Prelude to Planet Hulk needs to be have it's head buried in the sand!

Initially Graphic Novels used to tell stories of greater depth and complexity than standard comic books. Later Graphic Novels captured major moments in a comic book series. The Incredible Hulk: Prelude to Planet Hulk by Daniel Way fails to accomplish either of these tasks. Although there are moments of greatness with Prelude to Planet Hulk, as a whole, the book leaves me feeling mugged of my precious Comic Book dollars.

Prelude to Planet Hulk reprints Incredible Hulk issues #88-91 and also includes The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Hulk 2004. Merriam-Webster defines prelude as: an introductory performance, action, or event preceding and preparing for the principal or a more important matter. Movies, Television, Books and Comic Books have all used preludes to build suspense and draw the reader/viewer more tightly within the medium. Prelude fails to prepare the reader for Planet Hulk. I read Planet Hulk before reading Prelude and Prelude added nothing to my understanding of Planet Hulk except that Nick Fury was the Illuminati’s tool to deport the Hulk.

Prelude to Planet Hulk does have some memorable moments like the Hulk sporting a beard and Nick Fury’s Shield taking a villainous role in the saga. Ken Cha & Juan Santacruz are to be commended for skilled graphic storytelling throughout the series and especially in issues 88 and 89. They accurately convey the relationship between Bruce Banner and Nick Fury. I especially like the use of size. Fury towers over Banner in much the same way the Hulk towers over everyone else. Bruce appears more heroic when facing off with Fury. Unfortunately these memorable scenes do not add up to a good graphic novel.

Prelude to Planet Hulk seems to be a crass attempt to steal our comic book dollars. At $13.99 it’s not expensive for a Graphic Novel but it’s a waste of money. Forget buying Prelude and save up your money for Graphic Novels like “Planet Hulk”, “Identity Crisis” or even “Hulk: Grey”. There are many excellent graphic novels in print today. Prelude to Planet Hulk is not one of them.