A Planet to Call His Own

There was a long history of animation being based on comic books for many years. For some time, since the early 1990s, DC comics dominated the animated field thanks to the well thought out stories produced by Bruce Timm.

Marvel Comics was lagging behind.

However, much of it changed when the Hulk Vs. titles began appearing under a different direction which set Marvel into profitable doorways never before explored. With the recognized form of the green giant, and his merry ways of anger, the cartoons became very popular with audiences. Marvel Comics is finally catching up in the animation field.

Their latest release called “Planet Hulk” which hit the shelves in the first week of this month changes the direction of the comic books once again.

With surprise hits like “The Avengers” films and “Doctor Strange,” each film seem to be opening up to greater possibilities. Now they're taking off the ground with the Hulk stories which are brought to life in animation.

“Planet Hulk” is a different kind of story about the Hulk in which the audience could identify with the loneliness of the sour beasts who knows only how to speak with his mighty fists. His paths of destruction left behind too many wounded. So four other major players led by Iron Man decided to get rid of the Hulk in the most humane way possible. They sent him away on a ship where he would no longer harm others with his unimaginable brutality.

By destroying the spacecraft with his anger, the Hulk finds himself on collision course with a strange alien planet Sakaar. With the ship flying through a worm hole, the ship is now in an unexplored region of space where the limitless possibilities of stories was in reach. The Hulk was now in a world determined by gladiator fights in the coliseum. This world was built on the strengths and rage.

The Hulk was feeling right at home.

So he works his way through tearing up a storm in this new world... Hulk's world. The more he fights, the more finesse he gathers, growing stronger in strength, redefining his savagery to stretch his fighting skills. This was a world he could turn to without being called a monster.

This world is ruled by a Red King who uses people as his puppets, and forces slaves to pit against each other in bloody battles. Very soon, the conflict becomes a personal one between the Hulk and the Red King. The Hulk only wishing to have his freedom. While the Red King wants to command everything without anyone standing in his way. He ruled with an iron fist.

The Hulk grudgingly becomes friends with a few other gladiators who help to earn his freedom. And theirs. However, it is Caiera, the Emperor's Lieutenant, who is a soldier who eventually learns more about the Hulk and his origins. It is because of her that the Hulk stays on this world where he is accepted.

So this becomes something of a love story on a cosmic scale. No other film concentrates so heavily on the character of the Hulk. Not once do you see him transform into his human counterpart Bruce Banner... in fact, there is only a passing reference to his name. For the most part, the story revolves around the Hulk and his incredible strength which is something to be admired on a world filled with savages.

This blooming romance works its way very well into the story. No one jumps into the romance. It simply happens between two people who understands each other at a gut level. And Caiera does fight against the Hulk in a mortal battle. So this woman is able to hold her own against the Hulk showing remarkable strength and craftsmanship of the warrior ways. There are few people who are able to fight the Hulk and survive on their own. Caiera is one of those few.

And the Hulk is only happy to accept her grace and beauty, taking her hand in marriage when he resolves the world of its savage lord Red King. In many ways, the Hulk steps into the center role of the prophecy of Sakaarson, the one who would be savior of the world. It's nice to see different sides of the Hulk portrayed here differently.

I was never very enamored with the character of the Hulk. Not at all. This growling, savage beast only gets angrier and becomes a tidal force of hateful nature filled with violence. That was all he ever was. I never relished his appearances in the comics. I was on anyone's side who fought against the Hulk just to shut him up. I always preferred the rocky giant the Thing from the Fantastic four and his jolly line, “It's clobberin' time.”

But “Plant Hulk” is much more than just fistcuffs and fights. There's a story to it. And this one explores a side of Hulk never before, his romantic nature. Perhaps, deep down inside, there is a soul beneath the ugly interior. And maybe he isn't such a bad guy after all.

There is a nice appearance by Beta Ray Bill in the film... a brother like Thor, a god of the storm and weather, though he has the appearance of a horse face. However, he is powerful and held his own against the Hulk as well. And a very noble creature indeed.

There are a lot of risks taken when doing the stories of the Hulk. There have been so much done already in films and television. But this time, the story is a different one. And we find ourselves looking to the Hulk with a different perspective one. It's an interesting one.

Marvel Animated Features is finally hitting its mark with the Hulk features and it would be a good idea for them to continue the saga of the green monster. There is a huge amount of Hulk comic books yet to be covered.

This film only covers about thirty percent of the Planet Hulk comics. They have yet to chronicle the other half of the story where the Hulk finally returns to Earth to polish off his grudge against Iron Man and the others who put him in this personal hell in the first place.

Would the Hulk thank them for sending him to this world by accident? Or would he just get angry? And most people wouldn't like him if he got angry.