World War Hulk

Author: Greg Pak

Writer Greg Pak doesn't get the credit he deserves for having reinvigorated the character of The Hulk. With World War Hulk, Pak takes the legendary Marvel monster-hero and puts him at odds with The Illuminati, a core group coimprised of some of the most powerful of heroes who sent the Hulk's pregnant wife on a mission towards death. He brings himself back to Earth seeking revenge, and ends up battling the most powerful heroes of Earth. As a character, The Incredible Hulk can be as difficult to write as any in history. He's nigh-invulnerable, but he's also not exactly human-thinking. That makes it difficult to come to grips with motivations beyond the surface, and that's exactly what we're led to understand. At the same time, Pak has crafted a story that forces us to look at the way heroes are heroes, and how that often collides with those around heroes, as well as the welfare and loves of others In short, this is a juggernaut of a storyline that has a remarkable gentle undertone... well, at least for the Hulk. Why it's on the list: One of the finest examples of what is possible with the character of The Hulk.