Hmm, maybe it's a good thing I didn't read "Planet Hulk"
Published by Avi Green on Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 8:26 AM.
Because the following description in this recent Scripps-Howard article is really sleazy and insulting:
It seems as though today it is simply not enough for a lost love to be written as simply that; these days it seems that in order to have any "impact" the lost love must be pregnant, no matter how questionable the story's execution.
Now what else is there in this article:
And the worst part is: if my estimates here are correct, the superheroes who sent the Hulk into space are responsible in a way for the death of the Hulk's intergalactic bride, because they produced the ship whose power core blew up, taking her with it. If that's how it turned out, I am more than a bit disgusted.
It all began in 2006, when four of Marvel's superheroes tried to send the Hulkster to an uninhabited planet -- but ended up exiling him on the warlike Sakaar. "Planet Hulk" became a yearlong story by writer Greg Pak and artists Carlo Pagulayan and Aaron Lopestri illustrating the Gamma-Spawned Gargantuan's triumphant rise from the gladiatorial arena to the Sakaarian throne -- and the altar. Until the original spaceship's power core blew up, that is, wiping out thousands of Sakaarians (Sakaarites? Sakaaroshians?), including the Hulk's pregnant wife.Betty Banner's own pregnancy from 1988 may have failed, but she herself wasn't slain (not at that time anyway) while still in a state of pregnancy like this woman was. You know something? This sounds sick, not unlike how Sue Dibny was slain while pregnant in Identity Crisis.
It seems as though today it is simply not enough for a lost love to be written as simply that; these days it seems that in order to have any "impact" the lost love must be pregnant, no matter how questionable the story's execution.
Now what else is there in this article:
Now he's [the Hulk] back on Earth, and he's mad. Boy, is he mad! Beginning in June, the miniseries "World War Hulk" (and Hulk's own title and numerous spin-offs) has followed the Emerald Behemoth and his gladiator allies as they achieved a little payback. They've taken over Manhattan, and smashed all of Earth's superpowered defenders, from the Avengers to the X-Men.What's so great about that? If there ever was anything great about it, I don't think there is now, and the article is written way too sensationalistically to convince otherwise. By now, the Hulk's smashfests have become pretty pointless.
Reader reaction has been nothing short of ecstatic, much to Pak's delight.No kidding. Not even when the dead woman was pregnant, for whatever reason I cannot begin to think, other than overkill? Don't get me wrong, I realize that, unlike Identity Crisis, it may not have been done in the same sickly way as that monstrosity, but still, I simply cannot see what's so great about it, or even about the crossover it spawned from, Civil War, which was definitely bad.
"I just feel lucky to have had the chance to come on board at the right time," Pak said. "When we started planning the 'Planet Hulk' epic over two years ago, I wanted to tell a tale with enormous emotional impact and a ridiculous amount of smashing. And that seems to have been exactly what readers were hungry for. I'm also insanely lucky to have been supported by brilliant artists throughout 'Planet Hulk' and now the legendary John Romita Jr. for 'World War Hulk.' It's hard for me to goof things up too much with geniuses like that behind the pencil."
Not only has "WWH" been the smashing-est tale ever told (just ask Iron Man), but it's morally oblique -- who's a hero, what with all the betrayal and revenge? It's a slugfest! It's a study in ethics! It's two mints in one!Yeah, it's a study alright! A study in how to tear down some of the best of Marvel's superheroes, making them as unadmirable as possible, and humiliating them to no end. Just ask Iron Man. And yep, it's morally oblique, by leaning towards leftism!
And the worst part is: if my estimates here are correct, the superheroes who sent the Hulk into space are responsible in a way for the death of the Hulk's intergalactic bride, because they produced the ship whose power core blew up, taking her with it. If that's how it turned out, I am more than a bit disgusted.
And it all wraps up Nov. 14, with "World War Hulk" No. 5. Everything's on the table: The whole Marvel Universe of superheroes is involved, as are all the key players from Hulk's 45-year history. Who will live? Who will die? Who will turn green and smash things? And whither the Hulk, now that he's made himself Public Enemy No. 1 of the entire planet?In other words, it's yet another crossover, more or less, set during a time when New York City must be turned into a post-apocalyptic war zone. Sorry, but this has become so insulting by now that there'll be no purchase made here.
"The 'World War Hulk Aftersmash' one-shot, written by yours truly with gorgeous pencils by Rafa Sandoval, will answer a ton of questions," Pak said. "It focuses on a number of surprising characters as they struggle to survive in the shattered streets of Manhattan directly following 'World War Hulk.' The book also sets up a few miniseries that will debut in December and January.
Labels: crossoverloading, Hulk, marvel comics
