"World War Hulk" | |||
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Cover of World War Hulk 1 (Aug 2007).Art by David Finch. |
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Publisher | Marvel Comics | ||
Publication date | July 2007 – January 2008 | ||
Genre | Superhero Crossover |
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Main character(s) | Hulk Warbound The Illuminati Sentry |
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Creative team | |||
Writer(s) | Greg Pak | ||
Penciller(s) | John Romita, Jr. | ||
Inker(s) | Klaus Janson | ||
Colorist(s) | Christina Strain |
"World War Hulk" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through a self titled limited series and various other titles published by Marvel Comics in 2007, featuring the Hulk.[1]
The series consists of five main issues titled World War Hulk, with Greg Pak as writer and John Romita, Jr. as penciller, and three other limited series: World War Hulk: Frontline, World War Hulk: Gamma Corps, and World War Hulk: X-Men. It also ran through several extant Marvel comics series.
The plot is the culmination of a series of events that began with the Hulk being tricked into space by the Illuminati and a life model decoy of Nick Fury, the Hulk's subsequent exile seen in Planet Hulk and his imminent return to Earth to seek revenge on the Illuminati.
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Publication history
The story, a crossover throughout various series, began in the one-shot World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker (May 2007), written by Peter David and penciled by Sean Phillips, Alvaro Rio, and Lee Weeks. Marvel followed this with Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #106-110 and World War Hulk: Frontline #1-6[2] as parallel stories following the impact of the Hulk's return on various characters. The crossover extended into regular issues of Avengers: The Initiative, Ghost Rider, Heroes For Hire, Irredeemable Ant-Man, The Punisher War Journal, and Iron Man, as well as a miniseries starring the Hulk and the X-Men and a newly created group, the Gamma Corps.[3] The stories ran from summer through fall, beginning in issues cover-dated July 2007.[4] Initially scheduled to end in October, Marvel announced through the October 10 Diamond Dateline retail newsletter that the final titles in the crossover would be delayed until mid to late November.[5]
Synopsis
Blaming The Illuminati for the explosion of a space vessel they had constructed, leading to the deaths of his wife, his unborn child and millions of inhabitants of the planet Sakaar, the Hulk and his allies, the Warbound, come to Earth intent on revenge. First stopping at the moon, the Hulk defeats Illuminatus Black Bolt (later revealed as a Skrull impostor[6]). The Hulk proceeds to Manhattan, New York City, where he demands the presence of the Illuminati and that the city be evacuated.
He travels to the nearby X-Mansion, home of the X-Men, where Illuminati member Professor X, absent from the decision to send the Hulk off-planet, admits he would have agreed to that but not to permanent exile. He offers to turn himself in to the Hulk, but the rest of the X-Men won't allow it. The Hulk defeats several teams of X-Men,[7] and battles the Juggernaut, but leaves after learning of the mutant population's heavy losses during M-Day, believing that Xavier has suffered enough.
