recommended to Hulk fans that hunger for that difficult balance of high-fueled Gamma action and deep, emotionally-driven characters. Greg Pak does it all incredibly well.
The Hulk-wide crossover continues. And a lot still goes on, although the overall plot is somewhat more consolidated than in FALL OF THE HULKS. Greg Pak is tasked with depicting such key points as the dramatic reveal of Red She-Hulk’s true identity, the redemption and sacrifice of Doc Samson, the eventual downfall of the Intelligencia, and the pulse-pounding return of the title character. Once again, the writer’s efforts pay off substantially; his is still the side of the main event that has the most resonance with longtime fans and casual readers alike.
Pak has been building up to the confrontation between the Hulk and Skaar for a long time, and he makes sure it’s worth the wait. Anger and power are unleashed, with father and son engaging in a titanic battle that includes earth-shattering ground smashes, ear-splitting thunderclaps, Old Power manipulation, and massive punches that send each other literally flying across the country. As is the norm with Pak’s style, the action scenes in no way diminish the emotional weight of the characters. Building on ideas initiated by Bill Mantlo and developed by Peter David, Pak parallels the relationship between Skaar and the Hulk to that between the young Bruce Banner and his own father, the crazed Brian Banner. The Hulk’s overwhelming rage and pain was born of the physical and verbal abuse Bruce suffered as a child, just as Skaar’s hatred and malice stems from his abandonment and all he endured on Planet Sakaar. Skaar’s vision of the Hulk as a monster to be conquered, reinforced by descriptions as such from Bruce Banner himself, only heightens his hunger for revenge. Now, before they can move forward and heal their wounds, the cycle of violence must end.
In keeping with the father/son dynamic, the backup stories written by Scott Reed and starring the Hulk’s second son Hiro-Kala are organized sequentially following the conclusion of the three “World War Hulks” issues, leading into the next new direction for the series. Also reprinted for the very first time (in something purely Hulk-related) is “Monster”, from INCREDIBLE HULK #312, written by Bill Mantlo. Pak’s expansion of the themes and concepts of this single issue, which helped to redefine the Hulk for all time, demands its inclusion.
A thrilling tie-up to the previous storyline highlighted by an epic showdown, INCREDIBLE HULK: WORLD WAR HULKS is a winner on every level, highly recommended to Hulk fans that hunger for that difficult balance of high-fueled Gamma action and deep, emotionally-driven characters. Greg Pak does it all incredibly well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2012
[The following is a review of the Deluxe-Sized Hardcover Collection, and not the individual TP]
This is a collection of stories tying-in to the Hulk, Vol. 6: World War Hulks storyline in the "other" Hulk title, written by Jeph Loeb. I'd read the Incredible Hulks: Fall of the Hulks collection and those stories had been really fun and interesting. I was expecting the same with this book, but...
As with any collection, there are sure to be duds and this one's no exception. While there are some fun moments, most of the stories are middle-of-the-road, and there are others where you can't help but wonder how that got published in the first place (I'm referring to the Ice Hulk / Hulklops story [groan]). Highlight of this book: the resolution of the conflict between Skaar & Hulk (that's less than 20% of the total page count!).
Overall, definitely weaker material than what's found in the Incredible Hulks: Fall of the Hulks collection (which I recommend), this one should be for completists only and should definitely NOT be purchased at retail price.
For the "real" event (and REAL entertainment), check out Jeph Loeb's Hulk, Vol. 6: World War Hulks collection.
This is a collection of stories tying-in to the Hulk, Vol. 6: World War Hulks storyline in the "other" Hulk title, written by Jeph Loeb. I'd read the Incredible Hulks: Fall of the Hulks collection and those stories had been really fun and interesting. I was expecting the same with this book, but...
As with any collection, there are sure to be duds and this one's no exception. While there are some fun moments, most of the stories are middle-of-the-road, and there are others where you can't help but wonder how that got published in the first place (I'm referring to the Ice Hulk / Hulklops story [groan]). Highlight of this book: the resolution of the conflict between Skaar & Hulk (that's less than 20% of the total page count!).
