There's something wrong with the Hulk. As a line of comics, I mean. And no, this isn't just an anti-Loeb rant - although I'd be lying if I said I was enjoying his work on the title. The single problem with the Hulk ‘family' of books, however, can be easily summed up in one phrase:

There is no comic featuring The Hulk.

I spoke recently about the lack of jumping on points. This applies here. If someone wanders into a comic shop wanting to buy a Hulk comic - regardless of how interested they are in the industry - they will probably know very little about the character. What they will know is that, generally, Bruce Banner turns into the Hulk when he gets angry, and that he's big and green. Unfortunately, this isn't reflected in any of the Hulk's comics right now!

The Hulk family of books currently consists of the following characters and titles:

Red Hulk - Hulk
Jeph Loeb's flagship title has seen the Green Hulk replaced by ‘Rulk' in a storyline of astonishingly poor quality. Rulk's real identity has been kept secret for over a year now, and despite the fact that multiple stories have been given over to people trying to find it out, no official word has been given. Although Rulk spent a fair amount of time trying to kill the Green Hulk in his first appearance, a recent issue saw him spontaneously drain the ‘Hulk' out of Banner, leaving him defenceless, but alive. It's not really clear why.

Skaar - Incredible Hulk
The recently re-launched Incredible Hulk series resumes its numbering from #600 (despite the fact that #600 was, by all accounts, the #599th issue...) but rather than feature the real Hulk, it features his son, Skaar, who was conceived on an alien world and recently made it to Earth. The character is basically a Hulk/Conan mash-up with added Star Trek, and frankly, that's confusing enough without making him the lead in his father's book.

Hiro-Kala - Son Of Hulk
13 issues in, the series that used to be called Skaar: Son Of Hulk was re-named Son Of Hulk and features a new character, who appears to be the brother of Skaar - although no-one's really mentioned or noticed this before. It's not especially clear what's going on in this book, but one thing is certain - if people who've been reading it for 12 issues are left scratching their heads, it won't make an easy read for newcomers.

Lyra - Savage She-Hulk
Lyra is yet another of Hulk's children, this time from an alternate future where she was created as a test-tube baby, merging the DNA of The Hulk and the Femizonion warrior, Thundra. Although Lyra is the second character to bear the She-Hulk name, there are actually two others - Jen Walters, the original She-Hulk, and a new, Red version of She-Hulk who - surprise surprise - hasn't had her identity revealed.

So, there are two Hulk titles, neither of which have the Hulk in them. Two different characters both claiming to be the son of the Hulk, one of which has replaced the other in his book. And three different characters all independently claiming to be the She-Hulk.

As far as franchises go, it's not unfair to call it a complete mess. New readers will be confused. Old readers will be swamped with uninteresting new characters who bear no worthwhile relation to the characters they like. Ironically, one of Hulk's most famous catchphrases should perhaps be adopted as his new marketing strategy. Say it with me: Hulk just want to be left alone.

James writes Alternate Cover every Monday at Den Of Geek. His previous column can be found here.