Well folks, here it is, your first of many Axe Factor reviews. I picked up the recent Planet Hulk release on Blu-Ray on Tuesday, and I've got to say, I liked it. The Hulk is my absolute favorite super-hero of all time, so I was wary of what this release would do to what I consider his best story arc to date on one hand, but eager to dive into this animated version of Planet Hulk on the other.
First of all, if you haven't read Planet Hulk yet, and are a fan of the Marvel Universe, definitely go pick up the book. It takes the Hulk out of his normal environment (Earth) and throws him headfirst into an even more hostile world, which he, of course, conquers. This animated version did a lot of things right. The voice acting was nothing outstanding, but did justice to the characters, and was solid throughout. The animation was quite impressive. While the artists do a reasonably good job of bringing the new planet to life, where they really shine is in their ability to bring the Hulk's all consuming rage and strength into sharp focus. Kudos! The plot is fairly close to the comic, however it's deviations are primarily what caused me to deduct a point an a half from my rating.
While the story overall is solid, there are several key omissions that hurt it pretty badly. They actually leave out the true ending to the story, which leads me to believe that there are no plans for the equally excellent WW:H sequel. They also swap out the silver surfer for Beta Ray Bill, due to licensing issues. Several large chunks of the original plot have been removed for the sake of time throughout, and while the story still stands, I feel that in the comic, those sections allowed you to explore and delve into this new world, so they should have been left in.
I won't say more, because I don't want to give away too much, but I'll leave you with this. As far as Marvel animated features go, this is the best. If you like them pick it up, but if your not a fan of the Hulk or Marvel, you may not find that this really drags you in. The Blu-Ray is chocked full of some excellent Bonus features as well, so if you have the option, go with Blu-Ray over DVD.
