Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk

Book Description

Savage alien planet. Oppressed barbarian tribes. Corrupt emperor. Deadly woman warrior. Gladiators and slaves. Battle axes and hand blasters. Monsters and heroes... and the Incredible Hulk! Let the smashing commence! This deluxe hardcover collects the entire Planet Hulk saga, plus extras! Collects Incredible Hulk #92-105, Giant Size Hulk #1 and the "Mastermind Excello" story from Amazing Fantasy #15

Customer Reviews:

Hulk at his best!!!.......2007-09-29

This is a great great great Hulk story. Must pickup prelude to see how it all fits together first. VERY COOL STUFF!!!

The most emotional Hulk I've read in a looooong time.......2007-09-27

I never thought I'd love Hulk. God, how wrong I was...

It's a classic Marvel epic story, with all that story should have - beautiful concept, amazing characters, well written plot and it's as emotive and wise as any story should be. Amazing art, and it doesn't end here, it just leads for the next big thing - and believe me, it looks so sweet!

I don't think I ever fallen in love with a character as fast as I did with Hulk on this story..

not as good as everyone seems to think.......2007-09-20

i picked this up based on buzz and reviews that made this book look like the best thing since sliced bread. also it didn't hurt that ladronn did some absolutely stellar cover work. maybe this run is so well regarded because it followed bruce jones's run, which started out rather great but floundered. the premise is fine, and there is a lot of smashing, but i didn't quite see what all the fuss was about. there isn't a whole lot of story for 14+ issues, and the padding really shows in places. i really think the pacing would have been much better if there was some down time on the planet to give the hulk and the reader a sense that he really was sent to a peaceful planet and create some tension and maybe do some character work on the hulk before he's attacked.

the portrayal of the hulk is good, but i thought there was something really missing in the appearances of bruce banner. i like the hulk, but i would really have loved to see banner's take on the situation he and the hulk have been thrown into. he shows up three times, and each appearance comes off as awkward for some reason or another. of particular interest is his appearance where a character wants to see "all" of the hulk, so he transforms into banner for her. the idea of hulk accepting banner as a part of himself should have been a landmark moment for both hulk and banner (perhaps the most important and central moment in the character's history considering that for hulk's entire existence he's been at odds with banner), but the moment is completely glossed over. this is the story for all of banner's appearances. there's so much potential in the hulk's duality. it could have been a compelling and fascinating element of the story, and it's all just glossed over. wasted potential really. and with all the "extra" room in these 14+ issues there was plenty of space to explore the hulk/banner relationship, but of course that would have required some true character work. i can't disagree that pak "gets" the hulk, but there's not a whole lot to the hulk. banner is more interesting, and pak's banner is just plain confusing. in a way banner's story could be the most compelling part of the whole saga, since for all he knows he's trapped inside the hulk on this planet forever and will never return to earth again, but there isn't even an effort to make that come across. the same goes for hulk's friends' reactions (or lack thereof) to banner showing up. wasted potential.

the art is fine. it gets the job done, but that's about it. and the supplemental material bothers me. honestly i never like it when these books come out with a stack of background material, except when they're interesting, of course. and sketchbook material is always welcome. but what we have here is a handbook-style documantation of the culture and miscellany of this planet. for my tastes it's all a wasted effort. if none of this information came across in the story i don't understand why anyone besides the exceptionally bored or exceptionally geeky would be at all interested. even at the same price i'd prefer this material be excluded from the collection, just to save some trees. life's too short to read even a little bit of it.

all-in-all this is an above average read. it's not deep by any means, and you're sure to be disappointed if you expect a five-star book, but if you like to read about the hulk smashing things you should like this. and i can't say enough good things about ladronn's cover work on this series. maybe not quite worth the price of admission alone, but pretty close.

Idea SMASH, art Puny.......2007-09-16

Loved this story line for the Hulk, for so long has he been the anti-hero in the Marvel universe. So what happens when you lie to the Hulk and the World's greatest heroes decide to send him off to another Planet, to basically... die alone? As I read each page, I was intrigued to see how the Hulk handled himself, how an alien world would get to know the Hulk. The only thing that got me was the art work. I wish it would have been better, some panels looked good but over all the art prevented me from giving this review a 5 star ending. If you're a Hulk fan and feel for the hero being sent away from home... you'll feel his pain and rage too.

SIMPLY GREAT.......2007-09-16

I've just read planet hulk and i can say tha is simply great.The art is fantastick!!!!! and the story is probably one of the best ever written in the marvel universe so if you dont have it just go and buy it right now its a must for all funs

Average customer rating:

Better know what you're buying -
Not nearly as interesting as that which follows
A must have...
Interesting, Although Unnecessary and Lacking Entertainment
Not Essential for planet hulk

Incredible Hulk: Prelude to Planet Hulk
Daniel Way , and Keu Cha
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785119531

Book Description

Bruce Banner has finally found a semblance of peace. Here, in the isolated interior of Alaska, he hopes to protect the rest of humanity from the Hulk's never-ending rampage by secluding himself in self-imposed exile. Banner is confident that his plan will work - after all, who would be foolish enough to actually come looking for the Hulk? But when Nick Fury comes calling, you know there's trouble for someone involved. This story sets up next year's Planet Hulk event. Collects Incredible Hulk #88-91; Hulk Handbook 2004.

