Thoughts on World War Hulk What If? (Spoilers)

**seekquaze** · 10-24-2007, 10:54 AM

Saw this at the comic shop today and looked through it. It's divided into three stories. What if the Hulk died? What if he landed on the planet they sent him to? and What if Banner arrived on Sakaar?

For the first story my initial thoughts were: "This is the way WWH should have been done!" By that I mean Caira's lightning quick strike to take down Earth's heroes before they had a chance to form a defense or even know what they were up against.

The defeat of Black Bolt is again left off panel so we have no clue what happened other than a big chunk of the moon was blown off. We have no clue as to how that happened.

The death of the Sentry makes some sense because he did not have a chance to power-up and Black Bolt hit him with a very powerful attack.

The only thing is once again the Avengers fell too easily, but considering the whole story had to be told in about ten pages I can give it some leeway.

We off course get the obligated conclusion where Caira joins the Hulk forever.

Would Earth's heroes have fallen so easily? It is a What If? So pretty much anything goes. What made me like it better than WWH main is the attack was quick enough that Earth's heroes could be taken out before they had time to prepare instead of the warning the Earth's heroes got from the Hulk, twenty-four hours to prepare, and failing so miserable.

As to the second story: It was well done. Turns out in the long run both Hulk and Banner would have been happier if they had not gone to Sakaar. It does raise a question about the Hulk's age. But being a What If? that point is largely irrelevant.

The third story is a one page comedy that is a nice end.

Overall I enjoyed this better than the main series:

4/5

**Omega Alpha** · 10-24-2007, 11:20 AM

The first story symbolizes what's the main problem with Greg Pak's writing on IH, what Brian Cronin defined as Pygmalion characters. The main symbol of it is Amadeus Cho of course, but that applies to most of them. His creations are smarter, stronger, tougher than everyone, and are able to outsmart Reed Richards like it was no big deal, or be better sorcerers than Dr. Strange, and so on. Caiera kills the entire MU with extreme ease, one panel is enough for Strange and Sentry together, another one for the entire Avengers, another for Iron Man and Reed Richards, etc, and is able to do what Dr. Doom or Kang couldn't, and also with extreme ease: conquer the world and keep it easily for decades. And that, of course, because he's Greg Pak's creation. I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy it, though.

The second story reminds of Hulk: The End (and I'm sure it's intentional) but lacks the depth of it, and fails to be interesting.

The third was just meh. I love the mini-marvels, but this one didn't worked. If Pak had bothered to develop the story, it could have been better than the previous two, but didn't worked even as a comedy.

**drwho** · 10-24-2007, 11:20 AM

I thought this issue was kind of bleeh. I would have preferred one whole issue rather than the two separate stories we were given. Just didn't seem enough story for either of them. Felt like they should have developed the first one more. Seemed like it didn't have much substance similarly to the whole WWH event. This isn't a must have and I would not recommend it unless you just want some action with little substance.

**seekquaze** · 10-24-2007, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Omega Alpha

The first story symbolizes what's the main problem with Greg Pak's writing on IH, what Brian Cronin defined as Pygmalion characters. The main symbol of it is Amadeus Cho of course, but that applies to most of them. His creations are smarter, stronger, tougher than everyone, and are able to outsmart Reed Richards like it was no big deal, or be better sorcerers than Dr. Strange, and so on. Caiera kills the entire MU with extreme ease, one panel is enough for Strange and Sentry together, another one for the entire Avengers, another for Iron Man and Reed Richards, etc, and is able to do what Dr. Doom or Kang couldn't, and also with extreme ease: conquer the world and keep it easily for decades. And that, of course, because he's Greg Pak's creation. I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy it, though.

Being a What If? and limited to about ten pages I gave the first story a lot of slack. More than I do other stories Everything did happen too quickly, but that is what tends to happen in What If?s.

The main point I liked about it was Caira's method was better than what the Hulk had done by taking out the heroes before they could form a plan or defense which has been one of my major beefs with WWH and why I think that series is below average story wise.

**CMBMOOL** · 10-24-2007, 01:12 PM

You know this isssue sure does question which tourture of the Heroes is better: Hulk or Cieira ?

Also what would have occured on Earth if both King and queen of Sakaar had survived the planet explosion ? :(

**CMBMOOL** · 10-24-2007, 02:53 PM

Okay we all saw the What if of Planet Hulk, which showed what would have happen if Cieria had survived instead of the Hulk.

We also see that World War Hulk is the result of Cieria's death and the population and the planet's destruction.