Overall, definitely weaker material than what's found in the Incredible Hulks: Fall of the Hulks collection (which I recommend), this one should be for completists only and should definitely NOT be purchased at retail price.
For the "real" event (and REAL entertainment), check out Jeph Loeb's Hulk, Vol. 6: World War Hulks collection.
August 13, 2016
This volume features the continuation of a story I started reading in a different book where a bunch of the Avengers get exposed to something that turns them into Hulk-like monsters. More interesting than that, though, is that Bruce finds out the truth about the Red She-Hulk. (Spoilers) It is actually the love of his life, Betty Ross! She confesses that the Leader turned her into the rage-filled Red She-Hulk as part of her dad's plan to save her life from the cancer that was killing her.
(More Spoilers) This volume also features the return of the Hulk, as Bruce Banner has been without him for a while. And then, best of all, we finally get The Hulk vs. Skaar! The battle ends with a nice moment between father and son, and then the volume takes a turn for the worse.
I had no idea about this, but apparently Skaar has an evil twin brother known as Hiro-Kala, the Sinister Son of Hulk. Stupid. The short story about him was forgettable.
The final issue in this book is a classic issue, The Incredible Hulk #312. It has a tie to the main story of this book, which is why it was included. This story showed us Bruce's childhood, high school years, and even his first meeting with Betty and Thunderbolt Ross. It concluded with some Secret Wars 2 stuff I didn't understand.
(More Spoilers) This volume also features the return of the Hulk, as Bruce Banner has been without him for a while. And then, best of all, we finally get The Hulk vs. Skaar! The battle ends with a nice moment between father and son, and then the volume takes a turn for the worse.
I had no idea about this, but apparently Skaar has an evil twin brother known as Hiro-Kala, the Sinister Son of Hulk. Stupid. The short story about him was forgettable.
The final issue in this book is a classic issue, The Incredible Hulk #312. It has a tie to the main story of this book, which is why it was included. This story showed us Bruce's childhood, high school years, and even his first meeting with Betty and Thunderbolt Ross. It concluded with some Secret Wars 2 stuff I didn't understand.
March 17, 2012
The conclusion to the Intelligencia storyline is here! As Bruce Banner is encouraged by Doctor Doom to wake from their cyberprison, Skaar is mounting an offensive against the hulked-out heroes of the Marvel Universe. Amadeus Cho and the revealed Red She-Hulk are on hand to help curb the Intelligencia's plot, as well as assist the captured brain trust in drawing back the gamma radiation. Naturally, Banner is the only one left to absorb the radiation, bringing back the Hulk. With the monster returned, Skaar and his father duke it out in order to determine the strongest one there is - leading to a gamma-family runion. The volume concludes with a look at Hiro-Kala, the other son of Hulk, and his determination to rule his microverse world; a feature looking at the birth of the Hulk in Banner's psychosis concludes the tome. A fitting end for the WWH storyline, but the Hiro-Kala character and coda are still less than incredible.
August 9, 2011
I used to be a big Hulk fan and knew a lot had happened recently (recently being the last 5-6 years) to the character in the Marvel universe. This collection (and others in the World War Hulks saga) appear to be the capping off point for a whole mess of storylines. So, I didn't have a huge amount of emotional investment in the narrative. As a continuity fest, it looks fun (lots of Hulked-up heroes, the eight smartest people - all men - in the Marvel universe) and it does appear to resolve some of the Hulk/Son of Hulk relationship. The backup story (apparently covering another Son of Hulk) is almost incomprehensible to the new reader.
August 20, 2011
Liked it ok, was better than the other Hulk collections that I have read recently. A little more of the psychology stuff from earlier Hulk stories.
May 28, 2013
Finally done with these big stupid stories that the Hulk as been stuck in. This story ends strong, but it would have been better if I cared about Skar. I'm just glad to have the Hulk back.
February 16, 2016
3.5 stars
June 29, 2011
Library copy.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews