Did I not call it?


Thoughts?

For being at the mid part of this whole storyline I'm unimpressed. The art is nice. But this story just seems to be flailing about. I don't hate it. I don't love it. It's just there.

Rob?

It's WORLD WAR HULK! So far it's Hulk stomps New York! I want the thing to be bigger! Worth the time people are spending on it.

I am pretty much enjoying this, though admittedly, 90% for JR jr's art. It'll really depend on how it ends that'll make my mind up for me as long as nothing too ridiculous happens before the end. But yeah, for the Hulk's ultimate fight with the MU, it's not as exciting as one would have hoped.

It's the Hulk smashing tons of stuff, kicking ass, taking names, and chewing bubble gum. Everything it should be.

And on top of that, he has a sympathetic motivation, and his ultimate goals are an intriguing mystery.

And it's all drawn by one of the best artists working in comics.

To think, I used to like you, Rob.

Does it live up to the title World War Hulk, Matt? Yes or no?

IAWTP

Yes. It's the world vs. the Hulk.

New York is the world? Or am I missing the issues where he travels outside the U.S.?

Excalibur is on the way to fight the Hulk in Hulk/X-Men. Plus, it's the Marvel universe. Outside of New York, there aren't many superheroes.

The book was always billed as the Hulk returning to go after the Illuminati. 90% of the Illuminati are based in New York. It's like complaining that Infiinite Crisis wasn't really infinite.

Fine. Sell me on the strengths of this story without talking about the art. I'm curious to know what you see is actually noteworthy about this.

The basic Hulk story is the Hulk wanting to be left alone, he's not left alone, so he smashes stuff. This is that story writ large. The Hulk believes the Illuminati destroyed the life he'd found, killing his wife and unborn child. That gives him a sympathetic motivation for his attack. As readers, we know that the Iluminati likely had nothing to do with the destruction of his world, so while we can sympathize with him, we know that he's not only in the wrong, he's a danger to more than just the Illuminati. In the most recent issue, the question was raised as to what the Hulk's ultimate plan is. Will he declare himself ruler of the Earth? Will he simply take his friends and go somewhere else?

There's also the ramping up of threats against the Hulk, and as the Hulk takes on more and more heroes, the question of how things could end well becomes more compelling. Then there's the added twist of Banner being on the Hulk's side, even against those he considers friends.

So far, it's the most basic Hulk story, done is such a way that we can't easily figure out how it will end.

I think it'll take more of a worldwide view once he's finished kicking the snot out of the Illuminati.

The world is the world of heroes

Which he is stomping.

I agree with that. I really am disappointed with this story. I wanted to be enjoying this thing. Hulk #300, 314, 321 and 322 seemed bigger to me. I think the art manages to salvage it from being a total waste. It just doesn't pull together into compelling reading. But I'll keep looking at the main issues because of the art.

It's kind of like the "World" Series of baseball.

In defense of the WWH story, I would point out that hardly anything has happened yet.


(top that, Yogi Berra)

Well, I think it's awesome

and WWH: X-Men also awesome

I agree with Rob.

I am enjoying it ok, despite the horrible Romita jr artwork....The X-Men crossover books are the best so far in terms of fighting and artwork for me. Not much story happening at all however and I agree with Hawkeye that Hulk 300, and Hulk 316, 321 and 322 were all much bigger events and more exciting. In particular John Byrne's Hulk 316 is a classic with Hercules, Wonder Man, Iron Man, Namor and Doc Samson all fighting the Hulk!

Wha....wha....what? What? WHAT?