Planet Hulk
Encyclopedia
"Planet Hulk" is a Marvel Comics
storyline that ran primarily through issues of The Incredible Hulk started in 2006. It dealt primarily with the Marvel heroes' decision to send the Hulk
away, his acclimation to and conquest of the planet where he landed, and his efforts to return to Earth to take his revenge.
There was also a special Planet Hulk: Gladiator Guidebook publication by Anthony Flamini
and the storyline's main writer Greg Pak
, similar to the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
detailing the characters, races and cultures within the storyline.
describes the origin of the ideas:
He also drew from real-world history:
The story's roots began in the New Avengers: Illuminati one-shot and Incredible Hulk #88-91. The main storyline was told in Incredible Hulk #92-105, and Giant-Size Hulk vol 2 #1.
It led directly to the World War Hulk
crossover, and inspired the Son of Hulk series.
The story was re-examined in What If?: Planet Hulk.
pact with his fellow gladiators Miek, no-name Brood
, Elloe Kaifi
, Lavin Skee, Hiroim
and Korg
.
Hulk becomes a popular hero for his actions in the arena, and a group of insurgents try to recruit the Hulk to their cause. The Hulk delines, but Elloe chooses to go with the rebels.
During their next gladiator fight, Lavin Skee is killed. As the others come closer to winning their freedom, the Red King's lieutenant, Caiera
, arranges for them to fight the Silver Surfer
, who is also controlled by an obedience disk. During the battle, the Hulk breaks the Surfer's disk, freeing him. The Surfer uses his powers to destroy all obedience disks, freeing everyone. As he leaves Sakaar, the Surfer offers to return Hulk to Earth. Hulk chooses to stay behind.
The Hulk and his warbound, now on the run from the Red King, are hunted by Caiera. As they travel through villages, Hulk finds followers who believe he is the foretold savior, "Sakaarson." Hulk denies this title. Caiera finally confronts the Hulk, their battle is interrupted by an invasion of "spikes" that cause monsterous mutations and death to anyone they touch. Caiera calls the Red King for assistance and learns that he ordered the spikes to be deployed there. Horrified at what her king has done, Caiera joins the Hulk.
Hulk leads a raid on the Red King's capital, culminating in a one-on-one battle between the two of them. The Red King is defeated, and Hulk is named the new king. He takes Caiera for his wife, and the two are able to broker peace among the various conflicts which had festered under the Red King. Caiera becomes pregnant with Hulk's child.
Meanwhile, the shuttle that brought Hulk to Sakaar is being turned into a monument. It's engine detonates in a massive explosion. The whole city is destroyed, and Caiera dies. Enraged and blaming the Illuminati who built the shuttle for the damage, Hulk and his warbound leave Sakaar and head for Earth.
.
Sakaar rebuilds after the explosion with the help of Hulk's two surviving sons, Skaar
and Hiro-Kala
.
:
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
storyline that ran primarily through issues of The Incredible Hulk started in 2006. It dealt primarily with the Marvel heroes' decision to send the Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
away, his acclimation to and conquest of the planet where he landed, and his efforts to return to Earth to take his revenge.
There was also a special Planet Hulk: Gladiator Guidebook publication by Anthony Flamini
Anthony Flamini
Anthony Flamini is an American freelance comic book writer.-Comics Work:Writer*All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #1-12...
and the storyline's main writer Greg Pak
Greg Pak
Greg Pak is an American New York-based film director/comic book writer, known for his work on such books featuring the Hulk.-Early life:Pak is a graduate of Yale University, where he was a member of the Purple Crayon improv group, and studied history at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and film at...
, similar to the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...
detailing the characters, races and cultures within the storyline.
Publication history
The storyline's main writer Greg PakGreg Pak
Greg Pak is an American New York-based film director/comic book writer, known for his work on such books featuring the Hulk.-Early life:Pak is a graduate of Yale University, where he was a member of the Purple Crayon improv group, and studied history at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and film at...
describes the origin of the ideas:
He also drew from real-world history:
The story's roots began in the New Avengers: Illuminati one-shot and Incredible Hulk #88-91. The main storyline was told in Incredible Hulk #92-105, and Giant-Size Hulk vol 2 #1.
It led directly to the World War Hulk
World War Hulk
"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....
crossover, and inspired the Son of Hulk series.
The story was re-examined in What If?: Planet Hulk.
Build up
The Illuminati decide the Hulk is too dangerous to remain on Earth. They trick him into entering orbit to destroy a rogue satellite, and then use a shuttle to jetison him from the solar system. They intended him to land on a peaceful planet, but the shuttle passes through a wormhole on its way.Planet Hulk
As Hulk listens to a recording from the Illuminati explaining their actions, his shuttle crashes on the planet Sakaar. Weakened from the crash, Hulk is fixed with an obedience disk and taken into slavery. He is forced to fight gladiator battles for the planet's emperor, the Red King. Hulk forms a warboundWarbound
The Warbound is a group of fictional characters in the Marvel Comics. They first joined forces in The Incredible Hulk vol. 3, #94 as a combination of new and existing characters, the former created by Greg Pak and Carlo Pagulayan.-Planet Hulk:...
pact with his fellow gladiators Miek, no-name Brood
Brood (comics)
The Brood are a race of insectoid, parasitic, extraterrestrial beings that appear in the comic books published by Marvel Comics, especially Uncanny X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum, they first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #155 .The Brood possess wings, fanged teeth and...
, Elloe Kaifi
Elloe Kaifi
Elloe Kaifi is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. She first appeared in Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #92 in the 2006 Hulk storyline Planet Hulk.-Fictional character biography:...
, Lavin Skee, Hiroim
Hiroim
Hiroim is a fictional, comic-book character who appears in books published by Marvel Comics, usually as a supporting character in Hulk books. He first appeared in Incredible Hulk vol. 3, #92.-Fictional character biography:...
and Korg
Korg (comics)
Korg is a character in the Marvel Comics universe and is first seen in The Incredible Hulk #93 during the Planet Hulk storyline. Created by Greg Pak, Korg was inspired by Thor's origin story and was later retconned in The Incredible Hulk #94 into one of the stone creatures that fought Thor in...
.
Hulk becomes a popular hero for his actions in the arena, and a group of insurgents try to recruit the Hulk to their cause. The Hulk delines, but Elloe chooses to go with the rebels.
During their next gladiator fight, Lavin Skee is killed. As the others come closer to winning their freedom, the Red King's lieutenant, Caiera
Caiera
Caiera is a fictional character in the , introduced during the "Planet Hulk" storyline. She first appeared in Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #92 , and was created by Greg Pak and Carlo Pagulayan.-Fictional character biography:...
, arranges for them to fight the Silver Surfer
Silver Surfer
The Silver Surfer is a Marvel Comics superhero created by Jack Kirby. The character first appears in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue arc that fans call "The Galactus Trilogy"....
, who is also controlled by an obedience disk. During the battle, the Hulk breaks the Surfer's disk, freeing him. The Surfer uses his powers to destroy all obedience disks, freeing everyone. As he leaves Sakaar, the Surfer offers to return Hulk to Earth. Hulk chooses to stay behind.
The Hulk and his warbound, now on the run from the Red King, are hunted by Caiera. As they travel through villages, Hulk finds followers who believe he is the foretold savior, "Sakaarson." Hulk denies this title. Caiera finally confronts the Hulk, their battle is interrupted by an invasion of "spikes" that cause monsterous mutations and death to anyone they touch. Caiera calls the Red King for assistance and learns that he ordered the spikes to be deployed there. Horrified at what her king has done, Caiera joins the Hulk.
Hulk leads a raid on the Red King's capital, culminating in a one-on-one battle between the two of them. The Red King is defeated, and Hulk is named the new king. He takes Caiera for his wife, and the two are able to broker peace among the various conflicts which had festered under the Red King. Caiera becomes pregnant with Hulk's child.
Meanwhile, the shuttle that brought Hulk to Sakaar is being turned into a monument. It's engine detonates in a massive explosion. The whole city is destroyed, and Caiera dies. Enraged and blaming the Illuminati who built the shuttle for the damage, Hulk and his warbound leave Sakaar and head for Earth.
