I first got into reading comics during the Secret Wars series -- when the omnipotent Beyonder gathered up all the various superhumans, both good and bad, to fight for domination. The Secret Wars introduced me to interesting characters that I hadn't known about before, and after that enjoyable experience, I started buying several other Marvel series on a regular basis. That was when I went from casual to hardcore comic book reader.
Before that life-changing event, I had picked up a comic book here and there, usually when I saw an interesting "team-up" that paired favorite characters together. Many times in a team-up book the participants pitted their powers against each other prior to working jointly to defeat a foe.
I mention this because as a kid what really appealed to me in comic books was the comparison of powers, and especially the issues that pitted favorite characters against each other. How would Nightcrawler fare against Spider-Man? Was the Hulk TRULY the strongest there is, or would Juggernaut's mystical might overwhelm him? Could Thor take the Thing? What if he didn't have his hammer? These potential predicaments thrilled my young mind.
The Hulk has always been a good character for this type of storyline. His mythology is unique in the comics universe. At any moment in his story arc he can be a hero, an anti-hero, and even a villain. And even when he's not a sympathetic character you can forgive his trespasses because of whatever his particular circumstances. It's OK that he goes on a rampage when he is obviously not himself. Heck, he may have just been separated from his Bannor psyche! Or, hey, he's the dumb Hulk right now, so you can't expect him to NOT smash the Thing.
This kind of versatile plot capability had spawned some of the greatest comic book battles of all time, and has pitted the Hulk's power against heroes and villains alike. Hell, is there anybody in the Marvel universe that he HASN'T fought?
So, my point is this. When you pick up your copy of HulkVs, which is a two movie set with the Hulk vs. Wolverine and The Mighty Thor, you may recognize what originally brought you into comics as a kid. It plays to that part of you that just wants to see "what would happen if."
"Hulk Vs." is due in stores on Tuesday, January 27th - TODAY!