Return to Planet Hulk #1 is a fantastic introduction for fans considering reading the original Planet Hulk saga. This new story from the savage world of Sakaar arrives just in time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the original epic.
For readers unfamiliar with the setting, the comic quickly establishes the Hulk’s history on Sakaar: the “heroes” of Earth banished him there because they thought he was a monster. Once on Sakaar, the Hulk was enslaved and forced to fight as a gladiator, but he eventually smashed his way to freedom. Now, the people of Sakaar are faced with a new idea: the Hulk might be something better than a monster; he might be a hero!
This issue acts as a perfect entry point because it takes place right after Incredible Hulk #95, which was chapter four of the original Planet Hulk saga. It drops you right into the emotional aftermath of the Hulk’s revolution.
The story highlights the divided views of the Sakaar refugees. Some, like Hiroim, speak of “The Green Scar” in almost reverent terms, saying he walks through the darkness keeping the people safe. They sing songs celebrating how the Green Scar tore down the walls of the Great Arena, allowing them, the former slaves, to live again. Others, though, are far more cynical, pointing out that everyone is starving and asking, “Did the Green Scar lead us out here to starve?”. The people are torn between seeing him as The Green Scar or even the mythical savior, The Sakaarson, who is meant to save them.
You get to see the core conflict of the Hulk’s identity play out immediately. As the people of Sakaar hail him with messianic names, Hulk is clearly uncomfortable, shouting, “I’m not… I’m not what they say”. But it’s not just a savior he’s running from. He is also The Worldbreaker, who prophesied to destroy. The weight of these titles (Savior and Destroyer) is central to the larger Planet Hulk story, and seeing his reaction to them here perfectly sets up the drama.
The new comic also features the creative team of Greg Pak and Carlo Pagulayan, who were also part of the original epic. Pak is the writer of this new story, and Pagulayan is the penciler. Having the same creators involved ensures that the tone and continuity feel authentic, and having read this issue, it feels like being dropped right back into that world.
Ultimately, Return to Planet Hulk #1 is a powerful, immediate snapshot of the Hulk’s time on Sakaar that encapsulates all the major themes (identity, destiny, revolution, and the weight of being a hero), making it the perfect appetizer before you decide to read the original Planet Hulk epic.