Aftermath
Arriving on Earth, Hulk and the warbound begin World War HulkWorld War Hulk
"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....
.
Sakaar rebuilds after the explosion with the help of Hulk's two surviving sons, Skaar
Skaar
Skaar is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually as a supporting character to Hulk. He is the son of the Hulk and the extraterrestrial Caiera, who conceived him during the "Planet Hulk" storyline...
and Hiro-Kala
Hiro-Kala
Hiro-Kala is a fictional character in the . He first appears in Skaar: Son of Hulk #2 and was created by Greg Pak and Ron Garney. He is the son of the Hulk and Caiera and the twin brother of Skaar.-Publication history:...
.
Collected editions
The series has been collected into a number of individual volumesTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Incredible Hulk: Prelude to Planet Hulk (collects Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #88-91 and Hulk Handbook 2004, softcover, Marvel Comics, March 2006, ISBN 0-7851-1953-1)
- Hulk: Planet Hulk (collects Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #92-105, Giant-Size Hulk vol. 2 #1, and "Mastermind Excello" from Amazing Fantasy #15, 416 pages, Marvel Comics, hardcover, June 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2245-1, softcover, April 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2012-2)
- Planet Hulk Omnibus (384 pages, Panini ComicsPanini ComicsPanini Comics is an Italian comic book publisher. A division of Panini Group, best known for their collectible stickers, it is headquartered in Modena, Italy...
, August 2007, ISBN 1905239661)
Other versions
A special issue of What If? featured three alternate versions of Planet Hulk.- In "What If Caiera survived the explosion instead of Hulk", Caiera leads the warbound to Earth to avenge her husband. She murders the illuminati and enslaves Earth.
- In "What If Hulk landed where the Illuminati intended", the Hulk survives against creatures and eventually learns to live in peace on the planet. His actions cause the planet's evolution to take a turn and centuries later, intelligent beings live there, considering stories of the Hulk only legend. One young boy, however, sees the Hulk, now smaller and more "native" to the world and utterly happy.
- In "What If Bruce Banner Landed on Sakaar Instead of the Hulk", Hulk's shuttle lands on Sakaar and regresses to Bruce Banner thinking that this was a peaceful planet. Bruce Banner is quickly killed.
Film
- The Lionsgate adaptation of Planet HulkPlanet Hulk (film)Planet Hulk is a 2010 direct-to-video animated film created by Marvel Animation and released by Lionsgate Home Entertainment. It is based on the "Planet Hulk" storyline by Greg Pak and Carlo Pagulayan.-Plot:...
is based on this storyline, and was released in February 2010. The film has the Silver SurferSilver SurferThe Silver Surfer is a Marvel Comics superhero created by Jack Kirby. The character first appears in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue arc that fans call "The Galactus Trilogy"....
replaced by Beta Ray BillBeta Ray BillBeta Ray Bill is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Thor #337 and was created by writer-artist Walt Simonson....
(due to licensing and the fact that Silver Surfer appeared in The Super Hero Squad ShowThe Super Hero Squad ShowThe Super Hero Squad Show is an American cartoon series by Marvel Animation. It is based on the Marvel Super Hero Squad action figure line from Hasbro, which portray the characters of the Marvel Universe in a cartoonish super-deformed-style...
) and No-NameNo-NameNo-Name of the Brood is a fictional character in the . She is a Sleazoid Brood Queen who first appeared as a main character in the Planet Hulk storyline of The Incredible Hulk-Fictional character history:...
the BroodBrood (comics)The Brood are a race of insectoid, parasitic, extraterrestrial beings that appear in the comic books published by Marvel Comics, especially Uncanny X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum, they first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #155 .The Brood possess wings, fanged teeth and...
doesn't appear due to time constraints. Hulk does not conquer the planet, nor display a desire for revenge on the heroes from Earth that sent him there, though in the film the planet is not destroyed as in the comics. In the adaptation, the Red King is killed by his Death Head guards after being infected by the Spikes. Miek does not go through a metamorphosis.
External links
- Planet Hulk at Marvel.com