Hulk, burned.

Only in comics can you get away with having your story introduced by an evil bug alien. Let's see Buffy or Galactica pull that one off!

From Hulk #100, "Planet Hulk: Alleigance, part 1" Written by Greg Pak, penciled by Carol Pagulayan, inked by Jeffrey Huet. I do like how Pak's taken the Hulk off the Civil War playing field, although I don't like how it makes Mr. Fantastic and Iron Man look like utter pricks...like every other Marvel comic right now. Nevermind. Pak also scores points by using a few recognizable Marvel aliens like the Brood above, and Korg, one of the Stone Men from Saturn that fought Thor in his first appearance.

(Later writers, particularly of the Marvel Handbook sort, would have to backpedal on the Stone Men's place of origin; as not being originally from Saturn, but having a base there. Or one of Saturn's moons. Whatever. 'Stone Men from Sirius' just doesn't quite fit, does it?)

Let's look at Marvel's solictation real quick:

A special, HULK-sized issue commemorating 100 issues of gamma-irradiated goodness with two big stories:

Planet Hulk, Allegiance, Part 1 — Is he the Sakaarson, destined to save the planet from its greatest enemies, or the Worldbreaker, the legendary destroyer of everything? The HULK continues his epic story on Planet Sakaar. In this issue, the HULK and Caiera the Oldstrong lead their warriors in an all-out battle against the horrifying Spikes.

But even with the Hulk growing stronger, how can he and his warriors prevail against an enemy that consumes and possesses everything it touches? Featuring another shocking development in the story of Miek — and further hints about the identity of the Sakaarson — and the Worldbreaker. Plus, a 12-page back-up featuring the return of one of HULK’s greatest artists, Gary Frank, as someone discovers that the Illuminati were responsible for sending the Hulk into space! Also reprints Incredible Hulk (vol. 1) #152 and #300!
104 PGS./Rated A ...$3.99

Um, well, no, it doesn't: the reprints included are a brief origin sequence from Incredible Hulk #3, then #152 and #153. I had been looking forward to getting to see #300, since I picked up a ton of old Hulk issues out of the quarter boxes, but no #300. Although I hadn't read #153 either, I would have to say I bought this issue based on getting #300. Now that I type it, I don't know how many pages I thought were going to be in this comic, since #300 was a "Special Abnormally Large Size Issue!" Chris Sims does a pretty good review of it, but I wanted my own, damn it.

For the toy fans in the studio audience, photos are starting to show up online of the upcoming Planet Hulk action figure, due early 2007 when Hasbro takes over the Marvel Legends line. Unfortunately, the comics that had previously been packed in with the toys, are being phased out. A shame, since that would have been a pretty big opportunity to get this storyline out to more readers. Anyone that comments "I never read the comics that come with the toys," please know that I'm shaking my fist at you right now.