Written by: Greg Pak
Art by: Manuel Garcia, Cam Smith
Colors by: Chris Sotomayor
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover art by: Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz, Chris Sotomayor
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: February 22, 2023

Planet Hulk: Worldbreaker #4 sets up a world-breaking finale in this penultimate issue of the series as Cho and Banner bump heads over whether or not they can save a world on the brink of destruction.

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Is It Good?

In a series where everyone’s a Hulk, is anyone truly a Hulk? Can too many Hulks be a bad thing? I’m not sure, but there may be something to the idea that giving everyone Hulk powers to varying degrees makes being a Hulk less special.

When last we left Sakaar, Cho sought out Jen Walters for help against the High Priestess Venkiera, only to realize too late that enlisting the most powerful Hulks was part of Venkiera’s plan the whole time. Now, Venkiera’s plan to use the Hulks to power her world-breaking machine comes to fruition, so Cho and Banner must decide if helping is more destructive than staying out of the fight.

To Gre Pak’s credit, he raises interesting philosophical ideas about the nature of being a Hulk – an entity that can help but is prone to great destruction while helping. When is it better to fight versus when is it better for Hulk to keep a minimum safe distance? Pak presents that thought-provoking question in Planet Hulk: Worldbreaker #4 and shows how this scenario answers that question without preaching the answer.

Better still, the issue ends (as every great comic should) with an “I didn’t see that coming” cliffhanger that elevates the enthusiasm for the forthcoming finale. When the reveal happens, it shifts the mini-series dynamic in a way that will likely make Banner’s life radically more painful than it already is.

That said, the first question I asked remains. Are too many characters with some level of Hulkiness, a good thing or a bad thing? I’m not sure, but the monstrous element that makes Hulk a special character feels diluted in this issue. That feeling could be a perception problem, so your mileage may vary.

Regardless, there are no questions about the art in this issue. Garcia, Smith, and Sotomayor deliver a rock-solid performance with dramatic shading, deep, powerful lines, and emotional close-ups. This is a powerful comic in the visual sense.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts:

Planet Hulk: Worldbreaker #4 plays out a philosophically powerful idea that hits at the heart of Hulk’s nature – where do you draw the line between helping and destruction? The writing and art are rock-solid, and the last page reveal is a wow moment that promises big things for the finale.

8.5/10