 | Quick review: Son of Hulk 13-17 |
Built on the foundation of both Planet Hulk and Skaar- Son of Hulk, Hiro Kala is a monster of a different variety entirely. Whereas Banner's Hulk is fueled by rage and Skaar by a kind of indignance, Hiro Kala is the embodiment of juvenile anger, blossomed into a fury so dangerous that it threatens all of existence. As Amadeus Cho has proven, Banner's intellect has always kept the Hulk in check, preventing anyone from being murdered. Rather than prove systematically that he was correct, Cho could have simply pointed out how powerful the Hulk is countered by the fact that we are still alive. On the other hand, Skaar in the end deeply wanted to be loved, which is what made the embrace between father and son at the conclusion of World War Hulks so poignant. The proof of how meaningful that embrace is lies in the story of Hiro Kala.
Neglected by his father, mother and brother, Hiro Kala was brought up as a slave under Axeman Bone, as helpless as the rest of the population of Sakaar when Galactus was attracted to their planet by Skaar's furious misuse of the Old Power and tore their home asunder. Throughout the catastrophe, Hiro Kala's mother Caeira who had neglected him in favor of Skaar appeared to him, sorrowful and full of regret that she had failed him. In that moment, feeling the Old Power surging through him, Hiro Kala understood who and what he was and went about plotting his next move. A scheme born not of intellect but of blind fury, Hiro Kala cursed Galactus to his face (even though he knew that the space God could not hear him) and led the survivors of his doomed home to another world where he could further his plans.
Partly descended from the race of Shadow People, Hiro Kala is aware that his people have been manipulating various planets throughout the cosmos in the use of the Old Power. The seer Ol Sam has been attempting to educate Hiro Kala but has partly been lying all along. On the planet Giausar, the Shadow People had carefully constructed a marvel of both engineering and socio-political manipulation. The natives of Giausar live in three distinct power blocks, sovereigns over their planet and wild animals that once threatened to overrun them. Living in peace for thousands of years, the planet is a massive battery of Old Power. Having never tasted of Old Power before the consumption of Sakaar, Galactus is sweet on the energy and Hiro Kala knows this.
Declaring himself to be God, Hiro Kal drives the armed forces of nearby the city-state Fractas and takes them on almost single-handedly. He spouts religious epithets and demands total obedience. With the power of the entire planet at his disposal, none can stand in his way. Hiro Kala conquers the people of Fractas, humbles the beats and levels the protective walls sheltering the city, walls that have stood immobile for thousands of years. When the combined might of the other two city-states arrive, he does nothing, watching as his people (both devoted followers and nay-sayers) doubt that he is a God or pray to him for salvation. Gazing as an artist may upon a masterpiece, he takes in their suffering. Even so, he seems hardly spiteful or angry at all. He is simply waiting for the right moment to act. Meanwhile Old Sam has realized that Hiro Kala is the fabled World Breaker and will use the Old Power in ways that could shatter the cosmos. Desperate to stop the child he betrays Hiro Kala to the invading armies and helps them gain entry to Fractas.
Despite the betrayal of Old Sam to the invading forces, Hiro Kala is victorious and poisons the Old Power into a blood red energy, nearly jamming it down Galactus' throat. Hiro Kala has manged to accomplish what no one else ever has, he has caused Galactus to know fear. Lustful for the Old Power, an energy that could rival the Power Cosmic itself, Galactus may never taste of it again for fear that it was tainted before he arrived. Hiro Kala's mother, appearing as a spirit that is one with the Old Power appears to him, praising his act of bravery and cunning, sacrificing one world to save many. But Hiro Kala is having none of it. He did nothing out of preservation of bravery. He acted out of sheer anger and rage... and he's just getting started.
When Hulk lost his monthly comic to Hercules, fans were not happy. When Banner was pushed aside for a new 'Red Hulk,' there were cries of foul. The recent Fall of the Hulks/World War Hulks mega cross-over event tried the patience of whatever readers were left after these story lines played out. The outcome is a monthly Hulk book starring the Red Hulk operating as an agent of Banner and Steve Rogers and a kind of Hulk Family book that stars just about every gamma-irradiated character in Marvel Comics. I have enjoyed all of these books but I can respect the trouble it is causing both devoted fans and new readers alike.
The current story focuses on Hiro Kala, an obscure second son of the Hulks who starred in Son of Hulk before it was canceled and a Realm of Kings' mini-series. Due to the nature of my Hulk subscription, I had to catch up on the recent story line and frustrated over not understanding who Hiro Kala is and why he is important I read the Son of Hulk collection. All of the various parts by Paul Jenkins and Greg Pak have combined to tell a fantastic story that is constructed on a key part of the Hulk mythos, the psychology of a monster. Banner is convinced that he understands monsters in general and Hulks in particular... but he's never seen anything as devastating as the eyes of Hiro Kala.
It is unfair that Marvel is asking readers to keep up with so much Hulk material (admittedly of varying quality) but in this case I have to say that it is worth it. If you are a Hulk fan and are interested in reading a compelling Hulk tale, these books are worth a look.
(Note- this article comes long after the excellent analysis by Gary Miller on Hiro Kala found here: http://dailypop.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/dark-son-an-incredible-hulks-primer/, but I was so moved by the story and noticed that both sales and reader interest was faltering on the Hulk books that I wanted to weigh in with my own take)
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