Hulk: Planet Hulk

Greg Pak and Carlo Pagulayan’s Planet Hulk (2007, Marvel) redefined the Hulk’s mythos by exiling him to a brutal alien world where he became a gladiator and, eventually, a revolutionary. This foundational storyline—a single, sprawling issue—transformed the Hulk from a rampaging monster into a cunning leader, setting the stage for the epic World War Hulk that followed. Its blend of sci-fi spectacle, political intrigue, and character-driven drama remains a touchstone for the character.