Customer Reviews:

Better know what you're buying -.......2007-08-13

No. this is definitely not the best Hulk story there is. Sure, it's not a bad one either - but don't set your hopes high before you're reading enough about it so you will decide fairly if it worth your money.
It's Daniel Way, which apparently not many in the comics industry like. He now writes the Wolverine Origins ongoing series, if this rings any bells. I personally love his writing - he puts the character through many situations, emotional situations, which hasn't been dealt like his style. In this particular story we get to see two versions of Hulk - the heroic type, and the confused type. That's the best thing I like about this story.
The first issue in this collection is nothing but awesome. But the following issues have a very unreliable background story. I simply don't buy it. It's too farfetched. But what you do get, if you're not trying to analyze the scientific and historic contradictions between this story and the actual world is a pretty good story, lots of interesting plot-twists and action packed TPB.
The one thing that really really bothered me, and I mean REALLY bothered me, is that they added the Hulk Handbook 2004 to this TPB. Why. There's no real good reason for putting it in. I really dislike all those handbooks out there, and it's a waste of money. I prefer if they just gathered the 4 issues, took off a couple of dollars and that's it.
I gave it 4 because I really like it, but if I was a really new reader or a really old Hulk-fan I wouldn't give it more than 3.

Not nearly as interesting as that which follows.......2007-07-16

INCREDIBLE HULK: PRELUDE TO PLANET HULK collects THE INCREDIBLE HULK (3rd series) #88-91, and is written by Daniel Way, and drawn by Keu Cha & Juan Santacruz. After Peter David's second departure from the book, fans wondered what would become of the Hulk. The results here were rather unspectacular, but they did ultimately lead somewhere interesting in the form of PLANET HULK and the current WORLD WAR HULK miniseries. Here, Bruce Banner hides out in Alaska until fate--and Nick Fury--come a'calling to usher his brutish alter-ego into the service of S.H.I.E.L.D., the super-spy organization. Sent into space, the Hulk finds treachery...but is that anything new for the green goliath? In short, no, no it's not. True, there's terrific art by Keu Cha, who only stayed on board for half this 4-part story (leaving lackluster Santacruz to ape his style for the second half). However Daniel Way's script is weak, threadbare, and doesn't really say anything new about the characters in it. Here, the Hulk once again takes on the Bruce Jones shorthand characterization of a nearly-mute brute instead of a more fully realized entity. Skip this book and proceed directly to PLANET HULK proper. Two stars.

A must have..........2007-07-16

In order to launch you into Planet Hulk. This totally sets up the Planet Hulk Series so that you can pleasantly get lost into the series.

Interesting, Although Unnecessary and Lacking Entertainment.......2007-07-05

As a prelude, it's interesting to see how Nick Fury and the Illuminati "tricked" Hulk into space, but it's unnecessary--everything you need to know about the storyline is summed up in the first few pages of the Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk collection. The The Road to Civil War trade paperback, reprinting the first Illuminati one-shot, actually shows the five "heroes" coming to their decision to shoot the Hulk into space--so I would recommend that book over Daniel Way's stoic execution here.

Not Essential for planet hulk.......2007-06-30

I had recently read the planet hulk hardcover and had read the original Illuminate oneshot that showed the decision on what to do with the Hulk. So i was looking foward to finally picking this up.

Basically it sets the stage for how the hulk ended up in space. But it is pretty lackluster. Do yourselves a favor and read the oneshot, or the Road to Civil War trade instead, that includes the illuminati oneshot that shows the decision.

Also half this book is made up of Hulk Handbook 2004, which is useless. it is just profiles on hulk characters that is a waste of space and paper. It is just fluff to add more bulk to this already slim book.

Average customer rating:

One of the best House of M tie-ins
Alternate reality for the Hulk
john Q public at it again

House of M: Incredible Hulk
Peter David
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785118349

Book Description

In the Australian outback, Bruce Banner has found a peace he's never known among a tribe of Aborigines. But when their safety is threatened by a battle between a sect of AIM and the ruling totalitarian mutant government, the Hulk is forced to intervene in a big way. A House of M tie-in as the aforementioned "House" discovers that there is one mortal in the entire world that can stand against it, and he's drawing an incredible line in the sand, setting a stage for an unprecedented showdown. The Hulk like you've never seen him before! Collects Incredible Hulk #83-87.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best House of M tie-ins.......2007-05-24

Brian Michael Bendis' House of M storyline saw the Scarlet Witch using her powers to transform the world we know into that where mutants are the dominant species. In this alternate world, Bruce Banner has more responsibility than ever as the Incredible Hulk. Living in the Austrailian outback among a native tribe, Banner takes a stand against the House of Magnus and anyone else who threatens the peace of his land and people; all of which leads to an action filled showdown. Written by legendary Hulk scribe Peter David, this House of M tie-in is a very interesting look at the kind of superhero the Hulk could be, whether he is hunted or not. The artwork is solid throughout this TPB as well; all of which helps make this House of M tie-in one of the best TPB's to go along with Bendis' main storyline. All in all, if you only pick up one House of M tie-in along with the main storyline, make this one it.