When the Hulk returns to Manhattan, the superhuman-operative team Gamma Corps battles him, but the Hulk convinces them they follow a false cause.[8]
As the time limit for the evacuation has passed, the Hulk defeats Iron Man, destroying Stark Tower in the process,[9] and fights Ghost Rider, who after realizing the Illuminati do not deserve vengeance, rides away.[10] The Hulk and his Warbound next defeat the Avengers, Doc Samson and the Fantastic Four, including temporary members Black Panther and Storm. Fantastic Four leader Reed Richards' plan to simulate the Sentry's presence in order to calm the Hulk also fails, while Sue Storm and the U.S. President vainly attempt to have the real Sentry intervene. The Hulk attaches "obedience disks" to the defeated, imprisoned superheroes, preventing them from using their powers.[11]
After a brief battle involving Hercules, Amadeus Cho, Namora, and Angel, the Hulk defeats General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross and a U.S. Army force.[11] The Hulk then encounters Doctor Strange, breaking the sorcerer's hands in an attempt to prevent him from invoking spells. At Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum, Warbound members Hiroim and Elloe defeat Iron Fist, Ronin, and Echo. Strange mystically merges with a powerful old enemy, Zom, replacing his shattered hands with spiked maces, and defeats Hiroim.[12]
An imprisoned Tony Stark (Iron Man) communicates with Dum Dum Dugan, acting director of the international espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D. in Stark's absence. Stark reveals an emergency plan to engulf Manhattan in the Negative Zone, thereby annihilating all positive matter on the island, including the Hulk, should the heroes fail.[13]
The Hulk and the Warbound transform Madison Square Garden into a gladiatorial arena.[12] Meanwhile, he repels an assassination attempt from Scorpion,[14] and a confrontation with the Initiative,[15] He also defeats the Zom-possessed Dr. Strange and the demonic entity flees Strange to seek a new host, but after controlling Stark's Hulkbuster Armor it is defeated by the Renegades.[16] Following speeches from supporters in the arena (including Tom Foster about how Iron Man was partially responsible for the death of his uncle at the hands of the Cyborg Thor clone) and the Hulk feeding a lion to a Demon Shrike (an alien creature), the Hulk arranges for Illuminati Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Black Bolt, and Mister Fantastic to fight a tentacled alien and later each other to the death, as a cheering audience watches.[17] When the Hulk orders Mr. Fantastic to kill Iron Man, the Sentry, in response, leaves his mountainside retreat and speeds toward the arena.
The Hulk spares Mr. Fantastic and Iron Man, declaring his intention was for "justice and not murder", that nobody had to or would die,[18] and declares that he plans to destroy New York City and leave the Illuminati to their shame. The Sentry arrives and attacks the Hulk, leading to a prolonged battle that leaves them spent and in their normal human forms. Warbound member Miek impales the Hulk's longtime friend Rick Jones, and reveals he intentionally allowed the mass deaths on Sakaar, knowing that they were caused by former followers of the Red King. The Hulk reverts from his Bruce Banner alter ego, and he and the Brood No-Name batter Miek in retaliation. The Hulk, overwhelmed with rage from Miek's betrayal, unwillingly begins to release energy that threatens Earth. Illuminati member Reed Richards tells the Hulk that they will try to help him this time. The Hulk responds, "I will never forgive you and will hate you forever. Almost as much as I hate myself." The Hulk asks Tony Stark to stop him before he destroys the world, and the latter activates a series of satellite devices that opens fire and eventually leaves the Hulk in his Bruce Banner form, unconscious.
S.H.I.E.L.D. later imprisons Banner in a facility three miles underground, with the other Warbound members having been taken into U.S. military custody. Meanwhile, on Sakaar, the Hulk's presumed-dead son, Skaar, arises. His story is chronicled in the sequel Skaar: Son of Hulk.
Planet Skaar
A continuation of both Planet Hulk and World War Hulk began in May 2009. A special stand alone prologue and Skaar: Son of Hulk #11 will see the beginning of Planet Skaar an arc which is intended to bring Skaar directly into the middle of the Marvel Universe. Following the return of the Silver Savage (the Silver Surfer) in issue #7 events begin to spiral that forces Skaar to not only abandon Sakaar but to head towards Earth. Already revealed by series writer Greg Pak is that Mr Fantastic, Reed Richards, will not be amused with the arrival of another Hulk like being and that the meeting between father and son may not be very pleasant for the Hulk.
Other versions
What If?
