Turn the Page: The Life of a Legend and the Death of a Dream, Captain America Omnibus reviewed.

Steve Rodgers has been many things, hero, friend, war veteran, lover and patriot but he is known mostly as Captain America. The omnibus at a whopping 744 pages, covers the issues 1 – 25 of the Captain America Series, Captain America: 65th Anniversary issue, Winter Soldier: Winter Kills and a plethora of extras all for the price of $74.99.

Follow Captain America, written by the talented Ed Brubaker, in his final adventure. The Red Skull trapped in the mind of Russian extremist General Lukin, pieces together an intricate plan to eradicate his long-standing enemy, Captain America. The reemergence of Bucky Barnes, as the Winter Soldier, sends Captain America, the Falcon, Union Jack, Spitfire and his ex-girl friend and current S.H.I.E.L.D. liaison, Sharon Carter on a global quest to find Bucky and save him.

To thicken the plot more, Crossbones finds and reawakens Sin, the daughter of the Red Skull, and go on a murdering spree of A.I.M. and Hydra secret labs in a twisted Bonnie and Clyde homage. There are flashbacks to World War II, showing missions of Steve, Bucky and the Invaders, fighting against the Red Skull and his Nazi regimes. These stories establish that Bucky is more than plucky sidekick but a hardened soldier that eventually becomes the ghost operative Winter Soldier.

Eventually the stories cross over into last summers Civil War and while in the midst of fighting for the right to keep identities secret, the Red Skull puts in to motion his final plan that eventually leads to the death of an American icon.

I read this in one sitting, engrossed in this tale of espionage and mystery. I would like to mention the beautiful artwork of Steve Epting and Mike Perkins. The drawings helped establish this gripping story, with lavish backgrounds and dark ominous settings. I cannot recommend this book high enough, it is a necessary read and I would like to thank Jerry for recommending I read this wonderful story line by Ed Brubaker.

Turn the Page: Planet Hulk Reviewed

I missed Planet Hulk when it first came out and with the looming World War Hulk ahead in the Marvel Universe, I purchased this lovely hardcover. It covers issues 92 - 105, Giant Size Hulk 1 and Planet Hulk: Gladiator Guidebook. Now I know I am really behind in my comic reading but I am promising myself to read more of them.

Planet Hulk starts with the Hulk in a spaceship hurtling toward a black hole after being tricked by his so-called 'friends'. Reed Richards explains to the Hulk that because of his anger and destructive capabilities, they are sending him to an uninhabited planet where "No one to hurt him and no one he can hurt". They were wrong. The Hulk crashes into a planet that is teeming with life and as soon as he arrives, he is captured and thrown into captivity.

Sold into slavery, the Hulk is forced to fight in an arena against a creature. He wins and is sent to Gladiator school and gets an obedience chip implanted on him. While in camp, he meets a group of other captured slaves that later become, his War bound. The Hulk and his War bound eventually end up fighting for the entertainment of the Emperor. The Hulk must battle the reigning champion, the Silver Surfer. The Hulk pummels the Silver Surfer and the War bound demand their freedom. A huge mistake, their captures shock with the obedience chips. The Silver Surfer awakens, free from his chip and destroys the remainder of the obedience chips on the slaves. Free from their masters, the Hulk and the remaining slaves fight the guards and eventually escape.

The remainder of the story consists of the Hulk gaining followers, eventually freeing the planet from the cruel Emperor, and an explosion that kills everything he loves. It sends him into frenzy and he swears to get revenge on the people responsible, the heroes on Earth who sent him to the planet in the first place.
I enjoyed Planet Hulk from beginning to end. Greg Pak has written a classic storyline that made the Hulk an interesting character. He takes the Hulk from a slave, to a leader of freed slaves, then to the King of the planet, to a contented husband with a child on the way and in a split second takes it all away in a fiery explosion. The films 'Spartacus' and 'Gladiator' obviously influenced Greg Pak in this interesting story arc of the Incredible Hulk. I recommend it highly.