Now I'm asking this question as to what would had happen if BOTH the Hulk and Cieria survived Sakaar's explosion ?

What would be come of Earth and it heroes once they learned that the Hulk lives and he has a queen and his new "friends"?

Now that is a What if that I'm willing to see. :D

Who else agrees with me ? :(

**CMBMOOL** · 10-24-2007, 02:54 PM

Okay based upon the results of What If: Planet Hulk and World War Hulk, who would you say showed the heroes mercy the best:

The Hulk or his Queen Cieria

**Jack-o-Lantern** · 10-24-2007, 03:25 PM

I am sorry but the whole first story was beyond weak. You mean to tell me Caiera and her ship were able to take out everyone that easy. The Kree and the Skrulls should be so damn lucky. Another thing I don't like about the whole "What If" is that somehow the whole human race banished the Hulk.

The second story was rather good.

**Dorsai** · 10-24-2007, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by CMBMOOL

Okay based upon the results of What If: Planet Hulk and World War Hulk, who would you say showed the heroes mercy the best:

The Hulk or his Queen Cieria

Hulk.

SPOILERS!!!! (Hightlight to read)

Caiera's 2nd action was killing The Sentry and Dr. Strange with her 3rd action being killing Iron Man and Reed Richards, I would say she has one-upped the Hulk. 21 years of slavery is also kind of harsh. I also doubt that she gave 24 hrs. for evacuation since she was planning to break the continent in half. Also, no toying with Earth's heroes. She immediately went into smackdown mode. However, the statue of Hulk was quite cool.

**Mr Fixit** · 10-24-2007, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by CMBMOOL

Okay we all saw the What if of Planet Hulk, which showed what would have happen if Cieria had survived instead of the Hulk.

We also see that World War Hulk is the result of Cieria's death and the population and the planet's destruction.

Now I'm asking this question as to what would had happen if BOTH the Hulk and Cieria survived Sakaar's explosion ?

What would be come of Earth and it heroes once they learned that the Hulk lives and he has a queen and his new "friends"?

Now that is a What if that I'm willing to see. :D

Who else agrees with me ? :(

Oh let me play please :)

Now I am going to use my whole "it's Banners fault" thing so bare with me....

Okay with the explosion done there is a sense of wonder and shock within Hulk and Cieria and they set a huge investigation to work.
It uncovers little and Hulk suspects but does not place automatic blame on The Illumanti because he feels an inward "something" pulling him back from such a total accusation.

So the investigation continues and Hulk continues to rule with his Queen in reltive bliss....

One night the two share an intimate night where they both emtionaly opon with each other,after the shock of the explosion they are bonded closer to each other and Cieria ask for accses to the full inner space of Hulks mind,body and Soul.

Whilst joined with Hulk she picks up Banners frustration and believing him to be at least harmless to herself and Hulk she tries to probe his turmoil...

However she is violently rebuked by Banner she can sense something has gone badly wrong and can see a sense of hatred in his eyes towards her.
The Hulk being aware of this joins with Ciera to force open Banners mind and after a fearsome struggle he relents.
Once open both Hulk and his Queen witness Hulk arming a bomb on the ship and making an uneasy allience with the Red King.

On the physcic plane Hulk moves to tear Banner apart but a past master at physcic battles Banner matches Hulk and seeing this as a possible last stand goes for the kill against Hulk.
In panic and fear for her King Ciera uses a huge amount of her Old Strong energy to cast Banner out of Hulks body.

After the struggle Hulk and his Queen are holding each other both weakend and pleased to survive the conflict.
Meanwhile Banner has landed in a dessert plane on the planet and a couple of anti-Hulk rebels are seen aiding him.

Cieria now serverly ill by the efforts of forcing Banner out of Hulk is being doted on by her beloved Hulk.
He is griped with the horror of possibly losing his wife and a deep fire of bitter vengence against Banner is burning inside him and he raises a huge army to search the planet to bring back Banner in order to kill him.

Banner meanwhile is recovering in a rebel strong hold a high ranking soldier recognises him as an ally of the Red King and tells Banner they will help him to control his beast Hulk if he promises to aid them in making Hulk a non-threat.
Banner Agree's but tells the rebels that he did not like thier leader dispite his alligence to him because to Banner the allience was a matter of necessity.

The rebels led by Banner and renforced by his deep kknowledge of the Hulk and the Hulk leading the planets most powerful forces fight skirmishes and many battles niether one gaining any real advantage.