Alternate reality for the Hulk.......2007-04-30

"House of M" was a crossover for Marvel in which the Scarlet Witch rewrote the world with mutants in charge. Most of the Marvel Universe didn't know what was going on, or why things corrected themselves, including the Hulk. This is his story during the time of the alternate reality, and in the days that followed. The core of the story drives Bruce Banner to hold a new perspective on the Hulk, in which he starts to take more responsibility for the power he wields. It's interesting to see how things play out and where they go, but due to the nature of "House of M," the specific content of this story will probably never be referenced again.

Peter David is probably the definitive Hulk scribe, and he is well backed by the art of Jorge Lucas (issues 83-86) and Adam Kubert (issue 87). It's an interesting story that reveals the mental states of the Hulk and Bruce Banner right now, but which will probably not have a significant impact on the future of the title. Read it if you want a single story or a decent "House of M" tie in. If you're trying to learn about the history and future of the Hulk, skip this and move on to the "Planet Hulk" and "World War Hulk" collections instead.

john Q public at it again.......2006-07-11

i imagine john Q public to be a very lonely, very old, very unstable man with no family, sitting by his pc writing ridiculous reviews on amazon.com all day.

on topic: buy this hulk book!

Marvel Masterworks The Avengers Volume 3 (Volume 3)

Average customer rating:

Goliath rejoins the Avengers of Captain America, Hawkeye, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch

Marvel Masterworks The Avengers Volume 3 (Volume 3)

Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0785111794

Product Description

Giant-Man becomes Goliath! The Wasp returns! The team battles the Enchantress, Power Man, the Ringmaster, Kang, Doctor Doom, Attuma, the Collector, the Swordsman, and the Black Widow! Collects AVENGERS Vol. 1 #21-30

Customer Reviews:

Goliath rejoins the Avengers of Captain America, Hawkeye, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.......2005-08-24

Volume 3 of "The Avengers" in the Marvel Masterworks series collects episodes 21-30 of the comic book, which is covers the second major lineup in the group's history. Led by Captain America, the group consists of Hawkeye, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch at the start of this volume with Goliath rejoining the team by the end of this volume, although it turns out that the former Giant-Man and former Ant-Man is now stuck in extra large size. As Cap says, "The most powerful Avenger...and yet...he's also the most tragic!" (This coming from a living legend who had been frozen in a block of ice since the final days of World War II). The original Avengers line-up was too powerful, with Thor and Iron Man, not to mention the Hulk at the very beginning. Then they went to skill over strength with a group consisting of a guy who throws a shield, a guy who shoots arrows, a mutant who runs fast, and a witch. When Hank Pym rejoined the team they could actually use a bit of strength without having the overkill of a Norse God. They were not that powerful of a group of superheroes, especially compared to the Fantastic Four (or the Justice League of America over at DC), but they could hold their own against the X-Men.

At this point "The Avengers" is still being written by Stan Lee, with Don Heck established as the book's artist. Now, I have made clear that Heck was my least favorite artist that Marvel used on a regular basis, but that being said, the issues where his pencils are being inked by Wally Wood (#20-22) are the best Heck's work ever looked (I was going to add issue #23 inked by John Romita, Sr. to that short list, but it really looks like a Romita drawn issue). Dick Ayers inks #25 and Frank Giacoia #26-30, which is right before the period where Heck did the pencils and ink (for the record, Chic Stone did the least to enhance Heck's art for this book). But you can make up you own mind about where Heck's artwork stands in the Marvel pantheon.

The collection gets off to a good start with the introduction of Power Man (who is he?) in #21. He defeats the Avengers and the city council orders the Avengers to disband. In #22 the Avengers try to find out who is helping Power Man (the Enchantress), and while they succeed and the City Council declares Avengers Day, Steve Rogers announces he has played straight man to these jokers long enough and he decides to split. However, Kang the Conqueror returns for a rematch in the next two-issues (note that #24 features a cover by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers). If you thought that was bad, Dr. Doom shows up for #25, which means the Fantastic Four cannot be far behind. The Wasp has to be rescued from Attuma in #26, which means the Avengers have to assemble underwater in #27. Giant-Man is back in #28, only now he is known as Goliath, because the Wasp has still not been rescued; now the Collector has her. They rescue the Wasp, but then Goliath collapses and we find out why in #29, although the Black Widow and the Swordsman cause problems (you new that sooner of later a guy with a sword should show up to fight a pair of guys with a shield and arrows). Finally, in issue #30 the Scarlet Witch wants to resign because she has not been helping the group lately, so Cap lets her and her brother go on vacation while the Avengers that are left finish up with the Black Widow and the Swordsman.