For the upcoming 2009 What If series there will be a What If? World War Hulk one-shot which examines two alternatives to the storyline[19]:
- The first tale shows Tony Stark not hesitating to fire the laser satellite into New York City, killing the Warbound and many heroes. Watching from hiding, the Skrulls hear of the death of their queen (masquerading as Spider-Woman) but believe the Hulk is a prophet sent to aid them by destroying the heroes. They attack, their sleeper agents allowing them to wipe out most of the remaining super-beings and take over the world. Two months later, the Vision finds Bruce Banner in the ruins of New York, waiting to die and convinced him to become the Hulk again and help. The Hulk aids the remaining heroes against the Skrulls, inspiring people to help. In this world, it's the Wasp, not Hank Pym, who's a Skrull and she infects Hank with the bio-weapon that wipes out the remaining heroes. The Hulk survives and summons the Silver Surfer, demanding the Surfer call Galactus to destroy Earth. The Surfer does so but leaves, disgusted at the Hulk's blood-thirsty ways. Galactus arrives and feeds upon Earth, destroying the Skrulls and the planet. He lets the Hulk live, promising to take away the monster's pain and memories. The Hulk agrees and is transformed into Galactus' new herald, the World-Breaker.
- The second story has Don Blake and the Warriors Three flying back from Africa on a plane when they hear of the Hulk's attack. Blake turns into Thor to lead the others against the Hulk's forces. He and the Hulk engage in a massive battle across Manhattan as the Warriors fight the Warbound. As their battle continues, the Hulk and Thor learn of civilians needing help in destroyed tunnels and work together to save them. Thor manages to talk through to the Hulk, convincing him to give up his vendetta. Back at Madison Square Garden, the Warbound have discovered Miek's role in the destruction of Sakaar and have surrendered. The Sentry arrives only to find the battle over. Thor negotiates a settlement for all parties with the Hulk and his forces returning to rebuild Sakaar and leave Earth in peace.
Marvel Zombies Return
In the last issue, the Earth-Z version of Hulk became infected while on the moon. Instead of seeking revenge on the Illuminati and Earth, he returned to Earth to satisfy his hunger, and in turn, infects the version of the Sentry that was responsible for the outbreak in the first place.
Sales
World War Hulk #1 was at the top of the Diamond Comic Distributors' sales chart for June 2007, selling an estimated 178,302 copies.[20] When the first issue sold out, Marvel announced a second printing would have a variant cover by John Romita, Jr.[21]
References
- ^ "First Look: Gary Frank's Incredible Hulk #106 Cover". Marvel.com. http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.722. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
- ^ "NYCC '07: Paul Jenkins on World War Hulk: Frontline". Comic News International. 2007-02-23. http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=102627. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ^ "NYCC: War World Hulk". Comic News International. 2007-02-23. http://comicnewsi.com/article.php?catid=99&itemid=9403. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
- ^ "War World Hulk Checklist". Marvel.com. 2007-02-23. http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.850. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
- ^ "Delays to World War Hulk issues". Diamond Dateline. 2007-10-10.
- ^ Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1-4
- ^ World War Hulk: X-Men #1-2 (Aug.-Sept. 2007)
- ^ World War Hulk: Gamma Corps #1-4 (Sept.-Dec. 2007)
- ^ World War Hulk #1 (Aug. 2007)
- ^ Ghost Rider vol. 5, #12-13 (Aug.-Sept. 2007)
- ^ a b World War Hulk #2 (Sept. 2007)
- ^ a b World War Hulk #3 (Oct. 2007)
- ^ Iron Man vol. 4, #20 (Sept. 2007)
- ^ Incredible Hulk vol. 3, #110 (Nov. 2007; alternately number vol. 1, #584)
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #5-6 (Oct.-Nov. 2007)
- ^ Incredible Hulk vol. 3, #111
- ^ World War Hulk #4 (Nov. 2007)
- ^ World War Hulk #5 (Dec. 2007)
- ^ Richards, Dave (August 29th, 2009). "Fan Expo: Gabrie & Allo on 2009 “What If?” Specials". Comic Book Resources. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22735. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
- ^ Comic Book Resources: Sales Estimates for June, 2007 Books, August 8, 2007, Comic Book Resources
- ^ "World War Hulk #1 Sells Out, Second Printing Coming", August 10, 2007, Marvel Comics press release, Newsarama
External links
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