Incredible Hulks: Planet Savage TPB [2011] by Greg Pak

INCREDIBLE HULKS: PLANET SAVAGE TPB

Following the events of World War Hulk #5, Miek has been residing in the Savage Land. Miek was responsible for conclusion of Planet Hulk allowing Red King loyalists to plant a damaged warp core on Hulk’s ship on Planet Sakaar. The damage killed Hulk’s wife Caiera and millions of innocents sending Hulk on a rampage on Earth against the Illuminati in World War Hulk. Miek has been in Prison 42 within the Negative Zone until he found his freedom during the Chaos War.

Planet Savage begins as the Hulk takes his Warbound to the Savage Land after receiving a message from Ka-Zar after a village of Sakaarians is slaughtered. The Hulk saves a group of Sakaarians and investigates what his happening. During dinner his body is paralyzed after ingesting food laced with a nerve toxin by the Sakaarian Elder. The Sakaarian Elder made a deal with Meik to hand over the Hulk and he will stop killing Sakaarians. The Hulk is kidnapped and taken to Meik who has been using Sakaarians implant his larvae.

Writer Greg Pak has been slowing wrapping up his run on Hulk which began in 2006 with Planet Hulk. While the Hulk only wanted to be left alone Pak has been building his supporting cast of monsters known as the Incredible Hulks including and introducing A-Bomb (Rick Jones), Red Hulk (General “Thunderbolt” Ross), Red She-Hulk (Betty Ross), She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters), Skaar, and the Warbound. After 7 years the time has come for the Hulk to become alone again and bring the focus back to Bruce Banner. The series will conclude with The Incredible Hulks #635 in August 2011.

PLANET SAVAGE

- Hulk reverts back to Bruce Banner to escape as the Warbound take on Meik and his followers

- The Hulk cannot remove the larve planted inside of him because it is connected to his heart

- The Hulk is under the influence of Meik and together face the Warbound asking for help

- Meik has transformed from a male to a female and has the ability to procreate using hosts

- The Hulk gains control and rips the larve from his chest to destroy it however Skaar stops him

- The Hulk throws Meik outside the outskirts of the Savage Land only to be buried alive

- The Hulk leaves the Savage Land while his son Skaar disappears into it

THE SPY WHO SMASHED ME

- Red She-Hulk’s shifting gamma powers will not allow her to transform her back to Betty Ross

- Betty Ross has been working with Tyrannus the one-time Emperor of Rome

- Tyrannus and Betty tricks Bruce into opening the containment chamber containing Pandora’s Box

- Banner kidnaps the world’s top crypto-mythologist Dr. Sofia Di Cosimo to find Pandora’s Box

- Banner finds both Betty and Tyrannus before they are kidnapped by the Knights of Rome

- Banner is deputizing as an U.N Special Operative to track down Pandora’s Box

- Hulk and Red She-Hulk share a kiss after defeating the Knights of Rome

- Tyrannus hijacks the Knights of Rome’s mystical tower and turns it against the Hulk

- Hulk and Tyrannus battle within the Rome Coliseum and shoots the urn releasing Pandora’s Box

- The Hulk inhales the entity of Hope who has possessed Betty within the urn

- Betty cannot take it anymore and reverts to Red She-Hulk who leaves with Tyrannus

This trade paperback collects

Incredible Hulks #623-629

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5