There are no classic Avengers tales here, but you have to admit things are never dull in any superhero team that has both Hawkeye and Quicksilver on it because they are the two biggest malcontents around (in the pre-Wolverine era anyhow). Hawkeye always thinks he would be a better leader than Captain America, and Quicksilver is always complaining about humans hating mutants (although he is sending back a healthy dose of animosity in the other direction all by himself). The Scarlet Witch is the problematic character because if Wanda is hitting on all cylinders then she should be able to win every fight by herself (Do you see Doctor Strange fighting with a team? No, not until the Defenders anyway, but that is decades away at this point). But I had to admit I like the brother and sister act of Pietro and Wanda since it sibling bickering is more interesting than lovers/spouses bickering (to wit, Hank and Janet), plus they have the whole need for redemption since they used to be members of Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. I really consider these stories just marking time until the Vision shows up, because that is when this comic book finally comes into its own.

Incredible Hulk Vol. 3: Transfer of Power

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Graphic SF Reader
Another great conspiracy arc from Bruce Jones!
Part 3 Of One Of The Greatest Hulk Arcs Ever
Vol 3
wow

Incredible Hulk Vol. 3: Transfer of Power
Bruce Jones
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785110658

Book Description

On the run . . . from the police . . . the government . . . clandestine forces with an agenda all their own . . . and the unbridled beast within, Dr. Bruce Banner knows the dread of the hunted. Now he faces the most unimaginable horror of all: a relentless, unkillable pursuer who knows all his weaknesses and will stop at nothing to bring him down.

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Immomen is definitely a good choice for rotting reintegrating live vampire agent types, I will give them that. For a Hulk story, this is weird. A fugitive, paranoid, conspiratorial espionage story on the run, rather than Hulk smash monsters, or Hulk on weird planets, dimensions, gamma ray blasting and all that. No military, hulkbusters, or other associated things to be seen.

Another great conspiracy arc from Bruce Jones!.......2006-12-09

After escaping a trap laid by the conspiracy that's out to get him, Bruce Banner is framed for murder after a case of mistaken identity and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even worse, an old enemy from the past is zeroing in on bruce, but so is an old ally. The dark artwork in this book is really great, and the storyline's got some awsome twists. This is a great comic for any Hulk fan.

Part 3 Of One Of The Greatest Hulk Arcs Ever.......2005-12-06

Reprinting Incredible Hulk (current volume; late 90s-present) #s 44-49 and continuing the extended story arc that began back in Incredible Hulk # 34 (and reprinted in the Trade Paperbacks "Incredible Hulk: Return Of The Monster" and "Incredible Hulk: Boiling Point", the third volume of this, one of the definitive Hulk sagas of all time, shows no sign at all of letting up. By this point in the story there's only so much one can say in a review: it's like doing a writeup on a specific section of a novel that occurs some way in.

It can be said that the writing, art and characterization are every bit as outstanding as in the previous two volumes of the story. It can be said that new characters are introduced who I think many readers will, like myself, immediately start hoping become longtime members of the Hulk cast. It can be said that even as plotlines and mysteries start to coalesce into identifiable points, the story loses not a shred of its awe and its grandeur. And it can be said that there are some mammoth confrontations and one of the tensest 'stand-off' scenes in comics history.

I can't recommend this entire saga enough; tremendous on all front.

Vol 3.......2004-03-17

This latest volume is fitting with what we have seen Bruce Jones produce. You've got a great story with some really good turns within. The art is still of good quality. I hope they can keep it going.

wow.......2003-06-25

Holy...

If i didn't say Bruce Jones could pen a movie script with the best of them in Hollywood, i would be lying through my teeth!...the Banner conspiracy deepens in this Volume bringing forth possibilities not many reader would have thought of..new readers picking up this volume without reading volumes 1 and 2 will be totally lost and muddled in the Huge storyarc which is by far one of the best plots in modern day comics...up to date.

I have been following Jones entire run on the series and knew his inventiveness of creating plot devices but he truly drops some magic cards here and does sleight of hand tricks...its as good as a movie , if not better with clues riddled throughout...this is by far the best of the bunch, i cannot wait for more...Bruce Jones is GOD.

With the regular changing of artists on this title and this long story arc, the only thing that remains common throughout is the inking and colors by studio f and co..which are needed to give a true impact of a cinematic quality and are the best in the business with everything taking a green color tone.

Stuart Immonen's artwork here is sexy..to say the least. thats the best i can describe it. his artwork is the strongest of the current series along with Mike Deodato's work...while the newer artists dont have the veteran hand of John Romita's pencils,they give the same justice that Bruce Jones incredibly story deserves. Immonen draws action scenes with a John Woo style and is somewhat remincent of Eduardo Risso's acclaimed work on 100 Bullets.

this story arc gets better and better...pick up vols 1 and 2...and get this;....Jones run should be in every comic readers shelf...