Meanwhile Cieria is getting stronger by the day but notices that Hulk is becoming weaker graduly and when she asks him what is effecting him he doesn't awnser...however he does know.

Banner finds himself working on plans for a new form of technoligy that will make it possible for him to tame Hulk on the psychic plane but rebel doctors and surgeons are discovering that Banners health is deteriorating.
When asked Banner says nothing but the doctors have had reports of Banners skin appearing translucent at times.

In fear of what is happening to her husband Cieria tells Hulk that she is strong enough to help Hulk and with his help can reduce Banners physcic presance to the point that he can never bother her King ever again.
Hulk in the knowledge he can not truley survive with Banner reluctently agrees.

Banner urges for a final strike against Hulk to implement the technoligy he has been working on,the rebels tell Banner it is unready but he convinces' them everything will be fine as he can compensate for any small lack in the machenary.
The dramatic showdown presents itself and we see many fallen warriors on both sides and both leaders prepare to play thier trump card.
However as they do so they suffer a server trauma and thier moulcules become unstable.
Cieria tries to help but Hulk finaly shouts to her the reason for what is happening to them.
Cieria pleads with Hulk to reform with Hulk for sake of her love,the rebels tell Banner to stay away from Hulk and avenge not only the Red King but his own houner.
Cierai focuses and begs the Old Strong for unbound power in her hour of need and interviens,the rebels retaliate and use thier technoligy to counteract the Cierais efforts.
With the malfunction of the technoligy causing Cierai to become unfocussed a MASSIVE inversion of the Oldstrongs power is caused.

So instead of Cierai joining to seprate beings toghter the power emits to every living being on Sakaar and joins them up as one whole being.
This mutated titan whose mind is crippled with unrelting pain and conflict stands the last being on Sakaar and a personifcation of all conflict on the planet.

More importantly Hulk,Banner and Cierai are one....in the most perverse way ....

...It may just be crap but there it is ;)

**Mr Fixit** · 10-24-2007, 05:51 PM

Can I just say that post is grammaticly shabby and technicly lacking,it was written in the form of "heads down and fingers furious" ;)

I will edit it at some point but right now I am doing one million and one things ;)

**seekquaze** · 10-24-2007, 07:53 PM

You forgot an option:

Neither

Caira kills them quickly than enslaves the Earth without any evidence and because she holds all of Earth responsible even though Hirom points out she is wrong.

The Hulk threatens to destroy the entire Earth if they don't surrender to him. Instead of just killing them he decides to try and force them down to his level by humiliating them in front of a bunch of cretins despite all they have done for the Earth. Than to add to it he decides to force them to kill each other while their loved ones watch with the possibility he will every hero in the end. (Never stop making them pay)

Add to that the insects are threatening to unleash brood spawn that would wipe out all life on Earth and I can't see the Hulk bothering to stop it.

So in my opinion they are equal.

**MakeshiftHero** · 10-24-2007, 08:58 PM

How is it that Black Bolt can vaporize Sentry by whispering. He shouted at the top of his lungs at hulk and fails to KO Hulk. But when Black Bolt whispers "n-no" the Sentry, with the power of 1000 exploding suns, gets obliterated into nothingness in 2 seconds.

Uhhhhhhh did they not have enough time to figure out how to deal with Sentry and draw out of a hat of "horribly written scape goats" and thats the one that was picked?

Other than that, I enjoyed the whole book. I always like reading the What If? books and look forward to the Annihilation one.

**dabig2** · 10-24-2007, 08:58 PM

Well, Caiera got a huge boost in power when she absorbed the energies of an entire planet. I think this is a detail being missed here. She was obviously boosted up to insanity powers, thus making her killing everyone and not being beaten reasonable. Not to mention they had no time to prepare.

It's literally BOOM she's here and no one has an idea of what the hell is going on or who she is. Then she's cutting off heads left and right and they're focused on the moon raining down on them. I liked it.

**StoneGold** · 10-24-2007, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by dabig2

Well, Caiera got a huge boost in power when she absorbed the energies of an entire planet. I think this is a detail being missed here. She was obviously boosted up to insanity powers, thus making her killing everyone and not being beaten reasonable. Not to mention they had no time to prepare.

It's literally BOOM she's here and no one has an idea of what the hell is going on or who she is. Then she's cutting off heads left and right and they're focused on the moon raining down on them. I liked it.

Which still doesn't explain Sentry going down to a whisper. But whatever. It's alternate timeline Sentry. I guess he's more of a wuss than the regular one.