Hulk Visionaries: Peter David—Volume 8

Comic Info

Incredible Hulk (2) #390

Reprints Incredible Hulk (2) #390-396, Annual #18, and X-Factor (1) #76 (February 1992-August 1992).  The Hulk and the Pantheon face off against X-Factor in the battle to overthrow a dictator and also find themselves in conflict with the Soviet Super Soldiers over the man who launched the gamma bomb that caused the Hulk’s creation.  Plus, Hulk makes his return to Las Vegas as Rick Jones has someone from his past return.

Written by Peter David, Hulk Visionaries Peter David—Volume 8 has a crossover with his other big book X-Factor (the story actually just has a parallel issue with X-Factor #76) and the 30th Anniversary of the Hulk’s first appearance by going back to his roots by confronting Igor…the man who blew-up the gamma bomb in his attempt to kill Bruce Banner.

The X-Factor “War and Pieces” story doesn’t really get to expand on Peter David’s great X-Factor run which really benefited from rich characters.  It feels pretty split between Hulk and Pantheon and X-Factor.  It doesn’t allow for any characters to have much fun.  The last part of the book involves a return to Las Vegas and the ’90s necessity of a Punisher appearance.  It was good to see the Hulk back in Vegas visiting his Joe Fixit roots, but the Punisher part didn’t really work.  The Punisher deals in bullets and guns and Hulk simply smashes.  The Punisher does even really seem to do much except tag along with the Hulk who does the real work.

Incredible Hulk (2) #396

The two story arcs are also joined by standalone issues with Atalanta battling an alien and part of the four part Return of the Defenders which ran through Namor:  The Sub-Mariner Annual #2, Silver Surfer (3) Annual #5, and Dr. Strange:  The Sorcerer Supreme Annual #2.  Instead of presenting the whole Return of the Defenders, a one page summation of the other three part (which Peter David did not write).  I understand doing that, but I kind of wish I could have read the whole story.

The other standalone issue is the big 30th Anniversary issue which I admit had a great cover for the time (with a mock-up of the original Incredible Hulk cover with the new Hulk).  It had an origin story with Hulk’s forgotten first enemy who tried to kill him…giving him his power.  It is a kind of dull story, but there are back-up stories and supplemental material.

Hulk Visionaries:  Peter David—Volume 8 is pretty typical of Peter David’s run.  There are a bit too story arcs and longer than normal issues, but in general it is strong.  I never was a big fan of the Pantheon and Hulk is pretty involved in the Pantheon at his point.  If you are a fan of the Hulk however, the Hulk Visionaries:  Peter David series is a must, but as of now Hulk Visionaries:  Peter David—Volume 8 appears to be the last in the series but the storyline continued in Incredible Hulk Epic Collection—Volume 19:  Ghost of the Past.

Related Links:

Hulk Visionaries:  Peter David—Volume 1

Hulk Visionaries:  Peter David—Volume 2

Hulk Visionaries:  Peter David—Volume 3

Hulk Visionaries:  Peter David—Volume 4

Hulk Visionaries:  Peter David—Volume 5

Hulk Visionaries:  Peter David—Volume 6

Hulk Visionaries:  Peter David—Volume 7