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Good.......2006-08-21

This book is a great read but I feel it's not as good as the second one by a little bit and that's why I gave it four stars. That being said it is still very well written with great artwork to follow it up. I'm just beginning to get into The Incredible Hulk and I find these books to be great. I'd reccomend them for anyone that's just starting out like me or any long time Hulk fan.

It all starts here.......2006-04-14

The beginning of Bruce Jones fantastic conspiracy run of the Hulk starts here with one of my favorite artists, John Romita, JR. Blamed for the death of a small boy while rampaging as the Hulk, Bruce Banner tries unravel a mystery while eluding mysterious agents that are after him.

welcome bruce jones.......2005-11-09

This TPB includes Incredible Hulk 34-39 and the new team are Bruce Jones -a veteran horror writer-, the art of John Romita Jr-the son of the legendary Spider Romita and a legend for his previous works Starbrand , Thor etc- and the inks of Tom Palmer

where is the hulk?.......2004-10-25

this book has 144 pages and of those 144 pages, 9 or 10 pages
(not including the covers)shows the hulk, the rest is banner and his struggle . the plot is bad , by reading the other reviews, is what made me buy this book. now that i read it, i'm wondering if i bought the wrong title, no it was the right book, it just the other reviewers don't know what they're talking about. the art is beautiful, that is the only thing i can say that good about this trade back. the book reads like an X-files episode , meaning the creature (the hulk) stays in the shadows only showing up briefly. the plot really stinks. bruce jones's ideal of a battle with the hulk is to send out 2 hired guns to defeat him (to kill or bring to justice, i'm not sure which) there are some of things that are weak in the writng, for instance why are people who have been shot in the head still walking or thier odd behavior afterwards, the author gives no explaination. to me the hulk should be bigger than life,in the marvel universe ( and ours as well) the hulk is known world wide, he is hunted by the miltary , he is hounded by the the super human teams,( avengers, fantastic 4,, etc..)he is feared by humans, He is a weapon of mass destruction, but he is NOT a sulking figure that hides in the shadows and suppressed by weak knee wimp like bruce jones, ( opps! i mean bruce banner). the book stinks, it reads stupid, do yourself a favor and skip this one

Downright Frightening. One Of The Best Hulk Stories Ever .......2004-10-02

Reprints #s 34-39 of the current ongoing "Hulk" series, featuring the debut of Bruce Jones, and a great jumping-on point for anyone who hasn't read the series in a long time, or an ultimate treasure for longtime fans.

Without giving too much away, Bruce Banner is on the run from just about everyone, with the Hulk accused of killing a child in a rampage. The trouble is, the evidence that this ever occured is in short supply, and ulterior motives seem to abound. The six comics reprinted here are all absolutely top-notch (and include one issue from Marvel's "Nuff Said" event, where the comics unfolded entirely without words. I don't know about all the others, but this one worked incredibly well, and blended into the larger story seamlessly) Flawless dialogue, stunning art (including the stunning reprinted covers from the original issues) and a somewhat different incarnation of the Hulk than we've seen before. The thing about the Hulk is that it's been established many years ago that the Banner/Hulk split cracks in more than 2 directions (remember Joe Fixit?) so you can do stuff like this without contradicting continuity.

One of the very best Trade Paperbacks on the market. If you've never read a comic book before, or you haven't read one in decades, this book alone could hook you into the wonderful world of comicdom.

Incredible Hulk Vol. 5: Hide in Plain Sight

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A Far Deadlier Absorbing Man Rears His Head
Another solid chapter in Bruce Jones' Hulk saga

Incredible Hulk Vol. 5: Hide in Plain Sight
Bruce Jones
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785111514

Book Description

For years Crusher Creel has terrorized the world with his ability to absorb the properties of anything he touches. Now, after being locked away in a secret underground prison, the Absorbing Man has gained the new ability to jump in and out of people's minds. But what happens when the mind he jumps into belongs to the 800-pound monster known as the Incredible Hulk?

Customer Reviews:

A Far Deadlier Absorbing Man Rears His Head.......2007-05-14

The Absorbing Man - Crusher Creel - is back, and more dangerous than ever. Giving Bruce Banner exactly what he Doesn't need as he continues life as a fugitive in the mega-arc started in Incredible Hulk # 34 (see the "Return Of The Monster" Trade Paperback), Creel - complete with new powers he's acquired during his incarceration in a state-of-the-art secret facility - crosses Banner's path in this collection that reprints Incredible Hulk (2nd series) #s 55-59.

As the volume begins, Creel is in his prison; while outside, something kills a woman who works at the facility. Inside, other workers begin acting extremely strangely. Everything's tied into the evolution of the Absorbing Man and his expanding abilities. In "Hide In Plain Sight", you realize that all along, the true extent of how dangerous Creel really is has been underestimated, partially because Creel has never been the brightest character and has lacked the imagination to really use his power. Now he's smarter, and has more power than ever to use. Here, the Absorbing Man is one of the greatest threats the Hulk has ever faced. The entrance of the Hulk into this chain of events at first seemed coincidental, but it's entirely possible Creel planned it.

