Planet Hulk was a huge storyline in Marvel Comics in 2007, following the Hulk after being exiled from Earth by the Illuminati. He lands on Sakaar and is forced to become a gladiator, rising up the ranks and becoming the leader of the planet, before swearing war on Earth.

If any of that sounds familiar, it should – Sakaar and gladiator Hulk is a large plot line in Thor: Ragnarok, and is brought up again in the She-Hulk show when Bruce leaves Earth and comes home with a son, Skaar.

So if you want to know the whole story, this is the guide for you!

The Pre-Reading

The stories that precipitated PLANET HULK, collected together for the first time! When a doomsday weapon manufactured by Hydra turns up in the Nevada desert, there’s only one man the authorities can ask to go in and defuse it: Bruce Banner! What does all of this have to do with the FF, you ask? Well, who do you think has to deal with the fallout when it all goes terribly wrong? Then, in the wake of recent events, Bruce Banner has finally found a semblance of peace. Here, in the isolated interior of Alaska, he hopes to protect the rest of humanity from the Hulk’s never-ending rampage by secluding himself in self-imposed exile. Banner is confident that his plan will work – after all, who would be foolish enough to actually come looking for the Hulk? But when Nick Fury comes calling, you know there’s trouble for someone involved. It all ends with the Hulk being shot into space by those he once called allies!

The Illuminati: Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Professor Xavier, Namor, and Reed Richards. Their mission: to decide the fate of Bruce Banner after the last Hulk incident. Discover what becomes of the Jade Giant here!

These two will give you the full run-up to the events of Planet Hulk, which will give you the groundwork for the main event.

Main Event:

Savage alien planet! Oppressed barbarian tribes! Corrupt emperor! Deadly woman warrior! Gladiators and slaves! Battle axes and hand blasters! Monsters and heroes… and the Incredible Hulk! Let the smashing commence! 

This will give you the rest of the Planet Hulk storyline, which leads into World War Hulk, which I will be covering next week, as that’s a far larger event that deserves its own post!

For now, this is the main Planet Hulk run, covering Hulk’s banishment and his time on Sakaar – keep your eyes peeled for the second part covering World War Hulk!