'Sakaarson the World Breaker': violence and différance in the political and legal theory of Marvel's sovereign

Authors

Chris Lloyd, Oxford Brookes University

Abstract

The graphic novels Planet Hulk and World War Hulk feature the green goliath of the Marvel Universe, The Incredible Hulk (Hulk, or the Hulk, hereafter) as the protagonist in two tales both which deal with gladiatorial violence and sovereignty. The novels feature classic archetypal comic narratives such as violence leading to retribution, law leading to justice and sovereignty leading to rule. However the novels feature pervasive critiques which imbue these homogenous narratives, leading to their subversion. These normalising narratives of le politique are thus warped into alternate manifestations, wherein violence breeds total annihilation, law succumbs to mutation and sovereignty implodes to nothing. Consequently the novels feature an unusual yet poignant subversion of the traditional metaphysics of political and legal theory.

Recommended Citation

Lloyd, Chris, 'Sakaarson the World Breaker': violence and différance in the political and legal theory of Marvel's sovereign, Law Text Culture, 16, 2012, 119-154.
Available at:https://ro.uow.edu.au/ltc/vol16/iss1/7