On the heels of the popular Ultimate Avengers animated features comes HULK VS.  A straight to DVD animated smackdown involving HULK in two separate features.  The two features are Hulk VS Wolverine and Hulk VS Thor.  Both have their strong points, but Hulk VS Wolverine is better because its sheer bloody action and violence.  This is the Wolverine fans have been longing to see from the comics brought to life.  The 36 minute feature is perfectly paced and stunning in the amount of blood and gore.  It’s similar to more adult anime features.  The second feature, Hulk VS Thor is more ambitious and thoughtful in its storytelling, but it has far too many characters and is not quite as successful as the first feature.  At 45 minutes, it feels too short to tell an epic tale. 

Hulk VS Wolverine is a simple tale where Wolverine is brought in to stop The Hulk but finds out that maybe Hulk isn’t his real enemy after all.  Full of bloody and stylish action, its a terrific and surprisingly entertaining feature.  Hulk Vs Thor involves a lot of Thor’s mythology, and the viewer might rather Thor got his own feature (which is in the works) rather than putting him against Hulk as the film can’t decide whether its an action piece like the first feature, or more of a Thor background and history.  Thor is handled well though, and its worth a look.  Audio and widescreen video are top-notch and there’s several good extras on the 2 DVD set.  There are audio commentaries and featurettes (which run about 20 minutes each) on the making of each of the films.  The coolest fanboy extra is probably the featurette from the San Diego Comic Con, where fans got to see the feature and ask questions of the creators of the films.  Trailers and a first look at the upcoming Thor animated feature round out the substantial extras.

Hulk Vs is a pretty entertaining double smackdown for fans of the Marvel Comics.  Hulk VS Thor is entertaining and has an epic feel but its Hulk VS Wolverine that makes the DVD a must see for comic book fans.  What the film sometimes may lack in overall story, it more than makes up for with its visceral violence and nonstop action.  It’s a bloody good time that pushes the PG-13 rating to the limit. 

Hulk VS Wolverine Grade: B+

Hulk VS  Thor Grade: B-

Overall DVD Grade: B

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