All posts by Greg

2023.08.16 – MARVEL’S VOICES X-MEN #1 with a Pak/Bayliss Jubilee story!

Three panels from Marvel Voices X-Men #1 featuring line art by Daniel Bayliss and colors by Marcelo Costa. Panels show Jubilee and Lady Deathstrike hiding behind a column as androids fire at them, Jubilee making a comic pleading face (to Lady D), and then Jubilee happily plunging into battle with the androids.
 

Very happy to report that Marvel.com has posted details about the MARVEL’S VOICES X-MEN anthology book that hits comic book shops on August 16.  Here’s the blurb about the story I worked on:

“HOLLYWOOD ENDING” Starring Jubilee and Lady Deathstrike

Written by GREG PAK
Art by DANIEL BAYLISS
Colors by MARCELO COSTA

Superstar writer Greg Pak, known for modern mutant masterpieces like PHOENIX: ENDSONGSTORM, and MAGNETO: TESTAMENT, returns to the X-Men with newcomer Daniel Bayliss for an unexpected team-up story starring Jubilee and Lady Deathstrike!

Please feel free to ask your local comic shop to order a copy for you today!

2023-07-12 – DARTH VADER #36 hits comic shops – check out the preview!

DARTH VADER #36 cover by Leinil Yu and Sunny Gho featuring Vader holding a jagged shield and electro staff, with Doctor Aphra standing beside him and the evil droids Triple Zero and Beetee-One in the background.

DARTH VADER #36 hits comic book shops on Wednesday, July 7, and you can  check out the lettered preview at Comic Book Dispatch!

The book was written by Greg Pak (hey, that’s me!) with line art by Raffaele Ienco, colors by Federico Blee, letters by Joe Caramagna, and a cover by Leinil Yu and Sunny Gho. Here’s the official solicit:

DEATH BY DROID! With his Force powers still out of control, Darth Vader’s more powerful and vulnerable than ever before… Which makes this the perfect time for him to be BETRAYED by one of his most trusted associates (and astoundingly, it’s not APHRA or OCHI)! Featuring the return of TRIPLE-ZERO and BEE TEE – and the deadliest team up of droids Vader has ever faced!

This was a fun issue to write in part because I did something unusual for me — cutting back and forth in time to show a plan being hatched and executed at the same time. I think I generally write in a pretty direct manner, avoiding too much fooling around with time jumps (with the exception of evocative flashbacks, especially in the VADER book). But with this issue, we’re seeing a group of droids planning an attack on Vader, and somehow playing with time was the most efficient and fun way to move the story forward with maximum surprises and payoffs.

Panel from DARTH VADER #36 showing the Droid Crush leader pointing at Gee-Ninety, saying "How about you, big guy?" Gee-Ninety responds saying "Ha ha! Me? I'm Gee-Ninety! I worked for Vader--until he betrayed my team and cut me in half!" Other silhouetted droids in the background listen.

I’ve been writing comics for 19 years now (and writing fiction for about 48!), but there are always new (to me) things to try and muscles to flex.

Please do ask your local comic shop to hold a copy of the book for you. Hope you enjoy!

2023-06-23 – 06-25 – Greg Pak at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago!

Big news – I’m attending the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago as a guest of BOOM Studios! to promote MECH CADETS this weekend, and I’m also doing a DC Comics signing for CITY BOY! Come see, come see! Here’s my schedule:

Friday, June 23

6:00-6:30 pm – signing – BOOM Studios Booth 3626

Saturday, June 24

1:00-1:30 pm – signing – BOOM Studios Booth 3626

2:00-4:00 pm – GNCRT’S 2023 Magical Comics Tea – Hyatt Regency McCormick, Grant Park AB

4:30-5:00 pm – signing – BOOM Studios Booth 3626

Sunday, June 25

11:00-11:30 am – signing – BOOM Studios Booth 3626

12:00-12:50 pm – Ram V./Greg Pak – The Vigil and City Boy signing – DC Comics Booth 3520

2:30-3:30 pm – Worldbuilding panel – Chapter One Stage

Giant Build-a-Figure of Amadeus Cho featured in the new Marvel Legends series from Hasbro!

Totally Awesome Hulk Build-a-Figure from Hasbro's new Marvel Legends action figure series

This one was a surprise! As IGN reports, Hasbro has announced its new Marvel Legends action figure set — which includes a massive Totally Awesome Hulk Build-a-Figure! One body part of the Totally Awesome Hulk figure is included in the package of each of the other characters in the series — if you collect them all, you can assemble Amadeus Cho!

I’m always thrilled to see Amadeus get more love. I co-created him with artist Takeshi Miyazawa way back in 2005; his incarnation as the Totally Awesome Hulk was designed by artist Frank Cho.

Check out the IGN article for more.

I’m writing Jubilee!

I’m an Asian American writer who’s been working on Marvel comic books for nineteen years but somehow have never managed to write Jubilee — until now! Please don’t miss MARVEL’S VOICES: X-MEN #1, on sale August 16, that will feature a short Jubilee story written by yours truly!

Check out the gorgeous Bernard Chang cover above and visit the Marvel announcement for more about the full lineup of incredible creators and characters in this anthology book.

2023-06-14 – DARTH VADER #35 in comic shops Wednesday – check out the preview!

DARTH VADER #35 cover by Leinil Yu and Sunny Gho featuring Doctor Aphra at a gambling table, unaware that Vader is looming behind her

Thrilled to report that DARTH VADER #35 hits comic book shops on Wednesday, June 14! Here’s the official solicit:

VADER UNBOUND! The DARK LORD OF THE SITH has called upon the galaxy’s greatest archaeologist, DOCTOR APHRA, for help. He’s lost control of THE FORCE, and only APHRA knows what can tame his path of destruction! …But will an archaic KYBERITE weapon only lead to more devastation?

The book was written by Greg Pak (hey, that’s me!) with interior line art by Raffaele Ienco, colors by Federico Blee, letters by Joe Caramagna, and cover by Leinil Yu and Sunny Gho.

I had a tremendous time writing Doctor Aphra for the first time in this book. So much fun following the fantastic work of writers like Kieron Gillen, Simon Spurrier, and Alyssa Wong.

Comic book page from DARTH VADER #35 written by Greg Pak and drawn by Raffaele Ienco with colors by Federico Blee and letters by Joe Caramagna.

First three images are flashbacks of Vader and Doctor Aphra accompanied by this Aphra voiceover: "I activated Triple-Zero and Beetee-One for you. The best killer driods you never knew you needed. I helped you build an army of droid commandos. And I pulled off the Son-Tuul Pride heist for you. So you had all the credits you needed to do all that sneaky stuff you were doing behind the Emperor's back."

Then we cut to real time and see Aphra kneeling before Vader, pleading for her life, while Ochi snarks from the background.

APHRA: I mean, yeah, I told the Emperor what you were doing behindhis back...
OCHI: And people say I talk too much.
APHRA: ...but he liked that! Very Sith-y!
APHRA: And now I'm...
APHRA: ...I'm still alive.
APHRA: So you... need something?
OCHI: Now she gets it.
OCHI: I'm ready, boss! Just like old--

And we end with Vader activating his elctrostaff and Aphra exclaiming "Ah!"

Ask your local retailer to hold a copy for you and check out the preview today!