The only real flaw is that in this volume, for the first time in Bruce Jones's run on the title, a slight sense of repetition in the way the arcs unfold is beginning to creep in. This sense proves to be short-lived (the very next arc, "Split Decisions", shakes things up again, and it really isn't enough to deduct a star.

Although I recommend starting with "Return Of The Monster" (Hulk 34-39) and working through in order, this volume differs from the rest of Bruce Jones's run in that it can be read without the rest of the extended arc first, if one wishes. It's still tied in to the whole Ricky Myers saga, but not as closely as the other volumes. This arc came out the summer the Hulk movie was released and I think Marvel wanted to give people a clean 'jumping-on' point, (# 55 was one of the 25-cent issues that gets brought out periodically to introduce new people to a title) but they accomplished it without abandoning the longer story they were in the middle of; they just let the focus shine off to the side for a couple days in the big green guy's life.

Another very exciting, very rewarding chapter in a truly awesome run for the Hulk.

Another solid chapter in Bruce Jones' Hulk saga.......2003-11-26

Collecting the five part storyarc, Hide in Plain Sight finds Carl Creel AKA The Absorbing Man with a new ability that allows him to jump in and out of peoples minds. This little technique proves handy considering he's trapped in an underground prison, and who just so happens to be in the middle of this? That's right, good 'ol Bruce Banner. Hide in Plain Sight ie yet another more than solid chapter scripted by Bruce Jones, undoubtadly the best writer of the Hulk since Peter David. The story is a bit of a sidebar to Jones' continuing conspiracy storyarc, but this is a welcome distraction. Leo Fernandez's art seems a bit cartoony for me, he doesn't give Hulk the gritty look that is done so superbly by Mike Deodato, but the art isn't bad by any means. All in all, Hide in Plain Sight is yet another more than solid chapter in Bruce Jones' excellent Hulk saga.

Average customer rating:

Loeb and Sale tackle the HULK
great read
Gray Matter
Smashing
Not their best work

Hulk: Gray
Jeph Loeb , and Tim Sale
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785113460

Book Description

This tale examines in new detail the earliest days of the Incredible Hulk. As Dr. Bruce Banner makes his first transformations into his brutish alter ego, relationships that will influence his life and the life of the Hulk are forged... and destroyed! Collects Hulk: Gray #1-6

Customer Reviews:

Loeb and Sale tackle the HULK.......2007-08-15

If you have read any of the other comic character studies by these guys, you know what you're in for. If not, this is a fine place to start. the art is incredible. it has an old school, art deco feel, bu in a modern way. the story is an interesting exploration on the origin of the incredible hulk. highly recommended!

great read.......2007-07-18

exciting from beginning to end. gives a better understanding for the hulk and his supporting cast. loeb & sale never fail in bringing comic book gold.

Gray Matter.......2007-07-06

Gray is a well written, well drawn reexamination of the Hulk's origin.

Using a Sopranos psychiatry session narrative device, author Jeph Loeb explores the rise of the Hulk and the complex relationship the gray giant has with Bruce Banner, Betty and General Ross.

Tim Sale's artwork is its usual "brutish beauty", employing Milleresque linework and mood. Matt Hollingsworth's coloring is fantastic and really compliments Sale's minimalist style.

Bruce Banner's end of story epiphany is sobering and kind of depressing. An excellent work and well worth the ticke price.

Smashing.......2007-07-05

I haven't been too fond of the Marvel work from long time collaborating partners Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, but Hulk: Gray has gotten a worse rep here than it deserves. Hulk: Gray is better than Spider-Man: Blue and Daredevil: Yellow, and continues the color schemed, emotion laced look at Marvel's iconic heroes. Hulk: Gray finds Bruce Banner recounting what happened after transforming into the Incredible Hulk to Doc Samson as Loeb examines the world set up by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby way back when, as well as just what drives Banner, his love Betty Ross, her father General Ross, and Banner's unlikely ally Rick Jones. What makes Hulk: Gray work so well is the territory that Lee and Kirby paved before that Loeb mines, re-works, and pays homage to while putting his own spin on the events. Tim Sale's artwork is exquisite as well. Pay no attention to the negative reviews panning Sale's work, as his Hulk is more akin to Kirby's original Frankenstein's monster-esque vision of science run amok. All in all, Hulk: Gray is by far the best of the Marvel, color coded works from Loeb and Sale, and is definitely worth picking up for Hulk fans.

Not their best work.......2007-03-05

The comics-writing team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have certainly made a splash in the industry, creating some landmark stories for both DC and Marvel in recent years. They have their detractors as well as their rabid fans; I fall somewhere in the middle, enjoying some work while believing other productions to have missed the mark.

That brings us to "Hulk: Gray," a collected miniseries that addresses the beginnings of the Hulk's existence -- before he turned green. This one, I fear, is a flop.

