Background on WorldWarHulk: PlanetHulk

In the 2006 storyline "Planet Hulk" by Greg Pak, after the Hulk destroys much of Las Vegas, a secret group of superheroes called the Illuminati trap the Hulk and rocket him into space to live a peaceful existence on a planet uninhabited by intelligent life. After a trajectory malfunction, the Hulk travels through a wormhole and crashes on the violent planet Sakaar. Weakened by his journey, the Hulk is captured, then sold as a slave. In a gladiatorial arena, he makes a deadly enemy by scarring the emperor's face. The Hulk overcomes great odds to become a gladiator, a rebel leader and eventually a king.

The Hulk's kingdom is in the process of making treaties with all the factions on the planet, lifelong enemies are now becoming allies and the Hulk is content. The peace does not last long. The shuttle which carried Hulk to Sakaar malfunctions, causing a massive explosion, killing thousands, including his spouse and queen, Caiera, and their unborn child. The explosion fractures the planet's tectonic plates leading to their eventual disintegration, killing almost everyone on the planet.

WorldWar Hulk

World War Hulk is a comic book crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics beginning in May 2007.[1] The story will unfold within the five-issue World War Hulk miniseries by writer Greg Pak and penciler John Romita Jr., as well as within the ongoing The Incredible Hulk series and several other Marvel titles.[1]

Overview

The story revolves around the Hulk's (Bruce Banner) return to Earth following his exile at the hands of The Illuminati, a covert assembly of six powerful superhero leaders.

Publication history

The crossover begins with the one-shot World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker (July 2007), written by Peter David and penciled by Sean Phillips, Alvaro Rio, and Lee Weeks. Marvel announced this will be followed by Incredible Hulk #106-110 and World War Hulk: Frontline #1-6[2] as a parallel story that follows the impact of the Hulk's return on various characters, such as She-Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and Hercules. The crossover will extend to regular issues of Avengers: The Initiative, Ghost Rider, Heroes For Hire, Irredeemable Ant-Man, and Iron Man; and miniseries starring the Hulk and the X-Men and a newly created group, the Gamma Corps.[3] The stories are scheduled to run through summer to early fall, beginning in issues cover-dated July 2007.[4]

Synopsis

In his time spent on the planet Sakaar, the Hulk has become stronger than ever before, and he wants revenge on the Illuminati. In his spaceship headed for Earth, the Hulk grows enraged at the The Illuminati for the loss of his wife and his unborn child. Seeing his friends as enemies, he almost kills the Brood and Korg. The Hulk and his comrades plan to attack Illuminati member Black Bolt first.

Tie-ins

World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker (July 2007; one-shot)
World War Hulk #1-5
World War Hulk: X-Men #1-3
World War Hulk: Gamma Corps #1-4
World War Hulk: Frontline #1-6
Incredible Hulk #106-110
Heroes For Hire #11-15
Iron Man #19-20
Ghost Rider #12-13
Avengers: The Initiative #4-5
Irredeemable Ant-Man #10
Punisher War Journal #12
Marvel Spotlight: World War Hulk
World War Hulk: Gamma Files

See also

Planet Hulk
The Illuminati in World War Hulk