I picked up the fifth and last issue of World War Hulk, as well as Incredible Hulk #111 and the story, while action-packed, has been a let down for a number of reasons. The story is straight forward- Hulk returns to Earth to exact revenge against the Illuminati who sent him away in Incredible Hulk (#92?) the reader is made to hear this chant over and over again with very little new story in the miniseries. It feels like a constant retelling of the much superior Planet Hulk story with fist fights and HULK SMASH included.
The placement of the story in continuity is not vital, it's just a comic book, but considering how many other huge events are happening in New York at about the same time it would have been wise to make this story more of a focal point. Ultron and Venom Virus episodes in the Avengers titles are probably lead-ins to the Invasion story much hinted at the last several months, but when they occur and who is where and when is only complicated by many of these characters, including all the Illuminati, appearing in World War Hulk.
The character spin-offs have very little to launch from. The War Bound worked well on Planet Hulk but were given little more than recapping dialogs in the mini-series and I question the need for their own series. The Incredible Hulk morphs into The Incredible Herc beginning with issue #112, giving the often repeated "Renegades" their own title. Amadeus Cho has some possibilities despite his silly name and apparently invulnerable puppy. Angel seems out of place in an X-less title. Namora is here for unknown reasons- as unknown as why Marvel heroes siding with the Hulk would ever be considered Renegades, except to give a edgy title to yet another B-list team book. I haven't read any of the other tie-ins, except for Gamma Corps #1, and I didn't see the need to buy them. Sometimes you can have too much of an average thing.
All the Illuminati are fully recovered from their Hulk beat down by the events of Illuminati #5. The other not very loose ends, like the dismissed destruction and repopulation of New York, will be handled in some forgettable one-shots with the header Aftersmash...get it? This takes place after the Hulk smashed?
Back to the characters and continuity- How does World War Hulk fit in with Iron Man's too many appearances? Does it take place before Mighty Avengers even began? Before or after New Avengers cast returned from Japan and the Skrull/Elektra revelation? And off topic- How can Wolverine be in so many comics all at once? Are one or more of these Wolverines' a Skrull?

I thought this blog had been accidentally deleted and thus I've never had a second post. I'll begin with an update. For those to whom I'm a stranger, Beth and I have since married and still live happily in our little house. I'm at UW now working on credits toward applying to the School of Education this next spring. My classes are all requirements, I had to apply late and so had little choice in what I could take. Intro to Chinese History (103) is interesting but I question whether anybody can get any working knowledge of China in so few weeks. This class would work better as a two semester class. My Philosophy class is a positive challenge to my nearing-middle aged mind. My Physics of the Arts class is a poorly organized affair saved only by Annie Malkus, my TA, who is well on her way to being a very good teacher. The text book blows, and the professor's have taken turns instructing what doesn't seem to be a class they care much about. History 377, an African history focusing on the slave trade and social organization in Africa is ably taught by the very cool Neal Kodesh. It's one of the best experiences I've had in college thus far.
Enough about me, next post I'll chat comics.