Probably the biggest failing here is the art. Sale's distinctive style doesn't lend itself well to the Hulk, who is supposed to be an awe-inspiring figure of strength and rage. Here, the Hulk has beady little eyes, splayed toes and jagged teeth, all of which makes him more comical in appearance than inspiring. If that's not enough, he looks less muscular, more pudgy. Right, those rock-hard muscles have run to fat, giving us a creature more suited to beer and pizza on the sofa than epic battles with Iron Man.

As for the story -- well, there's no denying Loeb is a talented writer. But Hulk's origins have been explored and revisited countless times in the past, and I can't see how this version adds anything of substance to the tale. Sure, it's all couched as a big, psychological exposition as Hulk's unwilling alter-ego, Bruce Banner, relates the facts of his first 48 hours to psychiatrist pal Doc Samson. But really, we already knew General Ross was obsessive, that Betty Ross had father issues, that Rick Jones had problems with authority, that Banner himself struggles with guilt, that the Hulk is simple and childlike. This isn't new ground.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(n e t) editor

Average customer rating:

Beautiful, Awesome Story!
Fourth Volume Of Perhaps The Greatest Hulk Arc Of All Time
A is for Abomination! H is for Hulk! H & A are for Hugely Awesome!
Great book!
Another chapter from the incredible Bruce Jones

Incredible Hulk Vol. 4: Abominable
Bruce Jones
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785111131

Book Description

The secret organization hell-bent on capturing the Incredible Hulk has hired the services of one of his deadliest and oldest foes, The Abomination! Two of the Marvel Universe's most powerful adversaries go head-to-head and toe-to-toe in a gamma-powered slugfest!

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful, Awesome Story!.......2007-03-14

While I am not a big Hulk fan, I do enjoy his tales. This one has got to be one of the best I've ever read!

Without giving away too much, this was part of a bigger story arch. We find Dr. Banner on the run from some rogue organization while trying to prove his innocence over a murder he didn't commit as The Hulk. During this travel, he runs across a woman named Nadia who he hits it off both as a friend and as an intimate partner!

Meanwhile, this rogue group enlists The Abomination in their efforts to take down The Hulk. To this end, they even show him taped footage of Bruce having sex with Nadia.......WHO IS THE ABOMINATION'S WIFE UNKNOWN TO BRUCE! This sets up one big green donnybroke!

There are so many twists and turns in this story that I don't want to give them away but rest assured your $12 will be well spent on this book!

Fourth Volume Of Perhaps The Greatest Hulk Arc Of All Time.......2007-03-01

One of the most intense runs of any comic title ever - the Bruce Jones-written extended Hulk saga concerning the aftermath of the 'Ricky Myers incident' and the search for the Hulk's blood by a secret cabal with seemingly limitless resources - continues in the "Abominable" Trade Paperback, reprinting numbers 50 - 54 of the ongoing Incredible Hulk series. Obviously, from the title, one can tell that a deadly new angle in the form of one of the Hulk's oldest adversaries is going to enter the arc here.

To recap a brief bit of what's got us - the readers and the characters - to this point, the "Abominable" story continues the same mega-arc that began back in Incredible Hulk # 34 (reprinted in the "Return Of The Monster" Trade Paperback, along with Hulk #s 35-39) that finds Bruce Banner on the run after the alleged death of a little boy named Ricky Myers in a Hulk rampage. More alone than he's been in years, aided only by a mysterious 'Mr. Blue' Banner communicates with through a special laptop computer, he has to try and prove the innocence of his other half while avoiding the authorities and, more dangerously, one of the most powerful (and convincingly depicted) of the many secretive power-hungry organizations in the Marvel Universe. This cabal isn't looking for any truth or justice regarding the Myers incident, just the blood of the Hulk. The cabal has worked genetic wonders (some would say nightmares) with normal DNA; the prospect of what they could achieve with Hulk DNA has them determined to go to any lengths.

In "Abominable", Bruce Banner - who's found himself evolving some rather unexpected attributes outside of his Hulk state - comes to the defence of a young, beautiful diner owner (a highway diner in a pretty desolate stretch of desert) named Nadia, who's being accosted by a group of thugs, while more or less simultaneously the cabal (I don't think they're refered to as that in the story, but that's how I think of them) are upping the firepower in their Hulk-hunting efforts by seeking out and recruiting the Abomination. With Nadia, Bruce finds someone who he hits a spark with in more ways than one, and in the isolated desert home owned by Nadia (who it instantly appears is, like Banner and the Hulk, something of a lost and wounded soul) it appears that both characters are going to, at least temporarily, find a measure of the peace and happiness that's eluding them. Except, of course, that the Abomination is being set on their trail.

