The Books of Peter David

This is a tie-in to Brian Michael Bendis' 'House Of M', in which the Scarlet Witch uses her power to create an alternate reality. In this reality the world is ruled by mutants (led by Magneto's House of M) and the world's superheroes have been granted idyllic lifestyles. This book begins with Bruce Banner finally having found peace among an aboriginal tribe in Australia. However, that peace is interrupted by A.I.M, who recruit the Hulk for their war against the mutants. When A.I.M proves untrustworthy, Banner decides to rule the human-haven of Australia on his own. Unlike the Spider-Man and Wolverine equivalent tie-ins, this book also shows us the immediate aftermath of when the Scarlet Witch returns the world to normal (albeit minus 99% of the world's mutants). Once more the Hulk has the chance of peace with the aboriginies, but it is disturbed by conflict between A.I.M and S.H.I.E.L.D, represented by mother and daughter Dr Rappaccini and Scorpion respectively. I felt that the 'what if?' scenario presented here just wasn't strong enough to make the most of it's potential. So, I found that much like the Hulk movie, it's good when the large green fella is smashing stuff, but it becomes ponderous when he's not. That said, it's worth reading for the scene in which Hulk throws chunks of the Sydney Opera House at an enemy and then proceeds to flatten the rest of the building. When asked why he did that for no reason, he amusingly responds "Had a reason. Can't stand opera."