One point about this whole run of Hulk that I neglected to mention in writeups for some previous chapters is the major sexual electricity that runs through a lot of the issues, hot enough to make the New Mexico deserts where many of the stories take place seem cool and frosty. When thinking of comic book titles that would have the potential for this kind of appeal, Incredible Hulk may be one of the last books one would think of, but it works in this run. The erotic angles are often charming and romantic (a counter-balance to most of the rest of the goings-on in the books) or, at times, of a tense and suspenseful nature that hints of something more sinister lying either behind them or off in the shadows waiting to pounce. The electricity really hits a high mark in "Abominable" ("Split Decisions", another great chapter of the arc that I'll try and do a writeup on soon, succeeds immensely here too). There's another, strongly contrasting, angle that's been running from "Return Of The Monster" onward that also gets amped up here - the 'real-life horrors' kind of thing that you read about in the newspapers is a big part of this Hulk era, and it plays a major role in this volume, right alongside the more fantastical horrors of the Abomination.

Speaking of Abomination, though a part of me will always sorely miss the much-more-sympathetic version of the character that developed during Peter David's great run on Hulk through the 80s and 90s, that ship has long since sailed. The Abomination started moving in a much different direction long prior to "Return Of The Monster", and here he's at his most horrendous, one of Marvel's most evil villains as shown not just in his current state but in the new revelations about his back history that are coming to light. Writer Bruce Jones is, in addition to his Hulk work, best known for his horror and 'weird' stories in legions of titles over the years including Twisted Tales, House Of Mystery, Alien Worlds and Flinch, and he's created one of comicdom's great horror tales in his extended Hulk arc. It's my hope that all these volumes will act as sort of a 'gateway' - getting fans of the Marvel Universe (and similar fare like the DC Universe titles, like the old Malibu Ultraverse stuff, and so on) to take a look at the broader horror field both in comic books and outside; and will also bring horror fans over to check out Marvel's comics and other publishers's superhero/adventure/fantasy-based books that they may have otherwise overlooked. Whatever background of reading you're coming from, these Hulk volumes that sprang out of IH # 34 represent some of the best the entire world of story-telling has to offer, and are definate Marvel must-haves.

A is for Abomination! H is for Hulk! H & A are for Hugely Awesome!.......2005-09-08

This is the best Hulk book I own! Abomination is my # 1 favorite Hulk villain of all time, Hulk is my 5th favorite comic book hero topped only by Punisher, Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Tigra, the art and writing is excellent, the hate, love, rage, friendship, and will in the book are solid, the suspense and intensity is out of this world-NUFF SAID! GET THIS COMIC IF YOU ARE A HULK FAN! HULK COMICS DO NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS! YOU WILL HAVE SPENT YOUR MONEY ON A WORTHY ITEM! END OF STORY!

Great book!.......2004-01-06

I don't get to read comics that much anymore. I still like to look at this once in a wile but that's about it. This was a great story. These comics are more like movies. This is about David Banner, who helps a women from gangs. The woman envites David into his hous and they start loving each other. Meanwile, to agents trying to kill the Hulk, go into a govermint lab to hier this experament called The Abomination. The woman David is with is the Abominations ex-wife when he was a human who would abuse her. The agents promise the return of his wife if he kills the Hulk. Th Abomination ageress. The end of this is a HUGE slugfeast. Lots of blood. Great book.

Another chapter from the incredible Bruce Jones.......2003-09-25

Bruce Jones is unquestionably the best writer to come along to the Hulk comic series since legendary Hulk scribe Peter David, and while I don't find Abominable the best chapter of Jones' Hulk saga; it is a great and enjoyable read nonetheless. The mysterious organization hell bent on capturing the Hulk has hired Emil Blonsky: also known as the Abomination who is one of the Hulk's deadliest foes. In the meantime, Bruce Banner finds himself getting very, VERY, cozy with Blonsky's estranged wife Nadia. The storyarc manages to make Banner the center of the story, not his monsterous alter ego which was a main point of the series for years. The final showdown between the Hulk and the Abomination is worth the price of admission here alone, but the beautiful art by Mike Deodato makes this book very worthwhile. Before picking this up though, it is a very good idea to start with the beginning of Jones' Hulk stories or you'll find yourself lost in the conspiracy storyarc.

Essential Incredible Hulk, Vol. 4 (Marvel Essentials)

Average customer rating:

Classic Marvel Madness!

Essential Incredible Hulk, Vol. 4 (Marvel Essentials)
Roy Thomas , Gary Friedrich , Len Wein , Gerry Conway , Chris Claremont , Archie Goodwin , Steve Gerber , Steve Englehart , Dick Ayers , and Herb Trimpe
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785121935

Book Description

It's the original trial of the Incredible Hulk, but not even Doc Samson and Matt Murdock can get the Hulk free of charges... from the Rhino, the Abomination and the Bi-Beast! Foes from the sewers, the seas, the stars and a shrunken realm gone mad! And Betty Ross gives a new twist to becoming a Harpy after the wedding! Monsters, mindswaps and Niagara Falls! Plus: For the X-Fans, the birth of the Wendigo and the death of the Mimic! Collects Incredible Hulk #143-170.

Customer Reviews:

Classic Marvel Madness!.......2007-01-05

This volume contains Harlan Ellison's classic Hulk stories. If you're a fan of either Old School Marvel, or the brilliant futurist/SF writer Ellison, then give it a try!

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